I live in upstate New York. Every year, my family and I make a pilgrimage to Walt Disney World to get our Disney fix. Sure, we've flown and made it to WDW in several hours, but we've discovered that the journey for us can be almost as fun as the destination when we road trip our way to the WDW gates.
We can make it door-to-door from where we live to WDW in 22 hours. I know folks who will drive it straight through, and others who pull off the road when they are exhausted, sleep, and get right back on the road. Both are fine options, but we love to be a bit more leisurely, visiting family or friends, or exploring new places on the East Coast. In the six years we've been driving to WDW, we've uncovered some great finds, delicious food, and fantastic sights which I'm so happy to share with you.
The first few times we drove, when our son was younger, we would make two stops; our first stop was always to visit my old college roommate who lives near Philadelphia (we go for cheesesteak—Geno's or Pat's—I love both and I take mine with Cheese Whiz and fried onions. We also love the Franklin Institute, an expansive museum right in the city that is great for all ages).
Puppy overload from the yorkies my husband's aunt breeds. Photo by Donna Fesel.
Our second stop was to visit my husband's aunt and uncle who live on a small farm near the Research Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill) in North Carolina. They have a few acres with some chickens, a donkey, some bee hives, a small pond for fishing, a huge veggie garden, and a gaggle of Yorkshire terrier puppies. My son gets up early to help gather the eggs, and let the puppies out of the barn. His uncle lets him drive tandem on the small tractor in the driveway. We hang out on hammocks and read and at night the stars are amazing on the big back porch.
My son enjoys fishing on my husband's family's farm. Photo by Donna Fesel.
I love to find great places to eat, and my husband's uncle takes us to his favorites, too. Because the Research Triangle houses so many universities, there is a breadth of choices that cater to the huge student population. There are a few must-dos on every visit, such as Cook Out, a regional chain that serves delicious chargrilled burgers and other treats, as well as some killer shakes. You can drive through or sit down. I go for a burger “Cook Out Style” and a vanilla shake. The burger has chili, coleslaw, mustard, and onions—I am obsessed (please come to New York Cook Out!).
Another favorite is Mediterranean Deli in Chapel Hill. It features an enormous wraparound deli case where you can choose from a ton of Middle Eastern and Greek favorites (the harissa hummus is a must). Barbecue is big stuff in this neck of the woods, so we have some on every trip, we love Allen & Son Barbecue in Chapel Hill, a trip back in time with checkered tablecloths and amazing fried okra, and the Original Q Shack, always packed with happy customers enjoying their awesome mac & cheese and sweet tea.
We also love Chubby's Tacos in Durham, reasonable and fresh, serving delicious tacos with house made salsas. Durham also houses our all-time favorite museum, the Museum of Life + Science, an enormous and enjoyable indoor/outdoor space featuring a farmyard, a butterfly house, and a mini train. Before we leave town, we love picking up some Cackalacky (a regional sweet potato-based hot sauce that is to die for) to bring home for friends, and for our pantry.
We've stopped in Savannah, Georgia for a few nights, and were transported by its beauty and gothic charm. We took a city tour from Trolley Tours, and saw the Flannery O'Connor House, the Mercer Williams House (the real-life setting of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil), and the first headquarters of the Girl Scouts of America (founder Juliette Gordon Low was a Savannah native). Savannah is reputed to be a very haunted city, and our trolley tour guide pointed out some delightfully spooky spots as well. We stayed at the Thunderbird Inn (a budget retro find that is pet-friendly) and enjoyed Wiley's Barbecue Wiley's Barbecue
We stayed in Charleston for a few nights two years ago and fell in love with the city. Wonderful food abounds. Poogan's PorchHyman'sHank'sIndigo Inn, a pet-friendly place with a beautiful courtyard that is a convenient walking distance to downtown shops and eateries.
Piglets nuzzle their mother on the farm at Middleton Place. Photo by Donna Fesel.
We visited historic Fort Sumter for a quick lesson in Civil War history (Sumter was a federal fort surrendered by the union, which they then spent four years trying to regain). For a slice of Southern history, we also checked out Middleton Place, a beautiful plantation featuring America's oldest landscaped gardens. We found the people in Charleston to be so friendly and accommodating; we felt at home. Charleston is the kind of city we will go back to again and again.
Historic Fort Sumter in Charleston North Carolina, where the Civil War began. Photo by Donna Fesel.
Blue Mountain Brewery in Charlottesville grows their own hops. Photo by Donna Fesel.
Last summer, I picked our stopover city and chose Charlottesville, Virginia. I had heard from a friend how lovely that part of Virginia is, and had always wanted to visit. In Charlottesville, we splurged and stayed at The Boar's Head, the official hotel of the University of Virginia, featuring a picturesque collection of buildings around small lake. We ate several meals on the Boar's Head's deck, taking in the scenic view.
Enjoy the Viriginia weather while dining outside at the Blue Mountain Brewery in Charlottesville. Photo by Donna Fesel.
The pond outside the beatiful Boar's Head Inn in Charlottesville. Photo by Donna Fesel.
We travelled to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello to immerse ourselves in the life of the third president. Monticello is beautifully preserved, and travelling the estate and touring the rooms transports you completely to another time.
On the grounds of Monticello, Charlottesville. Photo by Donna Fesel.
Visitors can practice writing with a quill pen at Monticello, Charlottesville. Photo by Donna Fesel.
We also enjoyed outrageously good food at Ace Biscuit and Barbecue, they've got fantastic biscuits and pulled pork with a choice of 12 barbecue sauces, and Blue Mountain Brewery, wonderful burgers and wings, craft beer, and an enormous outdoor space with lawn games for the kids.
Last, but certainly not least on my list is Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort, located in the Shelter Cove section of Hilton Head Island. Disney's Hilton Head is a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) Resort; members of the DVC timeshare program can stay on points, but members of the public can stay as well. The resort is compact, with a variety of accommodation types (studios and one and two bedroom villas). Our room looked out onto an iconic low country setting, of marsh and local foliage, with a great porch for wiling away the afternoon.
Entry to the Disney Beach House at Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort. Photo by Donna Fesel.
The resort features a theme pool with a wonderful spiral slide, great pool games led by charismatic castmembers, tons of kids activities (Goofy Bingo, Mickey tie dye, and shark tooth necklaces, to name a few), fishing and crabbing right of the resort's pier, and outdoor movies, if weather permits.
The view from our studio room at Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort looks out over the estuary. Photo by Donna Fesel.
A must-see is Disney's Beach House, which is only a short shuttle ride away. It features a snack bar, heated pool, games, and shelter from the sometimes unpredictable Hilton Head weather. The Beach House is also your point of access to the pristine Atlantic Beach for all your body-boarding, sunning, and surfing needs. The resort has a few food choices (Signals at the Beach House is open seasonally, and Tide Me Over offers Southern favorites in a casual setting), but quite a few other places to eat are accessible within a short walk or bike ride.
Whatever you do, however, don't miss the campfire. Wholesome family fun, it's helmed by cast members, there are jokes, camp dances, songs, and s'mores. The resort is also home to Shadow, a beautiful golden retriever who serves as the resort's mascot, and mingles periodically with guests and castmembers at the Resort. Her doghouses and pawprints can be found throughout the Resort as well, and young guests get a kick out of searching for Shadow.
Pass the time playing shuffleboard at Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort. Photo by Donna Fesel.
Do you drive to Walt Disney World? Are you thinking about taking the plunge? If you can, slow down and check out the incredible landscape and wonders of the East Coast; try the bigger locations and the smaller ones, the historic things, the beautiful things, the delicious things, enjoying the ride as you approach the Happiest Place on Earth. To quote a wise man, Adventure is out there! Do you have fun driving to WDW stories? Go ahead and post, I'd love to read them.
