Hilton Head or Florida Coast in August
 

We are attending a wedding in Miami Aug. 20th and would like to use our Marriott timeshare to stay somewhere in the southeast the week before. (we live in California). At first we thought Palm Beach, FL but are afraid of the weather. Would HHI be any better? I've always wanted to see Savannah/Charleston. Thanks!

It will still be very hot and very humid, but it is doable. You could definatly stay in Hilton Head and visit Charleston and Savannah. Charleston is one of my favorite cities. Just remember, that is a long drive to Miami. You may want to stay somewhere farther down in Florida the day before the wedding.

All locations you describe likely will be sultry. Savannah is a short [40 minute] drive from Hilton Head. Charleston is 60 miles from Hilton Head. Not all interstate.

The weather in South Carolina and Georgia is going to be exactly like the weather in Florida in August: really hot, really humid, sticky, and muggy with daytime highs in the 90s and not cooling down more than 10 degrees at night.

There are many times I've looked at my outside thermometer at midnight and the temp was 95 degrees.

That said, stay in HH and tour Savannah at night. The humidity lets up a little.

As for Charleston, I'd go ahead and schedule an overnight to see the city. It is worth it.

I agree with the others that they'll all be equally hot and humid, whether you are in SC, GA, or FL. Being right on the water is some help and Marriott's resort in HH is very nice. I stayed many times when it was part of another chain, and loved it, summer or winter. Staying in that area will allow for some enjoyable touring too--the things to do in HH as well as Savannah and Charleston.

I wanted to add that although all are hot, I personally found Charleston to be the hottest feeling of all the areas you are considering, simply because the historic district has so much concrete which intensifies and retains the heat. Savannah with its numerous squares and big oak trees for shade doesn't feel quite as bad as Charleston. We lived downtown Savannah and I had a running route where I could stay in the shade for all 6 miles, running a zig zag course downtown. Do not miss Charleston though, which, although hotter, is my favorite of the two cities! Just take it slowly, wear light linens or cottons and you'll be OK.

I don't have a map with me, but combining SC and Miami in one trip because you are on the east coast would be like me trying to combine San Diego and San Fransico in one trip. If you have plenty of time for the drive, go for it.

You mentioned the weather, I am assuming you are referring to hurricanes. We have been more fortunate than Florida, but hurricanes are a possibility for SC too.

SC would love to have you, but I wanted you to know Miami is a LONG drive.

Miami is about 9 hours or so from Charleston and a little closer to Savannah and it is a straight shot up I-95 so it isn't too bad.

Did the Savannah - Miami drive yesterday and it took us 7.5 hours more or less but we had two toddlers in the car that required breaks. Not a bad drive at all.

If your fear is hurricanes you may take comfort in reading that Savannah, founded in 1733, has never taken a direct hit from one.

FLy in further N, you don't want to do that drive back and forth from Miami with a round trip ticket.

Consider JAX and one of several HHI Marriott locations. Consider a potential hurricane as a fact of life in any of these SE locations. As a worst case, 1 nite inland is manageable.