michelemiz

Hi, we are planning to drive from Florida to Virginia. We will be leaving on Tuesday morning and arriving around 4pm on Friday (so we have 3 1/2 days for the trip).

We were thinking of taking the turnpike North and making a stop in Gainsville checking out the UF campus and area and then will stay somewhere near Valdosta,Georgia (were thinking of going to Wild Adventures? Has anyone been there and also do you have recommendations of a place to stay there..

We will then head north and hope to get a quick taste of Savannah and then Charleston... Any recommendations on where to go to get taste of area (with 2 small kids)..so our time is limited and must be somewhat entertaining for them.

From Charleston to Virgina not really sure to stop..any recommendations would be appreciated...

Also, any recommendations on places to stay near 95 from Savannah northward would be appreciated..restaurant/hotel recommendations in any of the places to get a quick feel of the cities would be appreciated.
Thank you.

JoyinVirginia

Last summer we drove from VA to FL and back. Gas was then definitely less in South Carolina, fill your tank before you hit NC and save a buck or two. Your kids would probably be impressed with the cheesy but fun fiberglass statues, the sombrero water tower, also game room at South of the Border in SC just below the NC line. When you get to the I-95 exit for Weldon, NC -which is close to the VA line - you can stop and eat at Ralph's BBQ for lunch or dinner, they have a nice inexpensive buffet, excellent food, and fast friendly service. If you stop in Richmond VA get directions to Maymont Park in the city, it is free and has petting zoo, nature center, large outdoor zoo area with lots of animals to see!

aileen679

I think you would like Wild Adventures. My grandkids sure do! Plan on taking a day there. I guess you are planning to go over to I 95 and go up the coast to Savannah and Charleston. If your time is limited, I would skip Savannah as a place to stop with children. There really isn't much for them except ride around and look at the scenery. It depends on their ages. You could spend a little time at the beach. But that's about it.

aileen679

Oops... I forgot! There are a lot of motels/hotels at the intersection of I 95 and 204 outside of Savannah. It would be a good place to spend the night after the Wild Adventure day. Most of the motels are fairly new chains and the restaurants are the same. Not great, but dependable. Then, if you wanted to just take a drive around Savannah, just go up 204 (it becomes Abercorn Street) until you hit the Historic District and the river. Then take US 17 up to Charleston. Start early in the morning from your motel, and you could get to Charleston in the early evening. Spend the night in Charleston, zip through the city and back to I95 to Virginia. That would be three nights on the road, Valdosta, Savannah and Charleston. You could leave out either Savannah or Charleston if you think that would push you with small children.

michelemiz

Thanks so much for the advice..we actually decided to save Wild Adventure for our next road trip to Atlanta..Instead we decided we will leave on Monday and will get to our destination on Friday evening (so we have 4 1/2 days to travel) and then we are flying home (to FL). We are trying to get a quick taste of the routes we pass but won't have much time to spend in each location.

So far we are staying in Orlando Area for 1 night /Wyndham from Priceline for a great deal.

2nd night will be in Hilton Head at Hilton Ocean which we got a great rate from hotwire.com..looks beautiful.

We are not sure where to go from there..we want to probably stop in Charleston but want to stay further north (can be on coast or along 95) and then maybe another stop around Richmond area?

We also would like to stop somewhere to get a taste of some really great southern hospitality..any stops or restaurants on any of our stops would be helpful. thank you.