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Southern Hospitality in Charleston and Savannah Road Trip - Part 2

Last week, we began building a romantic road trip to Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia for your road trip planner.   In case you missed it, here’s the link to Southern Hospitality in Charleston and Savannah Road Trip - Part 1, which highlighted the things to do in Charleston. But now it's time to head to the second city on your growing itinerary, Savannah! Many people use the word "genteel" to describe Savannah. The word means refined, elegant and stylish, all adjectives that describe the city well, from the Savannah River to the seaside resorts to the 2 1/2 square mile Historic District. And though I'm sure you could find a horse-drawn carriage to draw you into the past, Savannah is considered one of the Top 10 cities for walking tours. Fellow traveler, Gary Aldrich, gave Savannah 5-stars, praising "A wonderful Old-South getaway! I went with my best friend during a period of intense professional stress and by the end of our few days there, I was relaxed enough to return to work. The restaurants are wonderful, and the charming old houses and well-kept park squares are unlike anything else in the country. Being on a river and near the coast keeps it very mild, even in winter. Coastal Georgia is indeed a wonderful winter respite. I highly recommend it, especially when others are in such a mad rush to get to Florida!" His top picks were Comfort Suites Historic District, Old Pink House Restaurant, and the Squares of Savannah in the Historic District. In addition to the Squares of Savannah (in case visiting 21 squares isn't enough), Savannah also has other distinct points of interest, so make sure one of these activities gets added to your road trip planner. Riverfront - Running along the length of the Savannah River, this area was once the heart of Savannah's booming cotton trade. Now it is the most popular destination for visitors, with popular restaurants like Huey's , the Shrimp Factory and the elegant Chart House. Cobblestones dot River Street, a popular starting point for parades and festivals. City Market - City Market also sits on the river, a bit north of River Street at Jefferson and West Julian. Like River Street, the brick warehouses now host droves of tourists. Shops, restaurants and some of the Savannah's coolest clubs draw daily crowds, with frequent live music and performance artists lending a festive atmosphere to this busy corner of the city. Midtown – This area incorporates the Victorian District. You'll notice the homes becoming more modern as you head south. Though you'll find many businesses here and just as you begin to miss Old Savannah's charm, you come across Thunderbolt, a quaint fishing village on the Wilmington River. Savannah's Islands - The low country surrounding the city harbors many small islands, including the residential boom areas of Wilmington and Whitemarsh, and the touchingly quaint Isle of Hope. Nearby, Skidaway Island is the site of golfing communities, marinas, and miles of biking and nature trails. Savannah's seaside playground is Tybee Island. Just 15 miles east of downtown past Fort Pulaski National Monument , Tybee Island features a wonderland of crab shacks, expensive condos, party hotels and cheesy gift shops, as well as the oldest  lighthouse on the South Atlantic seaboard. So there you have it, two southern cities filled to the brim with charm and hospitality. With that kind of atmosphere surrounding you 24/7, it's no wonder romance fills the air and delights the senses. Every couple should add these cities to the Road Trip Planner because every relationship could use a bit of spice now and then.

Detroit Summer Road Trip

Detroit's long list of things to do and its organized freeway system make it one of the best destinations for a holiday vacation.  Grab your keys and head out to have one great summer road trip to this beautiful Michigan city!

Joining tours is still the best way to start a trip to get acquainted with a new place. It is also a good opportunity for you to take a break from the wheel as soon as you get to Detroit. The Detroit People Mover is a good start for you to discover the city's downtown area. The ride takes you to thirteen stops, including some of the most popular attractions located downtown. Make the most of this short driving hiatus by stopping at the Greektown, the Renaissance Center and the Joe Louis Arena, which are all accessible via the Detroit People Mover.

Music enthusiasts have a specific Detroit attraction in their itinerary for this summer road trip: the Motown Historical Museum. Motown Records is largest independent music label in the world that has produced big stars such as Stevie Wonder, the Jackson Five, Rare Earth and many more. Go back in history as you browse through the galleries of musical legends and visit the world-famous Studio A where numerous hits were recorded.

For those who are traveling with kids, there are lots of great attractions and activities in Detroit that you can check out. Drive yourselves just a few minutes from Detroit to Royal Oak  and head to the Detroit Zoo, which offers kids (and adults) the chance to be face to face with both backyard and wild animals. The highlights of the zoo are the Penguin Aquarium and the Polar Bear Exhibit. Next, drive to East Grand River Avenue to have a little down time with the kids and enjoy an incredible and creative puppet show at the Detroit Puppet Theater (also known as PuppetART). For the months of July and August, the theater features the classic Sleeping Beauty “on stage”. The Detroit Puppet Theater also hosts puppet-making workshops to Detroit residents and visitors, and has  exhibits of the most unique puppets they have created. The New Detroit Science Center is always a hit to the curious minds. It has an interesting way of introducing and/or educating science to children. The center's interactive exhibits, the theater and the planetarium will definitely make them ask questions with answers they will be eager to learn. Summer is also Major League Baseball season, and there is no doubt that a trip to the Commerica Park is included in the list of things to do for this Detroit road trip. Join the Detroit crowd as they cheer on their very own team,  Tigers. If there is no game scheduled during your visit, let the kids enjoy themselves with a carousel or a ferris wheel ride, or by running around the bases.

The Ford Detroit International Jazz Festival happens every summer on Labor Day weekend. Celebrate it this year with thousands of other jazz fanatics at the Hart Plaza on August 29th until September 1st. Hundreds of artists perform during this four day-music filled event, which is certainly one of the best ways to conclude your Detroit summer road trip.

Blue Ridge Parkway Motorcycle Road Trip

Give yourself a break and go on a motorcycle road trip along the longest rural parkway in the United States, the Blue Ridge Parkway. The parkway runs 469 miles that connects the Great Smoky Mountains in southern North Carolina to Shenandoah National Park in northern Virginia and stretches across the southern Appalachian Mountains. That fact alone makes for a very promising scenic motorcycle road trip.

To get the most out of the beauty of Blue Ridge Parkway, you will need about four days for this motorcycle road trip.  Take the time to stop and explore nearby towns that have existed since the first settlements in America.

Starting from North Carolina, the beginning of your ride is set in a movie-like setting as the mist from the Smoky Mountains is so visible.  Head off to Boone, also known as the Firefly Capital of the World. Stop by at Boone's major attraction, the Tweetsie Railroad for a little old time fun.  Moving along to Asheville, take in some cultural and or historic attractions.   In Asheville, you will find the famous Biltmore Estate, the most technologically-advanced home during the time it was built.  If you are a fan of the Wild West, continue your motorcycle road trip with a stop at Maggie Valley.  Here you will find the Ghost Town in the Sky theme park that stages street gun fights back in the day.  Explore more attractions through your Blue Ridge Parkway ride as you head to Humpback Mountain.  Deep inside, you will find Linville Caverns.  Take the time to stop and look around the rooms in Linville Caverns and find oddities after oddities in each.

Leaving North Carolina, you get a chance to see Native American culture in such towns as Cherokee.   Approaching Virginia,  stop for a live entertainment as local actors in costumes give life to the 1800's Appalachian skills, customs and traditions performed at the Humpback Rocks.  The same kind of entertainment lies ahead at Mabry Mill as performers also demonstrate old Appalachian lifestyle.  In Mabry Mill don't miss a bite of the town's specialty, the fresh apple butter.

As dramatic as the Smoky Mountains mist has provided for the beginning of your motorcycle road trip, the roaring sound of the Crabtree Falls  is a fitting scene for the ending. Take one more stop before finally concluding your trip at the Blue Ridge Music Center and listen to some old folk songs dating back from the time of the early settlers.

A four-day excursion via Blue Ridge Parkway will make you realize that there really are so many beautiful places in the United States.  This journey encourages you to explore more of the country's four corners to see its natural beauty with a motorcycle road trip.