Southern air/road trip
 

Flying into Savannah for 4 days, staying at the Gastonian BnB, then to Hilton Head for 4 days.... we are renting a car upon arrival at Savannah........ and driving (three nights to get there) to New Orleans for 3 days.... in April. Any suggestions on must see's and do's, restaurants and best sightseeing route to New Orleans? Three days in NO and fly home to Cali! Thanks a bunch!

Long time in Savannah and HH (unless you are a golfer) for my taste. Not seeing Charleston at all?!!
HH is probably the most over developed and soulless beach area in the world. Just my opinion. There are such beautiful and open beaches along the southeast coast that are nicer and have more than equal amenities.

110% agreement with Gretchen on HHI. Unless you are a golfer.

On the way to NO, stop at Wakulla Springs State Park 14 miles south of Tallahassee. The Lodge is inexpensive and there is an absolutely amazing nature boat ride.

About an hour further south is Apalachicola, which was a seaport when Orlando was a swamp. Good historic district, laid back downtown. Good restaurants.

And even if you are a golfer there are probably 500 courses up the coast from HH!!

Thanks Gretchen and Ackislander...Yes golfers but also staying at a timeshare there. Plan on using it as a base. Will go up to Beaufort...hear it's interesting. Spent a week in Charleston last Oct. Absolutely loved it!!! Have children/grandkids near Charlotte so we've seen that area..thought we'd go south. Is it best to stay on main hwys or go country roads? Our experience back there, you can't see much from the freeways. Wakulla sounds wonderful..thanks!

With three nites, you've got time to take mainly local roads. From Savannah, take US 17 down the coast to Fernandina Beach (will have to get on 1-95 a while to cross into Florida). The Sea Islands are all worth looking at, so you could see two or more of Jekyll, St. Simons, Cumberland, as well as Amelia where Fernandina Beach is. Fernandina Beach is a funky "Old Florida" city.

Then drive west--I'd take I-10 because there's not much to see unless you want to head back north to see the Okefenokee Swamp--to Tallahassee, and Wakulla Springs (via FL 61) and Apalachicola (via FL 61 and US 98)--as Ackislander says--both very interesting places. Get some oysters in Apalachicola.

Then meander along US 98 which runs west along the panhandle and stop at one or more of the beautiful beaches. Stop where ever you feel like for the nite. Pensacola has an old Spanish Fort as well as the National Naval Air Museum, check out Bellingrath Gardens south of Mobile, and you'll be in NOLA before you know it.

If you dawdle along the coast, you can always get back on I-10.

Don't have any restaurant suggestions, except for oysters in Apalachicola, but there are a number of good seafood restaurants all along the gulf coast.

Thanks sooo much DW....sounds like a great route. I really wanted to see Cumberland.

Agree on Fernandina Beach. Go into the Old Town. Much charm.

You can continue to south of Jacksonville without interstate by taking a ferry across the river, no reservation necessary. Adds something. It different to the trip.

They are having weather related oyster problems in Apalachicola at the moment, but the shrimp are in full supply, and there is no shrimp like. Gulf Shrimp.

Try the Hole in the Wall.

While you are in SC, go to Hunting Island.

http://www.huntingisland.com/

Thanks a bunch!!! We are going to Cumberland Island and taking the 6 hr tour. Then to Fernandina Beach to a place on the Beach. We have reservations at Wakulla Springs Lodge for a couple of nights....hopefully no rain so we can take their boat trips!! Hope to get to Apalach... and on to New Orleans to eat and drink for a few days! I'm tired already AND excited!

PS we are going to try to get to Hunting Island when we go to Beaufort!