Fri, June 25 2021:
Evening: Start driving to Hot springs
Lodging in Shreveport, LA
Sat, June 26, 2021:
Caddo Lake (Natural wonder) in the morning
Arkansas
Hot Springs National Park
Other ideas: Alligator farm & petting zoo
Stay near Hot Springs, AR
Sun, June 27:
Garwan Woodland Gardens, AR
Tennessee
Nashville
Drive to & stay in Nashville
Mon, June 28:
Kentucky
Mammoth Cave National Park
Stay in Mammoth
Tue, June 29:
Tennessee
Drive to & stay in Great Smoky Mountains
Wed, June 30:
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
Stay in Great Smoky Mountains
Thu, July 1
Enroute North Carolina (if time permits)
Biltmore museum, Asheville Pinball Museum, Craggy Gardens, Arboretum
Stay in Congaree
Fri, July 2
South Carolina
Congaree National Park
Skip: Middleton place, near Charleston. Then beach on East Coast.
Stay in Congaree
Sat July 3
Georgia:
Anna Ruby Falls
Atlanta Botanical Gardens
Skip: Stone Mountain Park (family friendly, rides, rail, laser show)
Alabama:
Skip: Alabama Safari Park (feed animals, petting), Hope Hull
Stay in Atlanta, GA
Sun July 4
Alabama:
Gulf Shores State Park, Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, Gulf State Park Nature Center (animals for kids), Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail
Mississippi:
The institute of mammal studies, Gulfport
Beau Rivage Casino, Beauvoir museum, Biloxi visitors center, beach & lighthouse
Stay in Gulfport, MS
Mon July 5
Louisiana Bayou Swamp Tours, New Orleans
Back to Houston in the evening
References:
3 Mountain Towns to Escape the Summer Heat | En Route | US News
The initial part of this itinerary. https://www.taketours.com/new-orleans-la/11-day-houston-san-antonio-carlsbad-caverns-las-vegas-from-new-orleans-248-3387.html
https://www.nps.gov/maca/planyourvisit/cave-tours.htm
https://www.nps.gov/state/la/index.htm
https://www.nps.gov/state/ms/index.htm
https://www.nps.gov/state/al/index.htm
https://www.nps.gov/state/ga/index.htm
https://www.nps.gov/state/sc/index.htm
https://www.nps.gov/state/nc/index.htm
https://www.nps.gov/state/tn/index.htm
https://www.nps.gov/state/ar/index.htm
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g28939-Activities-Louisiana.html
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g28945-Activities-Mississippi.html
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g28922-Activities-Alabama.html
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g28931-Activities-Georgia.html
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g28954-Activities-North_Carolina.html
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g28961-Activities-South_Carolina.html
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g28963-Activities-Tennessee.html
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g28925-Activities-Arkansas.html
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g28938-Activities-Kentucky.html
https://www.travelawaits.com/2546891/ozark-road-trip-from-osage-beach-to-eureka-springs/
https://www.arkansas.com/articles/caves-caverns-spelunking
https://www.littlerockfamily.com/post/115342/6-caves-to-explore-in-arkansas
