Has anyone driven down the eastern seaboard of the US?

[UKDEB]

We're planning on doing this for our friend's 50th in February, 2005. It'll be a total of about 3 weeks, starting with 3 nights in New York and ending with between 1 and 2 weeks in Orlando depending on how many places we decide to visit on the way.

Has anyone done this? What are the must-see places and are there any routes which are better/more spectacular than others? Our must-dos are Washington DC and Charleston (SC), but other than that we are open to suggestions.

 

[jjcollins]

Hi Debs -- RIGHT HERE GOES -- maybe Richmond -- Williamsburg ( busch gardens ) its a must -- Disneys Hilton Head resort -- Savannah thats just a few lol



jj.....

 

[KayleeUK]

Ohh can't help Deb. But wow what a wondeful trip

 

[Aceman88888]

Hi Debs,

I too would love to do this!.

Must visits if you are a theme park fan like me would be Busch Gardens Williamsburg, home of the worlds largest inverted rollercoaster called Alpengeist (like Nemesis at Alton but much bigger!) and Six Flags over Georgia, one of the best SF parks. Both are in wonderful scenery too.

I have looked into before an interstate oddyssey such as this but the thing which has stopped me before is the huge one way levies on car hire. Have you found an inexpensive way around this?

PS I am planning an interstater next year flying into Boston, up to Niagra, 2 days at Cedar Point (Home of the largest rollercoasters on earth) and a few days around the great lakes. Now that is also too a great trip!

 

[jjcollins]

Me again Debs lol -- Sorry i should have said my wife and i toured Virginia a few years back and go to Hilton Head island SC now and then.

Some more tips -- what about the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive from the Front Royal, VA to Cherokee, NC, South of Asheville, through Maggie Valley. Including the Great Smokies into Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville Tenn. We have included area maps, listings of business by area and by category and info on cities and towns on or near the Parkway. We did part of Skyline Drive and stayed on top of the mountains at Skyland lovely lodge.

To me Colonial Williamsburg is a must, its like a step back in time - did you see the film Patriot well its just like that. We stayed at the Woodlands hotel very nice right near the centre of things.


Charleston another must place to see. Fort Sumter were it all started the Civil War i mean lol. Great places to eat -- things to see Patriots Point which is home to USS YORKTOWN an aircraft carrier plus other ships you can tour round http://www.state.sc.us/patpt/ . Plus old Plantations - museums - the old slave markets.


Savannah -- what can i say very laid back some beautiful houses and buildings this were the film midnight in the garden of good and evil was filmed http://goodandevil.warnerbros.com/

ohh take a drive out to Tybee Island Light Station ( lighthouse lol ) http://www.tybeelighthouse.org/


Hilton head island -- home to Disneys HH resort.

The beauty of Hilton Head Island meets the magic of Disney
Fashioned after a 1940s hunting and fishing lodge, Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort is a warm home-away-from-home that combines Carolina charm with simple pleasures and outdoor fun. Located in the southernmost tip of South Carolina, a 5-hour drive from the Walt Disney World® Resort, at Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort you'll discover spacious vacation homes tucked beneath a canopy of hundred-year-old live oaks on a secluded island in Shelter Cove Harbour. Natural beauty and the possibilities for fun abound at Disney's Beach House, located nearby on the spectacular Atlantic Ocean, where you can enjoy swimming, water games, or just relaxing in Surfman's Station, a homelike den where you can watch TV or take a break from the sun and fun. Come and experience a vacation -- Disney style!

We love it there -- in fact we got married there, at the beach house lol.



Hope i've give you some ideas LOL if you neeed any help just shout



jj.......

 

[wendym]

Hi
We are just back from Virginia (as well as a Disney cruise and Disneyland, California!). Agree that Williamsburg is wonderful, we didn't do Busch Gardens (Mum hates the Tampa one and I couldn't convince her to go). We both loved the Charlottesville area, Monticello etc but I think the highlight was going to Waltons Mountain. Ok there isn't anywhere really called that but the person who wrote the series lived in Skyler and his school now has recreations of the scenes and some wonderful memorabilia. I think it is the people who make it though. "Jim Bob" still lives in the original family home.
Mount Vernon, Washington's home is also well worth a visit.
Any help I can give please ask.
Wendy

 

[vernon]

I've driven down from Pittsburgh which is a similar length journey, it can be quite tiring and even though motorway driving in the US is fairly easy I'd look to plan breaks or change drivers every 5-6 hours or so.
Like JJ I found Hilton Head to be a great beach resort/golf destination. Myrtle Beach also offers great golf as well as being a beach destination although my impression is that HH is a higher class destination. Around HH Charleston and Savannah have a lot of history about them and would be good places to stop if you're looking for an insight into some of America's history. For history it's hard to beat St Augustine on the Northern border of Florida http://www.visitoldcity.com and I think Williamsburg would be a great fun place to stop off.