One of my summer goals this year is to go on day trips. While a longer, extended vacation would be nice, they're not always possible, but that doesn't mean you can't still travel on a smaller scale and experience something new and fun.
By definition, a day trip is one in that you can accomplish in one day. Typically, these destinations can be reached in 30 minutes to two hours, still leaving you plenty of time during the day to experience at least one thing.
I live in a tri-state area, so we have tons of good options in three different states. For this list, I wanted to focus mostly on experiences or unique, off-beat places. These are all places that I think my family specifically would enjoy. Also, I did not stick to the typical day trip timing for each destination.
Georgia Destinations
Atlanta Botanical Gardens - This was the destination I mentioned in my summer goals post. The gardens have been open since 1976. You can visit any day except Mondays, with weekend tickets being slightly more expensive than during the week. The exhibits I am specifically interested in are Alice's Wonderland, which is in its final display this summer, and Enchanted Trees by Poetic Kinetics.
Pasaquan - This is a seven-acre site created by Eddie Owens Martin in the 1950s. Now run by Columbus State University, the site is a unique art environment that is home to six significant structures containing intricate mandala murals and more than 900-feet of elaborately painted masonry walls. Pasaquan is considered one of the country's most significant visionary art environments and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is only open on weekends.
The ROCK Garden - This garden is located on the site of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Calhoun. It contains more than 50-hand-sculpted buildings crafted from stones, pebbles, shells, glass, ceramic tile, etc. The structures are designed to imitate their larger counterparts, including the Notre Dame cathedral complete with stained-glass windows. The garden is open daily.
Georgia Waterfalls - There are so many to choose from that I couldn't pick just one. There are ways you can visit multiple falls in a day, as well.
Helen - This is pushing the limits of a day trip, but I thought if I couldn't convince my husband to take me for a weekend, maybe I could get him to take me for the day. The arts and shopping district is a cobblestone-lined Bavarian Alpine Village with more than 200 specialty shops. You can also go tubing on the Chattahoochee, biking or hiking in Unicoi State Park, ride the Georgia Mountain Coaster, or zip line.
Cumberland Island - Okay, so this one stretches the limits of a day trip, but I decided to leave it on the list anyway. You can just get up early and return home late, no biggie. The main draw for me has got to be the wild horses, but exploring the Dungeness Ruins is a close second.
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir - This is the largest Hindu Mandir, or temple, in the United States. It is made of Turkish limestone, Italian marble, and Indian pink sandstone and is etched with intricate carvings that depict tales of inspiration, devotion, and historic figured from Hinduism.
National Infantry Museum & Soldier Center - This free museum in Columbus tells the story of the American infantry soldier from the Revolutionary War to present today. There are galleries dedicated to specific eras as well as exhibits that focus on different aspects of the military experience. The museum is open every day except Monday.
Coca-Cola Space Center - This incredibly affordable museum located in Columbus is open Monday-Saturday. You can catch one of their planetarium shows, tour the largest collection of NASA Space Shuttle artifacts, fly to the International Space Station aboard the Space Shuttle Odyssey, test your piloting and driving skills with their interactive exhibits, and see exhibits featuring Apollo memorabilia.
Rock City - Rock City is at the top of Lookout Mountain and has a ton of fun stuff to do, including the Enchanted Trail, Lover's Leap, and the Fairyland Caverns. Operating hours change depending on the season, and tickets are cheaper when booked in advance.
Blue Ridge Scenic Railway - This is a four-hour, round-trip train ride through the Appalachian foothills along the Toccoa River with a two-hour layover in the sister towns of McCaysville, GA, and Copperhille, TN. You can choose vintage, climate controlled, or open-air rail cars.
Expedition Bigfoot! The Sasquatch Museum - I'm not sure that this is worth a trip all on its own -- unless you're a die-hard Bigfoot fan, but if you're in the area, I think it would be worth a side quest. This is the largest Bigfoot museum in the world. The museum is self-guided with life-size and interactive exhibits.
Alabama Destinations
Mobile Carnival Museum - Mobile is worth a visit for many reasons, but if you do go, this museum needs to be on your itinerary. It chronicles over 300 years of Carnival and Mardi Gras in Mobile.
Ave Maria Grotto - This is located on the grounds of the St. Bernard Abbey in Cullman. It is a landscaped hillside of 125 small stone and cement structures crafted over 70 years by Joseph Zoetle, a monk who worked in the power house at the abbey.
Little River Canyon National Preserve - This national park is home to the deepest canyon in the state as well as Little River, which flows out of Lookout Mountain. You can drive the Little River Canyon Rim Parkway which features eight overlooks, visit the preserve's three waterfalls, swim in the Blue Hole, or hike one of the park's eleven trails.
USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park - This park is home to the World War II battleship, the USS Alabama, a.k.a. the "Mighty A" or "Heroine of the Pacific," as well as the World War II submarine, the USS Drum, which is the oldest American submarine on public display. You can also visit the Medal of Honor Aircraft Pavilion which houses an extensive aircraft collection, historic vehicles, and war artifacts, as well as a wall honoring all of Alabama's Medal of Honor recipients. Located throughout the park are various tanks, artillery, and memorials.
Bankhead National Forest - This area is known as the "Land of 1,000 Waterfalls," but the forest service cautions that many of them are located on trails not maintained as official trails. There are lots of hiking and biking opportunities, as well as picnicking areas, camping, horseback riding, and swimming.
U.S. Space & Rocket Center - This one's not really a day trip either, but it makes literally all the lists of places to visit in Alabama, so I felt obligated to include it. Also, it's part of the Smithsonian network and contains one of the world's largest collections of rockets and space artifacts, so it's definitely worth a visit.
Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum - This museum is home to more than 1,800 motorcycles spanning over 100 years of production and representing 200 different manufacturers from 22 countries. It also features the world's most extensive Lotus car collection as well as rare racecars.
Alligator Alley - This is a must-visit-at-least-once destination. It is a self-guided tour over an elevated viewing platform and boardwalk. This "farm" boasts more than 600 alligators from hatchlings to mature adults. You can hold a baby alligator in the gator station and even participate in the three daily feedings.
Bessemer Hall of History Museum - This museum is housed in a renovated Southern Railway Terminal. Some of the main attractions include a Civil War collection and antique telephone display, but what caught my attention is Hitler's typewriter and Martin Luther King, Jr.'s cell block door.
Capitol Park, Tuscaloosa - I almost skipped right over this destination because of its innocuous name. This isn't so much a park as the ruins of the former Alabama State Capitol. Tuscaloosa was the state capital from 1826-1846 before it was moved to Montgomery. The building went on to house the Alabama Central Female College until it burned in 1923. Now all that's left are the stone foundation and columns. To make the trip more worthwhile, I recommend visiting other sites in the city, i.e. the Alabama Museum of Natural History or the Paul W. Bryan Museum.
Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark - Located in Birmingham, this site tells the history of the industrial age. Sloss closed in 1971 after being operational for 90 years. You can tour the facility on your own or take one of two daily guided tours. They even offer night tours.
Florida Destinations
Shell Island - This is undoubtedly one of the most popular spots in Panama City Beach, and for good reason. The island is undeveloped, though it has been home to Native Americans, Spanish settlers, and even pirates. In addition to enjoying the beach, you can go snorkeling or book a dolphin tour.
Florida Caverns State Park - This is the only Florida State Park that offers cave tours to the public. You can see limestone stalactites, stalagmites, soda straws, flowstones, and draperies. But the caves aren't the only attraction here. You've got the Chipola River and Blue Hole spring for fishing, canoeing, and boating.
National Naval Aviation Museum - This museum is located on the Naval Air Station in Pensacola. It features more than 4,000 artifacts and more than 150 restored aircraft. You can even watch the Blue Angels practice. Admission to the museum is free, but visitors over 18 must have a REAL ID.
Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center - This is a working conservation and education center that is open to the public year-round. There you'll meet Sweet Pea, an un-releasable sea turtle who serves as their ambassador. The center offers hands-on experiences and interactive educational displays.
Panhandle Butterfly House - While you're in Navarre, you should make a point to visit the butterfly house, as well. It is an educational and interactive exhibit featuring native Florida butterflies and plants.
Ocheesee Creamery - This destination is a working dairy farm in Grand Ridge where visitors can watch as it all happens. Meet the cows, see how the milk is bottled, and enjoy some homemade ice cream before you leave. Yum!
Seacrest Wolf Preserve - This destination is by reservation only, but I promise it will be worth it. Seacrest is an educational experience in which visitors get to interact with wolves. The preserve currently has more than a dozen ambassador wolves. There are a few tour options to choose from, including one-on-one experiences.
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