We're taking a family road trip next month (mid Feb, crossing fingers for warm weather) to Charleston, SC. We will start by driving from Raleigh NC to Charleston SC for a road trip. While staying in Charleston, we will do a side trip to Savannah. On the driving down, I am planning to take the coastal route and go through Myrtle Beach and Georgetown. Can you recommend some stops along the way? Some restaurant tips?
Also, can you recommend some activities in Charleston and Savannah that kids (ages 10+) may enjoy?
We've never been to the Carolinas so very much look forward to exploring that part of the US by road. Can you recommend some interesting towns to visit along the way?
You don't say when and where you'll pick up the "coastal route"? For instance, how you plan to drive from Raleigh to Charleston? Will you head straight east on US 64 towards the Outer Banks or not?
If so, you might visit Manteo and then cross the sound to the Outer Banks and go to the Wright Brothers Memorial at Kitty Hawk and the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, among other places. I have really enjoyed visiting the various historic lighthouses along the NC coast. However, that area can be rather raw and quite windy at this time of year, and you'd have to get back to the mainland to head south.
I would, though, recommend a stop at New Bern, one of the oldest towns in NC, and include a visit to the (rebuilt) Tryon Palace. There's also Mitchell's, an historic hardware store a few blocks away, which is fun. We were there a few years ago.
As for restaurants, we met friends who live in Morehead City for lunch at The Chelsea, at their recommendation. It has a creative and varied menu, and we enjoyed it. Down the street is Morgan's Tavern and Grill, which was also recommended.
Beaufort NC is nearby and is interesting. It is an historic seaport town similar in many respects to Georgetown SC. [Incidentally, it's "BOWfort" in NC, and "BYEWfort" in SC - two different places.]
There's also Wilmington and the Cape Fear area, which we haven't visited but want to. Also, the NC Aquariums have three branches along the North Carolina coast. You might check that site to see what you'd be near. We went to the one on Roanoke Island, but I understand the others may be better.
Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head are quite touristy and VERY built up. Our closest neighbors just came back from the former, but I haven't yet had a chance to speak with them about it. Some place like Murrells Inlet would be more appealing to me. We haven't been to Georgetown, but it looks interesting. In general, I'd recommend staying away from the major high-rise tourist destinations and stick to the smaller towns.
Charleston has both -- great historic interest, of course, and much development outside the city. My preference would be to stay somewhere within the historic center of the city. Apparently there are many things that might interest your kids. Check out this site.
If you are a member of AAA, I'd strongly suggest that you pick up a copy of their NC/SC/GA tour book.
As for Savannah, you should check out information from the Great ST GTG a few years ago and subsequent threads.
Steve, we have all sorts of information on our main website about Savannah and the surrounding region. (We had a big Slow Travel GTG there in 2008.) Scroll down on this page for our articles about Savannah, including Fun for Kids in Savannah.
Our family loves the Carolina coast and Savannah. You'll have a great time.
My husband and I spent a week on Hilton Head Island and a week on Edisto Island a few years ago. Here are a few things we enjoyed. Granted, we didn't have any kids along, but aren't we all just big kids?
Charleston - Aquarium, Patriot's Point, the Hunley (Confederate submarine), Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon. "Sticky Fingers" for good barbecue.
Savannah - Savannah History Museum, Railroad Museum and the Civil War Fort located out of town. "The Pirates House" for good food and fun atmosphere (so good we ate there 2 times.)
Of course, I'm a sucker for seeing old houses. I don't remember which ones we went to, but they will be listed in all guide books. We also went to a canal museum north of Charleston, but I don't remember the name of it either.
Denise
Posts: 342 | Location: Central California | Registered: 12 February 2006
Ann, what great tips. I am relying on Google map on driving directions so not entirely sure where to cut over. However, I am not planning on overnighting between Raleigh and Charleston so it's unlikely I will go toward Beaufort NC on this trip. I feel we'd probably be happy anywhere we can grab some roadside BBQs and shrimp and grits, and will just skip Myrtle Beach all together.
One question re. Dress Code. Some of the restaurants (for example, the Peninsula Grill) in Charleston sound pretty formal. Are jeans a definitely no-no in those places? I'd rather not pack another set of attire
To address your last comment first: I haven't been to Charleston for a number of years, and there may, indeed, be a few places there that are a bit more formal than elsewhere, but I really don't know. Anywhere else, I think the most that would be required is what is called "dressy casual," which would include clean jeans. It's amazing how informal dress has become in recent years. We still don't like to see all those ball caps left on in somewhat more formal places, though.
For directions: As I've made clear elsewhere, I'm not a big fan of GPS except for long distance guidance. Yours would probably tell you to take I-40S out of Raleigh and then I-95S all the way to where it intersects with I-26. That would be the fastest route by far, but it wouldn't be along the coast. There really isn't a good "coastal route," particularly in the Carolinas, as there are too many inlets, estuaries, etc.
If you plan to stop by Georgetown SC, you'd get off I-95 farther north. My Google Map suggested leaving the interstate at Dillon SC, just below the NC/SC border, and then taking SC 41 from there to Georgetown. However, it would undoubtedly be faster, if a bit longer, to get off I-95 at Manning SC and taking US 521 east from there.
From Georgetown, you could drive along - or near - the coast, past the Francis Marion National Forest, on US 17/701 to Charleston.
As for food, Dillon is famous or infamous for its roadside offerings at South of the Border (see below - from Roadside America). It also is the hometown of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, for what that's worth. Also, Roadfood.com (the Sterns) recommends The Lone Star BBQ off I-95 at Santee SC. However, you'd only pass by there if you took the interstate-only route (40 to 95 to 26). Maybe on your return trip, if you're not too full by then.
Are you spending any time in the Raleigh area? You say that you've never been to the Carolinas, but you're starting your trip from Raleigh, so are you flying into Raleigh?
As a freelance writer, www.visitnc.com (the official North Carolina website) is one of my clients. So, I am familiar with the free information as well as promotions/discounts that pop up from NC tourism places.
There are FREE travel itineraries (3 of my garden travel itineraries are up there) that you can download. The itineraries are 1-5 day trips, by topic and region of NC.
Raleigh will be in the Piedmont region, but you'll also see it listed as being in the Triangle area. You will want to look at the Coastal area as well.
In the itineraries that I wrote for garden travel, I include restaurants and other interesting sights. You can download as many itineraries that you want since they are free. Unfortunately, when they convert these files to pdf, they don't carry over the links (that I worked hard to include in all of my work!)
If there's a specific topic of interest to you, I am happy to try to answer your questions.
We're very proud of NC, but I love Charleston and Savannah, too!
Myrtle Beach is very built up, but speaking as someone who spent two weeks there every year growing up, I think it is a great place for kids. There is obviously the beach, and there are some really great mini-golf courses. There is a terrific aquarium, go cart riding, golf etc. May be a good place to stop for a night or two that the kids would really enjoy.
There are good seafood restaurants in Murrells Inlet and Pawleys Island.
I found much more to do in Charleston than in Savannah. I could spend days and days in Charleston happily walking around, seeing sights and eating. I really likes Savannah and found it very beautiful and charming, but just didn't find it as interesting as Charleston. I liked Jestine's for an informal lunch. Wish I had tried FIG for dinner, but not sure how much kids would like it.
If you want to stop at a plantation near Charleston, I very much enjoyed Drayton Hall. I have also been to Boone Hall, and liked that one as well.
If you do go to Beaufort, SC you can rent canoes and canoe through the inter-coastal waterway. The SC low country is a really beautiful area.
We found that the Ashley River Road was a great route into Charleston. You might want to detour there even if you don't take that route on your journey to Charleston. It is beautiful and has three plantations open to the public. Drayton Hall was our favorite - the tour of the old house is well worth it. The other two plantations are noted for their gardens, and may not be at their best in Feb. Here is a link to info about the Ashley River Road. http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/13794/index.html
Linda
Posts: 934 | Location: Outlying area of Chicago | Registered: 15 September 2004
I just looked at your photos from Calif. You made some great choices for places to see. I'm glad you stopped in San Juan Batista. Our Missions played such a huge part in our state's history. I hope you enjoyed looking around.
Denise
Posts: 342 | Location: Central California | Registered: 12 February 2006
In Beaufort there is a little bookstore on Bay Street (? main drag?) that sells a small book about movies set in the area - Beaufort/Savannah etc. That makes a nice day of wandering.
PS. South of the Border is abhorrent. Whatever you do, just don't get gas there.
Originally posted by KellyC: Can you tell me how you were able to visit?
Kelly I took a long slow vacation to Canada.
DLSC, thanks. San Juan Bautista is lovely and memorable. I loved that entire areas of California for its great variety in everything. I didn't post the pics from Stockton or Fremont, but I liked those two places too since I'd hardly experienced 42C temperature before. Hah.
