Someplace to stop between Williamsburg VA and Charleston SC?
 

We might be driving in late March from Williamsburg VA to Charleston SC with friends from Germany. Anyplace close to I-95 that would make an interesting short stop to break up the trip to Charleston?

I suggest you drive south on I95 to I40 in Nc and then go to Wilmington, NC. That would be a nice place to stop. Then head south on route 17 to Charleston along the coast--about a 4 hour drive. There are lots of interesting places south of Wilmington, depending on your time.
I REALLY would not take I95 all the way to Charleston.

I completely agree. I just did that 95 trip again-ACK. Wilmington in late March will be great. Go to Airlie Gardens. The Minnie Evans Bottle Chapel is on my short list.

http://www.airliegardens.org/photo_g...ge=&photopage=

Gretchen, have you been?

You could take highway 17 down through Myrtle and stop by Brookgreen Gardens, Pawley's Island and the Riverfront in Georgetown. Then follow 17 into Charleston, being SURE not to miss the great Seewee Restaurant in Awendaw.

17 is a wonderful ride all the way to Charleston (well, on to Beaurfort and Savannah as well). It is congested around Myrtle Beach but otherwise really pleasant with lots of interesting towns, each of which has somewhere good to eat! Would not dream of taking I-95.

No, we haven't. Have to put it on a list. When we go to the beach we turn into slugs--lie around and eat great food!!

Right, Ackslander. But MB is not TOO bad, relatively speaking, in March. I only took 95 because I had to. Bleh.

Glad I popped in here. Your info was helpful to us. We are planning to fly into Charleston for a few nights before a timeshare in HH. Then we have one day to get to Williamsburg for another timeshare. I had looked at a map & thought Williamton would be a nice stop. Then the drive from Williamsburg to Charleston. Thanks you helped another fodorite. Can you rec'd a place to stay in Williamton? Place on a beach?? Thanks Not till Sept/Oct next year-Chris

Wilmington? Williamston?

I think it is going take a pretty good day's drive to get to
Williamsburg from Hilton head. They ain't gonna stay over somewhere. But then who knows where they are going.

Thanks, it looks like getting off of 1-95 only adds about 45 minutes to the trip, and will keep us sane.

I think Airlie Gardens looks like a good first stop if it's a nice day. They have the NC State Champion Live Oak, and my husband and I are tree freaks. The website says they have the menus of about 15 restaurants that are close by (if we leave Williamsburg early enough to make this a lunch stop)

Brookgreen Gardens looks amazing but I’m afraid will add too much time.

Georgetown looks like a nice stop, any great Antiques stores there? Or should we just head for a short walk around the Riverfront?

If you are tree freaks don't miss the Angel Oak outside of Charleston. It will take your breath away.

Can't remember about antiques on the Riverfront, but there are some cute antique-y places between G'town and Charleston and loads once you get here.

DO DO DO stop at Seewee and eat.

Georgetown does have a few antique shops right downtown--a mall type all the way at the south end looks kind of cute. There are a few consignment places/antique shops along 17 in Pawley's Island also.
Lots of cute gift type shops along the Riverfront in g'town.

Suewoo, the Angel Oak is definitely in our plans, that is one reason we have always wanted to go to Charleston! Once we take our friends to the airport we're going to stay another day, maybe go to one of the Bald Cypress Swamps.

I don't think we'll make it to eat at Seewee as we will be going by there so late in our drive to Charleston. And at the moment I'm not sure if we will be headed back up that way for any sightseeing.

Anyplace close to Charleston where our German friends can see Alligators in natural habitat?

Then get something to go. Trust me on this one, lol!

Do you mean Cypress Gardens? Great choice. The black water reflects the azaleas and it will be gorgeous.

In March, the gators may still be asleep if it's chilly. Your best bet is to tour Middleton and take the carriage ride through the swamp. But don't count on it. What you CAN count on are dolphins. Since no people will be in the water they swim in close. Where are you staying?

No not Cypress Gardens ~ there's a boardwalk trail through the swamp at Francis Beidler Forest and at Congaree National Park. Found out about them on this website

http://theshagbarkspeaks.blogspot.co...savannahs.html

Can you walk through the swamp at Middleton, or is it too long or too far?

We're staying at The Govenor's House B&B on Broad Street. Do you know it? I got a good rate, and I'm hoping it will give them a good experience of "old south"

Where's the best place to see Dolphins?

Don't know if you can walk through the swamp out at Middleton. It's an old road through the race paddies and it may flood at high tide. Not sure. They'll know out there what's best. Remember-do not disturb the napping gator, lol! He can go from 0 to 60 in seconds.

The Frances Beidler is great. You'll love it. Remember the weather that time of year can bee iffy. Come prepared.

The Governor's House is lovely and if you got a deal even better!

Te best place to see dolphins is on the Breach Inlet bridge between Isle of Palms and Sullivans. There are parking lots on either side and sidewalks on the bridge. If you take a kayak trip through the marshes you'll see them there too.

Now to the most important part: where are y'all gonna eat?

Well, I have missed the point--they are driving all the way to Charleston from Williamsburg--I had thought they might stop overnight at Wilmington, which I think would be a better trip, personally. I'm not sure I see any time to stop and see anything much.
To the OP--Seewee is just north of Mt. Pleasant--almost in Charleston.
At least stop and get some fried pickles--your German guests will be amused and probably like it a lot.

Mapquest says this is about a 9 hour drive.

I want some of those now. And some hushpuppies-best in town.

I've done that drive. You're right. Williamsburg is way east from 95.

There are sight seeing things near Seewee; Center for Birds of Prey, the shell rings, Sewee Center and the great Sewee Outpost. It's a great place to shop! All kinds of interesting stuff.

Google Maps says 7 1/2 hrs direct to Charleston, 8 1/4 via Wilmington. So 9 hrs with some short stops? Sounds like a lot, but our alternative would be 3 hrs back home (north) from Williamsburg, 1 hr to the airport the next day, 2 hrs waiting, 2 3/4 hrs flight time, 1 hr for luggage and rental car pick-up. Plus hundreds of dollars in fares. Also, this way I can buy antiques and take them back home, and we may go home via Asheville and the Biltmore. :)

I probably should have been more specific as to "short stops" ~ places to get out, take a short walk to see something, stretch our legs.

Restaurants ~ since we'll have a large breakfast, lunch will probably be really light. So we have 4 nights of dinners to choose from the following ( and welcome more recommendations from all of you!)

SNOB ~ definite

Hanks
Fig
Magnolias
Wild Olive on John's Island
La Fourchette ?

Good thinking.

All great choices. I think you might want to look at Cru Cafe and Husk, the new place everybody's raving about, as well. Both have lunch.

We recently went to FIG and it was outstanding. Get the pate.

The antique places downtown are very high end. Come to Mount Pleasant and go to Hungryneck on Johnnie Dodds for items that are a little less grand.

You'd be smart to go to Asheville and take the western route back up. SO much more scenic and fun than 95. The Festival of Flowers starts on April 2. It's breathtaking. Have a great time and let us know how you do.

I was in NO way suggesting NOT driving. I misunderstood the "stop' which made PERFECT sense to me to see some really nice things along the way TO Charleston.
Is Hungryneck in or near the shopping center where Whole Foods is? I have never really found much in that area, but haven't looked for a LONG time either.

Restaurants...................not thinking of lunch, just dinner

definite
SNOB
Hanks
Magnolias

that leaves one to be determined!

The FIG menu on the website is a fairly limited menu, not a lot of choices. Cru Cafe looked pretty good. Anyone know anything about Fat Hen on Johns Island?

Gretchen, yes, Hungryneck is near Whole Paycheck, I mean Whole Foods.

wrenwood, the FIG menu on the website is limited because it changes daily. It really is great. I have not yet been to Fat Hen yet but those duck fat fries are on my short list. I have heard great things about it from my friends on that side of town. I'm on the Mt. P. side.

The other good new one is Amen Street. Oysters are in season and are really good.

Your trip is going to be fun!

Put McCrady's, High Cotton and Husk on your dining list. I second Amen Street. Ms. Sue won't mislead you.

McCrady's @ 2 Unity Alley, Charleston, SC. 843 - 577 - 0025.
http://www.mccradysrestaurant.com/
High Cotton Maverick Bar and Grill @ 199 East Bay St., Charleston, SC. 843 - 724 - 3815.
http://www.mavericksouthernkitchens....ton/index.html
Husk Restaurant @ 76 Queen Street, Charleston, SC 843 - 577 - 2500.
http://www.huskrestaurant.com/

Littleman,

Did you go to Husk yet?

Husk and McCradys are same chef?

"Williamsburg is way east from 95."

That depends on your definition of "way". It takes me 45 min to get to I95 from Williamsburg. I'm not sure when you want to hop over to 17 but I'll tell you that you do not want to take 17 through Hampton Roads.

wrenwood, yes. I haven't been to Husk yet, but it's getting great reviews. High Cotton has my favorite shrimp and grits next to my own. SNOB and HC are owned by the same nice people.

So McCrady's has continued to be good--didn't the original chef leave and go to Chicago?
For a really fun book shop go to the Blue Bicycle --is it King St., Sue?
We recently had a VERY good lunch at Virginia's just down the street from the Blue Bicycle and the Francis Marion.
Sue, do you want to warn them away from the places near the Market?
Where would they get the best oysters? That would be MY question, and I don't think it would be necessarily at the high end eateries in town!! If folks haven't had the fried oysters the way they are done at the coast, they haven't really "lived".

Yes, Gretchen, the Blue Bicycle is on King just north of Marion Square.

And yes, I do steer people away from the tourist trap places. I won't name names, but if a place has people out on the street hawking you to come in, don't do it.

Best oysters, IMHO, Seewee, Atlanticville, Locklear's and the Sullivans Island Fire Department Oyster Roast. They do it once a month in winter.

And yes, McCrady's is still great. I haven't been in a long time. The chef, Sean Brock just opened Husk which is getting great reviews. I'm waiting for the brouhaha to go away, then I'll go.

And you are right. Fried oysters are the bomb.

When you mention "oyster roast" that is another thing to be done on the coast--be sure they are ordered "wet"--barely opened from the heat!! Oh, man, we do that at least twice each week we are down in the winter!!
That is interesting about the Fire Department--we'll keep that in mind, although we can get them about 6 miles from our place up in Murrell's Inlet. So, maybe not!! Thanks.

It really is fun. Everybody's there. It's held at the big tin roof over by Ft. Moultrie. Find me- I bring my own cocktail sauce!

Back again-Any reccomondations for places to stay in Williamton NC.Looks like a long drive from HH so I guess just a place to put our heads down before driving to Williamsburg VA the next day. I do like the sound of the ocean if thats possible-Thanks Again Chris

Are you talking about "Wilmington"? If you want to stay on the beach look for places in Wrightsville Beach. That is the beach at Wilmington.

If the OP is thinking about antique shopping, save it for Asheville. A number of very good shops there -- I rarely find much in Charleston or Mt. Pleasant.

Thanks Gretchen-I need to go to AAA & get maps & books for the trip-Thought I'd wait till after the first of the year since we arn't going till Sept/October. Chris

Thanks birgator, downtown Asheville for the shops? Any area in particular?

No, not downtown per se (although I remember one shop that was pretty good but don't recall its name). A few clusters, fairly close to the Biltmore. Find Tobacco Barn, Sweeten Creek, Screen Door, and they will tell you where to go next. Most likely there is a map/brochure. All are big, and take a while to go through -- I always find something.

I tend to stay away from decorator set ups and imports. The relentless antiquing partner navigates and I don't know that I could find anything by memory -- it all looks the same!