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Let’s just say I love Great River Road Plus! In the past, I’ve driven much of the road, but now it’s time to go beyond Natchez, MS. In addition, I’m covering other places in Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois. Other than the Great River Road (GRR), I’m visiting National Park Service (NPS) sites in those states. No full “National Parks” this time, but monuments, battlefields, and other sites, such as two Abraham Lincoln sites (birthplace and boyhood home). Here’s a link to other posts about the GRR.
I’ll likely add more stops and then not stop at a few, so the map is a ‘wish list?’ UPDATE: Updating after trip completion.
Let’s get on with the trip!
The trip starts at the end of February. I’ll edit the rest of the post during and after the trip (mostly after). I expect there will be other posts linked from here. Initially, I’ll visit places in Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee, and Arkansas before focusing on the major areas: Mississippi and Louisiana. Following the Great River Road adventure, I’m heading farther into Mississippi to visit Elvis Presley’s birthplace and national park units. Then more of the same in Alabama, with the Space Museum in Huntsville added. (By the way, I slipped into Florida to visit the Gulf Islands National Seashore just east of Pensacola.)
Check this out. It's the All Fifty Club! If you are interested in learning more, follow the link.
After those visits, I’m heading back into Tennessee, followed by Kentucky and Indiana for more national park units. I’ll finish up in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin. I’m expecting to visit a Navy friend in Tennessee (that didn’t happen, he got called out of town) and meet up with the founder of the All Fifty States Club in the Nashville area. (That did happen!)
(Side note: I’m planning to attend that annual conference in Philadelphia in September. I volunteered to help out during the conference.) You can join if you’ve visited 35 (associate membership) or more states and plan to visit all 50 (or you may have a Continental Membership if you’ve visited all of the Lower 48 states).
Here’s another map showing the states I DID visit.
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Since I love Great River Road Plus, here’s…
I followed a “positioning drive” through Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois, making a couple of quick stops before entering Arkansas and Tennessee. My first day will take me near the St. Louis, MO, metro area. There’s the National Great Rivers Museum in Alton, IL, not far from there. I visited there the following morning before departing to see Ste. Genevieve National Historic Park in Ste. Genevieve, MO, and on to Bytheville, AR.
Missouri & Arkansas
And, yes, I did see the Ste. Genevieve NHP and on to Arkansas.
After a couple of stops in Blytheville and a few in Memphis, I’ll be on my way to see more of the actual Great River Road. I’ve seen Graceland in Memphis, so I didn’t stop. My main target in Memphis is the National Civil Rights Museum, an NPS site. I also visited the Sun Studio in Memphis, where Elvis recorded his first album, putting him on the road to super-stardom!
My plans included visiting a few places on the GRR before reaching Natchez, like the National Cold War Center in Blytheville, AR. After that stop, I made it to Memphis the next day.
By the way, when you go through Blytheville, be sure to see the Delta Gateway Museum! (They support my Driveby Tourist blog! Here’s the link to the museum.
Want to see a shop for my road trip photos? You can have them printed as wall art or puzzles. They also work on coffee mugs, t-shirts and more! So, take a look. Maybe you'll see something you will like!
Missouri & Arkansas stops:
- Ste. Genevieve National Historic Park
- World’s Largest Fountain Drink Cup
- Taft Mural on Water Street (on the Mississippi River)
- Delta Gateway Museum
- National Cold War Center (at the abandoned Air Force base)
- Johnny Cash’s boyhood home
Stops in Memphis
- National Civil Rights Museum
- Sun Studio
- Bass Pro Shop Pyramid Store
Mississippi
- Devil’s Crossroad
- Birthplace of Kermit the Frog!!
- Natchez National Historic Park
Are you beginning to understand why I love Great River Road Plus? Especially now, the “plus!”
Louisiana
Next, I spent four days in Louisiana. I’ll see a few museums and historical locations. I visited the state capital in Baton Rouge. I’m thinking I spent time in New Orleans, where I ate some “prize-winning food!” No city does food like New Orleans does food!
The World War II Museum in New Orleans ranks very highly among places to visit. There are also a couple of NPS units in New Orleans, and the south end of the Great River Road is about 80 miles south. When I finished, I headed off to Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and back to Mississippi.
Places visited in Louisiana:
- State Capital in Baton Rouge
- The Myrtles
- West Feliciana Historical Museum
- USS Kidd Veterans Museum *
- Great River Road Museum & Houmas House and Gardens
- Oak Alley Plantation
- The Pontchartrain Hotel
- The National World War II Museum *
- New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park
- Jean Lafitte National Historic Park and Preserve
- Fort Jackson
- Venice
- End of the Great River Road
- Snapper’s Seafood & Cajun Restaurant (Po’ Boy) *
- Restaurant at Oak Alley for Shrimp Gumbo
- Mr. John’s Steakhouse
See, that’s why I can love Great River Road Plus travel!
Mississippi
I’m tentatively planning to go as far as the Biloxi-Gulfport area to see the great sugar sand beaches and a few other attractions. And they have a Buc-ee’s in that area! That would be a first on this trip. On my trip last year, I visited four of them, one in Missouri and three in Texas. Some fans view it much like a religious experience when visiting a Buc-ee’s! Especially in Texas!
While in Mississippi, I’ll visit Elvis Presley’s birthplace, the Mississippi state capital, and three NPS Units. One of the places is the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home in Jackson. On June 12, 1963, he was murdered at his home. The home is now a National Monument, a preserved site operated by the National Park Service. I remember that event and others clearly, as I was a high school student at the time. In 1993, Byron De La Beckwith, a member of the Ku Klux Klan, was convicted and served a life sentence in prison. He died in prison at age 80 in 2001.
Alabama, Georgia, & Florida
Jumping around here. After leaving New Orleans, I headed for Gulfport (after a stop at Buc-ee’s!) for the beach. Of course, it’s winter, and I’m not a “beach guy” anyway. Although I have a hotel room for the night in Hattiesburg, just north of here, I head over to Biloxi. Get there and decide, why not drive to Mobile, AL? Only 60 miles. So, I get to Mobile, and then I think, well, Florida’s only 60 miles away (Pensacola). I wondered if there was an NPS unit near Pensacola, and I found one! Gulf Islands National Seashore. Ok, on my way to Florida, then back to Hattiesburg. Is that a good story?
Ok, now jumping back to my progression through the states as planned!
And on to the US Space and Rocket Museum in Huntsville, Alabama. In addition, there are three NPS units, but one of them is across the border in Georgia. I may also visit the World’s Largest Office Chair in Anniston, AL. And the best of all, there’s a Buc-ee’s on my path!
The US Space and Rocket Museum is the largest of its kind in the world! If you are wondering, “Why Huntsville, Alabama?” The Redstone Arsenal, established shortly before the US entry into WWII, was repurposed for rocket research, and the relocation of German rocket scientist Wernher von Braun and his team to this area led to major development as an aerospace center.
Tennessee & Kentucky (& Virginia)
Tennessee brings me to visiting a Navy friend south of Nashville. He grew up and lived in Florida, but he and his wife decided to retire here. But he’s back in Florida about once a month. I hope to visit the Founder and President of the All Fifty States Club in the Nashville area. As I mentioned above, I plan to attend the Club’s annual conference in Philadelphia and may also make that a road trip.
Again, there are several NPS Units in Tennessee.
In Kentucky, it’s mostly just the NPS units and the Abraham Lincoln birthplace.
Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin
I’ll clearly be on my way home when I reach Indiana. There is the Abraham Lincoln boyhood home here and again, a few NPS units. I’ll likely stop in Springfield, IL, and may see the area where Abraham Lincoln lived as an adult. Springfield is all about Lincoln! And Route 66 passes near the city. Here’s a link to more info about Indiana and another about Illinois. And Route 66 near the area I’ll pass through!
I’m planning to slip back across the Mississippi River to visit Hannibal, MO. Mostly to visit Mark Twain’s hometown and museums. And a couple of places in Iowa. Finally, I’ll head into Wisconsin. I’m about 200 miles from home, and I’ll stop at several places along the way.
Summary of the trip
I’ll have more here when I actually finish the trip! I’m expecting to be on the road for about three weeks. I’ll likely find some planned stops disappointing, and others much more than I expected. And I’ll likely find some “hidden gems” that I didn’t find in my pre-trip research.
Please come back later for an updated recounting of the trip. ‘Bye for now!
I hope you will find out why I love Great River Road Plus travel!
Classic Rock Recollection
“Ramblin’ Man” by The Allman Brothers
Lord, I was born a ramblin’ man
Tryin’ to make a livin’ and doin’ the best I can
And when it’s time for leavin’, I hope you’ll understand
That I was born a ramblin’ man
Written by: Forrest Richard Betts
#thedrivebytourist #greatriverroad #grr
