We love the Carolinas as much as anyone, but our families live elsewhere and like to explore. We spend much of our free time seeking new adventures across the Carolinas, but we occasionally have other adventures that are too good not to share. When we travel beyond Carolina, we hope to make the experience as epic as possible.
Weekend Trips From Carolinas
Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, TN
Since the Carolinas, and especially North Carolina, are centrally located along the Atlantic Coast, plenty of destinations are within easy driving distance.
Atlanta is the largest metropolitan area in the true south and offers more than a few things to do over the weekend. For instance, the Georgia Aquarium features penguins, sea lions, sharks, and even beluga whales.
The World of Coca-Cola is situated near the Georgia Aquarium and is one of my family’s favorite experiences. Tasting Coca-Cola products served worldwide is an eye-opening portal into varying cultures and preferences.
Thrill seekers may want to visit Six Flags Over Georgia, which features roller coasters, water rides, family rides, kids rides, and live shows.
If you head north from the Carolinas, Washington D.C. isn’t that far. There are so many things to do in the nation’s capital that we couldn’t list them all if we tried. In fact, hopping on a bus or trolley for a tour of the national monuments might be the most efficient way to visit D.C.
Visiting the National Mall and various national monuments is worth the trip, but the museums are beyond fascinating. The National Air and Space Museum is our favorite place to visit. Still, the National Zoo, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the Museum of The Bible are among the other popular places to visit.
Chattanooga, TN, is also a nice place to visit if a weekend in Atlanta or Washington, D.C., seems too crowded or overwhelming. Chattanooga is situated along the Tennessee River, and the beautiful downtown area features an aquarium, many shops and restaurants, a riverwalk, and pedestrian bridges over the river.
Rock City Gardens and an underground waterfall known as Ruby Falls are also in Chattanooga.
Extended Vacations
Naturally, the possibility of extended vacations beyond the Carolinas is endless. As our family explores new places, we may highlight some of our favorites. Jeremiah is from Central Florida, and Erin is from Chicagoland. We’ve had plenty of interesting experiences in our home states, but we will save these highlights for big adventures.
Some of our visits to different National Parks have been truly epic. Hiking the Narrows at Zion National Park felt like one of the truest adventures we have ever experienced together. The canyons are towering and impressive. We visited Zion National Park before our kids were born, and it is one of the few places that we have earmarked to one day return to with our kids.
Acadia National Park is our other family favorite, and we took the kids in tow when we visited Acadia. Visiting Acadia National park is all about the breathtaking views and exhilarating hikes. Acadia is also popular for bicycling, bird-watching, and stargazing. And Bar Harbor is a beautiful little town with lots of local shops.
North America is much more beautiful and interesting than many people even realize. It offers grand adventures like those preserved by the National Parks Service and smaller treasures like La Jolla Cove near San Diego. The weather in the San Diego area is unbelievable, and watching the sea lions sunbathe in La Jolla Cove is as unique an experience as you will find.
These are just some of our favorite destinations, but we look forward to adding new favorites along our journey, and we will share them with you as we do.
