# Romantic weekend getaway...Charleston is sold out... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 8, 2005, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romantic-weekend-getaway-charleston-is-sold-out/325334 "2005-10-08T18:31:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![newcrasher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2005, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romantic-weekend-getaway-charleston-is-sold-out/325334/1 "2005-10-08T18:31:59Z")
OK I had a thread asking for advice n a romantic getaway in Charleston, SC, but it is the Citadel’s homecoming and everyone is sold out. I live in Richmond, VA, and Charleston was about the farthest south I would have driven (6 hours). Anyone have any ideas of romantic getaways less than 6 hours from Richmond? We have done DC, Williamsburg, Va. Beach. Any help out there? ---
**Author:** ![Elza\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Elza\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elza_B)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2005, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romantic-weekend-getaway-charleston-is-sold-out/325334/2 "2005-10-08T18:38:18Z")
What about the Outer Banks? Try Duck. We went to Hershey, PA for our honeymoon last year (we only had 5 days at the time). Depending on money, the Hotel Hershey is beautiful and very romantic - there’s a spa there that’s absolutely heavenly. E. ---
**Author:** ![Updike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@Updike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Updike)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2005, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romantic-weekend-getaway-charleston-is-sold-out/325334/3 "2005-10-08T18:48:11Z")
> [@newcrasher](#): > > OK I had a thread asking for advice n a romantic getaway in Charleston, SC, but it is the Citadel’s homecoming and everyone is sold out. Which weekend is Homecoming? I was planning a trip to Charleston as well, but we haven’t picked our weekend yet due to work scheduling conflicts. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2005, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romantic-weekend-getaway-charleston-is-sold-out/325334/4 "2005-10-08T18:48:44Z")
How 'bout the Outer Banks? All of my in-laws own rental properties around there, and we love to escape there when no-one’s renting. It’s so beautiful in that heart-tugging Irish seascape sort of way. There’s fairly cheap weekend rentals near beaches, as well as more lush expensive rentals which often have whirlpools and other romantic ammenities. There’s shopping and historic villages at the Lost Colony (since you mention Williamsburg). The seafood is fantastic and fresh at even “dive” restaurants. Jockey’s Ridge is a great dune for romantic walking, wrestling and throwing the ol’ frisbee around. A steep drop-off makes a great “race you to the bottom” run or roll! There’s a great shop with devil sticks and poi over there, but that’s sort of a niche hobby… Kitty Hawk measures at 3 hours, 10 minutes on RandMcNally, although my husband reminds me that it’s more romantic the further out you go. But well within your 6 hour mark. On preview - curse you **Elza B**! 😃 Great minds, and all that. Ah well, I’ll post this anyway… ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2005, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romantic-weekend-getaway-charleston-is-sold-out/325334/5 "2005-10-08T18:50:48Z")
I can’t believe I’m contributing to tourists to Asheville. You could visit Asheville! Or other communities in the area. Hot Springs, NC is beautiful: next to the Appalachian Trail, in the middle of the mountains, near a river for rafting or walking next to, with plenty of bed and breakfasts. Asheville has got the Biltmore Estate, if you want to go somewhere fancy. Unless you want to spend huge amounts of money and get on a long waiting list, you own’t be staying at the Estate. But downtown Asheville is very walkable and has an overload of great restaurants. Black Mountain is also a cozy little town nearby. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![hlanelee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3bc359/32.png) [@hlanelee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hlanelee)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2005, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romantic-weekend-getaway-charleston-is-sold-out/325334/6 "2005-10-08T19:14:40Z")
Savannah, Ga. is just another hour away. It’s nice, too. There is plenty to see and do there. It’s just a hop away from Hilton Head. ---
**Author:** ![newcrasher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2005, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romantic-weekend-getaway-charleston-is-sold-out/325334/7 "2005-10-08T19:18:54Z")
> [@Elza B](#): > > What about the Outer Banks? Try Duck. > > We went to Hershey, PA for our honeymoon last year (we only had 5 days at the time). Depending on money, the Hotel Hershey is beautiful and very romantic - there’s a spa there that’s absolutely heavenly. > > E. Do you think there will be anything there to do in November or do they roll up the streets after tourist season? ---
**Author:** ![newcrasher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2005, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romantic-weekend-getaway-charleston-is-sold-out/325334/8 "2005-10-08T19:21:34Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > I can’t believe I’m contributing to tourists to Asheville. > > You could visit Asheville! Or other communities in the area. > > Hot Springs, NC is beautiful: next to the Appalachian Trail, in the middle of the mountains, near a river for rafting or walking next to, with plenty of bed and breakfasts. > > Asheville has got the Biltmore Estate, if you want to go somewhere fancy. Unless you want to spend huge amounts of money and get on a long waiting list, you own’t be staying at the Estate. But downtown Asheville is very walkable and has an overload of great restaurants. > > Black Mountain is also a cozy little town nearby. > > Daniel At least you are bringing a Doper. We’re good people ya know! Tell me more about Ashville. Maybe put together an itinerary with us arriving in town around 3PM and departing Sunday at noon. what should we do? I really am not familiar with Asheville at all, so any details are great. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2005, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romantic-weekend-getaway-charleston-is-sold-out/325334/9 "2005-10-08T19:33:47Z")
> [@newcrasher](#): > > At least you are bringing a Doper. We’re good people ya know! > > Tell me more about Ashville. Maybe put together an itinerary with us arriving in town around 3PM and departing Sunday at noon. what should we do? > > I really am not familiar with Asheville at all, so any details are great. When are you coming to town? And what sort of things do you like to do? And what sort of budget are we talking–economy, genero-traveler, or schmancy? And what sort of food do you like? Rather than trying to set up an itinerary, I’ll point you toward [the official Asheville tourism site](http://www.exploreasheville.com/). You can actually play around with setting up an itinerary here, and it looks (on very brief perusal) to be fairly complete. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Elza\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Elza\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elza_B)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2005, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romantic-weekend-getaway-charleston-is-sold-out/325334/10 "2005-10-08T19:37:29Z")
> [@newcrasher](#): > > Do you think there will be anything there to do in November or do they roll up the streets after tourist season? In Outer Banks, or in Hershey? I’ve been to the Outer Banks after tourist season and there were a bunch of places still open - we were there for a bachelorette party, and ended up bar-hopping a bit. It probably wasn’t as active as it is in the middle of August, but we didn’t seem to have any problem finding things to do. E. ---
**Author:** ![Elza\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Elza\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elza_B)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2005, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romantic-weekend-getaway-charleston-is-sold-out/325334/11 "2005-10-08T19:38:30Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > When are you coming to town? And what sort of things do you like to do? And what sort of budget are we talking–economy, genero-traveler, or schmancy? And what sort of food do you like? > > Rather than trying to set up an itinerary, I’ll point you toward [the official Asheville tourism site](http://www.exploreasheville.com/). You can actually play around with setting up an itinerary here, and it looks (on very brief perusal) to be fairly complete. > > Daniel We have a family cabin in Boone, and I spent a lot of summers there as a kid - I remember Asheville being one of our favorite places to go. Hmmm…you’re making me want to go spend a week at the cabin. E. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2005, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romantic-weekend-getaway-charleston-is-sold-out/325334/12 "2005-10-08T20:18:05Z")
This is the best time of year in Western NC, in my opinion: the leaves are about to change, and the air is snappy and wonderful. If I had a cabin, I’d be so there. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2005, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romantic-weekend-getaway-charleston-is-sold-out/325334/13 "2005-10-08T20:34:11Z")
I highly recommend Gettysburg in one direction, and Savannah in the other. ---
**Author:** ![newcrasher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2005, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romantic-weekend-getaway-charleston-is-sold-out/325334/14 "2005-10-08T23:32:46Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > I highly recommend Gettysburg in one direction, and Savannah in the other. My weekend is November 11-13. What would you do in Gettysburg? Probably not going to want to do tours…romance is priority one. But Gettysburg may be good…tell more. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2005, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romantic-weekend-getaway-charleston-is-sold-out/325334/15 "2005-10-08T23:49:28Z")
Hmmm, Gettsysburg _is_ kinda tour- and history-heavy. The Bloody Battle of Littlw Round Top might not be the most romantic of sites, after all. ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2005, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romantic-weekend-getaway-charleston-is-sold-out/325334/16 "2005-10-09T01:28:58Z")
My favorite romantic getaway out of the DC area was the Delware shore in winter. No people, no crowds, an expensive oceanside room on off-season rates, the restaurants were all open, and the antique stores never close.