New Orleans to Savannah
 

Hi,
I'm planning a trip to New Orleans for Mardi Gras then driving to Savannah. Planning on stopping at Mobile, Panama City, Talhasse, Jacksonville. Am I missing anywhere? From reading some of the forum posts I'm thinking perhaps missing out Jacksonville, any other suggestions? Any recommendations for places to eat and accommodation greatly received its our first time in this part of the world. I'm traveling with my husband and 9 month old so don't want to add a lot of extra time in the car! Thank you in advance.

If you do go to JAX stop by Jekyll Island off of I-95 on your way to Savannah. Much more laid back than the rest of the choices.

If you're thinking of going via Jacksonville, St. Augustine is well worth a couple days visit and isn't far from JAX.

Hi Jo-Anne ...posted on your other thread and just saw this. May I suggest you just make a beeline for Savannah and perhaps save your touring for the two most beautiful of southern cities, Savannah and Charleston? Thanks to the hotel business, we have also Iived in Savannah, and you are in for a treat...a MUCH quieter treat than New Oleans at Mardi Gras. Charleston is an easy two hour drive from Savannah...we would just go up for the day for shopping and some good dining. I don't know how much time you have, but I'd just spend one night on the road between New Orleans and Savannah, if the baby is a good traveler, saving more time for these two gorgeous cities. See if you can find accommodations in or very near to the historic districts of both cities.

What is your price point for accommodations? For one really nice restaurant in Savannah, I'd suggest Pink House. Not sure what their accommodations are for young children, so check first. It's a beautiful old restaurant, housed in one of Savannah's historic homes, and would be a splurge. Both Savannah and Charleston are wonderfully walkable cities! I really think you would enjoy these two more than some of the other locations you have mentioned.

That's a great suggestion. If you start your trip with Savannah, you can end it with New Orleans after the party is over.

I love the Pink House too. It's my favorite place in Savannah. You can walk the baby through the beautiful squares.

See if you can cancel your hotel in NO. You might get better rates after Mardi Gras is over. What are the exact dates of your trip?

Thanks for the comments, they really are appreciated.

The plan is as follows fly into Atlanta for 3 nights before flying to New Orleans on Sunday 19th we then pick up the hire car on the Thursday 23rd then drive to Savannah in time to fly back to Atlanta on the 3rd of March. As the internal flights are tied to the international flights and car hire paid its not cheap to rearrange (I know not impossible). To think I rearranged it all when I realised the original plan would have meant us finishing in New Orleans and missing Mardi Gras! Its on the front cover of ever guide to the city I assumed therefore it was a must!

I haven’t lost heart though, there will be plenty to do away from the French Quarter on all but Mardi Gras day itself. I’m thinking the worse that can happen is we are back in the hotel room by the afternoon and we order room service and watch cspan, I can think of a million worse things!

Thanks for the recommendation for the pink house it was one I was looking at along with the Amethyst Inn. Another poster has reassured me we should be fine for Mrs Wilkes with baby so looking forward to that as well.

As for Charleston, was hoping to visit if we had time, my thinking is a night in Baton Rouge, 2 in Mobile then 2 in Panama city we could then come straight to Savannah so we have plenty of time there and as we have the car a day trip to Charleston.

We lived in Baton Rouge too. Got out as soon as we could. January to August and that was all we could handle. DH changed careers ( to hotels, fortuitous move!) JUST to get out of there ASAP. I honestly do not think it is worth 2 nights! My apologies to anyone from BR. it simply was not for us at tnat time in our lives, nor is it today, for that matter. The good thing about having gone there was, had he not hated it so much, he'd never have found the career that was to become his passion!

Jo-Anne, Mrs. Wilkes is an excellent choice. You will love it. Such a longtime Savannah tradition! She has died since we lived there, but with any luck it has not changed an iota. She said grace at every meal, and at the end of the meal, guests were expected to bring their dishes to the kitchen. My Mom got such a kick out of that, to say nothing of the TRUE Southern cooking, and the opportunity to chat with everyone else at the table as well. It is good and it is fun!

Will enthusiastically echo those in favor of Mrs. Wilke's -- excellent Southern specialties served all you can eat family style. If you go, note well that they are only open M-F from 11am to 2pm -- and it's wise to get there early, as a line usually starts forming around 10:30am.

Re Baton Rouge: there's actually about a day's worth of things to see there, including the old and new state capitol buildings, the Louisiana State Museum, and (if it has reopened) Magnolia Mound Plantation. The new capitol is in fact one of the nicest such buildings to visit in the US, in my opinion. A good place to eat there in my experience is Chimes.

NOt sure why you are spending time en route in Baton Rouge, Panama City,etc. rather than just going on to Charleston and Savannah. And 3 nights in Atlanta is a lot.
I wouldn't put Jacsonville on a must see list either.
I suggest really re-thinking a lot of your trip destinations.

Here's a few places to stop and rest on I 10 between NOLA and Mobile. Get off I 10 at Exit 2 at Bay St. Louis, MS and go E on Scenic Highway 90 to Trapani's for fine fresh seafood for lunch or dinner. Continue on Highway 90 to Shaggy's Harbor Bar and Grill across from the Pass Christian Yacht Club for good fresh seafood, cold drinks and nice music. Continue on Highway 90 to Darwell's Cafe in Long Beach, MS for good lunch or dinner. Darwell's was featured on Diners, Drive In's and Dives. Continue E on Highway 90 to Highway 49 N in Gulfport, MS. Take a left and go one block to 13th Street and turn left to Half Shell Oyster House for fine fresh seafood for lunch or dinner. Or continue on Highway 90 to Cowan Road which is E of Highway 49 in Gulfport, MS between Gulfport, MS and Biloxi, MS. Go N on Cowan Road to W Pine Street. Turn left and go 3 blocks to Washington Street, Turn right and go to Blow Fly Inn where the local's dine on fresh seafood for lunch or dinner. Continue E on Highway 90 to Caillavet Street just E of I 110. Turn left and go N to Howard. Turn right and go one block to Old Biloxi Schooner for good po boy's. For fine fresh oysters and good seafood continue E on Howard to Fillin Station for lunch or dinner. For fine country food for breakfast or lunch go E on Highway 90 to Ocean Springs, MS and turn right on Washington Avenue. Take your first left on Robinson Street and go to Bayview Gourmet. Fayard's has good BBQ. Ward's has good seafood and steaks. Phoenicia has good breakfast, lunch or dinner. For good BBQ and fun times get off I 10 at Exit 57 and go N on Highway 57 to The Shed for lunch or dinner. Stay on Highway 90 going E from Ocean Springs, MS. Go to Market Street and take a right. Go to Ingall's Avenue and take a left. Go 3 or 4 blocks to Bozo's Grocery for fine po boy's. For fine southern comfort food get off I 10 at Exit 68 at Moss Point, MS and go N on Highway 613 to Tugus restaurant.
For fine po boy's and fresh seafood get off I 10 at Exit 15A and go N on Government Boulevard to Hall's Mill Road just past the shopping center on the right. Take a right and go to the Boiling Point. The best BBQ in the area is at Brick Pit. Get off I 10 at Exit 15B and go N on Highway 90 for 3 miles to Demetropolis Road. Take a left and continue on Demetropolis Road which becomes S University Boulevard. Go about 5 miles from the left you took on Demetropolis to Old Shell Road. Take a right and go to Brick Pit for outstanding BBQ. The best seafood in Mobile, AL is at Wintzell's Oyster House. Get off I 10 at Exit 26 A and go W on Canal Steet. Go .4 mile and turn right on S Washington Avenue. Turn right and go .3 mile to Dauphine Street. Take a right and Wintzell's will be on your right.
Acme Oyster House @ 1202 N Highway 190, Covington, LA 985 - 246 - 6155.
http://www.acmeoyster.com/index.php?...d=50&Itemid=87
Bear's Grill and Spirit's @ 1809 North Causeway Boulevard, Mandeville, LA 985 - 674 - 9090.
http://www.bearsgrillandspirits.com/
The Beach House @ 124 Girod Street, Mandeville, LA 985 – 624 – 9331.
http://www.thebeachhousemandeville.com/
The Barley Oak @ 2101 Lakeshore Drive, Mandeville, LA 985 – 727 – 7420.
http://www.thebarleyoak.com/
Trapani's @ 833 Highway 90 # 3, Bay St. Louis, MS 228 - 467 - 8570.
Shaggy's Harbor Bar and Grill @ 120 S. Hiern Ave., Pass Harbor, Pass Christian, MS. 228 - 452 - 9939.
http://www.shaggys.biz/
Darwells Cafe @ 127 East 1st St., Long Beach, MS. 228 - 868 - 8946.
http://www.darwellscafe.co
Half Shell Oyster House @ FL 1st, 2500 13th St., Gulfport, MS 228 - 867 - 7001.
http://halfshelloysterhouse.com/
Blow Fly Inn @ 1201 Washington Ave., Gulfport, MS 228 - 896 - 9812.
http://www.blowflyinn.com/
Ole Biloxi Schooner @ 871 Howard Ave., Biloxi, MS 228 - 435 - 8071.
Fillin Station @ 692 Howard Ave., Biloxi, MS 228 - 432 - 5565.
http://www.fillinstationbiloxi.com/
Bayview Gourmet @ 1010 Robinson St., Ocean Springs, MS. 228 - 875 - 4252.
Fayard's BP @ 6905 Washington Ave, Ocean Springs, MS. 228 - 875 - 1020.
Kenny Ward's @ 1504 Government St., Ocean Springs, MS. 228 - 818 - 4505.
McElroy's on the Bayou @ 705 Bienville Blvd. 228 - 818 - 4600.
Phoenicia Gourmet Cuisine @ 123 Government St., Ocean Springs, MS. 228 - 875 - 0603.
The Shed BBQ and Blues Joint @ 7501 Hwy. 57, Ocean Springs, MS. 228 - 875 - 9590.
http://www.theshedbbq.com/ordereze/intro.html
Bozo's Grocery @ 2012 Ingalls Ave., Pascagoula, MS 228 - 762 - 3322.
Tugus Restaurant @ 6909 Highway 613, Moss Point, MS 228 - 474 - 9910.
The Boiling Pot @ Suite G, 5300 Halls Mill Road, Mobile, AL 251 - 602 - 8405.
http://www.theboilingpotllc.com/
The Brick Pit @ 5456 Old Shell Rd., Mobile, AL 251 - 343 - 0001.
http://brickpit.com/
Wintzell's Oyster House @ 605 Dauphin St., Mobile, AL 251 - 432 - 4605.
http://www.wintzellsoysterhouse.com/

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Atlanta may not be the most attractive city to visit in some ways, but there are quite a few good attractions there -- in fact, if a day jaunt out to Stone Mountain is included, one could spend as many as five fruitful days there sightseeing. I did so a few years ago.

Here's a few places to stop on I 95. When you get to Jacksonville, FL on I 95 get off at Exit 353 C on W Union St. and go about 8 blocks to Pearl and take a left to Jenkin's Quality BBQ which is home owned by the Jenkins' Family for over 50 years. Get off I 95 at Exit 373 and go W to Callahan's BBQ.
Jenkin's Quality BBQ @ 830 North Pearl Street, Jacksonville, FL 904 - 353 - 6388.
http://www.jenkinsqualitybarbecue.com/
Callahan's BBQ @ 45007 State Rd 200, Callahan, FL 904 - 879 - 4675.
Get off I 95 at Exit 1 and go W on St. Mary's which turns into Scrubby Bluff Rd. and go to Jack's BBQ. Or you can get off I 95 at Exit 3 at Kingsland, GA and cross E King Ave. to Boone Ave. which is the next street then take a left to Blue's BBQ at the Chevron Market for good BBQ.
Jack's BBQ @ 1359 Scrubby Bluff Rd., Kingsland, GA 912 - 729 - 1500.
Blue's BBQ @ 1330 Boone Ave. Extension E, Kingsland, GA 912 - 576 - 8682.
Get off I 95 at Exit 29 and go W on Highway 82 about a mile to Gary Lee's Market for good road food.
Gary Lee's Market @ 3636 U. S. Hwy. 82, Brunswick, GA. 912 - 265 - 1925.
Get off I 95 at Exit 49 to the right at Darien, GA and go NW on Highway 251 less than a mile to Smokey Joe's BBQ. It is between two hotels on the left and has excellent pulled pork.
If you want the best fresh seafood on your trip get off I 95 at Exit 49 in Darien, GA to the right and go E on Highway 251 to Highway 17. Take a right on Highway 17 and go S for 1.2 miles. Turn right on Broad St. just before crossing the bridge. Go one block and take your first left on Screven St. and have some outstanding fresh seafood at Skipper's Fish Camp. [size=3 font="times new roman"].
Smokey Joe's BBQ @ State Hwy. 251, Darien, GA. 912 - 437 - 2555.
Skipper's Fish Camp @ 85 Screven St., Darien, GA 912 - 437 - 3474.
http://www.skippersfishcamp.com/
Get off I 95 at Exit 58 at Townsend, GA to the right on Highway 99 and go less than a mile to Highway 17. Turn left and go N about 2 miles to Pine Harbor Rd. Take a right and go E about 2 miles to Sepelo Station Crossing and fantastic fresh local seafood and hand cut steaks.
Sapelo Station Crossing @ 1172 Pine Harbor Marina Road, Townsend, GA 912 - 832 - 3555.
Get off I 95 at Exit 67 at Townsend, GA to the right and go S on Highway 17 for 1.2 miles then take a left going E onto Harris Neck Road just past a small church. Go 5.7 miles E to the Jessie Grant Road and look for the purple OSD sign on your left. Turn to the right at the sign for about 100 feet to Old School Diner for the best fresh seafood around. OSD is open for dinner Wednesday/Saturday and Noon to 10 PM on Sunday. They are closed on Monday and Tuesday. This might be the best road food you will have on your trip.
Old School Diner @ 1080 Jesse Grant Road, Townsend, GA 912 - 832 - 2136.
http://oldschooldiner.com/
Get off I 95 at Exit 76 at Midway, GA and go E on Highway 38 to Sunbury Rd. Take a left and go to Brigantine Dunmore Rd. Take a left and go to Sunbury Crab Co. which is open for dinner serving outstanding fresh seafood. This might be the best place you stop for the seafood is outstanding.
Sunbury Crab Co. @ 539 Brigantine Dunmore Road Midway, GA 912 - 884 - 8640.
http://sunburycrabco.wp.net/
Get off I 95 at Exit 87 at Richmond Hill, GA and go W on Highway 17 half a mile to Smoking Pig BBQ next to the BP Station on N side of Highway 17. The ribs and chicken are excellent. This is probably your best stop for BBQ in GA.
Smokin Pig BBQ @ 3986 U.S. 17, Richmond Hill, GA. 912 - 756 - 7850.
Get off I 95 at Exit 102 at Pooler. GA and go W on Highway 80 4/5 blocks to Don's Famous BBQ.
Don's Famous BBQ @ 217 US Highway 80 E., Pooler, GA 912 - 748 - 8400.

Slow down in Mobile and get good BBQ at Brick Pit and good seafood at Wintzell's.




Get off I 10 at Exit 15B and go N on Highway 90 for 3 miles to Demetropolis Road. Take a left and continue on Demetropolis Road which becomes S University Boulevard. Go about 5 miles from the left you took on Demetropolis to Old Shell Road. Take a right and go to Brick Pit for outstanding BBQ. The best seafood in Mobile, AL is at Wintzell's Oyster House. Get off I 10 at Exit 26 A and go W on Canal Steet. Go .4 mile and turn right on S Washington Avenue. Turn right and go .3 mile to Dauphine Street. Take a right and Wintzell's will be on your right.




The Brick Pit @ 5456 Old Shell Rd., Mobile, AL 251 - 343 - 0001.


http://brickpit.com/


Wintzell's Oyster House @ 605 Dauphin St., Mobile, AL 251 - 432 - 4605.


http://www.wintzellsoysterhouse.com/




For good BBQ and fun times get off I 10 at Exit 57 and go N on Highway 57 to The Shed for lunch or dinner.




The Shed BBQ and Blues Joint @ 7501 Hwy. 57, Ocean Springs, MS. 228 - 875 - 9590.


http://www.theshedbbq.com/ordereze/intro.html




Get off I 10 at Exit 2 at Bay St. Louis, MS and go E on Scenic Highway 90 to Trapani's for fine fresh seafood for lunch or dinner. Continue on Highway 90 to Darwell's Cafe in Long Beach, MS for good lunch or dinner. Darwell's was featured on Diners, Drive In's and Dives.




Trapani's @ 833 Highway 90 # 3, Bay St. Louis, MS 228 - 467 - 8570.


Darwells Cafe @ 127 East 1st St., Long Beach, MS. 228 - 868 - 8946.


http://www.darwellscafe.co