tjw61

Hi.
We are driving from northern NJ to Tybee Island in late March for a total of 7 days. The current plan is to go down close to the coast and return a little further inland. Just curious if anyone has any ideas on sites\stops along the way? We plan on taking the Cape May-Lewes Ferry and Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel on the way down. We are going to Savannah while we are there (maybe stay a night) and are staying on Tybee Island for 2 nights. It is a 13 hour drive so we will be staying somewhere on the way down and back.
Thanks.

oldemalloy

On the way down, you could stop at Chincoteague NP, look at the ponies, snow geese, and other birds, walk on trails and the beach, off season there is some lodging and food near by.

PrairieHikerI

Great Dismal Swamp. This large swamp on the border of Virginia is heavily wooded with cypress, black gun, juniper. Wildlife includes black bears, river otters, bobcats and alligators. Freedom seekers (runaway slaves) created a colony (called maroons) in the swamp. There is the national wildlife refuge and a state park. There is a visitors center, boardwalk and miles of trails for hiking and biking. Explore by kayak deep into the wilderness.

New Bern, NC.This old Colonial town was founded in 1710 by Swiss and German settlers who named it after Bern, Switzerland. The town has three historic districts with some homes and buildings dating back to the early 1700s. It exudes Old South charm and is filled with quaint boutiques and eateries, riverfront attractions, lively entertainment. Visit 1770 Tyrone Palace and gardens.

Beaufort, SC. This historic town has lovely antebelleum homes and trees dripping with Spanish moss and a fairly lively downtown. There is the Spanish Moss Trail, a rail-trail for bicyclists and walkers, which goes to Yemasee. Eat fresh seafood.Twenty minutes away is 5,000-acre semi-tropical Hunting Island State Park which features he miles of white sand beach remain pristine and uncrowded, miles of hiking trails through maritime forest, fishing and a nature center.

Georgetown, SC. As the third oldest town in South Carolina, this Antebellum town has historic American Colonial buildings dating from the 1700s. The historic district features a house dating from 1737. The oak-lined avenues of Georgetown, dubbed “little Charleston”, are alive with history and house art galleries, restaurants and boutiques. There are 50 antebellum mansions and the 1811 Georgetown Lighthouse in the region which was once a major rice and indigo growing area.

Gretchen

On another thread I suggested taking I95 to I40 and then go east to Wilmington NC. Then south from there take Route 17 for a more interesting route to Charleston and south than I95. For reference Charleston is 3 hours from Wilmington--and you go right through Georgetown (1.5 hours from Wilmington) and you could drive around that charming historic town.
You would certainly want to spend a day or so in Charleston.

tjw61

Thanks so much for the ideas! Very much appreciated!