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BEST 3-DAY DESTINATIONS IN SOUTHEAST US

colinwcs

Not everyone has an entire week off from work to hop on a place and head somewhere far away (raise your hand if that's you!) In many cases, we only have 2-3 days, so we have to choose a place that's semi-close and really worth seeing.




Below, we've put together a list of our favorite 3-day destinations in the Southeast US (that we've been to)! Go take a weekend trip!



CHATTANOOGA, TN

Chattanooga has quickly become one of our FAVORITE places. It's only a couple hours drive and it's got a little bit of everything. It's not too big, but it's not too small.


Our Favorite Highlights:

  1. Waterfront Park

  2. Pedestrian Bridge

  3. Exploring Downtown

  4. Tennessee Aquarium

  5. North Shore

  6. Antique Shops (we spent a solid day and a half just walking through 6-7 of these all across Chattanooga).

Our Favorite Restaurants:

  1. Taco Mamacita

  2. Community Pie (PIZZA) - we picked it up and took it back to the room.

  3. Big River Grille

  4. Hennen's Steakhouse


Where We've Stayed:

  1. Bode (10/10 - definitely recommend here)

  2. Springhill Suites (great stay!)


one last thing... you need to Bike the city!

(e sure to rent from Pedego Bikes - we did an hour rental with their electric bikes and saw the entire city like twice - definitely the best way to see the city.


On this trip last fall, we made a point to not even take photos with the camera and just relax for a while. I really just needed to get away and step away from everything for a few days. So, here's a few phone pics that we snapped along the way!






 

CHARLESTON, SC

Lauren and I have never been to Charleston together.. but we've each been there. and we both loved it.


Highlights:

  1. Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge (Helicopter Ride) yep... you should do it.

  2. Folly Beach (sunrise especially)

  3. Historic Downtown (Carriage Ride)

  4. Downtown Market

  5. Charleston Tea Plantation


Best Restaurants:

here's some photos from back in 2017!


 

ASHEVILLE, NC

We spent our honeymoon in Asheville and loved it! If you're looking for a chill area that's not super busy, but has beautiful views in the mountains, this is your place. Several days, we took off and spent 2-3 hours just driving Blue Ridge Parkway, pulling off and exploring anywhere that looked cool.


Highlights

  1. Biltmore Estate

  2. Blue Ridge Parkway

    1. Blowing Rock, NC (epic panoramic views)

    2. Looking Glass Falls

    3. Sliding Rock


Our Favorite Restaurant:

  1. Pomadoros (definitely try the Saganaki)

*we cooked a good bit, so we didn't do many restaurants. We ate at Pomadoros twice!


Where to Stay:

We'd absolutely stay here again. And we'd highly, highly recommend it to everyone!



 

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS, TN

This place is tough to beat - and it's only a few hours drive from central AL.


Highlights

  1. Newfound Gap Road (beautiful scenic drive through the park)

  2. Roaring Fork

  3. Cade's Cove

  4. Downtown Gatlinburg

  5. Ober Gatlinburg

  6. Pigeon Forge (everything - Putt Putt, Go-Carts, great food, dinner shows - it's all a blast.


Our Favorite Restaurants:




 


WACO, TX

Now, this one is a stretch.. but if you're down for the drive (10-12 hours) - Waco is super cool. Lauren spent a few days in Waco with her family, but I've never been. She says it's not a place you have to spend a ton of time, but it's most definitely worth seeing.


Highlights:

  1. Magnolia Silos (Bakery, Silos, Food Trucks)

  2. Harp Design Co.

  3. Waco Tour (a must do)

  4. Spice Village






here's a few extra places that have been recommended to us, but we haven't spent much time in yet!


Savannah, GA

Nashville, TN

Dillard, GA

Cincinnati, OH






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COLIN + LAUREN  |  2021  |  WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS

BASED IN ALABAMA | UNITED STATES

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