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Best North Carolina stopover?
My wife and I are planning a road trip (just like the old days) from our home in New Jersey to Charleston, SC during the first week in November. We'll stop in DC for a couple of days before heading down, but it's still an almost 8-hour drive from DC to Charleston, so we'd like to find another stopover.
We'll be on 95 but could venture off for someplace fun or interesting. Does anyone have any suggestions? Raleigh, Goldsboro, Fayetteville? Also, we may come back north via the coastal route. Is there a scenic itinerary anyone would suggest? Bob |
Asheville. It would be a rerouting rather than a detour but would be a great stop.
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If you want a REALLY scenic itinerary on your way north you might consider taking one of the ferries over to Ocracoke and then driving north on Route 12 to Nags Head; cross the Wright Bridge and proceed north on 168/158. Then in Norfolk you can proceed up I-64 to Williamsburg and stop there and then on to 295/95 for the return north.
OR in Norfolk take the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and follow 13-113 or Delaware Rte 1 north to I-95 near Wilmington. |
Lots to see/do in and around Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill - do a search here. Or go a bit further west to Old Salem and MESDA.
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I suggest NOT staying on i95 all the way to Charleston, on the coast. When you get to I40, go over to Wilmington and then drive down Route 17 to Charleston.
You could stop in the area south of MB for the night--Litchfield/Pawley's Island. Have a GREAT seafood dinner in Murrell's Inlet (I suggest Russell's). Then visit Brookgreen Gardens for a few hours before heading south to Charleston (about 2 hours). You could also tour the historic district in Georgetown for a few minutes, and then maybe have lunch or a snack at SeeWee, just north of MT Pleasant on route 17 for an eclectic treat. IF you stop in Goldsboro for any particular reason, have some NC BBQ at Wilber's. Heading back north, you could do the Asheville stop pretty nicely and then get on I81 to veer on north toward your home. |
That's great, everyone. Thanks!
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As a measure, my NYC friend usually stops in Florence/Darlington when she comes to Litchfield to visit us. This is about 1.5 hours from Litchfield, hence about 3.5 hours to Charleston.
I think you would enjoy a stop even though you could probably do that trip without much problem. There is much to do and enjoy along 17. |
"You could stop in the area south of MB for the night--Litchfield/Pawley's Island. Have a GREAT seafood dinner in Murrell's Inlet"
If you do, consider the Hampton Inn south of MB - http://hamptoninn3.hilton.com/en/hot...ons/index.html The hotel itself is beautiful with a coastal décor (think Cape Cod/Nantucket). It's oceanfront and out of the traffic/congestion of the rest of Myrtle Beach. Plus, it's an easy drive to Murrell's Inlet for dinner. |
As much as I dislike MB, Starrs, who is VERY reliable, has recommended this before, and in looking at it, it looks VERY nice.
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It's not really MB. It's south of MB, past all of the craziness. I would stay there or the one at NMB (non oceanfront) when I had to be in town on business. I really like the hotel. It's one of my favorite moderate hotels anywhere.
Thanks Gretchen. :-) |
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That's interesting--and several are not on there--like Lexington #1. wonder what the criteria are, not that those aren't worthy, as those I know are.
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Lots of great places you could stop! We have stopped DC on our way south and stayed 2 nights there (nice Sheraton in Arlington, VA just over the DC line). Took the metro into the city, no driving involved, left our car parked at the hotel. Then the day we left DC we stopped at Mt. Vernon and spent a few hours touring there. A well worthwhile stop, nice house tour and a walk to see where George and Martha are buried. You could then drive south in the afternoon.
http://www.mountvernon.org/ http://discoversouthcarolina.com/trip-planner Driving time from DC to Charleston is approx. 8.5 hr. or 537 miles so you could drive to Charleston if you wanted. We don't like to push it when we are driving so try to stop after 5-6 hr. drive time. I usually look for a hotel while driving. We have found the travel/hotel brochures you find at the rest areas on the highways and look for something where we anticipate we will stop for the night. You can save lots of money doing this. We have not had a problem w/ any hotel not honoring the coupon. You can drive from DC to Charleston or Savannah in two ways. One via the Shenandoah and Smokey Mountains west of DC in Virginia and down via Knoxville then over East via Atlanta to Charleston or Savannah. Or straight down the coast to either city. Perhaps on a round trip head west to the western part of Virginia and then south and come back up north on the coastline. (suggested route) I have lots of other info for places we have stopped from New England (via I87 over Tappan Zee via PA and down south). |
One via the Shenandoah and Smokey Mountains west of DC in Virginia and down via Knoxville then over East via Atlanta to Charleston or Savannah.
ARE YOU KIDDING!! LOL Did you have a map! |
Nope this suggestion was on another website! LOL If you don't mind driving then why not go the long way! :-)
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To Asheville is a bit of a long way but not bad. Knoxville and Atlanta is really long, and Atlanta to Charleston is boring. don't believe everything you read on the internet!!! LOL !!!
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We have done DC, Shenandoah, Smokey Mountaims parkway, Asheville then Charleston over a couple of days.
The first half hour in the Smokey Mountains was bliss. After 4 hours on the Parkway I was suicidal, just the same old trees and a really bendy road. There are so many beautiful little towns on the VA, NC, SC, GA coast that we never now head inland. We have in the past spent time in Beaufort, NC as it is really well placed for lots of the coast and for access the the Outer Banks. It has good restaurants and a lovely welcoming hometown feel. Personally, I would scrap the road trip, fly to Charleston and spend every moment of your break there. Currently, IMO the best city in the US. |
"One via the Shenandoah and Smokey Mountains west of DC in Virginia and down via Knoxville then over East via Atlanta to Charleston or Savannah."
Honestly, Gretchen, I think that's a pretty good routing if one wants to see pretty countryside. If one is in a hurry and wants to get somewhere fast, no. But that's a route I'd easily choose and there's pretty stuff all along the way. Of course, I came from road trip stock. I gave my parents flight vouchers and they chose to go to Victoria, BC and wanted to go to Calgary. I tagged along for week 1. We picked up a brand new rental van with 6 miles on it in Seattle and I flew out of Calgary. When they returned the van in Seattle after 2 weeks it had 6000 miles on it. 6000?! Where in the world could they have driven to put that many miles on it?! :-O They easily found a way. :-) My routing on road trips is all over the place - if I have the time, I'd driving to see stuff. ;) |
The title is "stopover" which is what I was judging by, not a "road trip". I'll stand by my thought that it is not a really interesting trip between Atlanta and Charleston.
Yes, road trips ARE fun/interesting if that is the plan. Asheville could be a stopover pretty easily on the way to or from NJ. |
"Asheville could be a stopover pretty easily on the way to or from NJ"
GMTA :-) Gretchen, I agree with your post re stopover vs. road trip. |
Thanks to everyone for the great advice. We're in Charleston and having a really good time. (BTW, the shrimp and grits at the 9 Bakery and Lounge on Front St. in Wilmington should not be missed. Also, Pearlz Oyster Bar in Charleston has great, fresh, local seafood.)
I'd like to flip it around now. We're supposed to head home tomorrow but don't want to drive all the way through to NJ. We think we want to go via 95 this time, though, and are looking for a good place to stop for a night or two, approximately halfway, and not TOO far from the highway. We could be a little flexible on that. Does anyone have an idea for us? Civil War/historical might be good. Bob |
Richmond, VA is 6 hours from Charleston. I am not big into Civil War history but we have plenty of it here. The VMFA is a very good museum. Depending on your lodging budget, I'd stay at The Jefferson Hotel for a true RVA experience.
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Last year I drove from SC to Maryland and spent a day wandering around Virginia. I really enjoyed visiting Appomattox Courthouse -
http://www.nps.gov/apco/index.htm There are plenty of other Civil War/historical things in the area as well. It's almost equidistant between Charleston and Newark (3 miles). I loved the looks of this inn. I didn't stay there but mentioned it to bankbabe and she visited and loved it. http://www.meander.net/ |
I have done Dukey's route and it is by far the most scenic.
The main issue is the lack of an interstate which means battling through the strips and traffic lights of each town. I remember the drag through Myrtle Beach, just awful. There are many lovely little town on the coast like Beaufort, Southport etc and you could take the Lewes ferry to Cape May and avoid Washington. |
OP, did you tell us how you got TO Charleston?
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There is a bypass through MB, but there are times it is better to go right through it--particularly if going to the airport!!
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Richmond is about half way to NJ from Charleston. If you want to stay on the I95 route all the way up, The Jefferson Hotel in RVA is beautiful, but $$$$. If you are not married to I95, consider Monticello around Charlottesville. Starrs suggestion of the Inn at Meander Plantation is wonderful, but not sure how much out of the way that would mean for you! It's off 66.
Glad you had fun in Charleston! :) |
Bob
What did you think of the weather on Saturday? We sat on Sullivan's Beach in protest, totally alone, very cold, very wet. |
"though, and are looking for a good place to stop for a night or two, approximately halfway"
Since he wanted a place for a night or two and wants to visit Civil War/historical sites, driving through VA would be a good option. If it's what I did and was a fabulous day. If he were looking for a place just to stop for the night along the way, it's not a good option. |
Dickie, we spent Saturday walking all the way around the Mall in DC, and then some. Total of about 13 miles! It was blustery, but the rain held off. Actually a pretty good day.
Bob |
What did you think of the weather on Saturday?
We sat on Sullivan's Beach in protest, totally alone, very cold, very wet. __ Saturday in Charleston was miserable....we watched college football at SD & SIL's house. We did, however, have a great breakfast here: http://www.pagesokragrill.com/ |
Janet, we drove past you on Saturday on the way to Seewee.
Page's always looked bonkers busy. The Seewee cafe just north of MP is also great but very different. Much more old school, sawdust and overalls. Incredible low country food with lovely staff. We stayed at The Old Post Office in MP, again a brilliant experience. Is there any poor food in Charleston? |
Is there any poor food in Charleston?
__ I don't think so. We had a very good (and light) meal here: http://www.theparkcafechs.com/ Our dinner sans Harper was here on Saturday...also very good. http://edmundsoast.com/ |
OO you stayed at Old Post House? I love that place! That's my old neighborhood. I'm so glad you got to enjoy it.
It's hard to find bad food. Any place that isn't excellent doesn't stay open long. |
Suewoo
We found it hilarious to drive round and see empty Wendy's, Starbucks and Taco Bells. Presumably these chains allow other profitable regions to subsidise their outlets in Charleston. My only gripe was the quality of the coffee scene. Not good I'm afraid, when you are used to double espresso which should be classed as a class A drug. |
Dickie_Gr....there is a great coffee shop near SD's office downtown...I will ask her the name of it.
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