Looking to Relax? Take a Local Trip
Katye Gilliland
October 29, 2009
Filed under Community, Features
With the holidays approaching rapidly and the economy creeping slowly out of a recession, families are in dire need of a vacation. Parents work hard day in and day out to provide for their families and we students slave away at school everyday to make them happy. A family vacation gives you a chance to relax, chill out, and enjoy life. So, put the phone down, turn off the TV, gather the family, and plan a quick, inexpensive vacation. You don’t have to go far for the ultimate fun trip. Here’s a list of 5 places to go on a weekend get-away.
Ocean Front in Myrtle Beach
1. Myrtle Beach, SC
Right now, close to the winter months and the holidays, Myrtle Beach is in the “off-season” and hotel rooms are at low rates. Myrtle Beach offers so many fun destinations for the whole family. From the strip in Myrtle Beach, there are thousands of stores and many outlet malls. One big outlet in Myrtle is the Tanger Outlets. With over 1500 stores, this place will keep the wife and kids busy all day. While the women are at the outlet, the men could enjoy fishing off shore, fishing on the beach, golfing, more golfing, and maybe even gambling in one of many casinos (ocean water ship casinos or land casinos). When it’s the whole family, Ripley’s Aquarium is a prime choice, as well as NASCAR Speedpark, and Brookgreen Gardens. I know, a family vacation sounds a little scary. For the teens, the teen club Karma is a very wise choice. This club is for teens 13-18 and is great for dancing and meeting people of your age. Even in the winter, it’s busy and fun. Myrtle Beach is only 4 hours from North Augusta and is a great place for a weekend trip.
2. Carowinds
Carowinds is the huge theme park that lies on the border of North and South Carolina. The park offers “scarowinds” during the month of October. If you don’t go in October, the park still has tons of fun attractions. There are thrill rides, family rides, a Nickelodeon Central, Boomerang Bay, and seasonal concerts. Throughout the park there are old school 50’s diners, burger shops, candy shops, Build-a-Bear workshops, Chick-Fil-a, Cinabon, and other cool shops. Carowinds is designed for families and is great for teens who love to ride roller coasters. If the roller coasters aren’t for you, the concerts and food are other magnets. Season passes are available too.
Metropolitan ATL
3. Atlanta
Atlanta is right down the road for us and provides so much entertainment for the family. During baseball season, a Braves game is the perfect way to have fun. The stadium offers family packages that include 4 tickets and food for a low price. In the off season, Atlanta has a lot of history to explore. It is home to “The Underground,” which used to be a stop along the under-ground railroad and is now a shopping center. The World of Coca-Cola is also located in Atlanta where the story of Coca-Cola is told through a fully-functioning bottling line, thrilling 4-D theater, interactive exhibits and a Taste Room with nearly 70 different products to sample. The Stone Mountain Park is Georgia’s most popular attraction that displays the world’s largest exposed granite. The park even offers a laser show that light up the massive mountain. Like old fashioned? Try Atlanta’s Starlight Six Drive-In Movie Theater that plays current movies all year round. Hotel rates vary, but there is always a good place to stay for a low price.
4. Cola
Cola is short for Columbia and Columbia is where its at. North Augusta graduates that are now freshman at USC can tell you Columbia has so much in store for visitors and residents alike. Columbia is home to Riverbanks Zoo, a great tourist destination for the whole family. An though it may sound a bit geeky, the South Carolina State house is a beautiful building and is very historical. If government interests you or your family, the state house is worth the trip. The South Carolina State museum can also be found in Columbia. The museum is a great place to learn more about our state and the history that has made it what it is today. Columbia has amazing shopping and dining experiences for the ladies. A South Carolina Gamecock athletic event can entertain the men. The state capitol is crawling with vacant rooms in great hotels and it’s always easy to make a reservation. The trip is only 2 hours or less, depending on the location of your hotel and is worth the drive.
5. Charleston
Charleston is a little bit farther away than Columbia, but is very historical and is a tourist attraction to people all over the country and the state. Charleston’s known for its history and beauty. The structure of the houses and streets in “downtown” Charleston are copied by architects all over the country and everyone loves the atmosphere there. Charleston offers fishing and golf for the men, like Myrtle Beach but Charleston is often less crowded. For the women, shopping is as always available and abundant. The Kings Street Antique district is a well known attraction as well as the “market.” The old fashioned cobble-stone street market is water front and has been there for hundreds of years. The market is some-what of a “flea-market” mixed with a street market and is a great way to experience old time south. The South Carolina Aquarium is great for nature lovers and is educational as well. Many of us have been there on a school field-trip. Charleston is a great beach destination for nature lovers, historians, and shoppers. Whether you’re destined for the beach or a theme park, a state capitol or a metropolitan city across the river, a vacation is well deserved and needed in most of our families. If you haven’t had fun with the whole crew recently, mention one of these places and see where the conversation leads. You may be pleasantly surprised when you get to pack your bags.
