Over Night Trip suggestion

[2000grad]

So, after 12 years, I am giving up the coaching whistle so that I can spend more time with my family. I told my wife last night that I wanted to take an overnight trip with the family somewhere close (SC or NC or GA) and was looking for a suggestion. Kind of like a celebration. I have two kids, 7 and 1, and would like a fun, family oriented getaway.

Suggestions?

[gamecock88]

Charleston. Acquarium, Fort Sumter, Carriage tours.

Hilton Head

Fripp Island - Private island. Most rentals have golf carts that you drive all over the island. Feed deer right from your hand. Fishing, crabbing.

[ShutTheSuccop]

I can't believe I am going to recommend this, but it is mainly for the kids...consider Gatlinburg in TN. It is not that far from your intended spread. It is a really cheesy town but there is lots of things to do. Miniature golf, aquarium, shops. There are also some decent restaurants. If you can look past the junk, it is not bad and usually you can get pretty good deals on places to stay.

[usc90grad]

Tough to do much in one night, but Great Wolf Lodge in Charlotte/Concord is an awesome indoor water park. Great for this time of the year.

[2000grad]

Originally Posted by gamecock88

Hilton Head

Fripp Island - Private island. Most rentals have golf carts that you drive all over the island. Feed deer right from your hand. Fishing, crabbing.

Can you tell me more about this? Maybe some suggestions on HHI?

Thanks

Where to stay on Fripp that is reasonable?

[2000grad]

Originally Posted by usc90grad

Tough to do much in one night, but Great Wolf Lodge in Charlotte/Concord is an awesome indoor water park. Great for this time of the year.

Been there. We weren't real impressed. Sorry

[2000grad]

Originally Posted by ShutTheSuccop

I can't believe I am going to recommend this, but it is mainly for the kids...consider Gatlinburg in TN. It is not that far from your intended spread. It is a really cheesy town but there is lots of things to do. Miniature golf, aquarium, shops. There are also some decent restaurants. If you can look past the junk, it is not bad and usually you can get pretty good deals on places to stay.

How many hours from Columbia to Gatlinburg?

[usc90grad]

Originally Posted by 2000grad

How many hours from Columbia to Gatlinburg?

4 hours

[bryarx]

I like to take my family to Pigeon Forge, TN. It's about 3 1/2 hours from Columbia. We stay in some cabins up there that are top notch (Hidden Mountain Resort) I hear, but have not personally been to the Oak Haven cabins as well.

Pigeon Forge / Gatlinburg have plenty of cheesey stuff, as someone else said, but the restaurants are really good (I always eat one meal at the Apple Barn (usually breakfast) and one meal at Calhoun's (good ribs or pulled pork). Plenty of family stuff, go carts, mini golf, old timey photos, hikes you can go on, helicopter rides, outlet malls, golf, dinner shows, Wonderworks (I'd take the 7 year old here). Read up on Wonderworks if you have never been to one, they are a great science/learning/fun place. Also there is the Ripley's Aquarium - pretty nice way to kill a few hours. Ober Gatlinburg you can take a tram up the mountain to a little mall that has ice skating year round inside (You can just drive up the mountain and go there also, saving the cost of the tram ride, but the tram ride is pretty cool once every so many years.)

Edit: I typically do a 2 day minimum here. If I'm really going to just do 1 night, I'd probably hit up Charleston. Plenty of history and stuff to do, with good eats.

[gamecock88]

Originally Posted by 2000grad

Can you tell me more about this? Maybe some suggestions on HHI?

Thanks

Where to stay on Fripp that is reasonable?

Go to VRBO.com and check out Fripp rentals. Honestly, I'd prefer it to HHI with kids.

You can rent a condo through Fripp, but the better deals are through owners of the houses. Make sure to get the ammenity cards that get you access to other areas. Depending on when you go, there are several pools to use. Great, clean wide beaches. Surf fishing, pier fishing, crabbing. Rentals on bikes, boats, kayaks. It's really laid back, nothing like Myrtle beach or the myrtle beach of the mountains, gatliburg. Totally private so you don't get just anyone driving through that doesn't belong there. They have a nature train and a day camp for kids as well. Good place.
Beaufort is also close by. Just drive the speed limit through Yemmasse!

[keegthecock]

Banning Mills Georgia-

http://historicbanningmills.com/

[The Yancey]

Here are some general resources: http://www.livestrong.com/article/23...ips-with-kids/

[Cocky chick]

Originally Posted by gamecock88

Go to VRBO.com and check out Fripp rentals. Honestly, I'd prefer it to HHI with kids.

You can rent a condo through Fripp, but the better deals are through owners of the houses. Make sure to get the ammenity cards that get you access to other areas. Depending on when you go, there are several pools to use. Great, clean wide beaches. Surf fishing, pier fishing, crabbing. Rentals on bikes, boats, kayaks. It's really laid back, nothing like Myrtle beach or the myrtle beach of the mountains, gatliburg. Totally private so you don't get just anyone driving through that doesn't belong there. They have a nature train and a day camp for kids as well. Good place.
Beaufort is also close by. Just drive the speed limit through Yemmasse!

Ditto on all of that. Fripp is absolutely beautiful. And we always use VRBO. It's usually a better deal and much less of a hassle checking in, etc. than booking through the resort. Don't miss a meal at the Shrimp Shack. It's on your way to the island on your left. Doesn't look like much but the shrimp burgers are terrific.

[Captain9Dragons]

we want to do this, have not yet

[ShutTheSuccop]

Originally Posted by bryarx

I like to take my family to Pigeon Forge, TN. It's about 3 1/2 hours from Columbia. We stay in some cabins up there that are top notch (Hidden Mountain Resort) I hear, but have not personally been to the Oak Haven cabins as well.

Pigeon Forge / Gatlinburg have plenty of cheesey stuff, as someone else said, but the restaurants are really good (I always eat one meal at the Apple Barn (usually breakfast) and one meal at Calhoun's (good ribs or pulled pork). Plenty of family stuff, go carts, mini golf, old timey photos, hikes you can go on, helicopter rides, outlet malls, golf, dinner shows, Wonderworks (I'd take the 7 year old here). Read up on Wonderworks if you have never been to one, they are a great science/learning/fun place. Also there is the Ripley's Aquarium - pretty nice way to kill a few hours. Ober Gatlinburg you can take a tram up the mountain to a little mall that has ice skating year round inside (You can just drive up the mountain and go there also, saving the cost of the tram ride, but the tram ride is pretty cool once every so many years.)

Edit: I typically do a 2 day minimum here. If I'm really going to just do 1 night, I'd probably hit up Charleston. Plenty of history and stuff to do, with good eats.

yeah, pigeon forge has plenty of good cabins, but there is an uncontrolled fire there now. I think that htey have lost at least 80 cabins or so now...pretty scary stuff. But you are right in everyting your said.

[bryarx]

Originally Posted by ShutTheSuccop

yeah, pigeon forge has plenty of good cabins, but there is an uncontrolled fire there now. I think that htey have lost at least 80 cabins or so now...pretty scary stuff. But you are right in everyting your said.

Yea, the fire was for neither of the places I listed - Surely it's controlled by now, but I haven't looked. It was limited to one resort, last I saw. And I wouldn't live in fear of wild fires - I don't believe there were even any injuries related to that one (at least at the break out). After they rebuild the cabins - I bet you will be able to stay there very cheap as the foliage will take some time to grow back.

"Remember: Only YOU can prevent forest fires"
-Smoky B

[gamecock88]

Originally Posted by Cocky chick

Ditto on all of that. Fripp is absolutely beautiful. And we always use VRBO. It's usually a better deal and much less of a hassle checking in, etc. than booking through the resort. Don't miss a meal at the Shrimp Shack. It's on your way to the island on your left. Doesn't look like much but the shrimp burgers are terrific.

Amen to Shrimp Shack. Don't forget that Hunting Island is next door and the light house is a good thing to tour as well.

[usc90grad]

Originally Posted by Captain9Dragons

we want to do this, have not yet

Is awesome! Sugar Mountain in NC does it too.

[2000grad]

Originally Posted by usc90grad

Is awesome! Sugar Mountain in NC does it too.

Yep. They have their own tubing run. Along with skiing and snowboarding and ice skating

[M.C.]

http://www.chimneyrockpark.com/park/interestpoints/chimney.php