[trailblazer]

We left home on Friday (March 9) afternoon and arrived in Savannah, Georgia on Saturday Night. We all checked into our hotel and swam and rested that evening. On Sunday morning 12 of us checked out and headed for the Paula Deen Restaurant, which we had a reservation for 11:00. We waited awhile and decided to go up and ask why the wait since we had a reservation. There was a mix up because another family with the same last name had a reservation at the same time and they had only wrote down one to call. So DD went over and talked to the host and he got us set at 3 different tables very quickly. What an assortment of food! All of it was very delicious, as I tried a little of nearly everything. After we finished we walked around the squares in Savannah and had a very good time. They already had the green water in the fountains for St Patrick’s Day. They have the third largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the country. They expected around 300,000 to 400,000 people! Glad we weren’t in that area that coming weekend. We also walked around one of the oldest Cemeteries in the city. It was getting to be around 3:00, so we decided to head out to Hilton Head Island. We arrived and checked in and then went to our rooms and found really nice size rooms. The grandkids all went and checked out the swimming pool and game rooms. There was one other party of 4 that came also, but stopped to see friends along the way that checked in that evening. The grandkids were so excited after we checked in as Shadow showed up. It was a big hit for them. After unpacking we went down and had a great Disney time around the campfire with some very entertaining cast members!

On Monday we went to Charleston, S.C. (about a 2 hour drive) and toured Ft Sumter. On the boat over to the island we saw dauphins. Everyone on the boat was excited. Then we came back into the town and ate at Bubba Gumps Restaurant. The food was great and really reasonable. Then we walked around and saw a number of things in the city. They have a big open market in the middle of town. It was really neat to see and wished we could have spent more time, but it was getting towards closing time for that part.

On Tuesday we went back to Savannah to spend the day. (About 45 minutes away) Then we took a Trolley Ride around the city. We all got off the trolley and 16 of us ate at the Pirates House . We “were” the line waiting for them to open as we didn’t have reservations.. It was buffet and all the food was so yummy. After we finished eating we got back on the trolley and toured Juliette Low's Birthplace and a few other places. The goofy family and I drove out to Tybee Island and saw the light house and stopped at a cemetery that DD wanted to go to from the book of good and evil. It had closed so we didn’t get in. Then that night some of the group went on the ghost tour and 6 of us headed back to Hilton Head. We also looked and shopped in a number of shops on River Street on the way back to the car.

Wednesday -We took it easy that morning and Davis family and I went over to Disney’s Private Beach Club. It was cool. Then we went back to our resort and ate. Next we all got ready and headed for Sea Pines Shopping Resort, where some of the party was going out on a sail boat for a 2 hour cruise. Six of us didn’t go on the boat and went looking in the shops and sat and watched the water. Then when they came back we all headed for Hudson’s Restaurant and ate shrimp, etc. Very good food!!!

Thursday-We stayed at the resort and did different activities. Story tales of Shadow at 11:00 and then I went back to my room and watched my soap operas while I packed. At 3:00 a number of us painted fish and pressed the design on a T-Shirt followed by Pictionary, and then Goofy Bingo. That was a hoot! Then we had everything ready to load for the trip to start back on Friday as they were calling for rain. DD has a new Rendevous so we had to use a car top carrier, which worked out great.

Friday-We were up early and had only our overnight bags to load. Then we left for St. Augustine, Florida and went and picked up tickets for the Trolley ride in town first thing. It was super! You could get off and on and that was neat, as you saw something you wanted to do and then get back on. Two things we wanted to do were go through two churches but they were closed when we got off and had to wait for the next trolley in 15 minutes. We had to hurry and barely made it back to go through the old jail. That was really something to see! The Goofy Family got a later start that we did so they were on a different trolley that us. We all got back to the jail and toured it together. The rest of the crew all started back home on Friday instead of going to St Augustine. If you have the time it is really a neat old city to see. I am so glad we took the time to go and the shops. They were great. After the tour The Goofy Family went back to the hotel and grabbed a bite to eat on the way at Marty’s for all you can eat shrimp. DD of the BDavis Family wanted to eat at Columbia Restaurant, so we went looking for it and the food was great. Then we went back to the hotel and met up with the Goofy Family and looked at pictures she had taken till very late. The girls sure know how to plan the vacation, as to not miss a lot of things. They are great at scheduling our time. Thanks Girls for another great trip!!

The five of us left early the next morning (Saturday) and The Goofy Family were only a little behind us. We all stayed in Lafayette, Louisiana that night, but at different hotels. They originally were going to go back through Atlanta and see the aquarium, but figured they wouldn’t have much time to enjoy it, so decided to head the direction we were going. They stayed at a hotel about 5 miles from us.

We got home on Sunday around 4:30pm. Everyone had a good time. What a trip nearly 3000 miles in 10 days.

[BDavis932]

Great trip report mom! We had so much fun with you! Can't wait for the next trip with you!

[lovemysons]

Wow, 3000 miles, huh? That's a lot of ground. Sounds like you had a great time. How cool that you saw dolphins!!

Tell me more about the Trolley! I haven't heard about that before.

[Dana]

Thanks for the report trailblazer!! I love hearing trip reports from different people on the same trip....gives you multiple perspectives of the trip...very cool. Now we just need to convince your other darling DD to post one.

[Willbegone]

Great TR. I just love Charleston! I'm from Upstate SC so I've been many times but I just the love the charm the city has. We actually spent a week on Folley Beach (about 10 miles out of the city) last summer and loved it. Bubba Gump's is a hoot, we enjoyed it also. I soooooo want to go to Paula Dean's restaurant. How did you make ressies for there?

[PhilliesFan]

Thanks for the TR. I always wanted to go to Charleston and Savannah, and I would probably eat their She Crab Soup and hush puppies every day.

[A Goofy Family]

YAY Mom!! Great trip report. We had a great time together and are looking forward to the next trip with you!!

[A Goofy Family]

Originally Posted by Dana

Thanks for the report trailblazer!! I love hearing trip reports from different people on the same trip....gives you multiple perspectives of the trip...very cool. Now we just need to convince your other darling DD to post one.

Believe it or not, I'm working on it right now!!