We are planning a trip to Myrtle Beach. I'm Looking for suggestions on things to see on the way. The route is flexible to and from Chicago. Somewhat limited to bicycles for side trips. 14 all together from 6 years to 60. Bus is 64' with trailer. Any suggestions.
Thanks
Rick
Quote from: Rick 74 MC-8 on February 24, 2015, 06:39:37 PM
The route is flexible to and from Chicago.
Sounds like a blast. My best advice for you, is to turn the bus off, half way between Florida and Chicago. Don't go back to Chicago, and all will be well ;D.
Seriously though, out east is not my energy drink, so others will have to weigh in. Should be a fun trip!
Cheers,
John
Rick,
We have stayed at the Apache CG in North Myrtle Beach, liked it, many seafood places, we enjoyed the music at some of the theaters, think bikes would be OK for most, but I have no experience there with bikes, would contact the Camp Ground to see about the length, might not be an issue IF your used to handling it in tight areas.
Good luck and have some type sun screen.
Dave M
What time of year? I normally stay in the Huntington Beach state park, there are sites that you could back into with that much length, but the official rule is 35' for a state park so you'd need to negotiate. In the off season, you could drop the trailer in the parking lot, I expect. It is the kind of place that parents love but children might be bored. No amusement park, just lots and lots of nature, beach, trails, a neat old mansion/beach house.
Brian
Quote from: wg4t50 on February 24, 2015, 07:51:33 PM
Rick,
We have stayed at the Apache CG in North Myrtle Beach, liked it, many seafood places, we enjoyed the music at some of the theaters, think bikes would be OK for most, but I have no experience there with bikes, would contact the Camp Ground to see about the length, might not be an issue IF your used to handling it in tight areas.
Good luck and have some type sun screen.
Dave M
Good advice, but my experience (having grown up just over the NC line in the '50s and '60s) is that "Myrtle Beach" has spread out so that "it" is about 30-35 miles long along the coast. Figure what you're going to want to do and see and carefully consider distances on Mapquest or Google Earth. Some things might not be practical if you don't have a car (or, actually, van for your number of people).
I had a chuckle when I read the first post. With 14 people on board it's actually legally a bus again... ;D
Brian
we're going in June when the grand kids get out of school. I pretty much have the stay in Myrtle Beach set. we get two sites the trailer sleeps 6. It's traveling back I'm looking for suggestions on. we have about 4 days to travel home. I'm not sure if I want to go north up the coast and then back west or stay somewhere in the mountains. just looking for some place interesting.
Thanks
Rick
If you go north from Myrtle when you get to the outer banks you will have to cross some water on ferries. You might want to check to see if they have a length max. I do not think you will have a problem but I would want to check first because if you have to go around them it is a looong way. If you can fit on the ferries it is a wonderful area to see. I have done that trip in a car and went on up through Williamsburg Va. As far as camp grounds in Myrtle Beach with kids you cannot go wrong with Ocean Lakes. They can probably get you a pull through so you do not need to unhook and the kids will have a lot to do there.
Come to the mountains. Visit Western North Carolina and East Tennessee. I'm hesitant to recommend the Blue Ridge Parkway because of the size of your rig, but you could certainly drive I-26 from Asheville to Johnson City. Visit Biltmore House in Asheville. It's America's largest home. Castle, actually. On the Tennessee side, park in Bristol and bike tour the birthplace of country music. If your taste runs to cheesy, go to Sevierville/Gatlinburg. In Maggie Valley, you can hear Raymond Fairchild play banjo. He's a legend who will not be around much longer.
No one has really lived until they've visited the world's oldest mountains.
I was going to suggest driving up the Shenandoah Valley for a ways on your route north. It's lovely, very historic, and relatively flat and you do it off the interstates. I kind of start around Greensboro NC and go north up Hyw 29 aways. It's kind of out of the direct route to Chicago, though.
Brian
Quote from: bevans6 on February 26, 2015, 07:17:33 AMI was going to suggest driving up the Shenandoah Valley for a ways on your route north. It's lovely, very historic, and relatively flat and you do it off the interstates. I kind of start around Greensboro NC and go north up Hyw 29 aways. It's kind of out of the direct route to Chicago, though.
Brian
Yes, that's a good route for someone going north-east. I'd suggest that - since he's going northwest generally - he head for the Greensboro area but then cut over to Pilot Mountain and Mr. Airy, then north into the Valley from there. It's hard to find a good cross-over for a large vehicle north of Danville VA. Join US-11 north of Mt. Airy, and head up the Valley as you like. A good place to tack back west would be I-69 near Hagerstown; it will take you across western MD and the very northern parts of WVa. Then you can go west from Morgantown WVa into southern Ohio, or cut up toward Pittsburg and take the toll-roads (note: I hate toll-roads) on west.
If you were a teenager or college student in the 50's-60's you may have been into beach music and the Shag. The mecca then and now is OD which is part of the town of North Myrtle Beach. Some band's that still survive from the 60's are the Ember's and Entertainers. You can park once and walk to most of the clubs. In case you haven't been back recently, North Myrtle Beach came about with the consolidation of Cherry Grove, Ocean Drive, Crescent Beach, and Windy Hill. I have stayed may times at Myrtle Beach Family Camp ground. The have new bath houses, ocean front, lazy river, indoor and outdoor pool. If you are going up the outer banks, let me know and I'll help you. I live at the south end of the Outerbanks in Morehead City.
Art
Well looking at the map I think we'll head to Pigeon forge for 2 days. Most campgrounds seem to have a trolley service into town. That will help with the logistics of the group. Lol. Any recommendations for that area?
Thanks Rick
Pigeon Forge is a kid's playground. Go-Kart tracks, lazer tag, indoor skydiving (1,000HP Cat and a BIG fan), all kinds of fun things. For the adults, and kids, the shows: Country Tonight, Dixie Stampede, Lumberjack Feud, Comedy Barn. Parrot Mountain. And of course, Dollywood. Pick your dates carefully, as some events such as Rod Run gridlock the town, otherwise it's not bad. Trollies run up & down the strip frequently. Check in advance with the campground, some have age (vehicle) limits. Enjoy. Oh, nothing much opens til mid-late march.
Quote from: Charles in SC on February 25, 2015, 05:54:39 PM
If you go north from Myrtle when you get to the outer banks you will have to cross some water on ferries. You might want to check to see if they have a length max. I do not think you will have a problem but I would want to check first because if you have to go around them it is a looong way. If you can fit on the ferries it is a wonderful area to see. I have done that trip in a car and went on up through Williamsburg Va. As far as camp grounds in Myrtle Beach with kids you cannot go wrong with Ocean Lakes. They can probably get you a pull through so you do not need to unhook and the kids will have a lot to do there.
We traveled via the ferry's on our trip, our coach is 40'.
He may want to check out Myrtle beach state campground it was pretty nice and clean And it is right on the beach.
We stayed at the State park a few years ago. Very nice. This time we're staying at Lakewood just South of there a they have a few more amenities for the younger folks. I think Pigeon forge will have something for everyone. With never having been there before I'm looking for a nice campground. I know I will need two campsites and I call to make reservations (you should hear that conversation) lol but I always prefer first hand recommendations.
Rick
Quote from: Rick 74 MC-8 on February 27, 2015, 07:02:07 PM
I think Pigeon forge will have something for everyone.
So, cheesy it is. Have a grand time, but please don't go home thinking you've experienced the Appalachian South. Pigeon Forge and its environs is a land of huckster driven caricature. Nearby Great Smokies Park, however, is the real deal. Consider a visit to Cade's Cove while you're in the neighborhood. The campground there could easily accommodate your rig. Wherever you camp, leave the trailer for a day and drive through Cade's Cove. It may be the most beautiful place on earth. You cannot drive through on Saturday morning, and whenever you go, expect it to be crowded. That's no problem since you won't want to hurry.
I second Huntington Beach state park. Great Place. If you can make a day trip an hour north to Wilmington NC check out the downtown area there and see the battleship. Also some very nice beaches ....Tower 7 at wrightsvile beach is a great place for dinner. We are driving up that way tomorrow.
-Sean
Speaking of the North Carolina Battle Ship, BB-55, I watched it being stuffed in the slip is has been in since 1961, I was a E2 in USMC @ Camp Lejeune with day off for the event. Have toured nearly every part of it over the years, most interesting for a mechanical type guy.
Dave M
Quote from: wg4t50 on February 28, 2015, 06:00:46 PMSpeaking of the North Carolina Battle Ship, BB-55, I watched it being stuffed in the slip is has been in since 1961, I was a E2 in USMC @ Camp Lejeune with day off for the event. Have toured nearly every part of it over the years, most interesting for a mechanical type guy.
Dave M
I was there, too, although I was only 12 years old at the time. As it was being swung into the slip that had been cut in the western bank of the Cape Feat, the stern slewed around and smacked into a river boat that had been converted into an on-the-river restaurant on the east side of the river. So, the battleship's record of "kills and damaged" includes "carried out nine shore bombardments, sank an enemy troopship, destroyed at least 24 enemy aircraft, and assisted in shooting down many more, and damaged one floating eatery". Yes, the battleship is a *gem* - lots of good stuff for a gear head!
Jim
Thanks for the heads up. Looking at Cade's Cove it looks great. That's what we look for when it's just my wife and I. With this size group we need full hookups. I'm still pondering bringing the Motorcycles. If I do I will definitely check it out and many other back roads. When not pulling the trailer I typically take the back roads but with a group like this it's more the destination not so much the adventure getting there. Although we do have fun.
Rick
Rick,
Have a grand time in our part of creation. It's hard to go wrong with Appalachian locations given that you can apparently tolerate the tourist traps. I avoid those places when possible. Our favorite time for Myrtle Beach is Thanksgiving (US). Crowds are gone, prices are halved, seafood is great, and they have a fine weekend-long Bluegrass music festival at the convention center. Usually the Atlantic is warm enough for swimming at that time if you're so inclined. I usually am, my wife is not.
I'm not suggesting that you change your plans, just that you think about that possibility the next time you head our way. It's a great break from the frozen north without having to cross the dreaded FL line.
I assume you're planning a day at DollyWood. Not bad as theme parks go, especially if you're a fan of steam locomotion. You'll see skilled crafts people making wonderful things, you'll hear traditional music made on the spot, and of course they will have all the rides and overpriced food your group can handle. Ride lines might be long that time of year.
All the best,
Jim