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The Congaree National Park looks cool, and it looks like the boardwalk, if not more, would be very manageable. The Savannah National Wildlife Refugee looks interesting too. I see the Visitors Center is closed Sunday, but can you still do the drive you mentioned, ranger17?
the SNWR drive should be open on Sundays, it's actually down the road from the park center anyway. We went thru there Sunday in Memorial day weekend so i'm assuming it's open 7 days a week. I'd think the park site could have more details for actual hours (seems sort of sunrise to sunset). I plopped a couple pix from that visit, what's nice is some of the areas you can pull over gives some sweet backgrounds for general photos.
Comparing Charleston to Savannah, i once heard someone saying Savannah was the little cousin; could be a decent comparison. Our fave overall spot down here for a day trip is Charleston, we go there pretty frequently. We hit Savannah a few times a year, have stayed down by the Riverwalk a couple times. In my opinion, Charleston would be the 1st choice, as long as there is time to enjoy it. Rushing thru in a couple hours, one would miss just too much. If Savannah is it, there are plenty of things to do; from walking all the 'squares', grabbing a bite at the Pirate House (yeah it's touristy, but we love the food and it has its share of history), stroll along the Riverwalk, etc...
Lastly, note that August in SC/GA can be a tad bit warmer then the NE. Especially if you're not on the beach lol. We don't mind, heck we drive with the top down all summer long. But i cant say the same for all those from the north.
I agree. Spend the day in Charleston. Much more interesting then Columbia. Take a carriage ride. Take the ferry to Fort Sumter. Spend time at the Market Shops in downtown.
I77S to I26E to Charleston. Out of Charleston Rte.17S (Savannah Hwy) until it joins I95. If you have time then follow Rte 17 to Savannah.
^ Agree with this.
Take the extra time and do Charleston. History, great restaurants, beautiful architecture.....Charleston is a gem.
Other than the zoo in Columbia (which is top notch) not too much there.....just a typical Southeastern government town.
^ Agree with this.
Take the extra time and do Charleston. History, great restaurants, beautiful architecture.....Charleston is a gem.
Other than the zoo in Columbia (which is top notch) not too much there.....just a typical Southeastern government town.
"... Columbia..." - with the best fine art museum in the state in the Columbia Museum of Art; 400 years of the state's history under one roof at the State Museum; the early 19th-century, beautifully landscaped Horseshoe at the University of South Carolina; a beautiful capitol and capitol grounds; an interesting historic homes district; a lengthy greenway along a National Blue Trail-designated rocky river; plenty of tasty restaurants; the finest stage theater in the state; the only movie art house in the state in the Nickelodeon; a historic warehouse district with art galleries; a rooftop bar on the 17th floor of the Sheraton downtown for a 180-degree-plus view of the city from above and of the terrain of the South Carolina Midlands; and whatever else you stumble across at street level in a heavily forested and graceful capital city.
"... Columbia..." - with the best fine art museum in the state in the Columbia Museum of Art; 400 years of the state's history under one roof at the State Museum; the early 19th-century, beautifully landscaped Horseshoe at the University of South Carolina; a beautiful capitol and capitol grounds; an interesting historic homes district; a lengthy greenway along a National Blue Trail-designated rocky river; plenty of tasty restaurants; the finest stage theater in the state; the only movie art house in the state in the Nickelodeon; a historic warehouse district with art galleries; a rooftop bar on the 17th floor of the Sheraton downtown for a 180-degree-plus view of the city from above and of the terrain of the South Carolina Midlands; and whatever else you stumble across at street level in a heavily forested and graceful capital city.
Even if you talk about Columbia's history Charleston has the oldest Museum and Theatre in the country. To say nothing about the amazing views from the bridge or the best restaurants in the state. And if you want to go to a National Forest we have the Francis Marion. There are also Ft. Moultrie and Ft. Sumter two rather important forts. We have beaches, we have a rather nice aquarium, which will be getting a pet the shark exhibit next year.
Even if you talk about Columbia's history Charleston has the oldest Museum and Theatre in the country. To say nothing about the amazing views from the bridge or the best restaurants in the state. And if you want to go to a National Forest we have the Francis Marion. There are also Ft. Moultrie and Ft. Sumter two rather important forts. We have beaches, we have a rather nice aquarium, which will be getting a pet the shark exhibit next year.
I didn't say to not visit Charleston. It is out of the way, though, when traveling from Charlotte to Savannah if you want to stay on the interstate. I wasn't comparing Columbia and Charleston. I only said there's no reason to not visit Columbia, because there's a lot to see here. I was defending Columbia against the kid who said there was nothing to it but the zoo.
Speaking of national parks, the only one in South Carolina is 25 minutes from downtown Columbia: Congaree National Park. There's also Harbison State Forest, Sesquicentennial State Park, and Peach Tree Rock for hiking in terrain with amazing floral and topographical variety within each park.
The giraffes eat out of your hand at Riverbanks Zoo, and you can ride a thrilling zip line from a mini-mountain of a hill to the
other side of the Saluda River down below. And then there are the gorillas.
Last edited by Charlestondata; 06-18-2014 at 06:01 PM..
If you are going to Savannah, I would stop in Columbia. What to visit, the zoo, the statehouse (one of the best in the country), The Horseshoe at USC, some of the national parks, state museum, art museum, and good restaurants in the Vista. Motor Supply is terrific, Gervais & Vine is good as is Blue Marlin. Just for one meal, I would go with Motor Supply.
Charleston is nice but to go out of the way when you are going to Savannah, I would look for something different.
They are going on a Sunday? If I remember correctly that is the only day that Sweatman's BBQ in Holly Hill is open? It's one of the best BBQ places in the country.
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