My husband and I are planning to drive from Blacksburg, VA to Key West during the Christmas time. We would like to stop somewhere in the middle for a few days. Any suggestion for a beautiful little town with a lot of art galleries, nice shops, and good restaurants.
By the way, we are at our early 50s.
Lee from Blacksburg, VA
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Savannah, Georgia is a great place to visit. It's an old historical city with lots of squares downtown. You can take a trolley or horse drawn tour of the city. River Street is a must with its quaint, unique shops. There are alot of wonderful restaurants. I think you would love it.
I too am biased because I live in the place I"m suggesting. Savannah, GA fits the bill for you. There are many art galleries, such as the telfair www.telfair.org/
the ray ellisgallery, and A.T. Hun.
Restaurants such as Paula Deans and Mrs Wilkes Boarding House showcase good southern home cooking, or you can enjoy fine dining at Elizabeth's on 37th (featured in Food & Wine). The variety of shops in the downtown area,many lcoated on our city jewels, our park squares, range from quaint & quirky to elegant to cutting edge. Ya'll come see us, y'hear?
Savannah and St Augustine are both good bets. There is also a beautiful place in Key Largo called John Pennekamp park that is very nice for outdoor activities.
It's not in the middle but Colonial Williamsburg is everything you're looking for. At Christmas it's really magical!
My first thought was Savannah, Ga. That seems like it woul be about halfway. Sounds like you'll have to make several trips to visit all these great places though! Be sure to stop at Jasper's Porch in Ridgeland, SC for a meal. You'll be glad you did! After you eat you can take a walk around the lake, or relax in a rocking chair on the porch.
mrbreakfast.com/
St Augustine, Fl , it is a wonderful place to stay, it is almost magical with the narrow brick streets and quaint little(or big) shops. I am from Indiana, and I loved it, and have visited several times.
Sarasota Florida (on the Gulf Coast) has wonderful art galleries and shops (see St Armand's Circle) and some great restaurants. It is right on US 41 (Tamiami Trail), which might be part of your route to the Keys. It is right on the Gulf. Beautiful!
Please let us know what you did and enjoyed after your trip.
Nancy from Florida
Living in south Georgia, I've been to both Savannah and St Augustine and they are tops on the list! I love St Augustine and all the old world charm it holds, please plan to stay more than one day tho to enjoy all that it holds! Make sure you eat at Paula Deen's place in Savannah too! Good ol southern cookin at its best! Have fun!!
Definitely Savannah, GA. I know people have mentioned it before, but I'd say it's the best bet you've got. It's a beautiful old city with soo much history!
A lot of people have suggested Savannah, Ga. Savannah is very pricy. If you're looking for something that doesn't cost a whole lot of money, Helen, GA is lovely around Christmas time. It looks like an old Swiss village. Has lots of shops, and the prices are low due to it being the non-tourist season at Christmas time. My niece (who lives in Orlando) went there for her honeymoon and loved it!
Amelia Island, FL just north of Jacksonville is a nice, quiet, quaint place to stay. Right off A1A
Thank you all very much for the nice replies. My husband and I looked those places on-line. They are all quaint and unique. We decided to stop at Savannah, St Augustine, and Key Largo. We will also stop by at Halan and Amelia Island. We will try those restaurants some of you suggested.
Colonial Williamsburg is beautiful. We have spent the First of July there this year.
Have a nice weekend.
Lee
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My future husband and I are planning an early spring wedding. We are Seniors (64 & 69) and agility is not our best suit. We are looking for vacation spots in the southeast and beach areas from Virginia to Key West. We don't like big crowds and long walks don't really work for us. We especially appreciate the beauty of nature and quiet, restful places.
First Lady from Knoxville, TN
I would checkout Seabrook Island, South Carolina.It is truly heaven on earth.Never crowded and has been protected. Very private secluded area. Charleston is 30 min. away and there are several plantations and many neat free things to see. It is still one of the US' best kept secrets! (09/08/2006)
By rachael
Check out Hilton Head Island. My husband and I were looking for totally the opposite of what you are looking for and we went to Hilton Head and we were really bored. So you might like it. (09/08/2006)
By Allison
How about Savannah, GA? We've gone there several times. They have some wonderful tours, romantic moonlight tours and seafood, the best. Don't forget Paula Deen's restaurant and Uncle Bubba's. (I think they require reservations now though.) Best Wishes. (09/08/2006)
Check out Duck, N.C. on the outer banks. Beautiful area and not too crowded. You can rent a beach house. Prices are much better after the 1st of September. We have vacationed there for a couple of years. By the way, I am 63. (09/08/2006)
By Mike
I know I am a little biased as I live here but St Augustine, Fl is a wonderful place. As it is the oldest city in the US it has a lot of sightseeing in a small area and there are trailer trains to ride from place to place that are out of the restored area. We also have a lot of local seafood places. If you are going to be in the area on Easter Sunday we have a parade at 3 PM. (09/09/2006)
Our favorite vacation spot is Palm Island Resort on the west coast of Florida. You take a barge over in your car and then park it. There are no cars on the island, only golf carts and bikes. Excellent shelling and beautiful sunsets. See their website at http://www.palmisland.com If you are a AAA member you can get great discounts. (09/09/2006)
By A. J.
You mentioned an interest in Plantations. If you choose to go to St. Augustine, pop up to Jacksonville (only about an hour north of St. Augustine) and see the Kingley Plantation! (09/09/2006)
By Sharon Baker
We love Shark Valley State Park, Everglades area of Fl. There is a tram car ride with a park ranger narrating the bird and "waterlife". If you want to see alligators in the wild, up close--this is the place! Our son-in-law and daughter couldn't believe the alligators laying on the roadway to keep warm! (10/17/2006)
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