A ROAD TRIP TO LOOK FORWARD TO

At some point domestic travel will be permitted by governors across the country.  Many of us will be looking for a diversion after months of staying at home.  The more adventurous may be ready for a road trip to the South where the tourists will be fewer due to the hangover fear of a resurgence of Covid-19.  However, gas will remain inexpensive and lodging/restaurants will be offering deals not seen in decades. (We usually employ Groupon Travel or Trivago to land a good deal on brand name motels). 

This journey will outline one of our favorites; a round trip excursion to Asheville, North Carolina; Savannah Georgia; Charleston, South Carolina; and a small Bed and Breakfast in Grassy Creek North Carolina, before returning to Washington. Travelers looking for some beach time or excellent Golf could easily add a stay at Hilton Head Island.

The key to this trip was breaking up long drives into manageable legs with great scenery. An 8 AM start will easily get you to Asheville by 4 PM with plenty of time to enjoy the famous Sky Line Drive.  In recent years Asheville has been transformed into an upscale retirement destination.  This has not diminished the charm of the arts and crafts community and excellent restaurants in downtown Asheville.

The major attraction in Asheville is the Biltmore Estate. Biltmore House, the main residence, is a Chateauesque-style mansion built for George Washington Vanderbilt II between 1889 and 1895 and is the largest privately owned house in the United States, at 178,926 square feet (135,280 square feet of living area).  Still owned by George Vanderbilt’s descendants, it remains one of the most prominent examples of Gilded Age mansions.  While the tour of the main floor is excellent, we especially enjoyed the separate opportunity to explore the upper floors and roof top statuary.

As of this writing, the Biltmore is closed, but attractions in the South appear to be opening up quicker than those in the Northern States.  My guess is that a July/August excursion will be within the Covid-19 safety guidelines.

The next leg of our journey was a pleasant five hours of drive time, out of the mountains of North Carolina into the low country of South Carolina, arriving at Savannah, Georgia.  We stayed in one of the many motels, directly off the interstate.

Savannah is a designed walking town, ideal for leisurely strolls through the numerous squares.  It is full of horse drawn carriages, antebellum architecture and oak trees covered with Spanish moss.  Highlights include a visit to the historic district with its old homes (Owens –Thomas House, Andrew Low House) and museums (Telfair Academy Complex, Modern Art Museum).  There is also the city market, historic churches and cemeteries. 

We were treated to some memorable dining experiences such as an eatery specializing in wild game including buffalo, kangaroo and alligator.  Before leaving, we purchased some outstanding wedding gifts from the numerous specialty shops along the Savannah River.

Moving on from Savannah you need to decide whether to take a short detour to Hilton Head, perhaps to lunch in Harbor Town, before landing in Charleston South Carolina, a mere two hours away.  In recent years Charleston has become the number one travel destination in America and one of the top in the World.  The history, restaurants, nearby beaches and Southern charm all combine to pull in millions of visitors each year.

We have visited Charleston on several occassions and our accommodations have varied depending on the trip.  For a weeklong stay we rented a condo at the beach on the Isle of Palms. For this shorter visit we stayed in one of the numerous motels in North Charleston, directly off the interstate.

If you are a first time visitor, Charleston deserves a 3-4 day stay. Activities  include a walking tour of the historical district; a boat ride on the harbor including a stop at Fort Sumter; and a tour of several historical homes.  One could easily spend a day purchasing mementos and gifts at the historic downtown city market and numerous specialty shops throughout the shopping district.  Daylong excursions outside of Charleston are popular, especially to one or two of the well-preserved historical plantation complexes.

Charleston has a restaurant scene that rivals urban areas ten times its size.  Hopefully the establishments will be able to reopen in all their glory when the guidelines permit.  Everything from traditional southern cooking to French cuisine is represented. Two of our favorites are the internationally famous, locally food sourced, “Husk” and well named “SNOB” (Slightly North of Broad).

Completing the circle back to Washington deserves to be broken up into two segments to cut the long drive in half and to prolong the enjoyment. There are many destinations from which to choose.  Our recommendation is an out of the way bed and breakfast (The River House) on the north fork of the New River near West Jefferson in the northwest corner of North Carolina.  Your travel time passing through over the moon scenery will be five hours.

The establishment features a gourmet chef and many rooms are out buildings behind the main farm house.  On site was a world class porcelain studio and gallery which drained the last dollars from our wallets.  The artist features pieces made from Belgium lace and imported clays unlike any work we had ever seen.  A tour of West Jefferson provided an afternoon of entertainment including a magnificent train display at the courthouse and numerous antique stores.

With a car full of memories and purchases, the final leg of the journey home will be a leisurely six hours.  Let us hope that we will soon be out and about and able to travel.