In about two weeks, I'll be driving with my family from NJ to Miami. We have 5 days to make the drive, and are looking for ideas on places to visit on the way down. We're not into museums or historical buildings, but like walking around interesting cities and towns and looking at architecture, parks, gardens, and shops. We are fairly outdoorsy, but won't have time for any hiking; however, the outdoorsy type of scene is what we like. Some of our favorite places to visit have been Acadia (Maine), Moab (Utah), and Asheville (NC). I'm looking for recommendations of cute towns that we can stop in on the way down or places to visit/neighborhoods to walk through in some of the major cities (Savannah, Charleston, etc).

Any suggestions?

-Michele

Beaufort, SC (different than the one in NC). It is an authentic southern town - beautiful views, architecture and some nice little shops. If possible visit the beginning of the week - because the other significance of the town is that it is adjacent to Parris Island - large Marine training facility and every weekend they graduate a class of new Marines - town is more crowded and hotel costs about double.

Gettysburg, PA

Savannah or Charleston - I like Charleston better, but think Savannah has more interesting architecture.

In both Savannah and Charleston, the neighborhoods you want to visit are the historic districts.

If you go to Beaufort you may want to also visit Hunting Island.o
Beaufort, NC is nice as well. So is Richmond.

FIVE days? St. Augustine; agree about Beaufort, SC (used to live there) and suggest you be there on a non-weekend.

Wilmington, NC has a nice historic district. Pawley's Island beach has a historic district (you can drive by the old beach houses and read the placards). Georgetown also--homes and waterfront dating from Revolutionary War times. Heading on down Route 17 to Charleston, there are several plantations to see that are not at all well known or on the "tourist track".
Instead of taking i95 to Charleston, I recommend when you hit I40 in NC you take it to Wilmington, NC and then take route 17 on down the coast. The road is 4 lane and basically will be as quick in time as I95 because it stays on the coast.

And while you say you don't do museums, etc. Brookgreen Gardens is a little treasure at Litchfield, just south of MB. And the Huntingtons home, Atalanta, across the highway from Brookgreen. Anna Huntington was a prodigious metal sculptor and the site is of an old Plantation. They bought it in the 20's (?) and made it into gardens with beautiful art work scattered within. They lived at Atalanta 6 months of the year--it is a truly interesting piece of architecture--Moorish influence. It is not a lengthy tour, but interesting. The Gardens are lovely.