Using social media to plan my vacation
It is time for a vacation. I have never taken more than a week of vacation…until now.
Many of the projects I am working on are awaiting approval and direction from those above my pay grade. I’m heading to Kentucky anyway to preform my grandmother’s farewell party, so I’m going to take off a few days early, take my time instead of driving 13 hours straight, and make some stops along the way. (think about the movie Elizabethtown, only I’m going to Kentucky from Florida and then back.)
My instinct is to go to marriott.com, use my points, and find hotels along the way. I’m resisting the temptation and plan to use recommendations from others in the blogosphere on what to do and where to stay along the way. I know that I am leaving Orlando, stopping in Charleston, SC for a night, staying in Greenville, SC next week, and whitewater rafting the Chattooga River. From the Chattooga, I will make my way to the Bluegrass State, probably through western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee, but I’m taking travel route tips. I’m not in a huge hurry for once. I’ll need; places to stay, things to do (prefer to do things off the beaten path, not a huge tourist) places to eat (local preferred), and internet cafe’s or coffee houses along the way (that have FREE wifi and not green and white logos.)
I’ll post my pics and perhaps some video along the way based on suggestions I receive (if any.) If not, I still have my Marriott number, and my impecable sense of direction to get me where I’m going. (this is humor for those that know me)
Good morning Scott- I have a Google Alert on the Chattooga River because my family runs the original rafting outfitter there so I received and read your note. Thought I would give you some unbiased and biased information. I will try not to be a commercial but I do, in fact, have to make money so I can afford my daughters college tuition:) !
The Chattooga is an amazingly beautiful river. You will really enjoy it from a scenic and escape standpoint. The water is very low again this year due to drought but guests still absolutely love the experience as long as it is not fully based on looking for the big crashing whitewater the river can provide when we are not in the second year of a drought. There are other rivers in the area and we do offer big crashing waves options there (dam controlled rivers).That being said, go to The Weather Channel web site link (http://climate.weather.com/video/) and search for chattooga river rafting or “From whitewater to Low water” and you will see some photos and visitor comments from last summer when the water was even lower. It will give you a great feel for what to expect on the Chattooga. I hope you will be joining Wildwater (www.wildwaterrafting.com) for your rafting but if not, have a great time!
I see you are skipping Asheville and it looks like you are headed to the TN side of the Smokies. Based on your comments that you want off the beaten path that will be a mistake unless you have found some very secluded spot on the TN side (not very many left). The TN side is hugely crowded and over developed. I would recommend a visit to Asheville. Downtown Asheville is very cool and close to both the outdoors and a great small town experience like free bluegrass gathering every Saturday night and drum circles downtown every Friday night, truely world class art galleries, food, and music all over town. It is authentic with a classy and Bohemian mix. I will plug one more of my things you can check out if you want. That is our Yurts in the far western part of NC. Yurts are a Mongolian structure used by the Nomads (sort of like you hope your trip to be with a certain wanderlust). There are 8 of them very much off the beaten path and unique. Check them out at http://www.fallingwatersadventureresort.com. They are “tricked out” on the inside but a comfortable outdoorsy experience with nice beds and a locking door so you get the camping experience with the comforts of a room. Best of luck and let me know if my tips are at all helpful. Jeff
Thanks for the tips Jeff. I am reserved with Wildwater Rafting for Friday, June 27, and am rerouting through Asheville for the drum circles and looking into the Yurts. The link to the Web site for the Yurts is http://www.fallingwatersresort.com/ , there was a typo in your comment. Great suggestions!
Thanks for the post