In November 2024, we made a big loop down the South Carolina coast and back up through central SC and into the NC mountains. We had a ton of fun, ate and drank and played a lot, saw nature and art and history, and would love to do a variation on this trip again in the future. I don’t know yet how we’ll change the loop next time around, but this retrospective will help us figure out what to drop and what to keep.

Previous research:

• Here’s our original planning post for this trip
• Here’s another southeastern trip we did in January 2020, going a bit farther afield
• Here’s a quicker SC-GA-NC loop from late 2017
• Here’s part 1 (SC and GA) and part 2 (northern FL) of the research we did for a lets-get-warm trip in early 2017

And here’s what our loop ended up looking like:

• Raleigh NC
• Georgetown SC
• Edisto Beach SC
• Charleston SC
• Beaufort SC
• Hilton Head SC
• Columbia SC
• Greenville SC
• Asheville NC

We’ll do parts of this trip again for sure! The drives weren’t too long, the beaches and towns and campgrounds were for the most part great, and we ate and drank well. We’d happily return to any location, but would probably omit Georgetown and Columbia from a future trip: we feel like we’ve done most of what there is to do in tiny Georgetown, and while we liked Columbia well enough, it would have to woo us with something specific and offer us a better place to camp.

The following are the places and things we most look forward to revisiting!

Best campground

We had two favorites, quite different from each other but both very peaceful, scenic, and convenient: Edisto Beach State Park and Hilton Head Harbor RV Park.

Best run

Since this wasn’t really a hiking trip, we tried to get some runs in for exercise. We loved running in Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge in Hilton Head so much we went twice!

Best hike

We only did a few hikes on this trip: between Georgetown and Edisto on the Palmetto Trail, in Congaree National Park, outside Columbia, and in Asheville. Congaree wins this category: the park overall was a pleasant surprise, and we were thrilled to be able to take Bugsy on the trail with us!

Best beach

This answer may be different if we traveled in peak season, but I guess that’s true for most answers. Again, we have two favorites, and they share dog-friendliness, peacefulness, and beauty. While both of these were wonderful, Fish Haul Beach on Hilton Head may edge out the beach at Edisto Beach State Park for first place because it was more pleasant on bare feet, but being able to walk from the Airstream to the beach in Edisto was pretty amazing.

Best architecture

Since we didn’t really go into downtown Charleston, Beaufort is the winner. Gorgeous!

Best art

My favorite art was the glasswork of Amber Cowan at Momentum Gallery in Asheville.

Best beer

J and I disagree here! My vote is for Lincoln & South in Hilton Head. J thinks Double Stamp in Greenville was probably the best beer of the trip. Special shout-out to Burial in Asheville: J said my sour was the best sour he’s ever had!

Best brewery

As in, best brewery to hang out at and drink delicious beer. We had a blast at Lincoln & South, but I’m going to give this one to Shell Ring near Beaufort. Watching the sunset over the water with Bugsy and tasty beer was a delight. Honorable mention goes to Raleigh Brewing in, yes, Raleigh, for being a fun and friendly Harvest Hosts location.

Best hushpuppies

I love hushpuppies and ordered them in as many places as I could while on the coast. J thought I was cuckoo until he tried one at Benny’s Coastal Kitchen in Hilton Head and proclaimed them the best hushpuppies he’d ever had.

Best cookie

J said the salted caramel cookie from Magnolia Cafe in Beaufort was the best cookie he’d ever had!

Best key lime pie

If you read about our trip to Key West a couple years ago, you know how much I love key lime pie. The key lime pie I bought at LB Sweets and Treats in Charleston was so good that J said it was the best he’d ever had!

Best animal sighting

Other than our funny little brown dog, I think the only animal sightings of note were in the wildlife refuge in Hilton Head. The most exciting were the armadillo in the parking lot, and wacky wood storks off one of the trails. And I guess the massive dead horseshoe crab on Fish Haul Beach in Hilton Head sort of counts.

Best Christmas lights

This one’s easy: the Holiday Festival of Lights at our campground in Charleston! Honorable mention goes to the Christmas-themed decor at The Golden Pineapple in Asheville.

License plate game results

The most interesting category for everyone, I know! We did well on this trip, getting DC and RI, which we usually don’t see. Our only missing plates were AR and HI.

We had lots of high notes on this trip! What best-of categories are we missing?

Until the next trip, whenever that may be… happy new year and here’s to an adventurous 2025!