Hello, we are scheduled to visit Charleston, Savannah, St. Augustine and Kennedy Space Center for the first time starting this weekend and through all of next week. We will be driving a lot from city to city, sometimes two to four hours a stretch on unfamiliar roads. The weather forecasts thunderstorms throughout the week in these places, and there are also news stories about the unpredictability of Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Gordon. We are considering postponing our trip to a future time and going somewhere else instead. For those of you who live/have traveled in the area, what do you recommend? Thank you.
Posted by
Tampa, FL
545 posts
I've lived in Florida for over 30 years and have experienced tropical storms and hurricanes. Thunderstorms are common in Florida in the afternoon in the summer, I would not postpose a trip just because there will be thunderstorms. For tropical storm Gordon, it will not be anywhere near the Savannah/Charleston area, it is already moving away from Florida and over land in Mississippi. Florence is still well away from the East Coast in the Atlantic, and the 5-day forecast shows it hundreds of miles from Florida through 2 am Monday Sept. 10 and is generally tracking well north of the area you're visiting. I would not change plans for that storm, either. Only you can decide, of course. I suggest checking the National Hurricane Center's website for best info.
Posted by
7642 posts
Based on latest forecasts those storms should not be a problem.
We live on St. Simons Island, between Savannah and Jacksonville. Consider a stopover at the Golden Isles. Jekyll Island is here as well.
I-95 runs close to all your places, except for Charleston. The roads are better in Georgia than SC, since we have three lanes on 95 and SC only has two.
Posted by
Charleston & Birmingham
4300 posts
For the benefit of others who will read this, I recommend that you do not schedule trips to this area and the Gulf Coast from mid- August through end of September as those tend to be the most common times for hurricanes. That being said, the SC Lowcountry is our favorite place on the planet(and my husband has been to many of the major destinations on this planet). Thunderstorms can occur at any time during the year.
Posted by
OP
Somewhere in California
107 posts
Thank you for your responses. Don't know much about SC Lowcountry. If you had a day or two, where would you go and what would you do?
Posted by
Washington DC Region, USA
7049 posts
Don't know much about SC Lowcountry. If you had a day or two, where
would you go and what would you do?
Add Beaufort (and Bluffton, although it is smaller) to your itinerary. Beaufort is really a gem, not to be missed. It's in between Charleston and Savannah and makes a good stopping point. Hilton Head is nice but it's a major resort and doesn't have "soul" as other places do (no offense to anyone, but it's a golfer's paradise and very much a contrived master development that drove out poorer locals when development occurred. It's very nice, don't get me wrong, but I would opt to go elsewhere if you have limited time). Beaufort, Bluffton, and Edisto Island are very much in the spirit of the Low Country.
Here is a good info link so you can judge for yourself:
https://southcarolinalowcountry.com
Posted by
Charleston & Birmingham
4300 posts
Totally agree with Agnes about Beaufort. Take the carriage ride. If you can afford it, stay in a Bed and Breakfast there. We love Hilton Head as a place to relax but not much to see there. You are going to have a wonderful trip. Since you live so far away, you better hope you don't become addicted! Our daughter finishes college in December and has an internship lined up in Charleston and is so happy to be going to her/our dream location.
Posted by
Portsmouth
5256 posts
Considering TS Florence is forecast to be upgraded to a major hurricane and the predicted path encompasses NC, SC and GA I would be having second thoughts about travelling that area.