The Outer Banks Adventure Trip: Day 1-2 Travel and Mount Airy, North Carolina April 27-28, 2025 (The Travel Lady)

 Day 1: Sunday, April 27, depart from Walmart Florence at 6:15 A.M.

We got up at 4:20 A.M., showered, and got ready. We loaded the car.

We stopped at Jack's for breakfast, where we ordered two pork chops, biscuits with strawberry jelly, and two diet drinks.  

We arrived at Walmart in Florence around 5:30 A.M. and were on the bus by 6 A.M., headed to First Baptist Church, 2100 Springer Road, Lawrenceburg, TN, where we picked up the remainder of our group. 

Our first stop was at Love's in Mount Juliet, TN. 

We stopped for lunch at Cookout. Hubby and I ordered a cheeseburger and onion rings with Diet Coke. Spent $12.45

Around 3:30–4:00 P.M., we will stop at the Virginia Welcome Center in Bristol, VA. 

We stopped again at Love's in Lambsburg, VA, around 5:30 P.M. 

Around 6 P.M., we arrived at the Depot at Cody Creek, Dobson, NC, for dinner. 

We had a Sunday Church service in the Chapel. Your speaker talked about the Big Bang theory and the book of Genesis. We walked around the garden taking pictures. 

I ordered pork cutlets, a side salad, macaroni and cheese, and chocolate chess pie for dinner. 

There was a lot of cool art hanging on the walls. 

After dinner, we will depart for our hotel, the Hampton Inn, located at 2029 Rockford St, Mt. Airy, NC, room 222. 

7814- Loves Mt Juliet, TN at 8:56 A.M.

7815 Cookout Knoxville, TN at 12:45 P.M.

7816-40 Virginia Welcome Center Bristol, TN

78410-Loves Lambsbury, VA at 5:31 P.M.

7842-86 The Depot Restaurant Dobson, NC @5:53-6:33 P.M.

Day 2: Monday, April 28, Breakfast and dinner include

Breakfast at the hotel at 6:30 A.M., where I ate an omelet, cheese bagel, and cranberry juice. 

Load onto the bus with our overnight bags and depart for Mt Airy Squad Car Tours.

Our first stop was the jail, where we rode the squad car. We rode the squad car to the granite quarry, Andy's home, and downtown Mount Airy. 

At 10 A.M., we visited the Andy Griffith Museum.

Around 11 A.M., we rode downtown to Mount Airy for lunch and shopping.

Hubby and I split a Strawberry Shortcake and Diet Cokes at Miss Angel's Heavenly Pies. 

Around 1 P.M., we depart for Kill Hills, NC.

We will stop at Walmart in Smithville, NC, around 3:45 for a restroom break.

At 3:37 P.M., I spent $10.70 on Diet Mt. Dew and Pepsi, Snacks, candy, and Beef jerky in Smithville, NC.

Arrive at Captain George Seafood, 705 Croatan Hwy, Kill Devil Hill, NC, at 6:30 P.M. for a Buffet dinner.

I ordered Salmon, corn on the cob, crab legs, shrimp, butter, and tartar sauce. For dessert, I chose bread pudding, carrot cake, and chocolate cake. 

We headed to our hotel, the Hampton Inn Corolla, located at 333 Audubon Drive, Corolla, NC, around 7:45. Our room was in Room 317.

We arrived around 8:30 P.M. and checked into room 317.

7893 Breakfast at Hampton Inn Mount Airy, NC 7:15 A.M.

7894 Picture of Andy Griffith in Hotel 7:30 A.M. 

7935-46 Squad car ride 9:30 A.M., Mt Airy

7947-92 Andy Griffith Museum, Mt Airy 10:13–10:42 A.M.

7993-8002 Mt Airy 11:02 A.M. Donna Fargo 7993-7994

8003 Strawberry shortcake 11:20 A.M.

8005-8018 War Memorials Mount Airy 11:46 A.M.

8024-8061 Mount Airy 11:40 

8820-8907 Mount Airy

8908-49 Traveling 

8062-8068 Traveling Outer Banks 

2024 Aug 6, Day trip to Shiloh, TN and Iuka, MS. Took our granddaughter AVA

Today, we rode up Savannah Highway 20 to Savannah. 

They were working on the road when we crossed into Tennessee. 

They were also spraying along the bridges and gated areas. 

We rode through Savannah and Crump, turning left towards Shiloh. 

We arrived At the Shiloh Visitor Center National Park. 

Took a few pictures outside.

Ava at the Shiloh Visitor Center

A park ranger greeted us. 

She told us about the museum and said there were some unfinished displays. 

Several were interactive displays. 

She also gave us directions to the Indian mounds. 

AVA Sitting in front of Hagy's Restaurant 

We stopped at Hagy's Restaurant for lunch. 

Hubby and I split a catfish fillet meal.

He ate the salad, baked potato, and a piece of catfish.

I ate a piece of catfish and several hush puppies. 

Ava ordered chicken fingers and fries. 

She ate all her fries and a couple of bites of her chicken. 

We got a Togo plate. 

We rode to Pickwick Dam.

Crossing the Tennessee River, we rode through the park at Pickwick. 

We took the highway going to Iuka, Mississippi. 

A road I had never been on before. 

Lots of marines and boats. 

We rode through the downtown area of Iuka. 

We stopped to see the retired red caboose and red fire truck. 

AVA on the back of old fire truck Iuka, MS

We stopped at Lowe's to get some lumber, but their cutting machine was broken. 

We rode to Home Depot, where Hubby bought lumber and pavers, and I purchased three succulent plants. 

Andy met us at Home Depot, and we dropped off Ava.

I came home, my Hubby painted the wood, and I watered my plants.

I loaded my pictures. 

2024 Saturday, July 27, Day trip to Granville, TN "Tennessee's Mayberry"

We began our journey in Pulaski, stopping at Walmart to pick up a few items and at Murphy to fill up with fuel. 

We continued on Hwy 64 to Fayetteville, then took 50 through Lynchburg and Tullahoma, and finally took 55 to Manchester and McMinnville. 

Hwy 56 to Smithville to I-40 to Hwy 70 is a very curved road to 53 

We drove from I-40 to 840, then to I-65, to Saturn Parkway, to 412, and finally to 31 South, before heading home on US-43 South.

Welcome to Granville, Tennessee 

My husband and I rode to Granville, TN, a historic town on the Cumberland River. 

Tennessee Mayberry Town. We bought tickets at $7 each to visit the Museum of Granville. 

We first stopped at the Farm to Your Table Agriculture Museum. We saw farm equipment, milk trucks, tractors, a mural, and signs throughout the building telling the history of farming and Funeral Services in Granville. 

T.B. Sutton Store 

Next, we stopped at the Sutton General Store, a two-story building with fixtures from the early 20th century. 

They had ordered grilled hamburgers left over from the day before.

Whistle Stop Saloon

Next, we stopped at the Whistle Stop Saloon, where we learned that this building and area were used as offices by Dr. Wm B. Holmes, John B. Ragland used it as a Saloon during the Steamboat days, and Davis Huff used it as a General Store. CW and Martha Ramsey arrived at their home, and SW and Dorothy Powell placed a trailer on the property. Randall and Peggy Clemons purchased the property and constructed a building that was similar to the original one. 

We visited a three-part museum highlighting the Andy Griffith Show, which featured characters such as Andy, Barney, Aunt Bee, Opie, Otis, Floyd, Gomer, Goober, and others. 

I love Lucy 

Andy is getting his hair cut by Floyd. 

A part of that museum was dedicated to The I Love Lucy Show, featuring Lucy, Desi Arnaz, Ethel, and Fred Mertz with Little Ricky. 

A third section was dedicated to Whiskey Decanter, a collection donated by several people. 

The Barretts of Watertown collection of over 2,000 Jim Beam decanters.

I Love Lucy, the Andy Griffith Show, and the Jim Beam Whiskey Museums

Gussie and Joe Miller of Cookville donated 3,000 decanters, including the Elvis Presley collection, which depicts the "King." 

We also visited the Sutton Homestead, Granville Museum, the Daniel Barber Shop and Post Office, Clemons Car Museum, and the Tennessee Quilt and Textile Museum. 

Lastly, we visited the Historic Granville Pioneer Village, which is full of museums and crafts. 

Pioneer Village

Sutton Service Station, Quilt benches at Pruett Stages, and Webster's barn that showcased farm equipment.

We learned how they grind corn into cornmeal at Ellen Grist Mill. 

We saw a chicken house, an outhouse, and a smokehouse. 

We saw the 1820-built Williamson Pioneer Cabin and walked through Pauline Carter Johnson Cottage Garden, where Tobacco, broom corn, and other vegetables were growing. 

It was beautiful, but it got increasingly hot by the afternoon. We ran into rain on the way home. 

2024 May 2, Day trip to Pulaski, TN

Today, we rode to Pulaski, TN, stopping at Flatrock Cheese, 2825 Minor Hill Hwy. 

We bought several spices there: Red crushed pepper for $2.11, Hot cajon seasoning for $3.16, and ground cinnamon for $3.06.

We bought a package of chocolate-covered pretzels and some Natural Black Raspberry dip mix for $3.47.

We also bought two packages of unique cheeses.

Several people were there buying their freshly served sliced meats and cheese sandwiches.

salad

Chipotle Chicken sandwich with chips. 

Sandwich with chips

Carrot cake

We rode into Pulaski and ate lunch at the Yellow Deli.

I ordered a Chipotle Chicken sandwich with chips.  

Hubby ordered a salad and sandwich, and we split a slice of Carrot cake.

The Yellow Deli has a beautiful garden in front and on either side of its building. 

Yellow Deli 

Flower Garden 

Flower Garden 

Flower Garden at the 1900 Heritage House 

We rode around downtown Pulaski, through the University of Southern Tennessee, looking at old houses and buildings. 

Civil War Soldier 

Historic Marker 

We stopped at USCT Park, where the UNITED STATES Colored Troops were honored in Giles County during the Civil War. 

We stopped at Walmart, a discount store, and Dollar Tree.

We came home via Loretto, Leoma, and St Joe on Hwy 43.

There is a lot of history in Pulaski, but today, we just stopped to shop and eat lunch.

2023 Oct 28, Pumpkinfest Franklin, TN, and Trick Treat Killen Park with Ava & River

 It's been a hectic day. 

This morning, we stopped at Jack's for breakfast. They were shorthanded, so we had to wait longer than usual. 

Then we rode to Franklin, TN, to their Pumpkinfest. There was no parking, so we had to pay $10 to park.

Very Large Pumpkin 

It was super hot and crowded, so we only stayed for a few hours. We walked down Main Street and a couple of side streets. Several bands were playing music. Mums and Pumpkins decorated the street. Food filled the air. There were rides and fun for the Children. 

Hubby collected a bag of treats, which we gave to the grandkids.

Williamson County's First Taxi

Our big treat was finding the Williamson County Archives Museum. It had several rows of quilts made by locals, a Military Room, a History of Williamson County, Civil War Artifacts, Displays of an Old School Room, a Doctor's Office, a Dress Shop, a Barber Shop, a Country Store, etc. We also saw a horse-drawn carriage by Harry March in Franklin's First Taxi.

We saw where the body of a headless Col Shy once lay in a busted open casket. An article, The Curious Case of Col Shy's Casket. The headless body was unidentified. 

Outside was a Civil War cannon. 

The Curious Case of  Col. Shy's Casket 

Canon 

We stopped at Publix in Spring Hill to get some chicken wings from their deli and pick up a few other items.  

We stopped in Lawrenceburg at Long Silvers for a plate of fish and chicken. 

Came home and ate a late lunch. 

Fun Began in Halloween Manor 

Criminals 

Ava, the killer Jason Voorhees, and the Evil Clown Pennywise

Picked up Ava and River around 4:30 and took them to Killen Park for their Trunk n Treat. 

Ava dressed up like Wednesday from the Adams Family, and River was a Ninja Turtle. 

We arrived early, so we let them play in the playground area. When people started lining up, we got in line. 

There was a long line behind us. We walked through the gate of Halloween Manor, and that is when the fun began. 

The kids got lots of candy, a fireman's hat, coloring, and safety books. They got their pictures taken with Inflatable pumpkins, at the Shriners Hillbilly Jeep, With Hocus Pocus, with Dept of Eye Care,  Jason Voorhees, and Pennywise the Dancing Clown.

Making Slime 

Their Treats end with making Slime. Put in a bag and taken home. 

They did a great job by only letting a few kids at a time go into the park. 

The kids had a great time.