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February 12, 2009 7:17 PM   Subscribe

Roadtrip attractions for 3-5 year-old kids between New York City and Atlanta, by way of Washington, DC and Raleigh, NC.???

We're hitting the road tomorrow and will be returning in a week, with the intention of spending a few days in Atlanta visiting relatives.

What are cool things to do on the way? We know about all the museums and attractions in DC, but is there anything else on the way? We're willing to take detours and drive slowly if it's worth it.
posted by sd to Travel & Transportation (5 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
The NC Museum of Life and Science in Durham (really close to Raleigh) is great for little kids.
posted by hought20 at 7:25 PM on February 12, 2009


The Coca-Cola plant in Atlanta (technically not between ATL and NYC) is great. The tasting room and all the bright moving decorations would be fun for a kid.
posted by boeing82 at 8:06 PM on February 12, 2009


Best answer: New York to Atlanta...

Okay. You want to go on the East Coast Highway for part of the trip, because that's the two-lane highway which will give you the bigger degree of goofy stuff.

Like:

* Lucy the Elephant, just south of Atlantic city -- a big elephant statue left over from the heydays of the Jersey Shore

* Wildwood, New Jersey -- amusement parks galore.

* The ponies on Chincoteague and Assateague Island in Maryland

* Displays at the Naval Base in Norfolk, VA

* Kitty Hawk and the Outer Banks in North Carolina

* Ocracoke, NC was a purported haunt of Blackbeard the Pirate, and I'm sure they'll have lots of stuff commemorating this fact

* The "South Of The Border" rest stop near the NC/SC border -- an unapologetic fake Mexicana cheesefest

More info can be found starting here.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:19 PM on February 12, 2009


Best answer: Seconding the Museum of Life and Science. It's just off of I-85. If you only wanted to stop for an hour or two (or three or four), it's perfect. There are fun interactive indoor things, as well as large outdoor areas for running around and seeing animals.

If you want a longer break, detour onto Hwy 64 west in Raleigh and swing through Asheboro for the NC Zoo. As far as I've seen, it's the best zoo east of San Diego. You can do a lot of walking, if you feel like it, or take the trams to see more. Then continue on 64 west and you'll pop out on 85 again.
posted by hydropsyche at 4:45 AM on February 13, 2009


Try Marbles Kids Museum in downtown Raleigh. My 3.5 year old son LOVES it! Have a safe trip...
posted by littleredwagon at 5:49 AM on February 13, 2009


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