We have now reached St. Augustine, FL in our travels. Its Spanish style gives it a fun, relaxed feeling for any visitor!

First of all, if you are visiting St. Augustine, you must head to the beach. Its beaches are famous for their beautiful barrier islands and coastline. Some of the beaches that you could visit are Crescent Beach, St. Augustine Beach, Vilvano Beach, and Usina Beach. Beach access is free.

If you are visiting in the summer, be sure to head to St. Augustine’s historic downtown center in the plaza.  Every Thursday night there is a concert held at 7:00 PM, culminating in 24 concerts. There are a wide variety of bands that play each week.  It is the place to be on a Thursday night in St. Augustine, and is also a great way to enjoy yourself after a hot day on the beach! To make things even better, the concerts are free! http://www.staugustinegovernment.com/sites/concerts-plaza/index.cfm

Feeling wacky and in the mood to try something different? St. Augustine is home to the Ripley’s Believe it or Not! museum http://www.staugustine-ripleys.com/. Admission for adults is $14.99. This museum is entertaining for people of all ages and educates people about the bizarre, but real things that exist in our world!

Your total fun receipt for St. Augustine is as follows…

Beaches: Free

Summer Concerts: Free

Ripley’s Believe it or Not! museum: $14.95

Total: 14.95

Beaufort, SC (Total $26.26) *without the boat tour! *with $61.26

Food

• Luther’s Rare and Well Done (burger joint) $8.95
• Donut Connection of Beaufort $2.81 for one donut and a cup of coffee
• Panini’s Cafe  *go for lunch and an entree will cost around $10

Fun

• Huntington Park Free to explore!
• ACE Basin Tours $35 for a boat tour
• Lowcountry Estuarium $4

Facts

• The Beaufort Museum 50¢ for students
• Milton Maxey House Free to explore the area

Savannah, GA (Total $44) *if you pick and choose your fun!

Food

• Lenny’s Sub Shop $5 average for a 7 ½ in. sub
• Savannah’s Candy Kitchen $6 for a pound of salt water taffy
• Jen’s and Friends $7 martinis

Fun

• Savannah City Market/Telfair Museum of Art $5 for students
• Savannah Ghost Tour $22
• Dolphin Magic Tour $22.64

Facts

• Savannah History Museum $4 average
• Cathedral of St. John the Baptist FREE to tour

I hope you enjoyed our recap and we ignited another flame to visit the places that we have covered so far. We look forward to bringing you more facts next week!

I am going to pick up where Lindsay left off. The last recap she wrote about was in Pinehurst, North Carolina. After Pinehurst, we decided to head down to South Carolina.  We first stopped in Charleston and then headed west to the capital city of Columbia.  Let’s see what our final travel receipt was for these two spots…

Charleston, SC (Total $42.95)

Food

·       Hyman’s Seafood–$10 average

·       A.W. Shuck’s $14.95

·       Rooftop Bar Happy Hour

Fun

• Patriot’s Point Naval and Maritime Museum $15
• MOJA Arts Festival—Prices vary, but there are free events
• Piccolo Spoleto Arts—Prices vary, but there are free events

Facts

·       City Hall–Free

·       Fort Sumter/Fort Moultrie $3

Columbia, SC (Total $38.45)

Food

• Blue Marlin shrimp and grits $9.95
• Nonnah’s Desserts $6.75 or less
• Village Idiot—happy hour $2 drinks

Fun

·       Riverbanks Zoo $9.75

·       Columbia Museum of Art $2

·       Gervais and Vine Tapas Bar $8 or less per tapa

Facts

·       Fort Jackson Free

• House of Peace Synagogue Free

Next up…Danielle will finish the recap, continuing with Beaufort, SC and Savannah, GA!

Harrisonburg, VA (Total $39.22)

Food

• Mr. J’s Bagels & Deli – Breakfast Special (sausage, egg, cheese bagel with homefries) $3.69 
• Kline’s – One Dip Cone $2.03
• Cally’s – Smokin’ Scottish $4.50/pint

Fun

• Shenandoah National Park – Day Pass $15 (Annual Pass $20)
• Reddish Knob – FREE
• Massanutten Snow Tubing – Day Pass $9

Facts

• Virginia Quilt Museum – General Admission $5
• Turner Ashby Monument – FREE

Staunton, VA (Total $45.48)

Food

• Mill Street Grill – St. Louis Ribs (half rack) $13.99
• Wright’s Dairy Rite – Malted Milkshake $2.49

Fun

• Blackfriar’s Playhouse – General Admission $18
• Dixie Theatre – General Admission $6
• Jazz in the Park – FREE

Facts

• Woodrow Wilson’s Birthplace – General Admission $5
• Quick Staunton Scoop – FREE
• Virginia School for Deaf & Blind – FREE

Pinehurst, NC (Total $10)

Food

• May Street Market – Daily Special $6.50
• Dugin’s Pub – Import Drafts $3.50

Fun & Facts

• Malcolm Blue Farm & Museum – FREE
• Pinehurst Harness Track Horse Show – FREE
• Sandhill’s Horticultural Gardens – FREE

Look for our next blog post as Joanne continues to recap our adventures thus far.

On February 12, 1733, James Olgethorpe and 114 settlers from England landed on the banks of Beaufort, South Carolina and traveled the 18 miles up the Savannah River to what is now known as Savannah, GA. Their creative insight to how a city should be planned and built was ingenious and today the city still graciously stands with old charm.

 While you’re in town, you have to walk down MLK, Jr. Blvd. to the Savannah Visitors Center where the Savannah History Museum (http://www.chsgeorgia.org/shm/) is housed in the back of the building. The building details the history of Savannah from the beginning to the present. They even have a replica of the bench that Forest Gump sat on while they were filming. The museum is open Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Good news, if you’re at student, the admission is only $3.75 and $4.25 for adults.

  Another stop that a visitor has to make is down the street at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (http://www.savannahcathedral.org/). The sheer beauty of the cathedral catches your eye from blocks away and the splendor only multiplies once you walk through the front doors. The 124-year-old church was completely refurbished with all the original stained glass and murals still intact. It is completely free to tour and it is definitely worth the small walk from the river front.

Even if you do not have time to hit some of the spots I mentioned, just walking the streets of this cobblestone city is definitely worth it. The beautiful architecture puts on a show as you walk down each path.

Total receipt: Basically FREE minus a few bucks for museum entrance. Enjoy!

Savannah is known as one of the friendliest cities in the South. This makes the city very attractive to tourists due to its welcoming nature and the abundance of activities.

Some of our bloggers spent this past weekend in Savannah and now know firsthand the great things to do there. Our first recommended stop is at the Savannah City Market.  http://www.savannahcitymarket.com/entertain.html This location is filled with things to do.  Here you can find great restaurants, art galleries, shopping and tours. One specific place I recommend going to is the Telfair Museum of Art. College students can be admitted for $5 dollars, so make sure to bring your student ID card!

Are you in for a thrilling tour? Savannah is known as “America’s Most Haunted City.” The Savannah Ghost Tour http://www.trolleytours.com/savannah/ghost-tours-savannah.asp is an exciting adventure for any group. The tour is on a trolley and travels around the city. The ticket price for adults is $22.00.

Looking for some outdoor adventure? Head down to River Street where you can join in on a dolphin watching tour! http://www.dolphin-magic.com/  Dolphin Magic Tours costs $22.64 dollars for adults. Cruises take approximately an hour and a half and visit all of the popular dolphin spots!

Your total “fun bill” for Savannah is $49.64! Enjoy your time there, and stay tuned for Danielle’s historical facts!

Lenny’s Sub Shop may not be exclusively located in Savannah, but it encompasses the city’s southern hospitality and simplistic appeal.  Don’t let the popular shop’s “rough around the edges” appearance fool you because the delicious “made to order” sandwiches and hospitable service are a rare find.  Located on both Broughton Street and Abercorn Street, Lenny’s is a fast-service restaurant that is sure to satisfy.  Hot and cold subs range from $4.70 – $5.95 at the regular size of 7½ inches.

http://www.lennys.com/

Savannah’s Candy Kitchen can be found in two of Savannah’s most highly trafficked areas: River Street and the City Market.  These colorful stores are fun for the whole group, especially when freshly made samples of salt water taffy are handed out at the door.  With melt-in-your-mouth fudge, soft-serve ice cream, sugar free alternatives and various other candy assortments, Savannah’s Candy Kitchen is like heaven to those of us who suffer from an aching sweet tooth.  http://www.savannahcandy.com/  

On the corner of Congress and Bull, Jen’s & Friends is a hopping martini bar with edgy music and entertaining bartenders.  The bar’s creative lists of martinis are fun to taste test with a group of friends while having a night out on the town.  Want a blow pop in your Appletini?  Done.  Craving a piece of chocolate with your Chocolatini?  Done.  Be sure to get there in plenty of time since the place is packed on week nights and weekends.

Stay tuned for more fun ideas and interesting facts on one of the South’s most historic cities.

Beaufort’s coastal location makes it home to many fun activities.  Located on Port Royal Island on the southern part of South Carolina, there are many outdoor events to partake in.

Huntington Park is the first area where I recommend going.  This park is a large, secluded barrier island with lots of wildlife and beauty. It is also home to Huntington Island Lighthouse, which is the only lighthouse in South Carolina that is open to public visitors. Whether you want to enjoy the wilderness and lighthouse or spend a day relaxing on the beach, this is the destination for you!

Want to enjoy the ocean scenery without spending a day at the beach? There are lots of boating tours in the area. ACE Basin Tours, Inc. http://www.acebasintours.com/tourdetails.html  offers a pontoon boating tour that leaves at 10:00 AM on Wednesdays and Saturdays.  The boats fit up to 40 people and travels around the waters near Beaufort. Tickets are $35 dollars for adults and $12 dollars for children, but the price is well worth the experience.

If you want to learn about the natural environment surrounding Beaufort, visit the Lowcountry Estuarium. http://www.lowcountryestuarium.org/index.htm  Here you can find out about the beach and coastal areas in the area. There are lots of hands on activities, programs and group tours. Adult admission is only $4 dollars.

Hope everyone has enjoyed our stop in Beaufort, SC. Get excited for this week’s edition on Savannah, GA where Lindsay and Danielle have spent the past few days!

Similar to the other charming South Carolina towns that we have talked about in the past few weeks, Beaufort has its own painted history. The settlement dates back to 1514 when the Spanish discovered the location and was chartered by the British in 1711. Since its discovery almost 400 years ago, the town has seen a plethora of our country’s most historic events.       

   The best place to go to learn more once you get there? I would first try The Beaufort Museum (http://www.historic-beaufort.org/beaufortmuseumpage.htm). The museum is housed in the Arsenal, which was originally established in 1798 by state order to create powder magazines and a laboratory to make shots and explosives. Now a visitor can go and explore the history of Beaufort and come in close contact with historical artifacts. The museum is open Mon.-Sat. from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission for students is only 50¢.

Another great spot to hit if you are interested in Civil War history would be the Milton Maxey House (http://www.beaufort-sc.com/history/cvlwar01.htm), now known as the Secession House. History was made in this small town when the first meeting to draft the Ordinance of Secession (hint for all non-history buffs: when the South pulled away from the Union) was held here.  This home, along with many other historical homes, can be seen on any walking tour of Beaufort.

Stay tuned for Joanne’s ideas for fun things to do in Beaufort!