My upcoming vacation -- suggestions?

At Patriots Point in Charleston they have the Yorktown -- a mothballed aircraft carrier that they let tourists tramp around in. It tends to be a guy-friendly historic site. The Yorktown was a very busy boat during WWII and they have lots of great footage of planes being shot down and ships blown up in the movie they show in one of the flight-deck elevators done over as a theater.

The new Atlantis exhibit at the space center is also a good experience. It's only a few miles from Sonny's place.

The Army has boats, the Navy has ships. tee hee.

River street in Savanna is lots of fun. Several of the little bars and restaurants there are in contention for the longest continually-operating bars in the country. Some of the buildings along the river are pushing three hundred years old and they've been tourist meccas for most of that time. E River street lays much lower than the rest of the town. Behind the buildings on the river there is an alley and a 30-foot retaining wall. There are places to park a few blocks up the hill (downtown) and the walk down to the river, while steep at times, is pleasant.

If you are there on a fine day, Tubby's Seafood house offers good food at reasonable prices and unbeatable views of the river from their second-floor terrace.

Hi Mel,
Sounds like you have a great vacation planned for next month!

If you have time on your way north from WPB to Sonny's, travel on HWY A1A along the beaches. You can drive from N. Hutchison Island in Ft. Pierce straight up to Cape Canaveral on A1A without having to divert west to the mainland. There are many undeveloped areas with beautiful ocean views, and when you get to Vero Beach you will see why lots of folks in S. Florida have second homes here where they can come on weekends to escape the congestion!

We spent a wonderful long weekend in Savannah several years ago to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We stayed at The Gastonian, a bed and breakfast in the historic district, and I would recommend it very highly. We had a great anniversary dinner at The Olde Pink House, built in the 1700's, which could satisfy your wife's interest in historical buildings while you both enjoy a great meal!

Have a great time!
Margie

Thanks for al the great suggestions!

Please keep them coming.

In answer to some questions:

We originally were going to hit Savannah first and then continue North to Charleston. But Charleston has some huge celebration the weekend of the 16th and we heard it would be bedlam, with high prices. So we will hit Charleston first and then Savannah that weekend.

I am still having back issues, but I am getting P/T and that has been VERY helpful. It was about 95% better and then went out again. It is now getting better again. The P/T person has been great as she spotted the problem (facet joint turned inward) and she was able to pull on my leg and it apparently corrected itself (one time pulling one's leg is a good thing!).

Mel

 

My daughter and s.i.l. live in Charleston, so I have been there many times. Patriots Point use to be nice 20 years ago, but has become a rip off in recent years, several key ships are no longer there.

My s.i.l is the manager of The Glass Onion", a great restaurant in the west Ashley side of Charleston, if you eat there, tell him you know his father in law, get a good deal.

Having been to Savannah and Charleston many times, savannah can be a disappointment, if you have seen Charleston first. Savannah is like going to a scaled down Charleston, in my opinion.

Best beaches in Charleston are either Folly Beach, or cross the new beautiful bridge and go to Sullivan's Island. On Sullivan's, there is a cool old fortress you can explore.

The trip to Ft. Sumter is disappointing too. A bumpy boat ride to what ends up being a broken up pile of rubble, but of course, a lot of history.

What use to be called the "Slave Market" is very touristy, but to be expected. If you want to go to a five star steak house, go to Halls, very expensive but very worth it.

Hotels are much cheaper in West Ashely, then in Charleston proper. North Charleston is cheaper still, but they have some dangerous areas, so be careful.

Best tourist part of Charleston to me, is Rainbow Row, on the Battery, where you can park, walk along the water front (you can see Ft. Sumter from there) and look at all the beautiful homes. Nice park there too.

Charleston has become a great "eating" city. Shrimp & Grits is a staple, as well as Low Country Broil, also known as Frogmore Stew, made of shrimp, corn on the cob, sausage, onions, red potatoes, etc.

D.

Post Edited (Purgatory) : 4/12/2014 9:53:10 PM (GMT-6)

David:
Thanks for the info.

Is West Ashley in a good location (ie: very short drive to Charleston?)

Perhaps it is worth staying there?

OK, on further checking, I gather West Ashley is part of Charleston?

Mel

Post Edited (compiler) : 4/13/2014 1:05:33 AM (GMT-6)

Bill:

I sent you an email

Mel

Thanks Bill. I was up till 4:30 AM checking out places in Charleston.

We would prefer staying right downtown in some of these nice quaint places. But the prices get very high: $350-$900 per night. I guess we all have our budgets, but that is much more than we want to spend. We have already booked a place in Savannah that looks great (Foley House Inn) and with all their taxes, etc. that will end up over $250 per night. I remember when $30 per night equated to a luxury place. These days you pay over $100 for something mediocre.

Anyway, when I researched these great downtown places and read the reviews, they didn't sound so great. One place looked fantastic on their web-site, but the comments/reviews kept complaining about excessive noise, creaky beds, and mildew in the bathroom. Now, one complaint I can ignore, but when it is a common complaint...I am not going to pay that much for a crappy place due to location!

Mel

Thanks for all the responses on this OT subject.

I've booked places to stay, so we are all set and clearly we will have plenty of things to do/see.

Mel

All set.

Booked the Holiday Inn Riverview. They have a shuttle that takes you downtown.

Cost will be about $160+ per day. Better than the $400+ per day downtown

Mel

As you are coming up the coast, do not pass up the chance to visit Jekyll Island. The millionaires village is worth at least the drive through. The old clubhouse, now a hotel is where me and She Who Must Be Obeyed, spent our honeymoon some 22 years ago. We spend at least 2 weeks a year down there for vacations. It is not the fancy glamor spot that some may enjoy, it is a little laid back and undeveloped. No matter how many times we have been, just a trip around the island is always a delight.

If you go, do not miss the ruins of the Horton House, and the Historic District museum in the old stables. If you have the time, take the tour which will usually get you in one or two of the old "cottages" as well as a good tour of the Clubhouse/Hotel. (The hotel is a really elegant place). There is a really neat Turtle Center with a look inside the turtle hospital and some shops/stores in the servant quarters buildings behind the hotel. The Commissary has great lemonade and the Fudge shop will spoil you. If you are inclined to eat while there, the Grand Dining Room is superb but pricey, however their breakfast bar is outstanding. Especially if you catch them on a day they have biscuits and gravy.

If you golf, there are 54 holes available. The 9 hole course at the beach is the last remaining holes of the original millionaires course. The par 5 with green overlooking the ocean is pretty special. Very unique and last time I was there, $27 lets you play the 9 hole course all day and that includes the cart.

Anyway, Jekyll is a place that may or may not suit you. But it is well worth a look.

Before you get to Savannah, I recommend you take a peak at Fort McAllister, the fort made from sand. And then fort Pulaski off of Savannah. In Savannah find the old Georgia Railroad Terminal with the maintenance shops. The roundhouse still exists and they have some really neat train stuff you just dont see anymore.

In Charleston I highly recommend the Museum and the Aquarium. It is still my favorite aquarium and I have been to Shed, Chattanooga, Atlanta's and others. Charleston's is still my fave. Also if you are there on a weekend you can get a peek at the Hunley. Hard to believe people would actually crawl down into that thing.

Enjoy your trip.