USA: Charlotte - Charleston - Savannah - Asheville (2025)

When

Late April to Early May (and it was already getting too hot in Charleston & Savannah)

What

Visiting a nephew who lives in Charlotte, then a solo road trip to nearby cities of interest.

Where

Charlotte, NC

Charleston, SC

Savannah, GA

Asheville, NC

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina

Also known as The Queen City, Charlotte was named in honor of Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who was the queen consort of King George III. The city lays claim to being the first American colony to declare independence from Great Britain, via the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, which was read out on May 20, 1775.

Notes

The downtown area is very compact and walkable.

I enjoyed the Uptown Funk walking tour.

The lobby of the Center for Philanthropy has a wonderful art collection and is open to the public. You have to check in at the front desk and get a visitor badge, but it is free.

Don’t miss the “Disco Chicken” in front of the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. And I enjoyed the musuem as well.

  • Disco Chicken

    The sculpture stands outside the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, and is officially "The Large Firebird on the Arch" by Niki de Saint Phalle. But the locals call it the Disco Chicken.

  • The Green

    Across from the Bechtler and Mint museums is a small literary-themed park.

  • The Center for Philanthropy

    The art collection in the lobby is open to the public for free.

CHARLESTON, South Carolina

Notes

I highly recommend this historical walking tour. The guide is a professor of history at the Citadel.

A carriage ride is also a great way to learn about the city.

  • Pineapple Fountain

    A symbol of welcome.

  • Palmetto Carriage Tours

    Fun facts about the carriage company and the care of the horses they use.

  • Spanish Moss

    I still can’t believe this is in the bromeliad family.

  • Lewis Barbeque

    I am firmly in the camp that believes BBQ should be about the rub and the smoke (not a sweet or vinegary sauce). Although I found their seasoning a little too heavy on the salt, Lewis delivers an otherwise excellent smoked meat experience.

  • Angel Oak

    This magificent tree is estimated at 400 years old.

  • Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island

    Where you can, indeed, take a long walk on the beach.

SAVANNAH, Georgia

Notes

Take a Savannah Port Tour. You get to see the port in action, from the river.

A visit to the JW Marriott Plant Riverside is also worthwhile. It is a huge complex in a re-purposed power plant, part of which features a massive open lobby dominated by a metallic dinosaur skeleton replica suspended from the ceiling with a collection of fantastic geodes and other gem and mineral specimens.

  • Lafayette Square

    One of the famed 21 park squares in the historic district.

  • E. Shaver, bookseller

    If you love browsing bookstores, as I do, then a visit to E. Shaver is a must!

  • Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters

    Savannah offers many house tours, I chose this one because it is not just about a wealthy person’s house, it acknowledges the role of enslaved people in creating the lavish lifestyles their enslavers enjoyed.

  • World War II Memorial

    The commemorative plaque reads “United States of America 1941-1945. Freedom from Fear and Want. Freedom of Speech and Religion.” If only more people in this country still believed in this.

  • Port of Savannah

    I highly recommend a riverside tour of the Port of Savannah!

  • First Act of Alcohol Prohibition

    Another new thing I learned on this trip: the first Act of Alcohol Prohibition in America was issued in 1735.

ASHEVILLE, North Carolina

After the heat and humidity of Charleston and Savannah, the cool mountain air in Asheville was heaven. I was there for less than two days, so I spent one day wandering around the downtown area, and the next day I visited the Biltmore Estate before driving back to Charlotte for my flight home. Downtown has recovered from the devastation of Hurricane Helene, although from what I read, the River Arts District still has a long way to go.

Notes

Tickets to the Biltmore Estate are expensive, and I almost did not go. I think you could easily spend an entire day there, but I only had a half day as I had to drive back to Charlotte and get my rental car returned by a certain time. So I did not get to see everything I wanted to. I took a self-guided house tour, rushed around part of the gardens, and at the recommendation of a staff member, had a nice lunch at Cedric’s, which is in the Antler Village part of the estate.

  • Pack Square Park

  • Lexington Glass Works

    An artist collective where you can see the artists at work and buy their creations

  • Asheville Art Museum

  • The Biltmore Estate

    Built by George Vanderbilt, it is America’s largest private residence. Although it now survives via tourism, it is still privately owned by the Vanderbilt family.

  • Kitchen

    What I really enjoyed about the house tour was seeing the working parts of the house - kitchen, pantry, laundry.

  • Blue Ridge Mountains

    One of the views from the house.

Next

2024 Japan