Southern USA Road Trip: A Family Journey - Part 1

In March/April, my family and I embarked on an unforgettable trip to the USA. We flew directly from Dublin to Charlotte with American Airlines, which meant we cleared immigration before we left Ireland—a convenience that always makes the journey smoother. We also used the new MPC app, speeding up the immigration process even further. The American Airlines staff were very friendly, the aircraft was comfortable, the entertainment was good, and the food was pretty decent too.

Charlotte, North Carolina We spent our first night in Charlotte, a lovely, clean city with a compact layout. The city boasts stunning art installations, great restaurants, and is home to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, a must-visit for any motorsport's enthusiast. The following morning, we collected our hire car and began our family road trip! Our first destination was Charleston, South Carolina, but not before making a little detour to the premium outlets. The scenery from Charlotte to Charleston was quite interesting, but we were absolutely blown away by how beautiful Charleston is!

Charleston, South Carolina This picturesque city is filled with colourful buildings and an upmarket feel. We enjoyed our stay at the Andrew Pinckney Inn, located just a few minutes' walk from the famous City Market. Charleston is full of quaint inns and bed and breakfast accommodations, as well as some excellent hotels. The city feels like a movie set with horse-drawn carriages on almost every corner and an abundance of excellent restaurants. We took a trip to Mount Pleasant, home to Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum. This was a hit with the boys, but I think it's fair to say we all found it really interesting, spending a full morning exploring the battleships and military aircraft on display. In the afternoon, we drove around the city, spotting some sights from the Netflix drama "Outer Banks." The Waterfront Park in Charleston is a lovely area to stroll around, and this city is undoubtedly one of the prettiest in the USA, and a great spot for foodies.

Savannah, Georgia After a couple of nights in Charleston, our next stop was Savannah. The drive from Charleston to Savannah is just two hours and really straightforward. On the way, we stopped at Folly Island, a popular beach town with a lovely pier and a long, wide sandy beach.

Savannah, oh my goodness, where do I start? I knew I would enjoy it, but I was still unprepared for how enchanting it is. Southern people are renowned for their friendliness, but the residents of Savannah are next level! The historic district is like something out of a picture book, with 22 squares, each more charming than the last. Spanish moss hangs from the trees like a fairy tale, and a visit to Chippewa Square, made famous by Forrest Gump, is a must. The city is filled with talented musicians and entertainers, adding to the vibrant atmosphere.

We loved strolling around the riverfront, which is full of great restaurants offering good value. A cruise on board the Georgia Queen was a lovely, relaxing way to see more of the city and such a unique experience. The Riverfront has some impressive street art, and it's worth taking the time to visit the JW Marriott Hotel. Originally a power plant, it has been repurposed as a luxurious hotel with incredible unique features, including a life-size chrome-covered dinosaur and unusual artefacts—definitely a must-see.

We also walked to see Forsyth Park and the Cathedral of St John the Baptist. The cathedral is a landmark in Savannah and quite spectacular. The food in Savannah is gorgeous, with crab cakes being a favourite of mine as well as the peach gelato at the JW Marriott. We spent two nights in Savannah, but I'd love to go back as there’s so much more to see in the area, and we really didn’t have enough time!

Our next destination on the road trip was Florida, and you can read all about this in part two of our adventure.

Stay tuned for more of our family adventures in the USA!