We're big Civil War buffs, so we wanted our grandchildren, Jessica, 10, and Mikey, 8, to experience some Civil War history. But we didn't want to overwhelm them with a big and crowded historic site like Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

Looking to visit a peaceful town that's full of interesting attractions? Well, my husband, Jim, and I highly recommend Georgetown on the South Carolina coast.

Originally established in 1729 as a shipping point for rice and indigo grown on area plantations, this cute little seaport on the Sampit River is historic yet Mayberry-esque. You'll admire the 32-square-block downtown district that's listed on the National Register of Historic Places (keep an eye out for the light-blue markers that identify historic structures) and love the friendly hometown atmosphere.

When my husband, Myles, and I travel, we try to include enough time in our schedule for those unexpected road signs we just can't resist following. That strategy worked like a charm recently as we drove along U.S. Highway 64 in south-central Tennessee.

When we saw a sign that read "Falls Mill" pointing down a side road, we decided to explore. A mile or so later we found ourselves in front of a three-story red-brick working mill, owned and operated by John and Jane Lovett.

Some of the most amazing caves and rock formations around can be found at Pickett State Park, a 17,372-acre wilderness area in northeast Tennessee.

This oasis never seems to be crowded and offers nine great hiking trails. Many of them take you past Indian rockhouses--huge rock overhangs that once provided shelter for Native Americans. The 1/4-mile Indian Rockhouse Trail leads you to one of the park's most impressive rockhouses.

When I saw the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, I had to check it out. I found it's the only museum in the world devoted to these humble kitchen objects.