pgoody

I live in FL and am looking for an adult road trip this summer. I have been to St. Augustine down to the keys. I've been to the panhandle. I've been the east coast route....savannah, charleston, etc. I want to take a week and explore but have no idea of where to go. Love all types of places, new adventures, lots of food. Can someone please help me out?

tomfuller

Old joke: I'd love to help you out... Which way did you come in?
Have you ever been to Washington DC? How about New Orleans if you want to stay in the south?

pgoody

Lived in NY and Boston so have been to DC many times. Have also been to New Orleans but was also thinking of that as a possibility. Last year we did the panhandle-Tennessee route. Great trip! Thanks for your reply.

starrs

Do what smart Floridians do - go to the cool mountains. Seems like 1/2 the ones I know have second homes there.

Here's a possible trip -
About 1.5 miles north of Orlando, stop at Cross Creek.
Visit Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings' home. Fascinating.
https://www.floridastateparks.org/pa...innan-Rawlings
She led a fascinating life, in the scrubland of Florida, surrounded by cracker neighbors and visited by her literary peers from NYC.

On to Milledgeville, GA.
Visit Flannery O'Connor's farm, Andalusia
http://andalusiafarm.org/

Drive a little bit further and spend the night in Madison GA

starrs

DON'T CLICK ON THAT LAST LINK!

It's suspicious! Sorry. Use this one from TA -
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...e_Georgia.html

See her peacocks, that show up on her new stamp -
http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketc...526-story.html

starrs

In Madison, stay at the James Madison -
http://jamesmadisoninn.com/

Or at the Ritz Carlton Reynolds Plantation on Lake Oconee
http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Proper...on/Default.htm

If you stay in Madison, you can wander around the little town, shop a bit and eat at several good restaurants. The town is full of antebellum homes, one of the 10 prettiest in the US, the town "too pretty for Sherman to burn".

You can eat a southern meal at the Blue Willow Inn a few miles down the road. Or stay in Twelve Oaks in Covington, the house that inspired the home in Gone with the Wind -
http://www.thetwelveoaks.com/

Whichever you choose, head north on 441 toward the mountains the next day.

starrs

About an hour later, you'll go through Athens GA. You could stop and stroll the little downtown a bit if you want or eat lunch if you got a late start. The state botanical gardens is outside of Athens if that's of interest.

Continue north on 441 and about an hour later, you'll reach the lovely little town of Clayton GA. You could spend a night or two here, maybe at the historic Parker Ranch (tourist rooms $80) or the historic Lake Rabun hotel. One of the top 100 restaurants in the US is in the little town of Clayton - he moved from the LRH.

Before you get to Clayton, stop in Tallulah Falls and go to Tallulah Gorge State Park. Stroll along the rim and ooh and ahh at the waterfalls. If you are so inclined, hike 999 steps or so, into the gorge and to the suspension bridge. Only the first 100 people each day are allowed to go to the gorge floor, so if you spend the night you may want to do that the next day. Nic Wallende may recreate his grandfather's walk across the gorge on a tightrope in June.

There are three lovely wineries in the area and an old fashioned drive-in at the tiny town of Tiger. It's like going back in time, to a family owned drive-in with about 4 terraced grass hills. A wonderful way to enjoy a chilly summer night.

North of Clayton is Black Rock Mountain State Park with gorgeous views, several hikes and an almost level hike along Black Rock lake if you'd rather stroll. Lots of antique shops in the area, including Dillard and the famous Dillard House restaurant also. If you like to ride horses, they do a nice trail ride.

Head due north on 441 toward FRanklin NC or detour a bit to the fancy little town of Highlands NC with ritzy shopping. The drive from Highlands over to Franklin has two lovely waterfalls just by the curvy road.

Continue on north with your destinations of either the Great Smoky Mountain NP or Asheville NC. I vote for Asheville. Be sure to visit the gorgeous Biltmore Estate, the largest private home in the US. If you want to stop by another town with lots of waterfalls nearby, go to Brevard Drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway if you wish. At Asheville, you're about 10 hours back to Orlando so you can head back or continue on into the NC mountains.

That's a road trip I love.

Heebzzz1

@starrs
That's really good. I liked the whole of your idea.

Ackislander

I agree with starrs 100%.

When I lived in Tampa as a child, every summer we made the trip to my grandmother's house in South Carolina where it meets NC and Georgia. We drove right up 441 but never stopped for any of the places she mentions because we were hell for leather to get to the mountains.

But my wife and I made a nostalgia trip on the same route a few years ago and enjoyed Milledgeville and particularly Madison as she describes. I have been to every town and attraction she describes, and they are all Worth It!

starrs

Thanks, Ack.
We went on a little road trip last month and went to Symmes Chapel. Talk about gorgeous! Have you been? I had no idea it existed.