Sassafrass

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.

Gretchen

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.

lifes2short

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!

Danielle811

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.

dwdvagamundo

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!

Gretchen

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?

flpab

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.

warrenh4653

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

starrs

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?

kathleen

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.

Gretchen

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.

dwdvagamundo

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?

crossen

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!