South - Planning Road Trip through Kentucky, Tennesee etc

I am planning a road trip with my wife in May 2010 starting in St. Louis. First leg is to Nashville and I am wondering what locals might reccomend on each leg. There appears to be enough information about the bigger places but I do not just want to drive down the highway and miss may be something interesting. A popular eatery along the route as well as anything unique to the area.

Thanks for your help.

I did a similar trip last year although we started in Nashville and finished in Austin, driving along the Gulf.

One of the highlights was on our way to the JD distillery we drove through Fayetteville TN, which was exactly how I imagined "anytown USA" to be. It's got a main square with an old school 50's style theater, the "Lincoln" I think it's called and a pretty good burger joint too. Well worth the detour (although there's probably plenty of other towns like that too).

In Nashville we had a pretty good meal at "Big River", the chicken fried chicken isn't too be missed and I wish sweet potato fries were available in Oz! Nashville was one of the best places I have been to; it had a very livable feel to it.

Can vouch for the big river, also things like a dinner cruise along the river(General Jackson???) is a nice way to spend a evening.
A few nightclubs, mainly Country/Western based but enjoyable never the less :), one called something palace is quiet nice (first name escapes me)
Also the Bluebird Cafe, nice intimate setup with a live acoustic performance (be there when doors open if you don't have a reservation)

TN is pretty diverse. Nashville is okay, but I wouldn't skip Memphis in the West or the Smokies in the East. The highlights of KY for me are Louisville and the horse and bourbon country near Lexington.

From St. Louis, I'd drive I-55 toward Memphis, where I'd spend at least one night on Beale Street. Listen to live blues and eat BBQ. Memphis also has a very nice zoo with pandas. Also, a ton of Elvis stuff and some nice museums.

Then, I-40 East through Nashville to the Smoky Mts., I-75 North to Lexington, Hwy 60 through Versailles (horse farms and Woodford Reserve Distillery), and I-64 to Louisville (Churchill Downs, good restaurants, museums, river boats, and another nice zoo).

Lonely Flyer, if you do make it to Memphis a must do IMHO is the BB Kings Blues Club on Beale St.

Actually after Nashville I am heading west to Memphis to complete the ritual all children of the 50s must do ie visit Graceland. We are then heading to Little Rock so I can visit Clinton's Library then on to Tulsa and up to Abilene to Eisenhower's Library.

TO DATE I have visited the Nixon, Reagan, Truman and Kennedy Libraries.

We originally pick up our rental car in MCI and return it there before flying to Denver. We first will spend some days visiting some dear friends in Warrensburg Mo before setting out on the road trip. I get to add 6 states to my USA map taking my total to 28 and with Co and Ut that will round it out to 30 until the next trip.

What's your route through kentucky?Lots of interesting places and good food. Try Roadfood.com for some good info. Berea is really special. Louisville has some neat places.

For something different while in Memphis, the march of the ducks at the Peabody Hotel.

Lived in Memphis for two years and Graceland is great fun and as the previous poster said don't miss the ducks at the Peabody. I like my BBQ saucy, so I wa not a big fan of Rendezvous,but everytime we had friends visit we were asked to take them there. Just know they use a dry rub not a sauce. BBKings was good, only got to eat there once. We also loved Huey's, just a casual burger place with several locations in Memphis. For something fancier, Folk's Folly is where we celebrated an anniversary or two.

In Nashville try to squeeze in breakfast at the Pancake Pantry. Yummy!

If you go through Lexington we really enjoyed a pizza place called Joe Bologna's, built in an old Jewish Synagogue. It has character and good Italian food. We also had a great meal at the Atomic cafe in downtown Lexington. It had a caribbean flair and was in a really cool area from what I remember.

I like my BBQ saucy, so I wa not a big fan of Rendezvous,but everytime we had friends visit we were asked to take them there. ... We also loved Huey's, just a casual burger place with several locations in Memphis.

I definitely agree with both of these recommendations. You can't go wrong with both of them.

When you're in Nashville, I would also recommend the Loveless Cafe. It's on the west side of town on Highway 100. They have good country food, and as with anywhere in Nashville, you never know when you'll see a famous singer. If you're looking for more music-based stops, I would suggest a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame and also the Grand Ole Opry if you're in town on a Friday or Saturday night.

For Nashville:

IMO, the Pankcake Factory is HIGHLY overated. $8+ for a few pancakes that are just as good if not better at Cracker Barrel.

Big River is good, altho I'm partial to the one in downtown Chatt. Demos' (steak and spaghetti) is a good Nashville area chain. If you're into any nightlife, there's 2nd ave/broadway (downtown), and west end (vandy). downtown will have music everywhere. west end is mostly bars and you have to deal with vandy priks.

Mempiss:

If you gamble any, Tunica is 30-40 minutes south of the border. Paula Dean's buffet is at Harrah's, and I seriously thought it was as good as, if not better, than those at the Wynn or PH in Vegas.

Seriously, tho, Mempiss is not a good city. Go to Beale, Peabody, and do the Graceland thing, but don't spend long there. It's seriously the Detroit of the South, if not worse.

Too bad you are missing the most scenic city in TN. By far the nicest downtown I have been to. If you're ever around ATL, it's worth a day or two to travel up to

For Nashville:

IMO, the Pankcake Factory is HIGHLY overated. $8+ for a few pancakes that are just as good if not better at Cracker Barrel.

Big River is good, altho I'm partial to the one in downtown Chatt. Demos' (steak and spaghetti) is a good Nashville area chain. If you're into any nightlife, there's 2nd ave/broadway (downtown), and west end (vandy). downtown will have music everywhere. west end is mostly bars and you have to deal with vandy priks.

Mempiss:

If you gamble any, Tunica is 30-40 minutes south of the border. Paula Dean's buffet is at Harrah's, and I seriously thought it was as good as, if not better, than those at the Wynn or PH in Vegas.

Seriously, tho, Mempiss is not a good city. Go to Beale, Peabody, and do the Graceland thing, but don't spend long there. It's seriously the Detroit of the South, if not worse.

Too bad you are missing the most scenic city in TN. By far the nicest downtown I have been to. If you're ever around ATL, it's worth a day or two to travel up to ???????????????

I really appreciate all the info.Will certainly make the trip worthwhile.

Too bad you are missing the most scenic city in TN. By far the nicest downtown I have been to. If you're ever around ATL, it's worth a day or two to travel up toI hate putting words into another person's post, but I think this sentence should end with "up to Chattanooga".

For Nashville:

IMO, the Pankcake Factory is HIGHLY overated. $8+ for a few pancakes that are just as good if not better at Cracker Barrel.

Big River is good, altho I'm partial to the one in downtown Chatt.
Too bad you are missing the most scenic city in TN. By far the nicest downtown I have been to. If you're ever around ATL, it's worth a day or two to travel up to

I am also guessing mrredskin meant Chattanooga. It has a fabulous downtown area and Big River is delicious.

It has been about 4 years since I last went to the Pancake Pantry. But we ate there twice on that trip to Nashville. I love it and personally will not step foot inside a Cracker Barrel. Perhaps it has gone downhill since I ate there. I have also been to Loveless and enjoyed it too, but that was many years ago.

Hello

As far as things to see between the 2 cities, not too much excited. The land between the lakes has some neat activities to see and do. (ky lake). On 24 you will drive through metropolis (home of superman) (takes about 10 minutes). There is a world famous quilt museum in paducah ky (halfway bna to stl).

We are fans of bbq, and there are a couple that i would never want anyone to miss.

pappys bbq in st louis.
jacks bbq in nashville
corkys in memphis (the chain ones in nashville are not the same)

if you go down I55, Lamberts in Sikeston mo (home of the throwd roll)


Lots of free museums that talk about the westward expasion, dread scott, and many other free museums in the st louis area.

as earlier posts have stated, 2nd and broadway in nashville. Just walk around and spend the evening.


wads

Some of us Flyertalkers had a Do in the Lexington, KY area last fall. I'd say that the Lexington area is a must visit if you're even remotely interested in horse racing. Go to Keeneland. Drive around all the beautiful horse farms. Take a bourbon distillery tour. Woodford Reserve in Versailles, KY was an outstanding tour.

I lived in Nashville for 10 years and there are a few places that must be mentioned:

1) Rotier's -- Just tell them you want a burger on french roll. Doesn't look like much from the outside, but it's solid
2) Elliston Place Soda Shop -- Just down the street from Rotier's -- if you go on Tuesday or Saturday it's Southern Fried Chicken day. I also highly recommend a milkshake
3) For a sandwich, I would hit up Bread & Co. When I moved to Atlanta I was so sad to realize this place was only a local chain. There are at least 4 around town.
4) If in Brentwood, hit up Joey's House of Pizza. Best in town.

Hope those help!

If you are a fan of the food & places that Diners, Drive-inns and Dives features (who isn't?!), then this map can help you out.

http://www.flavortownusa.com/

It doesn't sound like you will be getting far enough east.
Chattanooga and the Great Smoky Mountains are nice.
If coming up I75, the Boone Tavern in Berea, Ky is not to be missed. Look it up on Google. This place is not a dive. It is about 40 miles south of Lexington, and people in Central Kentucky have always driven that distance to dine at the Boone Tavern.
If y'all are interested in antiques, there is a place in Shelbyville, Ky, off I64 about 30 miles east of Louisville; the Wakefield-Scearce Galleries. Look it up on Google. They use to have a fine restaurant, too; the Science Hill Inn.
In Louisville, I always enjoy a ride on their steamboat, The Belle Of Louisville. The Belle is a National Landmark; and supposedly the oldest operating steamboat in the US. Google it.
Heading down I65 toward Nashville, it is always a shame to miss Mammoth Cave National Park. It's like going to Arizona, but not getting to see the Grand Canyon.
But the stop I most recommend to any "child of the 50's" is the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Ky; just off I65, about 70 miles north of Nashville. I had driven by it for a number of years before I ever stopped. The museum is very well done, and the experience was much more rewarding that I had imagined. It will rekindle you passion for America's Sportscar!
Drive safely:).

Don't know if you would be going that far east, but be aware that a landslide has closed I-40 at the TN/NC border near the Smokies. Better to know then to find out the hard way.

Memphis has a really nice Zoo too. Small, manageable Pandas, Polar Bears, lots of trees.

Gus's Chicken, one downtown, and a couple others in the burbs.

Uncle Lou's, on Diners Drive ins and Dives