Tiptoe,

To check out driving miles between different towns, travel times and directions, go to Mapquest.com and just put in the names of the cities and states at the lower query set. That will give you maps and directions that you can print out, too.

There are places in SC, GA & NC to do gem and gold panning. I'm planning a vacation to the area there, too. I'm going in a couple of weeks. That sounds like something that you could do to get cooled off. Does anyone know anything about the gem panning? Where is the best place? I'm going to start a new topic on this one, as well, but wanted to tell you about it.

I would like to add the following:

1. Atlanta airport is a real nightmare to travel into. I would advise Charlotte instead.

2. If you have to fly into Atlanta, then travel North and spend a night in Chattanooga. I recommend the Choo Choo hotel that has old Pullman carriages that you can stay in.

3. Nashville is very nice, then hop across do, Asheville, Charlotte, Charleston and Savannah.

4. Back in Georgia, take a trip to Macon, to visit the Georgia Rock N Roll Music Hall of Fame.

5. On your last night I would visit Madison Georgia, which was voted, best small town in America.

heyandrew - this thread is almost four months old. I'm guessing Tiptoe has either taken his/her trip already or isn't checking this thread anymore.

August is not the best time to tour in the South. October would be better.

Places to visit- New Orleans, Nashville, Asheville NC, Wilmington NC, Charleston, Charlottesville VA, the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

August is a tough time of year to take in the southern experience, although the south is great with a lot of history.
Do NOT get lost in Atlanta. The surprises you find will not be the fun touristy kind.
If you haven't been to New England before, that would be an ideal place in August. If not this trip, maybe your next one.

Atlanta is about as exciting as Birmingham or Manchester or Hull.

Asheville, NC is a not to miss kindof town in the Mountains of NC. Here are some good websites to check out:

http://www.asheville.com
http://exploreasheville.com

Also a couple of great places to stay, try Oakland Cottage B&B, http://www.OaklandCottage.com B&Bs are a great place to stay in Asheville as they have staff who can share a lot of local information with you. There is great music in town. And if you prefer a more independent kindof lodging, try The BreakAway Cabin near Weaverville, just a few miles north of Asheville, http://www.VacationInAsheville.com. The Blue Ridge Parkway is great. All this is on the way from Atlanta to Nashville, via I-85 to I-26 to I-40

Savannah is a must-do to enjoy the "whole southern experience." After all, Mammy in "Gone with the Wind" tells Scarlett to go to Savannah, as she will only get in trouble in Atlanta. Beautiful architecture, classic to eclectic southern cuisine, the vibe of the art scene and galleries (driven in part by the creatives from the downtown art college students), street cafes, and nearby beaches at Tybee Island (20 minutes) or Hilton Head SC (45 minutes). A great town and country experience ... loaded with history, architecture, and free-flowing entertainment. The last week of August is the BrewFest in Savannah. Check into one of the bed and breakfast inns to enjoy Savannah's true character -- The Presidents' Quarters, Azalea Inn and Gardens, Green Palm Inn or Zeigler House Inn.

I would definitely travel to New Orleans. Its rich culture, music, architecture, and food will be different from the other cities.