T&T: Jax, FL to Raleigh, NC

[Richard Quarles]

> Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 20:58:39 -0500
> From: John Edwards <johnedwardsss at gmail.com>
> Subject: T&T: Jax, FL to Raleigh, NC
>
> This Sunday I will be driving from Jacksonville, FL to essentially  
> Raleigh,
> NC and would love to dart off of 95 to see some of the coastal towns.
>
> Any ideas of which ones I should visit, I can't see too many, I  
> wouldn't
> think, as my lil trip is up late Wednesday afternoon and it seems as  
> tho for
> each coastal spot of interest, it's a bit of a drive off of 95.
>
> I'd like to see oriental and maybe the Beauforts (both N & S, right!?)
> Savannah ?
>
> Thanks in advance



John,

I've made that trip more times than I'd like to count.  Savannah is  
right along I95 and is always worth visiting--many historical sites,  
good restaurants, etc.

North of Savannah, at exit 8 in South Carolina, Rte 278 goes to Hilton  
Head (not one of my favorites, but many people like it), and you can  
branch off to go to Beaufort, SC.  Beaufort is a nice little southern  
town with a small historic district and horse-drawn buggy tours  
available.  From there, you can go north to pick up US 17 to visit  
Charleston, one of the best cities to visit anywhere--much of  
historical interest and fabulous restaurants.  From there stay on US  
17 north, all the way to New Bern, NC.  You'll go through Georgetown,  
SC (an excellent jeep tour about Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox of  
revolutionary war fame), then several small coastal villages before  
Myrtle Beach, then Wilmington (again much to see), Jacksonville, NC,  
home of the Marines Camp LeJeune, and finally New Bern.  From New  
Bern, it's a 45 minute drive on US70E (through Havelock, home of Cerry  
Point Marine Air Station) to Morehead City and Beaufort.  Back to New  
Bern, cross the Neuse River on US 17N and turn E on route 55 to  
Oriental (about 45 minutes).  From Oriental, return to New Bern and  
take US 70W, which goes to Raleigh (a little over 2 hours).

Get a road atlas and have a look.  It's easier this way than trying to  
go back and forth from I95 north of Savannah.  It's 50-75 miles from  
I95 to the coast for all of those side-trips.

The trip straight-through from Jax to New Bern on I95 and US 70 takes  
approximately 8 hours driving time.  The scenic route is quite a bit  
more time-consuming, but, if you have the time, it's worthwhile.

Rick Quarles
Barric II, Nordic Tug 32-147
New Bern, NC