East side Roadtrip

So, I finally told my boss I'm taking two weeks off to go on a roadtrip (yay!) I have basically planned out the route and timing as follows:
(I'll be starting in Long Island, NY and the places stated is where I'd like to end up by nightfall.) Our major stops would be Charlotte, Atlanta and Boca Raton.


June 29- Richmond, VA
July 1- Hiddinite, NC
2- Charlotte, NC
3- Smoky Mountain NP, NC/TN
4- Charlotte, NC
5- (Franklin for the day,NC) Atlanta, GA
6- Atlanta, GA
7- (LaGrange for the day,GA), Atlanta, GA
8- Jacksonville, FL
9- Boca Raton, FL
10- (Everglades NP for the day), Boca Raton FL
11- (Miami for the day), Boca Raton,FL
12- Jacksonville, FL
13- (stop for a while in Savannah, GA) Myrtle Beach,
14- Virginia Beach, VA
15- home :)


What I need help with is what we can see in the areas we stop or along the route. I don't know too much about any of them.
It's my boyfriend and I, and we're interested in hiking, museums, national parks, surfing spots along the east coast. outdoorsy things and cultural festivals. and local food!! ( and yes, we're very compatible roadtrippers :)

Specific info needed:
- what can we see in Richmond and inexpensive places to stay there?
- the best place in the Smokies to see them 'smoky' :) and a campsite that
doesn't have a lot of RV's - no offense! and best short hiking trails. I know
there's Clingman's Dome, are there any by waterfalls?
- best places to go in Charlotte, and to see fireworks!
- food spots in all areas!
- best historic sites in Atlanta ( in association with MLK)
- what's in Jacksonville to see and good surf spot.
- Best part of Everglades to visit. I've done research on the airboat rides and
would like to do a couple hours with only about 6 people. Could anyone
suggest a good company? (there's a gazillion!)
- what to see in Miami? best part to see the cuban culture or eat cuban food
- camping spots along the coast
- what to see in Savannah, Myrtle Beach and Virginia Beach?

hit me with all the tips, trips and info you got!

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Originally Posted by mikphire

- Best part of Everglades to visit. I've done research on the airboat rides and would like to do a couple hours with only about 6 people. Could anyone suggest a good company?

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It is hard to beat going to Flamingo and hiring some local talent for boat trip. In the summer time, it is often easy to find a guide and share the boat with no one else. As far as an alterntative to airboats goes, I would use the advice of Dave Hunter and hire one of the native american guides through the Billie Swamp Tours.

Mark

thank you! I checked them up and they seem pretty good. It's like killing two birds with one stone- you get the culture and outdoors :)

also, do you have any links or threads that people have posted before about these topics?

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Originally Posted by mikphire

also, do you have any links or threads that people have posted before about these topics?

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I asked Southern Oracle to do some looking and report back. She is currently a resident of southern Florida and has a wealth of local knowledge. I am sure she will post soon. One thing you could do is read through her most recent posts...

Here is another post about the 'Glades and if you do a search with everglades as the key word, you will find some more.

Mark

wow! I checked out the links and there is a lot of info! I want to try the authentic food, but gator?... we'll see.
Also checked out that book you recommended- seems very detailed, a little complicated, but that's just from sneaking flips in the bookstore.

Also, would it be better to book camping reservations or just come on the day, for camping along the east coast?

Hi! I apologize for taking a bit to reply, but I was trying to get all the info together first. Ok, shall we start at the beginning?

1. Atlanta. La Grange is such a pretty little town! I house sat for about 2 weeks there and just fell in love with it. I am not familiar with the MLK sites specifically, but while in the ATL I would definitely check out the World of Coca-Cola and the new Georgia Aquarium, which are conveniently right next to each other. I would also make time to visit Stone Mountain, especially at night when they do the awesome laser show. You might even want to see the 4th's fireworks here instead of Charlotte, if that's not too many extra miles that day. While you are in Atlanta, ya gotta eat at least once at The Varsity. It’s an Atlanta institution!

2. Savannah. Another beautiful city. The main things to see in Savannah are the squares, (full of oak trees dripping with Spanish moss and buildings with ornate wrought iron fences and balconies), the Forsyth Park fountain, and the Bonaventure Cemetery, (especially if you are a fan of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil). Savannah is full of places to eat great Southern cooking. Paula Deen has her restaurant there, but it's always about a 2 hour wait. I much prefer Mrs. Wilkes Boarding House. Just take note of their hours, it's not always open. Also, there is a praline shop on River Street (the main area for bars) that gives out free praline samples. Just walk by and follow your nose.

Interesting side trips would be to Wormsloe Plantation, (the ruins aren't that special, but the tree-lined entrance is one of the most photographed spots in the state), and to St. Simon's and Jekyll Islands, (Christ Church, the lighthouse and Jekyll's historic district.) On the way back to I-95 from Jekyll Island is The GA Pig restaurant, some of the best barbecue in the state. Trust me, it looks like a beat up old shack, but the food is awesome. You also should try the Brunswick stew while you are in the Brunswick area!

3. Jacksonville. I don’t really think there is much to see here. What I would do is plan to visit Cumberland Island. You have to reserve in advance and it takes some planning, as the ferry only runs at certain times. But the reward is you get to camp overnight on an almost deserted island, with wild horses running around, a beach to yourself and some historic ruins to tour. This is one of my favorite spots in the South. Planning is essential though, as the island has almost no amenities. I am not sure about the surf in Jax, but the best surf spot in FL is at the Sebastian Inlet.

I think I will cut this off here and make a second post. I don't want to break the server with this post being too long or anything!

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Originally Posted by SouthernOracle

I think I will cut this off here and make a second post. I don't want to break the server with this post being too long or anything!

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We are looking forward to what else you have! So far -- excellent!

Mark

Thank you sooo much for all the information!

Cumberland Island sounds like a dream! Think I'll make extra time to camp out there, (wild horses?! really?)What about Amelia Island and Little Talbot Island- are they worth checking or just concentrate on Cumberland?

I will definitely try to stop at all the eating places mentioned (esp that free praline place ;), think I should stock up on food in Savannah. I thank you most heartily for the foodie tips! (keep it coming!) This is the one area I completely rely on local knowledge, I can google it, but can't sample it :(

Do you know of any more ruins in the south? I wasn't very aware that there would be- but it would be a pleasant surprise.
-thanks for the photography tip- love anything moss-grown, overgrown, crumbling and aged :)

Thanks again for sharing your knowledge! I eagerly await your future posts :)

If you planning on a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, take a look at ActivityGuidebook... more specifically the GSMNP data at this link.

It is a Google map site with all sorts of items marked for the park. You may be most interested in the points of interest... lots of historic buildings, waterfalls, Fontana Dam, etc.

Cheers... Pike

Thank you very much Pike, I checked the link and it had a ton of information that I'll be able to use.

I also changed my plan a bit- based on what Southern Oracle said, think I might devote more time to exploring Savannah and skip Jacksonville on the way back.

I've been checking out options for rental cars and I stumbled upon this 'driveaway' thing where you drive someone's else's car to your destination (or they hook you up with a car that needs to be where you're going)

just wondering if anybody has experience with this?
Is it a 'too good to be true' sort of thing with hidden catches?
- the company I checked was AutoDriveAway

My understanding is that these companies require you to drive straight to the destination without any time allowance for doing any sightseeing along the way. And that you need to keep the miles to the minimum needed for the trip so you won't be able to do any side-trips. I could be wrong. I have no experience with them. But I'd sure double-check on that.

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Originally Posted by mikphire

I've been checking out options for rental cars and I stumbled upon this 'driveaway' thing where you drive someone's else's car to your destination

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It is not a very good option if you are a) tight on time or b)looking for a holiday get-away. It can be excellent if you want a short-term job and want a chance to drive. The time limits are structured so that there is very little time for sight-seeing. Here is a thread with more discussion about it. And here some more information.

Mark

*sigh* I guess it falls under 'too good to be true' :(

thanks for the tips!

Myrtle Beach is just your typical tourist beach. But, if you like camping then Ocean Lakes is very nice. I love going camping there. Broadway at the Beach is good for shopping and dining out. There are alot of little specialty shops there and the tourist shops. There are some really nice interesting restaurants and show themed places, such as The Dixie Stampede and Medeival Times.

Savannah is wonderful. I just got to go there for the first time over my Spring Break this year. River Street is full of bars, but it also has little shops and the BEST candy stores. You can go to Tybee Island and see the Lighthouse out there. There is also Fort Pulaski. It is really interesting if you like history type things. Paula Deen's restaurant is amazing! I got to go there twice,but if you want to eat there you need to call and make reservations. They open the phones to take lunch reservations at 9:30 am. I also suggest Paula's brothers restaurant called Uncle Bubba's Oyster House.


Hope this helps some!!!

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Originally Posted by bhughes718

But, if you like camping then Ocean Lakes is very nice. I love going camping there.

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Thanks for the ideas and suggestions and Welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum!

Mark

Thank you very much for the tips!
I checked out the restaurants and Uncle Bubba's looks yummy :)
Ocean Lakes looks pretty good too- thanks for the heads up!
The Dixie Stampede looks very interesting- I'm sure it's like nothing I've ever seen! -so that's what Dolly Parton's been up to :)

Hey, sounds like a nice trip. Me and my girl did a similar trip over last Christmas. But only did one stop each way to Boca Raton. I've probably been to South-Eastern Florida near 100 times in my life. My favorite places down there are driving along A1A from Jupiter Inlet area to Fort Lauderdale. The beach and pier at Fort Lauderdale are great. I recommend the Southern Bay side of Miami. There is a great outdoor mall there and a lot to do and walk around in that area. And you can see the cruise ships pull in and out from there.

Hey Jesse, thanks for the tips- Fort Lauderdale is definitely in the itinierary :)

Well, I might as well fess up. One of the reasons I'm really going on this roadtrip is that... I am a big (big) fan of the show 'Cash and Treasures' and now I want to do some gem hunting of my own. The thing is, I've never done it before, so I don't know how physically demanding it is, and what shape we would expect to be in at the end of the day, with some miles to drive.

and on another hand, I heard a rumour that 'Forest Gump' was filmed in Savannah??

and I also found out about The King Center in Atlanta, the seemingly best place to go to find out about MLK Jr. They've got his birth home, burial place, and the Ebenezer Baptist Church where 3 generations of his family preached. ah!- to be in one of the key places of the civil rights movement! I'm excited!

all for now. Watch out for those black cats on the road today! ;)

They filmed the opening scene and the parts with Forest on the bench waiting for the bus. they dont have the bench there any more but if you ask anyone, they can tell you what square it was filmed at. I cant quite remember the name of it.

Grab the book "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" before you go. Awesome book about the history and people of Savannah and they also filmed the movie there. They also have a great tour by Ogalthorpe Tours thats $10 and takes you on a 90 minute tour around the down town area and then acts like a taxi service the rest of the day. and i think it is actually a 2 day pass now. Very helpful.

As for Paula's, you need to be there at 9 to put your name on the lunch list. then they will tell you when to come back and you only wait like 20 minutes. Its really not that bad and its really something to see. TONS of people line up for it. Her sons are there durring the week and she's there rarely. But its worth it. the food is awesome. And they dont take phone reservations unless its a holiday. Mrs Wilkes is very good. its family style seating of 10. So if you have 6 people, you'll be at a table with 4 others. And everything is served in big bowls and has to be passed around. The food is awesome and the experience is pretty cool. Something new. Another resteraunt is the Pirate House. Went there, we all had the same thing, and it wasnt good. So dont get the chicken salad sandwich. But their She Crab Soup was the best I have ever had. A bit salty, but thats just me. and the house has a great history and good places for picutres.

I'm currently living in the greater Charlotte area, and I couldnt give you one single thing to do out here. sorry!

Enjoy your trip!

Kelly

Hey Kelly,
thank you very much for the tips. I'm going to pass through Savannah twice, so I think I'll hit Paula's and Mrs. Wilkes at least once :) The tour sounds like a good way explore Savannah, thanks again!

I did some research on the movie too, sadly, they only put the bench there for the movie, in Chippewa Sq, and they had to tear down the family house because it wasn't built to code. The Vietnam scenes were filmed in Fripp Island, SC. and the hurricane scenes were filmed on the waters off of SC in Beaufort.
Think I won't have time to visit them in this trip :(

Does anyone know the fastest route from Franklin GA to the Atlanta airport?

And ever heard of the Gullah?

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Originally Posted by mikphire

Does anyone know the fastest route from Franklin GA to the Atlanta airport?

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I haven't driven this route, myself, but it sure looks like GA-1 to I-85 is the fastest route.

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And ever heard of the Gullah?

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That is a very interesting cultural tradition -- I have wanted to go, but never found a way to get it into the editorial calendar. The annual Gullah festival happens each May -- here is some more info.

Mark

Thanks for the route info:)

I'm sorry I'll be missing the Gullah festival by a matter of weeks. Found out they also do a tour around Charleston with Gullah influences in mind. They are found also around Beaufort where the shrimp boat/hurricane scenes in Forrest Gump were filmed. Their language seems similar to my native trinidadian... should be interesting!

This trip of mine seems to be taking a historical slant of it's own now. In reading up on the places I'm going to visit, I've become fascinated with the Civil War and antebellum places. I know Fort Sumpter is a must for historical importance- what else shouldn't be missed?

If you're driving to the Everglades, at least find the time to see Key West! Tour Hemingway's home and - if you have the time - take a tour boat to the dry tortugas located just west of Key West.

The Purple Cow in Virginia Beach is a great place to experience purple vanilla ice cream and shakes in a diner-style setting! The Virginia Marine Science Museum is a great place, too, and offers boat trips out to the ocean. Enjoy!!

The MLK birthplace and the King Center are fantastic. A must-see, as has already been said. Stone Mountain Park has a very good campground (though there's lots of RVs, you can camp down in the secluded tent-only section alongside the lake) and has a nightly fireworks and lasershow which is kinda tacky, yet somehow great fun! It'd make a good place to stop whilst you're in Atlanta and is an easy drive from downtown.

There are a number of state parks in the Myrtle Beach area where you can camp cheaply and comfortably. I chose Huntington Beach State Park which is a very short stroll to a pretty quiet beach where we watched a beautiful sunset before walking down to nearby Murrells Inlet where we enjoyed some fantastic sea food (be sure to book earlier in the day as it's very popular!) Also at this park you will find the ruins of Atalaya Castle and some alligators!

The Great Smoky Mountains NP is fantastic (I am going there again in August!) but, if you're looking for waterfalls, you're not restricted to the national park. Check out this fantastic site on the waterfalls on North Georgia.

Places to go, my personal big 3
St. Augustine FL
Savannah GA
Charleston SC

It seems like everyones already sold you on Savannah. St. Augustine is one of the oldest cities in America and it shows in all the right ways. They have a great river walk and night life with lots of history all around. It's really a great place especially for a couple. I have the best time when I go there, the people are friendly and the architecture will take you back in time.

Charleston has pretty much the same appeal. It's old, well preserved and extremely romantic.

Look into Amelia Island/Fernandina beach in Florida. It's right on the border with Georgia. It has a state park with camping and the town of Fernandina beach is literally an old pirate high out. In fact the last time I was there they even had pirate ships docked at their pier.

I'm not a Myrtle Beach fan just because I find it hectic. It's a carnival/spring break atmosphere and the local police are far more concerned with handing out as many tickets and arrests as humanly possible than they are about public safety. I'm not saying you can't have a good time there, you can. But if you're in the mood for anything quiet, just skip it. Some good alternatives would be Hilton Head, or Isle of Palms. I agree with the person who suggested you consider St. Simon and Jerkyl Island off the Georgia coast.

Hope you have a great trip.

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Originally Posted by gerard.h

Look into Amelia Island/Fernandina beach in Florida. It's right on the border with Georgia. It has a state park with camping and the town of Fernandina beach is literally an old pirate hide out. In fact the last time I was there they even had pirate ships docked at their pier.

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This sounds like a lot of fun-- thanks for sharing these tips!

Mark

oooh! pirates! could imagine seeing that near sunset :) And I'm just passing through Myrtle Beach- heard enough tips about it to stay away for now... but I'd still like to pop in and take a look around to see what all the fuss is about :)
And a ruined castle!...aaah, are the alligators in the castle or near it? Think I'll be driving near the waterfall region in North Georgia- thanks for the link!
Purple ice cream?...I don't know!
And don't know if I'll be able to do the Keys :( I don't think the Everglades airboat will be too long, so maybe...hopefully! (cross fingers!)

Just want to thank everyone for all the tips! You guys are the best for info! Now, if only I could do everything suggested ... (:-)
(less than a month to go!)

The gators weren't in the ruins... thankfully they were content living in the lake nearby :) The castle was spooky enough after dark without coming into a room and finding an alligator :)

hahaa :D I could see that scenario being on Fear Factor! or some B-side horror flick- thanks for the laugh :)

just wondering if anyone had more information about what to do in Charlotte NC, or it's environs...

Don't know if you have any interest in the sport but, next time I'm in Charlotte, I'm definately going to sign up for one of these tours.

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Originally Posted by Editor

It is hard to beat going to Flamingo and hiring some local talent for boat trip. In the summer time, it is often easy to find a guide and share the boat with no one else. As far as an alterntative to airboats goes, I would use the advice of Dave Hunter and hire one of the native american guides through the Billie Swamp Tours.

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I am very interested, when you get back home, to hear how the trip went. Specifically I'll be very keen to hear if you did the tour that Mark suggested? I am taking a trip to Florida in November and was considering doing a similar tour so will appreciate your feedback!

Home again... sure am tired though :)
Went to all the cities I planned to go, but as usual, things come up that you don't plan and you find a place you really like and linger a little too long... Did some things that weren't recommended, and some that were.

My favourite place turned out to be Savannah. *sigh* really wish I got to spend more time there. It's as romantic and delicately beautiful as everyone said it would be. Walking under the spanish moss swaying in the sunset breeze was a catch your breath feeling. Seemed a very dreamy place, nice relaxed pace.

I didn't do the Everglades tour Mark suggested, but did one that Southern Oracle mentioned in one of her postings. In Florida I spent the most time in and around Boca Raton and Miami. Little Havana was my favourite spot in Florida. Walked round a bit on Calle Ocho and saw some domino players. nice.

I don't have my notes with me, but when I organize them, I'll give more detailed information. Just wanted to thank everyone for their advice! It helped make my trip a memorable one :)

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Originally Posted by mikphire

My favourite place turned out to be Savannah. *sigh* really wish I got to spend more time there. It's as romantic and delicately beautiful as everyone said it would be. Walking under the spanish moss swaying in the sunset breeze was a catch your breath feeling. Seemed a very dreamy place, nice relaxed pace.

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I would love to hear more about this place.

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I didn't do the Everglades tour Mark suggested, but did one that Southern Oracle mentioned in one of her postings.

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Which one was that? How was it?

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In Florida I spent the most time in and around Boca Raton and Miami. Little Havana was my favourite spot in Florida. Walked round a bit on Calle Ocho and saw some domino players. nice.

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Sounds fun.

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It helped make my trip a memorable one :)

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Glad it worked out -- and thanks for the note about the Smokey Mountains in the other thread.

Mark

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Originally Posted by mikphire

June 29- Richmond, VA
July 1- Hiddinite, NC
2- Charlotte, NC
3- Smoky Mountain NP, NC/TN
4- Charlotte, NC
5- (Franklin for the day,NC) Atlanta, GA
6- Atlanta, GA
7- (LaGrange for the day,GA), Atlanta, GA
8- Jacksonville, FL
9- Boca Raton, FL
10- (Everglades NP for the day), Boca Raton FL
11- (Miami for the day), Boca Raton,FL
12- Jacksonville, FL
13- (stop for a while in Savannah, GA) Myrtle Beach,
14- Virginia Beach, VA
15- home :)

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Having lived in this general area all my life, I can shed some light on this subject -- right away I see a major flaw in the plan's first days:

You're looking at the Great Smokey Mountains as a day trip from Charlotte. Actually, they're a 4 1/2 hour drive from Charlotte. You'd be better off to visit Hiddenite, then stay in Charlotte a few days, then head to the Smokeys and on towards Atlanta. With only two weeks, you can't afford to drive all the way back to Charlotte.

Now, details on these places:

Hiddenite is barely a wide spot in the road. Expect to spend about two hours in the actual mining area. Once you find the place, you'll drive up a winding road to the mine, and you'll see one thing for which the NC Piedmont is famous: red clay. Hiddenite is not a picturesque spot -- instead, you'll see cars parked anywhere they can get a spot by the road. The landscape is a mess because they're always using little Bobcats to dig up more dirt. No museum, no gift shop, no guides. Once you're in the "mine area", you'll buy a bucket of dirt and sit down to sift through it. You'll find plenty of stones -- probably nothing valuable, but it's fun. You'll see some "professionals" who are extremely intense about this. Once you're done, there's just a faucet in which you can wash up; you will be very dirty! Bring wet washcloths in a ziplock, and leave them in the sun on the hood of your car -- you'll be glad to be able to clean up before getting back into your car!

The surrounding area is country, country, country. No hotels, no restaurants . . . nothing. If you arrive in Hiddenite by noon, you'll be able to spend two hours at the mine and still be in Charlotte (comfortably) in time for dinner.

If you're interested in mining, you might want to add a stop at Reed's Gold Mine; it's just over the line into Cabarrus County. This is the site of the first-ever gold find in America. There's a little museum, and you can go down into the mine itself. I like the little film in which they show how a 10-year old boy found a huge nugget; I won't say any more so it'll be fun for you to learn about it.

Also in Cabarrus, you can see Lowe's Motor Speedway, the home of NASCAR. I'm not into that myself, but you can tour the Speedway, and there's a little museum right there by the Speedway (it's called Backing Up Classics). There are also some little race-related shops by the speedway.

Farther down the road into Stanly county, you might be interested in Morrow Mountain. It's a small state park and a small mountain, but some experts believe it is the oldest mountain in North America (the theory is that it's worn down over time). We like the old Krohn house, a little house from the 1800s in which a doctor and his family lived. Morrow Mountain is a great place to camp, though it's about an hour's drive from Charlotte. It's clean and family-oriented; it's $12/night.

In this area, be sure to eat some barbeque (um, y'all Yankees think that means hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill, but it's really whole-hog pork baked slowly in a pit of coals, then pulled off the bone -- good eatin'!) and drink Sundrop and Cheerwine, two locally made soft-drinks that are only available here in this area.

Okay, what to do in Charlotte? Beats me. Though I was there today, I don't have much love for the place. Ask questions, and maybe I'll know what to suggest.

The Charlotte history museum's nice. They have the oldest house in Mecklenburg County onsite, and they have the Freedom Bell.

You can see fireworks out by Lowe's Motor Speedway, or you can go down to Carowinds (on the NC/SC line).

Once you leave Charlotte, it's a half-day's drive to the Great Smokey Mountains. There's good white water rafting in numerous places, and you'll want to see the Cherokee Reservation, though it's a bit touristy. If you really want to immerse yourself in the Great Smokey Moutains, hike and spend the night at LeConte Lodge; you cannot drive there -- you must hike.

You'll pass through the Lake Lure/Chimney Rock area on the way; it's touristy, but fun. Cashiers is lovely, as is Brevard. Lots of waterfalls in the Translvannia County area. Lots of good hiking everywhere up there. I want to go to Gorges Park, where you can go BEHIND the waterfall -- haven't been there yet myself.

Grandfather Mountain is fun; you can walk on the mile-high swinging bridge. There's a nice little zoo inside Grandfather Mountain.

Biltmore House is a great stop in Asheville. Allow half a day to tour the house and the gardens. It's the home of the railroad tycoon Vanderbilt. The house is jam packed during the flower shows in the spring and the candlelight Christmas special; however, it should be fine during your timeframe. Do not miss the "downstairs tour" of the servants' areas! I found it more interesting than the fancy upstairs areas. There's a winery on the property, but that doesn't interest me, so I've never been. There's a big emphasis on the environmental side of things at Biltmore; people assume that Vanderbilt came to this area because it was so beautiful . . . not true -- it was desolate, and his foresightedness made it into a lovely forest.

Of course, all these moutain stops aren't close together, so you'll have to get out a map and decide which route you want to take on your way to the Great Smokeys. You can't lose with any of these destinations, but you can't do them all (AND see the other things further South) in your timeframe.

Savannah -- other people've told you the truth! You must eat at Paula Dean's restaurant, The Lady and Sons. The Pirate House is okay. Take a ghost tour of the historic area after dark! It's great! The horse-drawn carriage history tours are good too. Nearby Tybee Island is nice; there's a lighthouse. Skip the Marine Science Center; their youth programs are excellent, but you'll be disappointed if you pay $6 to go into their museum -- it's about six aquariums and a touch tank.

Parking in Savannah is simply impossible during the summer months; if you are not staying in a downtown hotel, you will not be able to visit the city -- literally, you will not be able to find a place for your car. If you stay outside the city, plan to take a taxi to City Marketplace. Take this warning seriously! The tourism is unbelievable in the summer months. Do not camp at the Savannah KOA campground; I did, and it is NOT a safe place -- seriously, the police were running through there during the night looking for some criminals who were fleeing from a crime. Savannah is a city with very good sections and very bad sections. Take care.

Atlanta -- World of Cocoa-Cola, the Aquarium

Myrtle Beach -- other people already told you the truth: it's a tourist trap. If you want to go to a loud, commercialized beach, give it a try.

Hunting Island, however, is just as great as people said. Take bug spray. Climb the light house.

Questions? Please ask!

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Originally Posted by MrsPete

You're looking at the Great Smokey Mountains as a day trip from Charlotte.

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The original poster of this thread, has already returned from her trip (see the last page of this thread) but your tips and suggestions are great and very much welcomed! Hundreds of travelers will benefit from this post! So, Welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum!

Mark

Seems like I'll have to take another trip to the smokies :) Now why didn't you join before ;) I sure could have used the info then!
I found out some of what you said through experience :), like the Hiddenite mine- my friend's remark when we were driving to it was 'this looks like a place people get murdered' :) hehee. It was a bit scary/hairy getting there, and we did spend only a couple hours and I'm STILL trying to get the clay off my shoes!

And as a result of poor distance preparation, I saw moot in the Smokies :)

Savannah was a bit hard to find parking, but we weren't afraid of walking, so we parked a couple streets away from the Riverfront. And actually got a space in Forthsye Park. (score!)

I'll write a report soon on everything I did.
Thanks anyway Mrs Pete! some solid advice there :)

A lot of what MrsPete had to say was useful for me, I'm planning a similar trip for next spring, but coming from Washington to the Smokeys, instead of from Charlotte.