11 days SE coast road trip
 

Hey all,

My girlfriend and I will be arriving in Atlanta on Sept.2 and have two days there. We then rent a car and have 11 days with it, dropping it off at the Atlanta airport on the last day. Here is our proposed itinerary. Any suggestions and feedback would be great, especially with regards to which plantation houses to visit, etc.

Sept. 2:
- Arrive in Atlanta at 1250pm by bus
- Day in Atlanta
- World of Coca-cola
- CNN (is the tour worth it or just check out the building?)
- Fox theatre (tour worth it?)
- Martin Luther King House
- OVERNIGHT IN ATLANTA

Sept. 3:
- Day in Atlanta
- Rest of what didn't get seen above
- OVERNIGHT IN ATLANTA

Any other recommendations of things to see and do in Atlanta?

Sept. 4:
- Pick up car at 0700hrs in downtown Atlanta
- Drive to Bellwood Quarry
- Drive to Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia (3h15mins) and visit (on way to MB)
- Drive to Myrtle Beach (2hr 30mins)
- Walk around promenade/boardwalk
- OVERNIGHT IN MYRTLE BEACH

Sept. 5:
- Day in Myrtle Beach
o Beach
o Boardwalk/promenade
- Shopping
- Carolina Opry (already have tickets)
- OVERNIGHT IN MYRTLE BEACH

Sept. 6:
- Drive to Brookgreen Gardens (30mins)
- Drive via Pawley's Island (worth a quick look??) and Georgetown (worth an hour??) to Boone Hille Plantation
o Drive to Middleton Place Plantation
- Drive to Magnolia Plantation
- Drive to Dayton Hall
*If not worth visiting all 4 what would be the best recommendations?*
- Drive to Charleston (25mins)
- Horse carriage ride through historic part of town if time permits
- OVERNIGHT IN CHARLESTON

Sept. 7:
- Day in Charleston
o Old city market
o Walk from here around waterfront park to battery/white point gardens and back through streets
o Rainbow Row
o King St (Shopping)
o Fort Sumter national monument
o Charles Town Landing
o Eat – Sticky Fingers? (Ribs)
- OVERNIGHT IN CHARLESTON

Sept. 8:
- Drive to Beaufort (1hr 15mins)
- Visit for a couple hours
- Drive to Hilton Head Island (45mins)
- Day on Hilton Head Island
o Rent bikes
o Go to beach (Coligny)
- OVERNIGHT ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND

Sept. 9:
- Drive to Savannah
- Day in Savannah
o Tram tour of historic district
o Walk amongst squares
• Picture @ Chippewa Square (Forest Gump bench)
o Forsyth park
o Bonaventure cemetery
o City Market
o River St
o Savannah riverboat cruise
o Foody tour
o Cobble stoned river walk
• Eat at lazy lizards (upstairs porch)
• Look for old lady handing out $1 margarita coupons
- OVERNIGHT IN SAVANNAH

Sept. 10:
- Day in Savannah
o See above for things that we don't get to see on day 1
- Tybee island ½ day? (Is this worth it if we are seeing Saint Simones and Jykell the next day?)
- OVERNIGHT IN SAVANNAH

Sept. 11:
- Drive to Saint Simone Island (1hr 22mins)
o Couple of hours
- Drive to Jekyll Island
o What is the best things to do here?
- Turtle farm?
- Gottage tour?
- Best beaches?
- OVERNIGHT ON JEKYLL ISLAND

Sept. 12:
- Drive to Okefenokee Swamp (1hr 20mins)
- Drive to St. Augustine (2hr)
o Afternoon in St. Augustine
- Anything specific to do that we shouldn't miss?
- OVERNIGHT IN ST. AUGUSTINE

Sept. 13:
- ½ day at beach (St. Augustine or Ponta Vedro)
- ½ day at World Golf Hall of Fame
- OVERNIGHT IN ST. AUGUSTINE

Sept. 14:
- Drive from St. Augustine to Atlanta Airport (5 1/2 hours)
- Drop off car at 230pm
- Fly ATL to YVR at 530pm

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

A few too many tourist sites for most Americans, but I love to go to Brighton when I am in the UK!

More plantations than I could manage.

Jekyll Island is very, very quiet. It used to be a summer colony of the great and the good, and their houses and other arrangements are still there, many still occupied. St Simons and the adjacent Sea Island are somewhat livelier and would be my choice for the overnight, at the King and Prince if the budget allows, mostly for its location.

I would not drive out of my way to see Okefenokee Swamp because you will pass through it or very near on your way back to Atlanta.

Look into Amelia Island and especially Fernandina Beach. I prefer it to St Augustine. Relaxed vibe for beach going.

You are traveling at a good time, barring hurricanes, since children are back in school so only weekends are likely to be at all busy. You need a Plan B if hurricanes are expected. By the way, St Simons is in a kind of protected bight in the coast so hasn't suffered the kind of hurricane damage that areas north and south have had.

Eat at The Varsity in Atlanta, for your "rest of what to do".
Let's start up at MB.
Brookgreen Gardens is really worth several hours. It is an art and sculpture garden on an old plantation.
Pawley's Island (the historic district ON the island is worth a drive through to see where the rice planters of Charleston spent summers to escape the malarial mosquitoes.
Georgetown is definitely worth stopping by to see a lovely historic Revolutionary War era town.

'way too many plantations!! We like Middleton. Other folks will suggest others.
I think you have SO shortchanged Charleston. Drop Hilton Head and extend at least a day in Charleston.

I think you could consolidate better if you omitted Jekyll and St Simon's also--lovely places but you are rushing many others that deserve a bit more time to really enjoy, IMO.

That's busy!

I will say, with all the fabulous food in Charleston, you're missing out by going to Sticky Fingers. Go to Magnolia's instead.

Thank you for the feedback.

I read a proposed itinerary on Frommer's regarding the plantations around Charleston and it recommended to push through all four in a day. I know realize that it is extremely unrealistic.

My car rental is unfortunately booked in and is not able to be changed so it looks like I will have to leave Atlanta at 7am on the 4th. Also, we are meeting a friend who is staying on Hilton Head so that is why we are going there. I agree that it may not be the most spectacular use of our time but it is unfortunately unavoidable. At the end of the day, a beach is a beach anyways, and we are staying right on Coligny beach.

I have changed things up a bit to hopefully make things more realistic and have more time. Unfortunately with doing so, I was unable to open up much extra time in Charleston due to the Hilton Head commitment. The main thing I am curious about it the day we leave Savannah that I have proposed to go to St. Simone's and Jekyll island. We need to get close to St. Augustine so figured that was a good mid way point and a good day of beach/activities. What would you suggest doing instead of this if this isn't my best option? Only 1 island? Cumberland and sleep in St. Mary's?

Here is the update:

Sept. 2:
- Arrive by bus in Atlanta by 1250pm
- World of Coke (VIP tour)
- Martin Luther King District
- Carter Presidential Library
- (Don't care too much for the aquarium, what else would work? Am 50/50 on CNN tour)
- OVERNIGHT IN ATLANTA

Sept. 3:
- Day in Atlanta
- Rest of list above
- OVERNIGHT IN ATLANTA

Sept. 4:
- Pick up car at 0700hrs
- Drive to Bellwood Quarry (11mins)
- Drive to Riverbanks Zoo ($13.95) (3hr 15mins) *mostly as a stretch legs activity to break up the drive*
- Drive to Myrtle Beach (2hr 30mins)
- OVERNIGHT IN MYRTLE BEACH

Sept. 5:
- Day in Myrtle Beach
o Beach
o Boardwalk/promenade
- Caroline Opry show at 7pm (already have tickets)
- OVERNIGHT IN MYRTLE BEACH

Sept. 6:
- Drive to Brookgreen Gardens ($15) for 9:30 open (30mins)
- Drive to Pawley’s island – drive thru historic district (13mins)
- Drive to Georgetown (18mins)
- Drive to Boone Hall Plantation ($20) (56mins) *Open until 630pm*
- Drive to Charleston (25mins)
o Drinks at Pavilion rooftop bar for sunset?
- OVERNIGHT IN CHARLESTON

Sept. 7:
- Day in Charleston
o Old city market
o Walk from here around waterfront park to battery/white point gardens and back through streets
o Rainbow Row
o King St (Shopping)
o Fort Sumter national monument
- Old Slave Mart Museum?
o Charles Town Landing
o Horse carriage ride ($25) last ride at 5pm
- OVERNIGHT IN CHARLESTON

Sept. 8:
- Drive to Magnolia Plantation (28mins) *Opens at 8am*
- Drive to Hilton Head Island (1hr49mins)
- Day on Hilton Head Island
o Rent bikes
o Go to beach (Coligny)
- OVERNIGHT ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND

Sept. 9:
- Drive to Savannah (45mins)
- Visit Bonaventure Cemetery and Wormsloe Historic Site on way in
- Day in Savannah
o Tram tour of historic district
o Walk amongst squares
• Picture @ Chippewa Square (Forest Gump bench)
o Forsyth park
o City Market
o River St
o Savannah riverboat cruise
o Foody tour
o Cobble stoned river walk
• Eat at lazy lizards (upstairs porch)
• Look for old lady handing out $1 margarita coupons
- OVERNIGHT IN SAVANNAH

Sept. 10:
- Day in Savannah
o 1/2 day - See above for remainder of activities
- 1/2 day Tybee island
- OVERNIGHT IN SAVANNAH

Sept. 11:
- Drive to Saint Simone Island (1hr 22mins)
o Couple of hours
- Drive to Jekyll Island
o
- OVERNIGHT ON JEKYLL ISLAND

*This day is still very much up on the air and suggestions on what to do instead/modify would be great*

Sept. 12:
- Drive to Okefenokee Swamp ($25 w boat tour) (1hr 20mins) *Opens at 9am*
- Drive to World Golf Half of Fame ($19.50) (1hr50mins) *Open until 6pm*
o Drive to St. Augustine (20mins)
- OVERNIGHT IN ST. AUGUSTINE

Sept. 13:
- Full day to do anything
o Beach (what is the best around?)
o Poke around town
- OVERNIGHT IN ST. AUGUSTINE

Sept. 14:
- Drive to Atlanta Airport
- Drop off car at 1430hrs
- Fly ATL to YVR

When we travel, we generally like to be busy and see and do as much as we can with our time. We do also enjoy relaxing of course, which is why we have full 1/2 days here and there for beach time and a full day at the end for a whatever day. We are used to getting up early 8am ish and going out for a later dinner 730-8pm ish. We usually like to sit down somewhere for lunch and maybe for a coffee or beer at some point but other than that really enjoy walking and seeing the sights, and are avid photographers.

I would drop the Charles Towne landing site from your day in Charleston, particularly if you are doing the Fort Sumter tour. I love the Fort Sumter tour, but it is time consuming. Plan on it taking almost 3 hours by the time you board the boat, travel to the fort, spend an hour at the fort, and then return back to the dock.

See revised:

Sept. 2:
- Arrive by bus in ATL at 1250pm
- World of Coke (VIP tour)
- Walk around Centennial Olympic Park
- Check out CNN building (tour not worth it?) Could do 5pm tour if so...
- Walk to see Georgia State Capitol
- OVERNIGHT IN ATLANTA

Sept. 3:
- Day in Atlanta
o Civil and Human Rights Museum
o Martin Luther King District
o Oakland Cemetery? WORTH IT???? (Be there by 5pm to get a self-guided walking tour map)
- OVERNIGHT IN ATLANTA

Sept. 4:
- Pick up car at 0700hrs
- Drive to Bellwood Quarry (11mins)
- Drive to Riverbanks Zoo ($13.95) (3hr 15mins)
- Drive to Myrtle Beach (2hr 30mins)
o Night at the boardwalk
- OVERNIGHT IN MYRTLE BEACH

Sept. 5:
- Day in Myrtle Beach
o Beach
o Boardwalk/promenade/shopping
- Caroline Opry show at 7pm
- OVERNIGHT IN MYRTLE BEACH

Sept. 6:
- Drive to Brookgreen Gardens ($15) for 9:30 open (30mins)
- Drive to Pawley’s island – drive thru historic district (13mins)
- Drive to Georgetown (18mins) for lunch
- Drive to Boone Hall Plantation ($20) (56mins) *Open until 630pm*
- Drive to Charleston (25mins)
o Drinks at Pavilion rooftop bar for sunset?
- OVERNIGHT IN CHARLESTON

Sept. 7:
- Day in Charleston
o Get on 9am Horse carriage ride ($25) lasts 1hr
- Leaves from Market
o Old city market (have between 10am-12pm to explore)
o Buy combo pass and take 12pm boat to Fort Sumter national monument (arrives back at 2:15pm) ($41 with carriage combo)
o Walk from Market around waterfront park to battery/white point gardens and back through streets
• Rainbow Row
• King St (Shopping)
- OVERNIGHT IN CHARLESTON

*Charles Town Landing -- How worth it is this? Worth going to on the way out of Charleston the next day?

Sept. 8:
- Drive to Magnolia Plantation (28mins) *Opens at 8am*
- Drive to Hilton Head Island (1hr49mins)
- Day on Hilton Head Island
o Rent bikes
o Go to beach (Coligny)
- OVERNIGHT ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND

Sept. 9:
- Drive from HHI (leave by 830am) to Wormsloe Historic Site for quick picture of driveway ok Oaks/Hanging moss (1h8mins)
- Drive to Bonaventure cemetery (12mins) (spend 1-1.5hrs)
- Drive to Tybee island (24mins) (spend 3hrs or so)
- Drive to Savannah hotel (26mins)
o Savannah river boat cruise @4pm-5pm
o River St walk along waterfront
• Appy at One Eyed Lizzy’s (upstairs porch)
• Look for old lady handing out $1 margarita coupons
o Haunted tour? 10pm? WORTH IT?
- OVERNIGHT IN SAVANNAH

Sept. 10:
- Day in Savannah
o Wander around town amongst squares/City Market
o Savannah Taste Experience food tour 1145am-245pm
• HAS ANYONE DONE THIS? WORTH IT?
o Walk amongst squares not yet seen
• Picture @ Chippewa Square (Forest Gump bench)
• Forsyth park
- OVERNIGHT IN SAVANNAH

Sept. 11:
- Drive to Saint Simone Island (1hr 22mins)
o Spend a couple of hours
- Drive to Jekyll Island
o Spend afternoon
- OVERNIGHT ON JEKYLL ISLAND

Sept. 12:
- Drive to Okefenokee Swamp ($25 w boat tour) (1hr 20mins) *Opens at 9am*
- Drive to World Golf Half of Fame ($19.50) (1hr50mins) *Open until 6pm*
o Drive to St. Augustine (20mins)
- OVERNIGHT IN ST. AUGUSTINE

Sept. 13:
- Full day to do anything
o ½ day at beach (what is the best around?)
o ½ day poke around town:
• Fiesta Falls mini-golf at La Fiesta Inn near beach?
• Fountain of Youth (worth it? How long does it take?)
- OVERNIGHT IN ST. AUGUSTINE

Sept. 14:
- Drive to Atlanta Airport
- Drop off car at 1430hrs

Thoughts?

No thoughts that I didn't offer first time around, with one exception:

what do you do when it rains? It will, not likely all day rain but semi-tropical thunderstorms at times when you have outdoor activities planned.

One way to get another day or so in Charleston would be to do your Atlanta stuff on the end of your trip. Cut down on Jekyll and St. Simon's. Just make a "travel day" to ST. A. It would free up a lot of time, IMO

I don't think going through the city market in Charleston will take 2 hours, unless it's so packed it's hard to get through.

Drayton Hall is the plantation with the original (not restored) house. The house at Boone Hall is not original. The gardens at Boone are nice, but by September little is blooming because of the heat. It will be ungodly hot. You know that, right?

As for the rain, we obviously cannot predict the weather. We will go in with a plan and adapt if it rains. For example, the morning we head from Charleston to HHI, if it is raining then we will stick around in Charleston for a bit longer and at least enjoy the cuisine. Other cities have museums, etc which we can do in place of a few other things if the weather does not cooperate. I like to plan for the best and adapt where needed.

Like I said, we have a few things we are stuck on, and HHI is one of them. Another is the dates of the car rental. Therefore, it is not possible to do Atlanta at the end of the trip unfortunately.

When I said '2 hours' in the market, I put that down as a filler. I didn't figure it would take that long and figured we could probably see/do something else close by between that time. I was setting it up that way more to get feedback on whether or not that seemed like a reasonable day.

As for the plantations, everyone seems to have their own opinions about what the see and do. Although a few people have mentioned Drayton, is appears to be near the bottom of everyone's list. I made the call to choose two that looked interesting for different reasons (magnolia for the gardens/swamp, and boone for the gullah show). I was hoping to pop by Drayton to take a look at the architecture and snap a photo if viewing from outside of the ticket booth allows. If not, that is ok too.

Some parts of the trip just can't be changed due to certain reasons. I appreciate all the feedback, however I guess I should outline where I need some guidance.

Any thoughts of the Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta?

Is the Charles Town landing something major that we are missing? Or is it not the end of the world if we skip it?

Do our 2 days in Savannah seem logical? Is it possible to have 2 1/2 hour and then another 3 1/2 hours to wander most of the squares and soak it in?

Any thoughts on the Fountain of Youth? We are going to St. Augustine mostly for the World Gold Hall of Fame, hence why I did not change the plan to your suggestions of Amelia Island. I looked it up, and although beautiful, a half day on the beach anywhere will be nice to me if it means being able to see the Hall of Fame.

We do not have any time to do any attractions on our way back to Atlanta ad the drive is already 5 1/2 hours and we need to drop off the car at 230pm. Even if we got up and left at 7am, which I don't want to do, we would be rushing the swamp at that point. This is why I did not modify that suggestion.

find the Charleston market to be a LOT of kitsch--just so you know. Historically, it is wonderful.
I would take some time out of HH to see more of Charleston--as you suggest you could if it were raining.
I'll let someone speak to "Charlestown Landing" but have never gone in MANY years of visiting Charleston.
OH, and PLEASE don't spend your one memorable meal in Charleston at Sticky Fingers--it's a chain.

Also, I am not set on spending the night on Jekyll island, however when most people are advising me to drop that section, they are doing so with the idea that I can add that day in Charleston. Due to the commitment on HHI (meeting a friend that afternoon/evening) in between those two stops, that would mean we would have to back track driving, which doesn't make sense. Based on these factors, what would be the advice for this day? Stick to 1 island? Skip by them all together and do something else?

I would skip the Charles Town Landing. It's in the general vicinity as three of the plantations you are considering, so if you do have extra time, I would go to another one of them instead.

Middleton Plantation offers a combination ticket with the Edmondston-Alston House in downtown Charleston. I shouldn't suggest more to your itinerary, but it is an historic house. If you are going to tour one house, downtown, you might want to consider this one.

http://edmondstonalston.com/

I agree with kathleen. With your limited time, skip Charles Towne.

As much as I would love another day in Charleston, it doesn't look feasible.

Does it seem reasonable to be able to wander around a lot of the main sights and pop into the Edmonston house in a 4 hour time span?

I figure we will do the carriage ride, have a couple hours at the market and shopping/pictures with the pineapple fountain before our boat trip to the Fort. Then we should be back by 230 and probably have until 630ish to explore before well deserved drinks and dinner.

From google maps, it seems like this is not a lot of walking so I figured we should be able to see most of the sights at a leisurely pace during that time?

Charleston is very walkable

most people are advising me to drop that section, they are doing so with the idea that I can add that day in Charleston. Due to the commitment on HHI

No, I'm not suggesting that. I suggested it so you could add ATLANTA at the END of the trip and add some days in Charleston instead.
Why not check to change your car rental.
But.... enjoy whatever.

You also need to factor in the heat. You might need a cool off break after you get back from Ft. Sumter. Are you staying in the HD (I hope)?

I did check about the car and to change it would cost me an extra $160. Not worth it.

And yes, hotel is in HD

Brookgreen gardens is lovely. Allow plenty of time to see it, perhaps a couple of hours.

Allow some time to walk on the beach on Pawley's Island.

Georgetown has restaurants with nice decks for eating outside for lunch.

it would cost me an extra $160. Not worth it.

I have returned a number of times, and am finally going to say sometimes penny wise and pound foolish. And it IS your trip. You seem to like the exhibits and things and we all have our focus. We've never discovered where you are coming from. I suspect abroad. Hope you have a great trip.

Here are a few places we've enjoyed in your target areas:
--Jekyll Island-loved our dinner at Latitude 31, especially a dish similar to Shrimp Mozambique (but may have been called by a different name on their menu)
--Savannah and Charleston-River Street Sweets for heavenly pralines.
--St Auggie beach-try Matanzas Inlet, heading south on A1A towards Flagler Beach. Fort Matanzas National Historical site is nearby (good spot for a picnic); Marineland is a couple of miles further south, offering a good option for a rainy day.

Enjoy your trip--sounds like fun!

Can't comment on entire itinerary, but a couple of suggestions come to mind.

We found Oakland Cemetary in Atlanta interesting, and it might be something to add if you find that sort of thing intriguing. Also in Atlanta, Piedmont Park is enormous and offers some welcome green space.

In MB, you may find that one visit to the Boardwalk is sufficient (you have it listed for both days). I would keep it on your first evening, take a walk, grab dinner along the way, before heading back to your hotel. If you like Mexican food, try Banditos. The food is fine, but they have outdoor seating on a covered deck, as well as in an outdoor bar area. The might also have a band, depending on when you visit. Landshark is also ocean-side, and has deck and outdoor seating, if you prefer a burger/sandwich type of place. I *believe* it's part of the Margaritaville/Jimmy Buffet chain.

For shopping on Day 2 in MB, there is the huge outlet mall, but you could try Broadway at the Beach before the Carolina Opry. Lots of shops, restaurants, and typical tourist attractions (Ripleys, speedboats, mini golf, etc). Barefoot Landing is in the same vein.

Some thoughts on this itinerary:

Is the Bellwood Quarry (aka Westside Park) open? Last time I was there (early in the morning) looked like no way to get into it. I thought it was still in the planning stage.

Tour of the Fox Theater is very much worth it. Or get tickets to a show.

Oakland Cemetery is interesting if you're into Atlanta "celebs." As it looks like you're into golf, Bobby Jones is one of the celebs buried there.

You might want to consider the Atlanta History Center to learn about the US Civil War and Atlanta's place in it (roughly 150 years ago. It also has a small exhibit on Bobby Jones.

Another place to consider eating in Atlanta is the Colonnade Restaurant (on Cheshire Bridge near Piedmont). It's old time Atlanta. Much better food than the Varsity, at least if you're older than college age.

I don't think Tybee Island has enough attractions to spend the amount of time you've allotted to it. It's got a lighthouse and that's about it. If you're going to Jekyll or St Simon's, I'd skip it.

I'd skip the Okefenokee Swamp. Too difficult to get there v the things to see--particularly at that very buggy time of year.

Instead, I'd go to Amelia Island and stroll around Fernandina Beach.

The Fountain of Youth is tacky fun. We went once, won't go again.

But you're missing the Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine, which is very very interesting. By far the best thing to see in St. A., IMO. We go there whenever we're in St. A. And strolling around the historic area is a close second.

Check out the Columbia Restaurant. Pretty authentic Cuban food. However, the waits can be very long.

St. Augustine Beach is pretty nice, IMO, and close if you decide to spend some time at the beach.

Second Fort Matanzas. Well worth a look if you have time.

Hope you all have a great trip!

The Colonnade is a fun restaurant--on Diners Driveins and Dives, and a real typical OLD time Southern restaurant. Great food. The varsity is another mainstay of Atlanta--different.
If the OP is so into golf, is he going to play--like in MB?

Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine is something you should see, great old fort. http://www.floridashistoriccoast.com...9oGxoCpHLw_wcB

St Georges St is very nice for an evening stroll. We like eating at Mehans pub or Harrys.
http://augustine.com/restaurant/meeh...-seafood-house
St George's Inn is where we stay also.
My cousin always stays at the world of golf resort so you might like that.
Savannah, stay on Bay St.

Hey all,

Thank you everyone for the feedback. It has all been very helpful, and although I have taken some of your advice, and not others, I appreciate all of it.

For those that were asking, we are 29 and 26 and are travelling from Vancouver, Canada. I do love golf, but due to an unfortunate shoulder injury I will not be able to play :( SOOO many nice courses that I will be missing out on.

Here is my latest revised itinerary. I think this makes the most sense for us as it seems tow work out where we get a half beach day or so every day or two. We have a couple of long days, but that is okay when we get to relax the following. Things may still change as I am open to more feedback, but will likely be pretty close to my final draft:

Sept. 3:
- Day in Atlanta
o Civil and Human Rights Museum
o Fox Theatre for a picture
o Martin Luther King District
o Oakland Cemetery? (Be there by 5pm to get a self-guided walking tour map)
- OVERNIGHT IN ATLANTA

Sept. 4:
- Pick up car at 0700hrs
- Drive to Riverbanks Zoo ($13.95) (3hr 15mins)
- Drive to Myrtle Beach (2hr 30mins)
o Night at the boardwalk
- OVERNIGHT IN MYRTLE BEACH

Sept. 5:
- Day in Myrtle Beach
o Beach
o Boardwalk/promenade/shopping
- Caroline Opry show at 7pm
- OVERNIGHT IN MYRTLE BEACH

Sept. 6:
- Drive to Brookgreen Gardens ($15) for 9:30 open (30mins)
- Drive to Pawley’s island – drive thru historic district (13mins)
- Drive to Georgetown (18mins) for lunch
- Drive to Boone Hall Plantation ($20) (56mins) *Open until 630pm*
- Drive to Charleston (25mins)
o Drinks at Pavilion rooftop bar for sunset?
- OVERNIGHT IN CHARLESTON

Sept. 7:
- Day in Charleston
o Get on 9am Horse carriage ride ($25) lasts 1hr
• Leaves from Market
o Old city market
o Waterfront park
• Have between 10am-1130pm to explore these
o Buy combo pass and take 12pm boat to Fort Sumter national monument (arrives back at 2:15pm) ($41 with carriage combo)
o Walk from dock along waterfront around waterfront park to battery/white point gardens and back through streets
• Visit Edmonston-Alston House
• Rainbow Row
• King St (Shopping)
- OVERNIGHT IN CHARLESTON

Sept. 8:
- Morning in Charleston
- Drive to Magnolia Plantation (28mins) *Opens at 8am*
- Drive to Hilton Head Island (1hr49mins)
- Afternoon on Hilton Head Island
o Go to beach (Coligny)
o Rent bikes??
- OVERNIGHT ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND

Sept. 9:
- Drive from HHI (leave by 800am) to Wormsloe Historic Site for quick picture of driveway of Oaks/Hanging moss (1h 13mins)
- Drive to Bonaventure cemetery (15mins) (spend 1-1.5hrs)
- Drive to Savannah hotel (13mins)
- Savannah Taste Experience food tour 1145am-245pm
- Wander around town/squares/City Market
- River St walk along waterfront
• Appy at One Eyed Lizzy’s (upstairs porch)
• Look for old lady handing out $1 margarita coupons
- OVERNIGHT IN SAVANNAH

Sept. 10:
- Day in Savannah
o Hop-on, Hop-off Trolley Tour (board at 900am)
o Wander around town amongst squares
• Picture @ Chippewa Square (Forest Gump bench)
• Forsyth park
- Haunted tour? 10pm?
- OVERNIGHT IN SAVANNAH

Sept. 11:
- Drive to Jekyll Island (1hr 32mins)
o Visit Georgia Sea Turtle Centre
o Rent bikes and visit Historic Area (cottages)
o Driftwood beach
o Glory beach boardwalk in evening
- OVERNIGHT ON JEKYLL ISLAND

Sept. 12:
- Drive to Okefenokee Swamp ($25 w boat tour) (1hr 20mins) *Opens at 9am*
OR
- Drive to Amelia Island and go to Fernandina Beach (1hr 15mins)
- Drive to World Golf Half of Fame ($19.50) (1hr 50mins from swamp OR 1hr 10mins from beach) *Open until 6pm*
o Drive to St. Augustine (20mins)
- OVERNIGHT IN ST. AUGUSTINE

Sept. 13:
- Castillo de San Marcos *Opens at 0845am*
- ½ day at St. Augustine Beach
• Fiesta Falls mini-golf at La Fiesta Inn near beach?
• Drive 15 mins South to check out Fort Matanzas Nat’l Monument
- Poke around town (St. George’s St.)
o Columbia Restaurant (Cuban Food)
- OVERNIGHT IN ST. AUGUSTINE

Sept. 14:
- Drive to Atlanta Airport
- Drop off car at 1430hrs
- Fly ATL to YVR

First thought - "Picture @ Chippewa Square (Forest Gump bench)"
The bench is not there. I think the bench may be in the museum along with the Bird Girl, but the bench was placed at the edge of the square facing out, only for the movie.

I'm glad you are keeping Jekyll in your trip. It's my favorite barrier island.

I would STRONGLY ADVISE you not stay at St Augustine on your last night and try to do the drive on your last day before you fly out. That would stress me out (and I love to drive). I would head back closer to Atlanta. Go to Madison GA and eat at the Blue Willow in Social Circle. Do you watch the Vampire Diaries? If so, you could stop in or stay in Covington GA where it is filmed (along with In the Heat of the Night and the original Dukes of Hazzard.) The house that inspired Twelve Oaks in Gone with the Wind is there and is a B&B. Or, go to Juliette GA, the tiny town that was the set for Fried Green Tomatoes. Stay closer to Atlanta and see things near Atlanta or go to Oakland Cemetery as previously suggested for a tour and great photo ops of the Atlanta skyline. I just would not do the St. Augustine to the airport drive on the day you plan to fly out. I'd get within a couple of hours of Atlanta for your last night.

I don't think Bellwood Quarry is open either. Maybe it is. Are you sure?

A couple of points about your itinerary and stops.

On September 4. Riverbanks Zoo. If you love a Zoo then this stop might be worth it, but if you just want to break up the drive from Atlanta to Myrtle Beach then I’d think of something else. Unfortunately there’s not much that makes for an easy stop. Columbia is the capitol of SC, so making a quick stop downtown for an early lunch on main street, or to walk around the USC campus nearby, or to see the capitol might work, or continue on to Florence for a lunch.

On September 7 in Charleston. Though I mentioned in an earlier post about the Edmondston-Alston House, as an historic house to visit downtown, there are others that are equally worthy and you may want to visit one of them instead. If you won’t be visiting Middleton Place, then their combo ticket doesn’t make as much sense.

On September 8 at Magnolia Plantation. You might want to have a quick lunch at their café there before heading on to HHI. The drive in between doesn’t offer much in the way of lunch spots. Also, shave some time off your drive by taking the Bees Ferry Road short-cut to Highway 17. Google Bees Ferry Road and you’ll see how it conveniently connects Highway 61 and Highway 17, bypassing the busiest stretch of Highway 17. It recently underwent a major widening and renovation and it’s practically a superhighway now. It will save you time. And at Magnolia’s, be sure to do the Audubon Swamp Garden walk. To me it’s the loveliest part of Magnolia’s. However, it is September and in the morning, so it will be hot and there will be mosquitoes! Take bug spray.

Have a wonderful trip! It sounds great.

Georgetown (18mins) for lunch
- Drive to Boone Hall Plantation ($20) (56mins) *Open until 630pm*

I am a tad amused by your "up to the minute" driving times!! lOL Let me warn you that Route 17 from Georgetown to Charleston is a 4 lane highway with virtually NO traffic and you will be tempted to speed--do not do it. Also on this highway just before Mt. Pleasant is the SeeWee restaurant. It would be worth a stop for a sweettea and a little appetizer, just for the ambience--maybe fried pickles. You might even prefer to have a late lunch there rather than Georgetown.
At Brookgreen Gardens, the Huntington home is across the road at Atalanta. It would only take 30 minutes to see and it is uniquely interesting--right on the beach and a Moorish designed building. The gift shop at Brookgreen is unusually nice, FYI.
As for shopping in MB, I would suggest the outlets at NMB rather than Broadway at the Beach.

Agree with Starrs on not trying to drive back to Atlanta on the same day your flight leaves, even if in late afternoon. There are just too many things that could go wrong, and I would not want to feel the pressure to get somewhere on my vacation.

Your initial post said you were arriving in Atlanta by bus. Does that mean bus from the airport, or are you flying into someplace else? If you are flying into Atlanta as well as out of here, why not leave Atlanta until the end of your trip? And if you're not, then why not take a bus to Charleston instead?

We have been to all of the locations on your list, but not to all the recommended places. Charleston is a special place and almost everyone else I know agrees, but you might miss the crowds by traveling when in September. Most kids will be back in school. I agree with Suewoo, Drayton Hall was the best of the Ashley River plantations. Also, someone mentioned skipping Sticky Fingers. I would agree, Charleston is a "foodie" town and there are so many great local places. MB and HHI are strictly tourist places. Nothing wrong with that, but they are very different from each other. MB is great for families, or golfers, but if you've never been there, it is probably worth seeing. HHI is mostly for couples, especially at the time you are visiting, but it is also a great vacation place for family vacations during holidays, in the spring and in the summer. HHI Is also a wonderful place for golfers. Lots of places to eat also. You can check the boards at ChowHound if you are really into food. The only place I will mention is Palmetto Bay Sunrise Café (for breakfast or lunch). It is right near the bridge on the way out the to the end of the island (expressway). Not fancy, but great food.
I liked Starr's comment about liking Jekyll Island, Is one of our favorites also. Much more laid back. On your way south from Savannah (also a wonderful town - if you want a real experience try Angels BBQ - http://www.angels-bbq.com/ - We got a tip about it several years ago - and the food is very good - you cannot believe his small this place is and how many people eat here. They run out of food early. What you save from eating here you might be able to SPURGE on the meal at the JIC. Traveling south from Savannah you may pass through Brunswick, GA, to get to Jekyll, but not necessarily. The best local restaurant we have ever found for lunch (in North America or Europe) is located here. It is called Indigo Coastal Shanty. I have been reading about it for years, but we finally stopped a couple years ago. The food is amazing! It is not a fancy place, but anyone who travels down that way and is really into good food knows about this place.
On Jekyll, my recommendations for you are 1)Driftwood Beach - 3 years ago February we saw a couple getting married on the beach. All the licenses on the cars were from Minnesota. My wife is a Minnesotan and she asked them about the wedding. The couple had been there before and they decided to have a destination wedding. 2) the tram tour of the Jekyll Island Club grounds 3) If at all possible, a dinner in the formal dining room at the JI Club. This would definitely be a splurge meal, but it is an amazing place. The grounds are wonderful to walk around in the evening also, The beach here will be very uncrowded. Also, it is not nearly as wide as the beaches at HHI (Cologny) or Myrtle, but you might have the place to yourself.The Georgia Islands are not as touristy as the SC Islands (although I could be challenged on that in regard to Tybee). As you drive out to Jekyll, just remember what it was like coming into Myrtle Beach or driving out to Hilton Head. Have a wonderful trip!