...Two rules: 1. Minimal use of interstate highways, use secondary roads. 2. Never eat at any establishment whose name you recognize, eat local dives only.
Those two rules turned it from a road trip to an experience.
...
From PA down into Appalachia, Blue Ridge Parkway, East to OBX, Coastal non-interstate NC, SC, GA, then secondary roads right down the middle of Fla, the Fla no one ever sees.
Explore...
Have to agree with Ski. Though, the Blue Ridge Parkway in winter might be a bit much if one is trying to escape winter.
But it was one of my first thoughts.
One advantage of driving the Blue Ridge Parkway would be to get to Asheville and visit the Biltmore House. I have visited the mansion a couple of times but they decorated it for Christmas and it is supposed to be very nice to see.
Staying away from brand name food places is very good advice. Some of my best meals were in hole in the walls. Some of my worsts meals have been in hole in the walls.
Both gave good memories though.
For the NC Outerbanks, go to Carolina Beach, head south to see Fort Fisher. Unfortunately, dredging has caused much of the old fort to be taken by the ocean but the east/west sand fortifications are still in place which is enough to allow one to gauge the size of the old fort. The Union amphibious attack on Fort Fisher was the largest USN operation until WWII. There are now condo's where the Union forces landed before turning left and heading south to attack the fort. The little museum does not take long to see and afterwards one can take the ferry to Southport.
If one likes naval history, the USS NC is in Wilmington and is worth a stop. You mentioned Charleston which has Patriots Point with a few very historical ships that I would like to visit one day.
Stay on the secondary roads in FLA if you want to see the old FLA before the latest population shift. This is a great time of year to visit FLA or at least it used to be. The best Christmas lights I have see have been in FLA. Whole town squares used to be lit up at night. Very pretty. I hope they still do this but I have not been back to FLA at XMAS in years.
As a Florida Native, I have NEVER been to Cape Canaveral.
It is one of those things that one wants to do but never had time. It is always there so why put it on the top of the visit priority list? I have been to Biltmore several times. The wife, an NC native, has never been for the same reason I have not seen the Cape.
Unfortunately, two weeks is not enough time!
Later,
Dan
