DRIVING!!! Cool Stops for the kids?

[bunkkinsmom]

Hey Y'all!

We are leaving very very soon for The World and we are driving from NC. This is our first time driving (we normally take the train) and I am hoping some of you have some cool ideas for places to stop with the kids.

We are getting them out of school early on a Thursday (they are off on Friday) as a SURPRISE!!! and hitting the road. Our first stop will be a gold mine outside of Charlotte for a little panning, and then we were thinking of driving all the way to Savannah(ish).

Do any of you have ideas for fun stops for the kids in Georgia or Northern Florida?

TIA!

 

[ldadar]

We're driving next month and plan to stop at the FL welcome center for free OJ.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

If you are on I-95, be sure to stop at South Of The Border.

 

[Detonate]

If you are on I-95, be sure to stop at South Of The Border.

Seconded, On the Border is an amazing restaurant.

 

[obxlover]

We are also from NC, we have driven each time we have gone to the world. I can't think of any "cool" stops, we have our "planned" stops along the way. Get gas in Brunswick, GA (on 95) I think its exit 38, usually the gas is cheapest there. We always stop at the gas station that has a Subway attached, so we grab lunch or supper and get back on the road. We have a Honda minivan, we can make it the rest of the way to Orlando without filling back up.

We have always planned to stop at the Florida Welcome Center, they have fresh squeezed OJ, but we do since we have just stopped at the gas station.

We travel with one thing in mind - get to Disney, so we don't stop unless we have too. Luckily our kids are good travelers. I can say all the rest stops we have ever stopped at have always been clean.

 

[MSSANDRA]

We are in NC, near Charlotte. First, I hate South of the Boarder! It's dirty, run down and I felt so dirty when we left. I doubt you will get on 95 before you get to it anyway if you go through Savannah. From Charlotte, you are about 9 hours away so we just basically just book it with only two quick stops. We do most of the time make one of those the Florida welcome center. There are some really nice rest stops along 95. Savanna has all sorts of tourist areas if you really want to spend time and money there. St Augustine is a VERY nice and fun place to visit but I can never get anyone interested in stopping.

 

[tmdart]

Visit the "Largest McDonalds" in the Olando area. It is 3 stories and has an arcade and a huge play area. It is a great place to eat, for mom and dad to regroup, and for the kiddos to run off some of their built up energy.

 

[bunkkinsmom]

We are in NC, near Charlotte. First, I hate South of the Boarder! It's dirty, run down and I felt so dirty when we left. I doubt you will get on 95 before you get to it anyway if you go through Savannah. From Charlotte, you are about 9 hours away so we just basically just book it with only two quick stops. We do most of the time make one of those the Florida welcome center. There are some really nice rest stops along 95. Savanna has all sorts of tourist areas if you really want to spend time and money there. St Augustine is a VERY nice and fun place to visit but I can never get anyone interested in stopping.

Yeah I didn't want to seem ungrateful for the South of The Border advice, but I feel the same way. That place creeps me out. I've been going there since I was a baby and it hasn't changed one bit. The Florida welcome center sounds like a must do. I am looking for some maybe not as touristy places along the way. We are stopping at an old Gold Mine near Charlotte to hang out for a little bit as our first "pause".

 

[GrumpyDad1974]

We drive form Wilmington once a year and only stop for gas and bathrooms... and I really only want to stop for gas. South of the Border is not worth the effort. 9 hours to Disney is our best time 4am - 1pm

 

[valandemmy]

Not sure if you will be going down this far or not, but my kids LOVED St. Augustine... it is about 3 hours from disney (i think)

 

[tina.tina]

We are above Charlotte by almost 3 hours.

Per Mapquest, it is about 12 hours from our home to WDW. On our first visit last year, we left at 4pm and spent the night near Kingsland, GA. Next time, we would probably leave at 6am and drive straight to Disney or spend the night in Daytona to enjoy a little down time on the beach before an afternoon check-in & bus ride to MK. We will definitely drive straight home next time. DH drove almost the whole time down and back. Even though he drives over an hour each way for work every day, we live in the mountains so he enjoyed driving on the straight & flat I-95 and wouldn't switch.

Everyone is different but I would rather just get there. Stopping a lot might wear out the driver as well as cause you to spend extra money that could be saved for Disney!!!