STOP 1: ANGEL MUSEUM

Why stop: What Florida-bound driver couldn't benefit from a visit with a few guardian angels? How about 10,000 of them. This museum -- affiliated with no religion although it is housed in a former Catholic church -- displays angels from 60 countries made from such materials as lamb skin, corn husks and tree roots. More than 600 of the winged creatures came from Oprah Winfrey, who received a barrage of black angels after bemoaning on her show how that particular variety of heavenly being was hard to find.

Details: The museum and gift shop is about 3 miles west of Interstate 90 at 656 Pleasant St. Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission: $6 for adults; $3 for ages 5 to 12; under 5 are admitted free (1-608-362-9099; www.angelmuseum.com).

Traveler's info: 1-800-423-5648; www.visitbeloit.com.

STOP 2: A FINE ARTS DISTRICT

Why stop: You're looking for artwork to hang in your second home down south. Even if you aren't, you'll find the gallery-rich city to be artful eye candy. Paducah sits at the confluence of the Tennessee and Ohio Rivers. A full 20 blocks of downtown are on the National Register of Historic Places. And a section called the Lowertown Fine Arts District houses gallery after gallery in grand former homes built in Italianate, Gothic Revival and other stunning styles. Paducah is also home to the Museum of the American Quilters Society, where Kandinsky-like modern works share wall space with intricate classic designs. Ease your carbon footprint by parking your car (you know you want to) and skipping around town on the biodiesel trolley.

Details: Paducah lies about 4 miles east of Interstate 24. Most of the galleries are closed on Mondays and some are also closed on Tuesdays. The quilt museum, 215 Jefferson St., is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission: $8 for adults; $6 for seniors and students; free for ages 12 and under (1-270-442-8856; www.quiltmuseum.org).

Traveler's info: 1-800-723-8224; www.paducah-tourism.org.

STOP 3: GRAND OLE OPRY

Why stop: If you are bored by the same old songs on the radio, the live music of the Grand Old Opry makes the perfect antidote. The show is grand indeed: At 82, it is the nation's longest-running weekly radio show and has hosted greats such as Patsy Cline, Hank Williams and Garth Brooks.

Details: Opryland is about 7 miles east of I-24. Weekly shows are scheduled for Tuesday at 7 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. The Grand Ole Opry House, the radio show's current home, has 4,400 seats (double the number of its most famous venue, Ryman Auditorium). That means you can sometimes buy tickets at the box office on the night of a performance, a good thing for snowbirds on a loose schedule. Check with the box office (1-615-871-6779; www.opry.com). Ticket prices range from $22.50 to $47.50. You can catch a daytime tour of the Opry House, too.

Traveler's info: 1-800-657-6910; www.nashvillecvb.com.

STOP 4: LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN

Why stop: By now, a thorough leg-stretching is in order, and Chattanooga offers just the place in Lookout Mountain. You can start more than 1,000 feet below the mountain's surface by taking a tour of Ruby Falls, the 145-foot waterfall that gushes deep in a cave. Then head to the top of the mountain, at a venue dubbed Rock City. There, follow paved trails to a view that encompasses seven states, get close to tamed nature at the Deer Park, and sip a Starbucks after your walk.

Details: Ruby Falls is a mere 3 miles off I-24. Rock City, across the border in Georgia, is a few miles beyond that. Ruby Falls opens at 8 a.m.; Rock City opens at 8:30 a.m.; closing times vary by season. A combination ticket for both sites costs $28 for a visit of up to four hours and $38 for up to six hours (1-800-825-8366; www.lookoutmountain.com).

Traveler's info: 1-800-322-3344; www.chattanoogafun.com.

STOP 5: WEEKI WACHEE SPRINGS

Why stop: See the famous, if kitschy, mermaids while you can. This old Florida roadside attraction may be on its last leg. Orlando, off to the east, has all the polish and tourists that this place lacks. Plus, the site is in a complicated battle with its landlord. The mermaids have been swimming in the natural spring waters, with the occasional gator and manatee, since 1947. The show is a Florida icon. A day ticket also gets you on a riverboat cruise on the Weeki Wachee River and into animal shows featuring birds and reptiles, and a spring-fed waterpark. Dig those swimming suits out of the trunk.

Details: Weeki Wachee Springs is about 15 miles west of I-75. It is open Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m. until the 3 p.m. river cruise returns. Mermaid shows are at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Admission: $23 for adults; $16 for ages 3 to 10.

Traveler's info: 1-352-596-2062; www.weekiwachee.com.

Kerri Westenberg • kwestenberg@startribune.com