jenblase

My aunt, grandma and I are road tripping next week to visit my uncle/aunt on Hilton Head Island. My aunt has gone driven down there many times before, however she has always gone through the Smokies and stayed overnight in Asheville, NC. Understandably she wants to avoid that route at this time of year since there is the possibility of bad weather in the mountainous areas, so we're taking the route south through Nashville/Chattanooga and then through Georgia.

1) Any quaint/scenic places you could recommend as a halfway point to spend the night? We would probably get to the hotel late Weds but then Thursday we would have time to explore whatever town we stayed in before we continued on our drive. I figured Murfreesboro, TN to be about dead center between us and them, but I doubt there's much going on there?

2) Any recommendations for HHI itself? I imagine the weather won't be too warm so we'll probably be limiting our outdoor activities, other than walking. Good shopping areas of note?

We are also doing an overnight trip to Savannah somewhere in the middle of the week.

Thanks!!
Jennifer

texasbookworm

Chattanooga is more than halfway and may be further than you want to drive but it is a pretty place. If you could add a day to your plan, you could drive to ?? then the next day get to Chattanooga, see the riverfront, Aquarium, maybe ride the Incline, see some Civil War sites--depending on weather and your interests. Then the next day it's not a bad drive to HHI. I grew up in Chattanooga and from 1969-1978 went to HHI every year, traveling through Georgia, and the roads are much better now for a quicker trip. HHI, on the other hand, has grown tremendously. It's basically one big shopping area from before the island all the way to Sea Pines. However, once you get off the main road, into one of the "plantations" or resorts--a different world. (We've been back there from here in Texas about 5 times since 1978--still one of my favorite places in the world, despite growth and change.)

stumpworks73

Your intended drive is the correct route. The Smokies way has a rock slide on I-40 between Knoxville and Statesville. The freeway is closed for an extended period. A friend took the detour recently and it added more than an hour to the trip.

Nashville is a fun stop over close to Murfeesboro. If you can stand a trip out to the Bluebird Cafe or the Exit Inn you can have a night of music. The Vanderbilt/West End area has good restaurants and is right off the highway. The south side of Nashville, Cool Springs is a mall and restaurant area with lots of hotels. Another aquaintance recently visited Chatanooga where they have spruced up the city with a river walk type area and gave it a good review.

You are correct that you will not be swimming in the ocean on this trip. You might get some sunny days to sit by the pool. Other activites include biking, kayaking, or taking one of the nature cruises. A day trip to Savannah's historic area is popular. HHI has a couple of outlet malls just off the island. The island has a mall, Coligny Plaza, Harbor Town, South Beach and Sea Pines Center to name a few shopping stops.

DRJ

The weather on HHI has been fierce. Lows in the 20's and high in the 40's from New Years until the middle of last week. Supposed to be 70 tomorrow, however.

Several hotels and lots of timeshares and villas. I'd contact, for instance, Sea Pines Real Estate or Palmetto Dunes Real Estate for rental choices.

jenblase

Thanks for the replies!!

We don't need a place to stay on HHI, since my uncle and aunt live there year round and actually own hiltonheadvacation.com so we also have a resource in case we needed a place to rent.

Brian_in_Charlotte

Chattanooga is a great little town.

Brian_in_Charlotte

Or more like a small city, but a great place to stop and spend the night.

jent103

I'd pick either Nashville or Chattanooga, depending on how far you want to drive. You are correct that Murfreesboro, while a nice enough place, doesn't have too much going on for the casual visitor. Nashville has a lot to do, though. I don't know if your grandma would want to hit Exit/In - it's standing only, as a lot of clubs here are. The Bluebird might be an option (plan ahead, though). For classic tourist Nashville, the honky-tonks are all on Lower Broadway downtown. If you want to do a little sightseeing the next day, there's plenty to do; check out Cheekwood Botanical Gardens (might not be the best time of year, but it's still nice), Belle Meade mansion or the Frist art museum (though it's got nothing on the Art Institute). You might walk around Hillsboro Village, near Vanderbilt; there are several boutiques and fun shops, and a great coffee shop/restaurant (Fido) along with several other restaurants. For something a little different, the Nash Trash tour gets good reviews, though I haven't been on it yet.

Chattanooga is also really nice - the downtown/riverfront area has a lot going on, and the aquarium there is really amazing. I think either place would be good for a stop.

sf7307

You do know that Savannah is only 30 miles +/- from HHI (making it a good day trip, with no need for a stay-over)?

gregeva1

Restaurant week is going on in HHI the last week of January while you are there and Beaufort would be a nice side trip off the island, art galleries, restaurants, plantations...we usually drive from Chicago to Atlanta (11 hours) and then the next 4 hours to HHI. Safe travels, we head there at the end of March.