Tip  - Hit the <Ctrl> <+> Keys on your keyboard to make the Type on this page larger. <Ctrl> <-> for smaller Type - (This works for most recent versions of Internet Explorer + FireFox Browsers)
These pictures are a sampling from those taken on a June, 2007 leisurely Road Trip Vacation my wife and I took to Cocoa Beach, Florida from near Lincoln, Nebraska. The trip ended up taking 3 1/3 weeks, covering 15 states, and being 4,437 miles long.
We tried to get off of the Interstate onto more scenic roads whenever possible. We visited several Historic Battlefields of the American Civil War, Several Historic Lighthouses, some very old Historic Buildings, Forts, and Mansions with History interest, and spent some peaceful driving time on both the Historic Scenic Natchez Trace Parkway and the Blue Ridge Parkway which were constructed during the 1930's Depression.
Direct to Historic Vacations Road Trip list below
We took 5 days to drive to Cocoa Beach from Lincoln, spent a week at a Cocoa Beach Vacation, and then took 11 days to return -- including 4 days visiting our kids and grandkids near Huntington, West Virginia.
Note: The many photos of Historic Vacations Road Trip Sites and USA Scenic Attractions on this page may cause this page with pictures to load slow if on a dial-up connection.
All pictures on this page are Copyrighted but are free to use with instructions below - also see bottom of page for free larger size Downloadable Wallpaper + Beach and other Screensaver Photos.
See details on the Links to other Pictures & comments from Eastern Florida Vacation Beaches & Attractions + some other favorite affordable beach vacation areas & Day trips to area Attractions below.
Google Maps Road Trip Overview - Nebraska to Cocoa Beach Florida with major Scenic and
Historic Stops + lodging stops indicated. Very useful trip planning tool. Google Maps detail view gives you estimated driving distance and times between each of your entered "Via" points + turn by turn directions.
We actually used a Garmin Nuvi 360 GPS for the driving directions. Had entered all the "Via Points" ahead of time and saved in "Favorites" List - worked great! Driving time estimates from Google Maps and Arrival time estimates from Garmin GPS were fairly close if you took out all the "scenic side trips" we did!
Can check out Historic Vacation + Scenic Road Trip Pictures & comments in Chronological Order below - or skip down to specific parts of Road Trip
Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee - Hawn State Park, American Quilters Museum, Kentucky Lake Overlooks, Shiloh National Military Park - below
Tennessee & Alabama - Historic Natchez Trace Parkway, Frank Lloyd Wright House, Oak Mountain State Park - below
Florida - Wakulla Springs State Park, Historic St. Mark's Lighthouse - Photos, Info, & Links - on Pg 2
Cocoa Beach, FL Destination - Cocoa Beach Florida & Attractions, Atlantic Ocean Surf + Area Waterfront Restaurants - on page 2
Return Trip - Via Historic Ponce De Leon Lighthouse, St Augustine Lighthouse, Savannah Georgia Historic District, Tybee Island Lighthouse, Historic Fort Pulaski - Scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia Mountains, Jamesport Amana Colony, & More - on page 2
Blue Ridge Parkway Vacation - Photos and Tips - "Must See" driving tour on the very scenic Blue Ridge Parkway - on another page
To Historic Vacation Photos - Page 2 -- Florida, Cocoa Beach Destination, & Return Trip
Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee
- Hawn State Park, American Quilters Museum, Kentucky Lake Overlooks,
Historic Shiloh National Military Park
Hawn State Park - Missouri - Was promoted as Missouri's most Scenic Park. It is more like a road through a dense forest so did not have many scenic views that we could find. We did not hike the 2-mile
Pickle Springs Trail which might have improved our opinion of the Hawn State Park some.
Check out the Park Info and Photos for yourself at the Hawn State Park Web Site
All of the historic Buildings in the nearby Ste Genevieve Historic French Colonial Village were closed when we were there. A couple looked like they might have been interesting to tour.
Can see Info and Photos at this Ste Genevieve Web Site.
Next time we probably will substitute spending more time on the beautiful and very scenic Natchez Trace Parkway that runs through Tennessee, Alabama, & Mississippi (Pictures & Link below)
- or viewing one the unusual large Historic Caves in Missouri.
To Missouri Show Cave Info or Miissouri Show Caves location map + Info Links
Paducah Kentucky American Quilters Museum - Contemporary Machine and other Quilting Techniques and Quilt Top subject matter. My wife loved the displays here. Even husbands of Quilters found this Attraction interesting. To Museum of the American Quilter’s Society Web Site
We lucked out and got in on a educational tour by the Museum Director which was extremely interesting. It turned out that she had studied at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln where they are building a new quilting museum that will feature many historical quilts and prior quilting techniques.
Scenic Kentucky Lake Overlook (Also Tennessee River) - Land between Lakes Recreation Area. We drove east from Padukah, KY and entered this park at the north end and drove the entire length of the
scenic park to the south end. Many scenic overlooks of the lakes on both sides.
To Land Between Lakes Area Map page printable Links - (General LBL PDF Map has good detail overview)
We also drove through the Natchez Trace State Park to the south of the Land Between Lakes area above along I-40. Attractive park with 4 lakes and a lot of family activities including camping, an Inn, Hicking and Horseback Trails, Pistol and Archery ranges, and more. To Natchez Trace State Park Web Site.
All Historic Vacation & Road Trip pictures on this page are Copyrighted but you are welcome to download and use them if the Watermark text remains visible on the image as it is here. Also see High Resolution Downloadable Photo Link near bottom of page.
Now Peaceful Shiloh Civil War Battlefield Site - Tennessee. Location of one of the most intense battles between the Union and Confederate Forces in the Civil war on April 6 & 7, 1862
Replica of the original woden Shiloh Methodist Episcopal Church from where Battle of Shiloh got it's name.
The name Shiloh means "House of Peace"
Civil War Shiloh Battlefield National Cemetary - Tennessee.
The cemetery holds 3,584 Civil War dead, 2,359 of them unknown.
To more Info and pictures on Shiloh National Military Park - National Park Service
Back to Historic Vacations Road Trip list above
Tennessee & Alabama
- Natchez Trace Parkway, Frank Lloyd Wright House, Oak Mountain State Park
Natchez Trace Parkway Scenic Pulloff overlooking Tennessee River on north side. We ate lunch here.
Beautiful scenic and peaceful Site. Notice the fairly new wide bridge for the parkway over the River. Speed limit on Natchez Trace Parkway is 45 MPH -- 35 in some spots. The 444 mile Scenic Natchez Trace Parkway was built in the 1930's as a "Make Work" project during the depression. The limited access Scenic Parkway runs at a general northeast to southwest angle through Tennessee, Alabama, & Mississippi.
Natchez Trace Parkway Picnic Area with view overlooking Tennessee River above
To Natchez Trace Parkway National Park Service web site. The "Plan your visit" page has much helpful Info plus a printable map.
Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge over Tennessee River from south side
A similar version of this picture and some others on this page are on another Site by permission. See this link for High Resolution downloadable and printable photo versions of many popular Pictures from our various Vacation Picture web pages and three US Vacation Guide "Picture Enhanced" Web Sites.
List and descriptions at www.GoUSVacations.com
Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House and Museum - Florence Alabama. Took interesting tour of the house - some unusual design features common in most Frank Lloyd Wright Houses.
Some additional Info at this Wright in Alabama web site.
|
To our SE Virginia Vacation Beaches and nearby Attractions to Virginia Beach Vacation Pictures web page with Day Trips & Pictures