We had so much fun exploring Georgia and South Carolina over spring break. It’s such a beautiful part of our country! 🇺🇸 We visited Covington, Jekyll Island, Savannah, Beaufort, Charleston, and Murrells Inlet. We flew into Atlanta and spent three nights in Savannah and four in Charleston.
🛫 Day 1: Travel day. We arrived in Atlanta late so we stayed at an airport hotel.
JEKYLL ISLAND- Day 3
We drove 80 minutes south of Savannah to spend the day on Jekyll Island. It’s a beautiful island with a laid-back feel and nice since you can easily come and go on the Causeway.
Here’s what you'll find on Jekyll Island:
*Jekyll Island Trail System- Rent a bike to explore the trails...They’re amazing! It takes about 3 hours to go around the whole island. 🚲
*Georgia Sea Turtle Center- One of the few sea 🐢 centres in the country. My girls were happy to learn that they rescue turtles and get them back in nature as quickly as possible.
*Jekyll Island National Historic Landmark District- This 240-acre historic district was once home to America’s wealthiest. The island was purchased in 1886 to become an exclusive winter retreat. It became known as the “richest most inaccessible club in the world”. That all changed 😆and now you can visit some of the homes.
*Faith Chapel- Built-in 1904, see Tiffany’s original stained-glass window.
*Saint Andrew Beach- On the Southernmost tip of the island. A popular place for watching birds and dolphins. 🏖
So happy to finally visit one of the most charming cities in America.
Here’s a list of sites you don’t want to miss:
*River Street- The heart and soul of the old town. It runs along the Savannah River. Stroll the old European style cobblestone streets. We loved River Street Sweets Candy Store... Try a free sample of their homemade pralines.😋
*Forsyth Park- Has the most amazing fountain in Savannah. If you are looking for Spanish Moss you’ll find it dripping off the Oak trees. 🙌 We had lunch at Collins Quarter in the park.
*City Market- Open-air shopping. Try Byrd Cookies Georgia Peach cookie. They have free samples.
*JW Marriott Plant Riverside District- My girls loved the free dinosaur and gem exhibit in the hotel lobby.
*The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist⛪️- Looks like something you might find in Europe... With its gothic pillars, towering spires and 81 stained glass windows.
*Wormsloe Historic Site- Beautiful tree-lined driveway! The 1.5 mile Avenue creates a stunning effect for photographers. Not surprising that it’s been in many movies. Come early to avoid lines of cars in your pics. You can get a free picture or pay to drive through the trees and see the ruins.
*Bonaventure Cemetery- Known as one of the world’s most beautiful cemeteries! You can take a tour or wander on your own.
*Rainbow Row- Charleston isn’t the only city with a 🌈Row. Check out Savannah’s smaller version on East Bryan Street.
*Leopold’s Ice Cream- This famous ice cream shop has been in the same family since it was founded in 1919. 😋🍨😋
*Jones Street- Voted the most beautiful street in America. The homes are Mid-19th-Century Architecture and Greek Revival. This street and others nearby have true Southern charm!
*Chippewa Square- The famous Forest Gump scene was filmed on a park bench at the northern end of the square.
*Colonial Park Cemetery- Local legend says Sherman’s troops set up camp here. They moved headstones around & altered inscriptions. 😬
*Ghost and Gravestones Trolley Tour- We passed historic cemeteries and old mansions. We visited the Andrew Low House and River Streets Perkins & Sons Ship Chandlery. It was spooky and super fun!
*Tybee Island- Loved seeing Georgia’s oldest Lighthouse. We visited Tybee on the 1st day we arrived in Savannah.
Day 5- It takes two hours to drive from Savannah to Charleston, but we spent the entire day exploring and arrived in Charleston later in the evening.
1st stop- The Church of Prince William’s Parish now known as Sheldon. This was the first attempt in America to imitate a Greek Temple. It was built in 1745 then burned in 1779 by the British Army. After being rebuilt it was burned again by the Federal Army. It’s free and worth a stop.
2nd stop- BEAUFORT! Known for its antebellum mansions in the downtown historic district. I loved its coastal charm and was excited to find Beaufort’s Rainbow Row🌈❤️💚💜.
3rd stop- HUNTING ISLAND STATE PARK! Just 20 miles from Beaufort. As we drove through the park we felt like we were in the Amazon! It was so lush and jungle-like. We walked up 167 steps to the top of the lighthouse and had the most amazing views of the island. We relaxed on a beautiful beach then went to the Nature Center Scenic Trail and hiked through the sub-tropical maritime forest to the boneyard. With Hunting Island being a barrier island erosion has taken a toll on the beach. This has created a graveyard of sorts with all of the fallen trees.
CHARLESTON- Day 6
I 💛 the cobblestone walkways, hidden courtyards, stunning beaches and historic homes. Here's our Charleston itinerary:
*Rainbow Row-🌈❤️💚💜 Thirteen 18-Century townhomes in sherbet hues. The addresses are 83-107 on East Bay Street.
*The Battery- Stroll the waterside promenades along East Battery & Murray Boulevard to enjoy views of Charleston Harbor, Ravenel Bridge, and Fort Sumter. You’ll see a row of Southern mansions and pass Civil War cannons, statues and monuments.
*Waterfront Park- See the Pineapple Fountain.🍍
*Historic Charleston City Market- The buildings date back to 1804. It’s one of the nation's oldest markets. This is where we bought our souvenirs.
*The American Theater- The site for Allie and Noah’s double date in The Notebook (movie).
*High Cotton- The restaurant from The Notebook, where Noah looks into the window and sees Allie dining with her fiancé.
*494 King Street & Mary Street- Where Allie and Noah danced in the street and lay on the ground to watch the traffic light.
*King Street- One of the main streets in downtown Charleston. Upper King has nightlife and restaurants and the Southern part has more shops.
*Peace Pie- My salted caramel brownie ice cream sandwich was delicious! 😋
*Old Village in Mount Pleasant- The Old Village sits on the Charleston Harbor and was established in 1803. We got ice cream🍨 at Pitt Street Pharmacy at their old-fashioned soda fountain. Scenes from The Notebook and Outer Banks were filmed here.
*Sullivan’s Island Beach- Beautiful 🏖.
*Angel Oak Tree- On Johns Island. Really old and huge!
*Folly Beach- Laid-back vibe with lots of restaurants.
*Park Circle- Fun trendy area with restaurants and nightlife.
Day 7- We spent all day visiting a few sites North of Charleston.
1st Stop- GEORGETOWN is the third oldest city in South Carolina. It's such a quaint town dating back to the mid-1700s. Don't miss the views of the harbour from the Harborwalk.
2nd Stop- The HAMMOCK SHOPS VILLAGE- Cutest shopping area and a good place for souvenirs. I also enjoyed a hammock weaving demonstration in one of the shops.
3rd Stop- MURRELLS INLET MARSH WALK- Located in the historic fishing village. Stretch your legs on the 1/2 mile wooden boardwalk and grab a bite to eat.
4th Stop- BROOKS GREEN GARDENS- One of the top gardens in the US. In the 1800s it was a working rice plantation. We learned about the Gullah culture of the enslaved Africans who worked there. We loved the Zoo, fountains, reflecting pools, sculptures, and gardens.
The South is charming and the people are so polite. We were surprised when we arrived at a park in Charleston and we were given a ticket for not wearing our masks. 🤨 That quickly woke me up from my Southern spell... Arizona isn’t so bad! 😆
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