Nice towns suggestions South Carolina

fishandchips

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Hi guys,

Myself and the wife are planning to visit the US for the third time this October, booked a flight into Atlanta then on to Gatlinburg for a couple of nights, then a couple of nights in weaverville just north of Asheville. We are going to finish our trip in Charleston then Savannah. 14 nights in total.

Any suggestions for small compact friendly towns on the drive southeast from Asheville to Charleston? Wife has mild ms so can’t be a sprawling town as she wouldn’t manage the walk. Nice quaint compact towns are ideal, Or would we be better just driving through and spending more time on the coast?

spent hours on google but the search results where terrible.

cheers

Garry
 
If you are in Asheville, NC then you should swing by Maggie Valley, NC and go to the wheels Through Time museum. It is all American made motorcycles, but everything runs and rides. Never been there but they have YouTube channel with weekly videos of bikes. Looks amazing.

Also, Savannah is a great city. Very historic and beautiful. I actually got engaged there many years ago. Food is amazing!
 
That's a good question and hard to answer. I know a lot of people vacation in and return to Gatlinburg. I absolutely love Appalachia, but I wouldn't go to Gatlinburg on a bet. You should probably tell us more about what you're looking for. Quaint little town shopping? US history? Tourist destinations?
 
Nice thing about Savannah is you can get passes on the trolley tours and get off at various touristy stops along the route and pick up on a later trolley. They run at regular intervals so it's never that long of a wait between.
In Asheville do the Biltmore tour. In Charleston do a horse and buggy tour. You might try Hilton Head just for walking convenience.
Another nice place just a bit south of Savannah is St. Augustine Florida
 
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St. Augustine Florida
Spanish fort. It's opposition is the British fort at St. Simons Island. St. Simons is a place I happily visit often.
St. Augustine is the brain child of Henry Ford. He recreated Dearborn Village in Michigan. Colonial Williamsburg and St. Augustine were created based upon that model. (Not Henry Ford AFAIK)
 
If you are in Asheville, NC then you should swing by Maggie Valley, NC and go to the wheels Through Time museum. It is all American made motorcycles, but everything runs and rides. Never been there but they have YouTube channel with weekly videos of bikes. Looks amazing.

Also, Savannah is a great city. Very historic and beautiful. I actually got engaged there many years ago. Food is amazing!

Great shout with Maggie valley, looks great for a short visit, might even do some trout fishing:) - Cheers Willis its on the list as is Savannah.
 
That's a good question and hard to answer. I know a lot of people vacation in and return to Gatlinburg. I absolutely love Appalachia, but I wouldn't go to Gatlinburg on a bet. You should probably tell us more about what you're looking for. Quaint little town shopping? US history? Tourist destinations?

Lol about Gatlinburg, I guess its a bit like Blackpool here in the UK. We'll only be here for a day pottering about. Going to have a look at Dollywood on the morning before moving on, not for the rides but just to have a looksy. Maybe she's home for a duet? definitely not looking for anything historical, living in the UK you get a bit tired of it to be honest. Looking for semi touristy if that makes sense, not like Galinburg, 2 days will probably be enough.
 
Great shout with Maggie valley, looks great for a short visit, might even do some trout fishing:)
I've visited Wheels Through Time multiple times. I don't think you will be disappointed. It's a museum like non other. You'll see what I mean when you get there. It's something that needs to be experienced. Hit it during the week when crowds are smaller.
 
Nice thing about Savannah is you can get passes on the trolley tours and get off at various touristy stops along the route and pick up on a later trolley. They run at regular intervals so it's never that long of a wait between.
In Asheville do the Biltmore tour. In Charleston do a horse and buggy tour. You might try Hilton Head just for walking convenience.
Another nice place just a bit south of Savannah is St. Augustine Florida

Good info there my friend. I made notes on everything you said. Not interested in the Biltmore tour but definitely adding Hilton head the list. Keep em coming, going to have to book a month now!
 
Spanish fort. It's opposition is the British fort at St. Simons Island. St. Simons is a place I happily visit often.
St. Augustine is the brain child of Henry Ford. He recreated Dearborn Village in Michigan. Colonial Williamsburg and St. Augustine were created based upon that model. (Not Henry Ford AFAIK)

I could happily spend half a day there but the wife wouldnt go for it. Too much walking and shes not interested in forts, she just wants to sit and chat with the locals.

Guess I could have said from the start, the main reason for the visit is the food and the people, thats the theme, then nice small quaint towns, maybe some easy fishing, a little bit of shopping but not too much :-() . Every time we visit the US we cant wait to get back.
 
Also of note about Savannah, they allow open containers there. By that, I mean you can walkabout anywhere outdoors with an alcoholic beverage in hand. Most places will offer a "to go" cup if you haven't finished your beverage. That is not typically tolerated in most cities in the US. If it's hot out find a place called Wet Willie's. They sell a wide variety of alcohol infused slushies. Quite refreshing on a hot day.
 
In my neck of the woods Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are usually spoken in the same sentence in regards to visiting the Smokies. Having visited both a couple years ago you couldn't pay me to revisit Pigeon Forge.
Gatlinburg you can stroll through with places to rest, music to hear and moonshine to sample, Pigeon Forge is a strip of attractions located on a four lane double highway needing a vehicle to get from one to the next, piss on that.
The wife says she could care less about seeing the Smokies again as we live in the hills and if she wants to visit an historical town there's downtown Madison just down the river.....

Trying to recall a couple eateries down there near Seiverville.......Apple Barn and the Mill Restaurant? Talking with the locals might be limited to the waitress taking yer order........

Cha'stun is interesting due to history, lots to see in regards to the Rebellions of the 18th and 19th centuries.
Plenty of eateries in the historic district and a stroll through the market should be on the visit. Isle of Palms has a couple eateries that are popular. Savannah is a place that the Charleston locals do visit.....not sure of the distance away.

Then there's the Bavarian styled town of Helen Georgia......wife says that looks interesting but they have bears there, which may ultimately be why she doesn't want to go back to the Smokies ........
 
Also of note about Savannah, they allow open containers there. By that, I mean you can walkabout anywhere outdoors with an alcoholic beverage in hand. Most places will offer a "to go" cup if you haven't finished your beverage. That is not typically tolerated in most cities in the US. If it's hot out find a place called Wet Willie's. They sell a wide variety of alcohol infused slushies. Quite refreshing on a hot day.

anuther one for the list, looking good
 
In my neck of the woods Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are usually spoken in the same sentence in regards to visiting the Smokies. Having visited both a couple years ago you couldn't pay me to revisit Pigeon Forge.
Gatlinburg you can stroll through with places to rest, music to hear and moonshine to sample, Pigeon Forge is a strip of attractions located on a four lane double highway needing a vehicle to get from one to the next, piss on that.
The wife says she could care less about seeing the Smokies again as we live in the hills and if she wants to visit an historical town there's downtown Madison just down the river.....

Trying to recall a couple eateries down there near Seiverville.......Apple Barn and the Mill Restaurant? Talking with the locals might be limited to the waitress taking yer order........

Cha'stun is interesting due to history, lots to see in regards to the Rebellions of the 18th and 19th centuries.
Plenty of eateries in the historic district and a stroll through the market should be on the visit. Isle of Palms has a couple eateries that are popular. Savannah is a place that the Charleston locals do visit.....not sure of the distance away.

Then there's the Bavarian styled town of Helen Georgia......wife says that looks interesting but they have bears there, which may ultimately be why she doesn't want to go back to the Smokies ........

I have seen a few videos of pigeon forge and already wrote it off. Looks like a nightmare. The isle of palms looks nice. On the list.
 
Would anywhere near Greenville, Augusta or Columbia be a nice place to visit you guys think. in between Asheville and Charleston.
 
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