Moon Carolinas & Georgia (Travel Guide) - Softcover

Morekis, Jim

9781631216534: Moon Carolinas & Georgia (Travel Guide)

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1631216538 ISBN 13: 9781631216534

Publisher: Moon Travel, 2017

Discover the Carolinas and Georgia with Moon Travel Guides

From humming bluegrass and rolling mountains, to lazy beach towns and buzzing cities, get to know the heart of the South with Moon Carolinas & Georgia.

Strategic itineraries for every timeline and budget, designed for road-trippers, history buffs, beach bums, hikers, and more
Activities and ideas for every traveler: Drive past mountains and waterfalls on a Blue Ridge Parkway road trip, or go camping in the Smokies. Stroll the winding streets of historic Charleston, or admire antebellum architecture in Savannah. Watch the sun set over the boardwalk at Myrtle Beach, or relax on remote stretches of the Outer Banks. Set a tee time in Hilton Head, or bar-hop through downtown Atlanta. Visit celebrated Civil Rights landmarks, or tour the illuminating remnants of the Civil War. Catch a live bluegrass show while savoring a local brew, and find the local best spots for finger-lickin good barbecue
Firsthand perspective from Savannah local and regional expert Jim Morekis
Honest advice on when to go, where to stay, and how to get around
Full-color photos and detailed, easy-to-use maps for navigating the three states independently
Detailed and thorough information, including crucial background on culture and history, geography, and regional vernacular

With Moon Carolinas & Georgia's practical tips, myriad activities, and local insight on the best things to do and see, you can plan your trip your way.

Diving deeper into the cities? Try Moon Charleston & Savannah. Hitting the road? Check out Moon Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip.

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About the Author:

From panning for gold in Dahlonega to kayaking the Okefenokee Swamp, from riding horses around Lake Chatuge to feeding lemurs on St. Catherine's Island, Jim Morekis has experienced the best of Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. In his extensive experience writing regional travel guides for Moon, Jim has camped the Blue Ridge Parkway, climbed 200-foot lighthouses and 100-foot sand dunes in the Outer Banks, and sailed Wassaw Sound looking for the "Tybee Bomb." He's eaten river herring in North Carolina and pork cracklins in South Carolina, steamed and shucked May River oysters, and stooped inside America's smallest church in McIntosh County, Georgia. Each new experience is an adventure, and after all this, he still finds beauty and wonder in this diverse area.

A proud native and resident of Savannah, the University of Georgia graduate covers the news, culture, politics, and quirks of life in the Georgia and South Carolina lowcountry as longtime editor-in-chief of a popular weekly newspaper.

Planning Your Trip

Where to Go

The Outer Banks and the Coastal Sounds
Probably the most culturally unique area in this guide, the Outer Banks of North Carolina still harbor charming pockets of a centuries-old seafaring tradition all along its wave- and wind-battered beach strands. The nearby Coastal Sounds provide a relaxing, sheltered counterpart to the Outer Banks' heavy traffic during the high season.

Wilmington and the Cape Fear Region
The northernmost outpost of the antebellum rice plantation culture, classy little Wilmington has transformed itself into one of the most active film production centers outside California. The surrounding Cape Fear region features several beautiful, accessible beaches for family enjoyment.

Central North Carolina
This culturally and politically diverse area isn't only a big golf getaway and center of the stock-car racing universe; it featues the region's second-largest city, the financial powerhouse and ethnic melting pot of Charlotte, as well as the highly progressive, university-dominated "Triangle" of Chapel Hill, Durham, and Raleigh.

Asheville and the Blue Ridge Parkway
A left-of-center oasis in conservative Appalachia, Asheville nestles a surprisingly large amount of progressive culture, great food, and live music into the foothills. The Blue Ridge Parkway is a pleasant, peaceful meander amid the mountains, wildflowers , and various state parks and campgrounds along its 250-mile length in North Carolina bordering thousands of acres of national forest.

Great Smoky Mountains
America's most traveled National Park, these deep mountains along the Tennessee border combine the culture of old Appalachia with friendly, kitschy tourist attractions. Skiers will enjoy the many slopes available in winter, and the warmer months offer plenty of camping, hiking, and nature-loving activities.

Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand
The 60-mile Grand Strand focuses on the resort activity of Myrtle beach and its adjacent, faster-growing sister North Myrtle Beach. Down the strand are the more peaceful areas of Pawleys Island and Murrells Inlet, with Historic Georgetown anchoring the bottom portion of the long, skinny peninsula.

Charleston
One of America's oldest cities and an early national center of arts and culture, Charleston's legendary taste for the high life is matched by its forward-thinking outlook. The birthplace of the Civil War is not just a city of museums resting on its historic laurels; the "Holy City" is now a vibrant, creative hub of the New South.

Hilton Head and the Lowcountry
The Lowcountry's mossy, laid-back pace belies its former sttus as the heart of American plantation culture and the original cradle of secession. Today it is a mix of history (Beaufort and Bluffton), natural beauty (the ACE Basin), resort development (Hilton Head), military bases (Parris Island), and relaxed beaches (Edisto and Hunting Islands).

Columbia and the Midlands
The state capital and home of South Carolina’s largest university, Columbia is still a very manageable, fun place. The surrounding area, the real” South Carolina, offers a look at a small-town way of life usually seen in Norman Rockwell paintings. A resurgent polo scene is bringing affluent but accessible Aiken back to its full equestrian glory.

Greenville and the Upstate
Fast-growing Greenville could teach many other cities a lesson in tasteful, efficient renovation. A short drive away are the treats and treasures of South Carolina’s Blue Ridge region a more user-friendly, less expensive version of the trendy mountain towns over the border in North Carolina.

Atlanta
There’s always something to do in one of America’s most dynamic cities, a burgeoning multiethnic melting pot that also has a friendly flavor of the old South beneath the surface. For every snarled intersection, a delightfully bucolic neighborhood tantalizes with caf�s, shops, and green space. Adventurous restaurants and quirky nightlife venues are particular specialties.

North Georgia
The Blue Ridge Mountains are the backdrop for this inspiring, scenic area full of waterfalls, state parks, and outdoor adventures for the whole family. The influence of the enormous University of Georgia in Athens reigns supreme in the rolling green Piedmont region.

Middle and South Georgia
From Macon to Columbus, the rhythmic heart of Georgia is the soulful cradle of the state’s rich musical tradition and where its best barbecue is located. Its therapeutic value isn’t only found in the legendary Warm Springs that gave solace to FDR. Farther south is the state’s agricultural cornucopia and home of former president Jimmy Carter, along with the mighty and mysterious Okefenokee Swamp.

Savannah
Georgia’s grand old city isn’t just full of history, though that’s very much worth exploring. It has found new life as an arts and culture mecca, with as many or more things to do on any given day than cities two or three times its size. Come prepared for high tea or a rowdy party; either way, Savannah’s got you covered.

The Golden Isles
History and salt-kissed air meet in the marshes of Georgia’s chains of relatively undeveloped barrier islands. The feeling is timeless and tranquil. The Golden Isles are one of the country’s hidden vacation gems and one of the most unique ecosystems in North America.

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