The BIG Old South Road Trip - August/Sept 2020

[smithlane]

Originally Posted by Irelandmaryd

Sounds like an amazing trip. We visited the Smokie Mountains years ago but stayed in Gatlinburg and just loved it. We also did Atlanta and went to a small town called Covington where the Vampire Diaries is shot. It's called Mystic Falls in the programme. It had the walking dead tours as a lot of the filming is done around there. It was surreal to drive the small tree line roads that the walkers pop out of.

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Thank you for reading, we cannot wait for the Smoky Mountain part of our stay.
I haven't watched Vampire Diaries myself but I know my daughter is a huge fan so I'll try and work out a way of adding a stop there, thank you for the info

[Fuellady]

This trip sounds amazing Alicia... I can't wait to read about it. Oh, and possibly steal it at some point, as I plan on doing with your last year's itinerary You're really racking up the states now... we've started talking about trying to do them all but not sure how feasible it would be now we're getting on a bit!

I read Miss_Mouse's trip with the Walking Dead tour as well - it looks really good as we're fans here too. The Smokey Mountains look stunning, and you have so many interesting places to visit on this trip.

What a palaver with the flights - glad you got them sorted in the end. I hope you get all of the accommodation you want booked up too.

Looking forward to reading along

[smithlane]

Originally Posted by Fuellady

This trip sounds amazing Alicia... I can't wait to read about it. Oh, and possibly steal it at some point, as I plan on doing with your last year's itinerary You're really racking up the states now... we've started talking about trying to do them all but not sure how feasible it would be now we're getting on a bit!

I read Miss_Mouse's trip with the Walking Dead tour as well - it looks really good as we're fans here too. The Smokey Mountains look stunning, and you have so many interesting places to visit on this trip.

What a palaver with the flights - glad you got them sorted in the end. I hope you get all of the accommodation you want booked up too.

Looking forward to reading along

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Thank you Linda, we can't wait! Steal away, I'll be doing exactly the same with your Route 66 plans . Speaking of which have you started your pre trip report yet? Hint hint

We are huge fans of The Walking Dead, well Seasons 1-6 anyway but being a completionist I have to see it through to the end to see what happens

Will be updating this soon as we will hopefully be booking the rest of the accommodation this week. I'm finding it hard to narrow down all the options!

[Fuellady]

Originally Posted by smithlane

Thank you Linda, we can't wait! Steal away, I'll be doing exactly the same with your Route 66 plans . Speaking of which have you started your pre trip report yet? Hint hint

We are huge fans of The Walking Dead, well Seasons 1-6 anyway but being a completionist I have to see it through to the end to see what happens

Will be updating this soon as we will hopefully be booking the rest of the accommodation this week. I'm finding it hard to narrow down all the options!

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The Walking Dead definitely took a dip in quality after S6, but I like it better again now - This season (10, I think) and the previous one have had better story lines I feel. So we're sticking with it as well. I'm hoping the WD tour will be a holiday highlight for you.

Accommodation is something I've struggled with for our trip too... there's a lot of pressure to choose the right place. It's much trickier with a family too... not so bad for us now we're only a two! I hope you get it all sorted soon.

Ah, re the R66 pre-trip. I've not started it yet and I haven't even finished booking our accommodation - still 2 more nights to book. Hoping to get that done really soon (this week maybe) and then I'll get started on it. We have a few days off work coming up so hoping to get cracking on with it then.

[Goldia]

So funny to read about your Walking Dead dilemmas. We used to think of it as must see TV. I said to Dave last week that I wasn't sure I could be bothered to go back and finish off the season, but in the end we did watch the first episode after the break. I'm ready for it to finish now, completer finishers here too, it seemed wrong to stop knowing there was more. Once I was at the dentist and the hygienist was talking to a colleague about walking dead while doing my teeth, we all said how great it was, but that was back when they were at the prison.

[OB1LukeLucas]

Sounds like it’s going to be another fantastic trip. I think the Walking Dead tour will be fab. I love that your going off on another adventure to New Orleans. I don’t recognise some of the other places you have mentioned but I do know Hilton Head Island because the golf course was mentioned in Pretty Little Liars which I am busy watching with the girls, so I’ll pretend I know that area😆
Can’t wait to read all about it.

[smithlane]

Originally Posted by Fuellady

The Walking Dead definitely took a dip in quality after S6, but I like it better again now - This season (10, I think) and the previous one have had better story lines I feel. So we're sticking with it as well. I'm hoping the WD tour will be a holiday highlight for you.

Accommodation is something I've struggled with for our trip too... there's a lot of pressure to choose the right place. It's much trickier with a family too... not so bad for us now we're only a two! I hope you get it all sorted soon.

Ah, re the R66 pre-trip. I've not started it yet and I haven't even finished booking our accommodation - still 2 more nights to book. Hoping to get that done really soon (this week maybe) and then I'll get started on it. We have a few days off work coming up so hoping to get cracking on with it then.

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Choosing the accommodation is driving me insane, there are so many different choices on line . We'll get there though!

Can't wait to read all about it once you have your plans organised. I don't feel as bad now not having everything sorted as you go so much sooner than us

[smithlane]

Originally Posted by Goldia

So funny to read about your Walking Dead dilemmas. We used to think of it as must see TV. I said to Dave last week that I wasn't sure I could be bothered to go back and finish off the season, but in the end we did watch the first episode after the break. I'm ready for it to finish now, completer finishers here too, it seemed wrong to stop knowing there was more. Once I was at the dentist and the hygienist was talking to a colleague about walking dead while doing my teeth, we all said how great it was, but that was back when they were at the prison.

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We feel exactly the same. We have the second half of the season recorded but haven't got round to watching it yet. In the beginning we were glued and couldn't wait until the next episode came out.
Ah the prison scenes, that's when it was brilliant. As well as the farm introducing Hershel and Maggie!

[smithlane]

Originally Posted by OB1LukeLucas

Sounds like it’s going to be another fantastic trip. I think the Walking Dead tour will be fab. I love that your going off on another adventure to New Orleans. I don’t recognise some of the other places you have mentioned but I do know Hilton Head Island because the golf course was mentioned in Pretty Little Liars which I am busy watching with the girls, so I’ll pretend I know that area😆
Can’t wait to read all about it.

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Thank you for reading, we really hope it will be another epic trip!
I can't wait for the Walking Dead tour, we have been fans for years.

My parents went to NOLA a couple of years ago and raved about it so I was really excited when I realised we would only be a few hours drive from there and we could go on a mini road trip.

The only reason I have heard of HHI is because of Jim, he has always wanted to visit for the golf. I'll be happy on the beach! Hope loved Pretty Little Liars, I didn't ever watch it even though its just the kind of crap American TV I watch

[smithlane]

Hello everyone

So I wasn’t sure whether to update this report given the current circumstances we all find ourselves in BUT I figured, a) there is still a possibility we will still be going, b) even if we don’t get there this year it’s nice to have it documented as we will definitely go in 2021 and c) I’m putting off having to paint the living room ceiling so what better excuse than to write this instead

Prior to the proverbial sh*t hitting the fan in regards to Coronavirus (a word I don’t ever want to hear again once this is over!) we had taken big strides in the planning department.
We had finally settled on the 21 night itinerary and all but one accommodation had been booked, most on free cancellation thankfully.

Itinerary
After our flight lands in the afternoon of the 17th we will drive straight to Ponte Vedra beach for one night at the Hilton Garden Inn which is next to the famous Sawgrass Golf Club. We decided to cancel the Marriott as at nearly £300 a night it just wasn’t worth it as we would be arriving in the evening and leaving after Jim’s round of golf the next day so wouldn’t get the use of the facilities. The Hilton is £128 for the night so is a no brainer.

Straight after Jim’s round of golf (which better be the best damn game he’s ever played due to the obscene cost!) we will drive straight to Jekyll Island which is around a 1hr 30 min drive away.
We check into the Holiday Inn which is right on the beach so praying for dry weather. This was $210 for the night.

This little detour is after reading Amanda’s (WileyCoyote) report and seeing her photos of the island I knew we had to make it work. As we only have the night and next morning we will spend time on the beach plus visit the famous Driftwood Beach a short drive away. Jim will be playing another round of golf on the island too.

From here we again head North to Hilton Head Island but stopping for lunch and a look around Savannah first. I'm on the lookout for the Forest Gump bench!

After A LOT of searching we have finally chosen a condo in the Palmetto Dunes community of the island. This one is near the marina but not too far from the beach, there is a handy trolley bus that runs throughout the day shuttling guests back and forth. We are here for 5 nights so can unpack and relax a little. This came to £624 so fairly reasonable.

Whilst on HHI it won’t come as a shock to hear Jim will be playing yet more golf but the kids and I have looked into kayaking (me) and Paddleboarding (kids) the canal network, Jim may join us if he gets over his fear of alligators . We'll all definitely have some beach time and will also hire some bikes to explore the island. If time allows we will take a day trip up to Charleston as it looks a charming town to visit.

After our 5 nights we head further North but inland this time towards the Smoky Mountains.
As it is a 6 hour drive I have booked a one night stay at Tru by Hilton in Columbia to break up the journey. This was $119 for the night.

As this is near the Congaree National Park we will probably detour there for a few hours on the way to tick off another NP on our list.

I’m hoping we’re up early the next morning to make the 3 hour 30 min drive up to Gatlinburg and be there just after lunch.
This is the part of the holiday I’m most excited about as it’s because of wanting to visit the Smoky Mountains this whole holiday came about.
It took AGES to pick the perfect cabin. We had a couple of ‘musts’ which were a mountain view plus a hot tub on the balcony. We have booked this gem called Sugar Shack Chalet which I’m sure you’ll agree looks like heaven. It's also in a place called Cobbly Nob just outside of Gatlinburg and as we have very immature brains we had a good few laughs about this
For the 5 nights we’re here this cabin came to $923.

Our plans include hiking a few trails within the National Park itself including Hen Wallow and Rainbow Falls, cycling Cades Cove, going on a mountain coaster, visiting Dollywood, zip lining and white water rafting.

From here we start the drive back South towards Florida. We have a one night stopover in Atlanta and I have booked the Sheraton for $178 which looks to be close to the Centennial Park and World of Coca Cola. This will be a fleeting visit so will probably only have time to visit those. Would have loved to of done a Gone With the Wind tour though!

The next morning we drive just outside of the city to a town called Senoia for the very exciting Walking Dead Tour. As huge fans we’re very much looking forward to seeing some of the sets.

There is now a very long and boring 4 hour 45 min drive through Alabama until we reach our penultimate destination of the Florida panhandle. We haven’t quite booked our accommodation for here yet, but depending on how things pan out there are plenty of places to choose from so not worried. Thanks to Yorkshire T we have discounted Destin from the list and narrowed it down to the very picturesque A1A section near Santa Rosa Beach. We're hoping for a condo on the beach.

Whilst here it will be the ultimate chill and beach time, not forgetting some all important shopping trips too! There are a couple of outlets near by which will certainly be visited.
Midway through our 6 nights here, Hope and I will drive to New Orleans for our whistle stop tour of the city.
I have booked 2 hotels so far and depending on finances nearer the time it will determine which one we stay in. I’ve booked the Four Points by Sheraton for $174 and the Wyndham French Quarter for £92. If we can we’ll definitely opt for the Sheraton as it looks a more central location and has been personally recommended which I liked as it will just be the 2 of us. They both offer a valet parking service for around $30 a night which is handy as I don’t fancy trying to find somewhere to park nearby.

We will book a Voodoo Cemetery tour and if time allows I would love to go on a steamboat ride on the Mississippi. I want to hunt out some live jazz music too!

Our last night on American soil is to be in Crystal River. This is about a 5 hour drive away but leaves us a lot closer to the airport for our flight home. I’m also mildly obsessed with Manatees and the Springs are a huge feeding ground for them. Now I know that in the summer there is a lot slimmer chance to see them but I’m holding out hope we find one or two.
I’ve booked the Port Hotel & Marina for $110. It’s nothing luxurious but the location is fab.

Nearer the time I’ll be booking a boat tour or maybe hire some kayaks to go and explore. We’ll have plenty of time on travel home day to do this as our flight isn’t until 7.30pm and it’s approximately 90 minutes from where we are.
If time permits I’d like to stop at Teak Neighbourhood Grill for dinner as options at MCO are fairly limited!

So that there ends what will hopefully be an unforgettable road trip. I have all my fingers and toes crossed we get to go as my god I need this holiday after all the various Covid 19 and other stresses we’ve had this year so far and it’s only April.
For anyone else with a holiday booked I’m praying no more plans get cancelled. I know our health is ultimately the number one priority but having something to focus on and look forward to really does help get you through the low times life throws you.
Stay safe everyone xx