This trip started in Daytona Beach, FL. Most people come for the Daytona 500 but not me. I wanted to see the Last Resort bar in Port Orange where the serial killer Aileen Wuornos was arrested. You might know her from the Charlize Theron movie Monster where Charlize portrayed her. While I was there I also checked out the Ponce De Leon Lighthouse which you can climb to the top of if you so wish. On the way there stop by Racing's North Turn and have a drink on the beach. It's also the spot where racing first started in Daytona. Racing fan or not, it's still a cool place to stop and relax for a few minutes. Then I headed 40 minutes south west to the Blue Springs State Park in Orange City where you can go manatee spotting.

After that it was time to start my journey towards the Carolinas, but first, a stop about an hour north of Daytona in St. Augustine, FL. St. Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied settlement in the US established in 1565. Take the afternoon and wonder around the shops and historic buildings; there is plenty to see and do including the Castillo De San Marcos, the oldest wood school house in the US and the City Gate.

From there I headed 2 hours 40 minutes north to Savannah, GA. Savannah is one of those cities that sucks you in with it's history AKA ghosts. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil fans will want to stop by the Mercer-Williams House and Forsyth Park & Fountain which are right around the corner from each other. If you ignore everything I recommend though and only choose to do one thing, let it be The Old Pirates House. Outside of having amazing food and drinks (here's looking at you Pimento Cheese Burger) it's the site of the first experimental garden in the US, attached to the Herb House which is the oldest building in Georgia and best of all it has some interesting ties to that little book called 'Treasure Island'.

Now because I love all things spooky and weird I had to check out a couple old cemeteries. First was the Colonial Park Cemetery established in 1750. When the federal troops occupied Savannah they looted and vandalized many of the graves there and if you go to the back wall of the cemetery you can see the damaged headstones all lined up against the wall. It is said that some of the dates were changed by the troops but most of them looked pretty legitimate to me.

Up next was the Bonaventure Cemetery where John Mercer and Gracie Watkins are buried. You could get lost and wouldn't even notice because the tombs are incredible and you're surrounded by Oaks and moss. The cemetery itself was featured in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil hence the tie to John Mercer, but note that the bird girl statue is no longer there, it was moved to the Jepson Center for the Arts in Savannah. The story of Gracie Watkins is heartbreaking and her tomb is the most visited in the cemetery.

Onward I went 2 hours north to Charleston, SC. Savannah and Charleston are chalked full of history and intriguing things to see, and while I packed in as much as I could, there is always more to see. First, the Pink House- the oldest building in Charleston and one of the oldest in the state. It's currently home to an art gallery but it's worth seeing nonetheless. Across the street however is the The Old Slave Mart Museum which is exactly what you think it is. It is worth the time to tour this museum which is the actual location of the Old Slave Mart. While we're on the topic of heavy history, you should also check out The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon which is also exactly what you think it is- a prisoner of war facility. It is also amazing and worth every penny. Within walking distance is the City Market which stretches 4 city blocks and is designated as a National Historic Landmark. There are dozens of shops with local crafted items and food to check out.

Then it was off to Drayton Hall, the oldest unrestored plantation in America. The interior has amazingly well stood time as has the exterior. Some of the additional buildings on the property are gone now but the main house remains. There is a pond in front of the house that was strategically placed so when you stood at the pond looking at the house you would see a perfect reflection of the house as well.

The last stop in Charleston was the Angel Oak Tree on John's Island about 20 minutes outside Charleston. It is arguably the oldest living oak tree in America dated at 1500+ years old. It's not something to spend a lot of time at but it is very impressive and (I think) worth seeing.

Four hours north west of Charleston is Asheville, NC home of the infamous Biltmore Estate. I didn't go there on this trip (mostly because it costs a pretty penny) but also because it was rainy and dreary and I wouldn't have been able to see and appreciate everything there. You cannot see it from the visitors center FYI, so don't waste your time. Instead, check out Biltmore Village and grab a bite at the Village Wayside restaurant located in an old train depot. Try the sweet potato tots- you'll thank me later. For an excellent brunch try the Corner Kitchen for a cream cheese scrambler, also in the Village area, and for some sweets to go, check out the Well-Bred Bakery & Café across the street. On the way out of town I stopped to check out the giant iron at the corner of Wall St and Battery Park Ave in downtown Asheville.

This trip was not so long as it was action packed and I still didn't cover half of what I could have. Keep that in mind if you are planning a trip to Savannah, Charleston or Asheville!

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