South Carolina & Georgia Multisport

Day 1

Meet your Backroads Trip Leaders (the folks wearing Backroads T-shirts) at 9 a.m. at Planters Inn in Charleston. Please arrive dressed in your biking clothes with a rain jacket handy and a separate small bag containing clothes for our walking tour.

Fort Moultrie Warm-Up Biking Route 16 Miles
Charleston Guided Walk 2 Hours

Welcome to South Carolina! After meeting in Charleston we shuttle to the National Historic Monument of Fort Moultrie, once a key stronghold in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. After your Backroads Trip Leaders fit your bike and give a brief talk on biking techniques and safety, you can head out on today’s ride. Spin alongside the Intracoastal Waterway through Charleston’s stately suburbs on Sullivan’s Island and the Isle of Palms. Wind through delightful Atlantic waterfront communities with elegant beachside homes. Then return to Fort Moultrie, where white-sand beaches and beautiful views of Charleston and Fort Sumter provide the backdrop for a delicious picnic lunch.

Back in Charleston at Waterfront Park, local guide Rhetta Mendelsohn leads us on a walking tour of old Charleston and relates the history behind the city’s churches, homes and businesses. After our walk, if you still have the energy, take advantage of Planters Inn’s proximity to high-end shopping, museums and an open-air market. This evening we get better acquainted over a cocktail reception, followed by dinner at acclaimed Magnolia’s, a popular restaurant featuring traditional Southern cuisine with international flair.

Lodging: Planters Inn

Day 2

Shem Creek Kayaking 3 Hours
Cooper River Bridge Biking Route 10 Miles

Enjoy a hearty breakfast at Planters Inn before we depart for nearby Mount Pleasant for a sea-kayaking excursion. During the outing you’ll learn about the thriving marine life from our knowledgeable guides. From Shem Creek, which flows from a salt marsh, paddle past shrimp and fishing boats into the commercial port of Charleston Harbor, also a rich estuary. Continue to Crab Bank, a nesting site for eastern brown pelicans. As you move through the shallow water, be on the lookout for the ubiquitous pelicans, as well as herons, egrets, ospreys and other low-country wildlife.

This afternoon’s bike ride take you through old town Mount Pleasant to a picturesque pier overlooking Charleston harbor, and then back to town via the newly renovated Cooper River Bridge. Feel free to kick back at the hotel or continue exploring the city’s historic sites. To help protect its rich architectural heritage, including over 1,000 pre–Civil War buildings, the city became the first in the country to zone for a historic district. Fine examples of Victorian, Italianate, Gothic Revival, Colonial, Art Deco and Federal styles greet you at every turn, while narrow brick alleys, hidden cemeteries and flower-draped courtyards invite curiosity. Save your appetite for dinner at the Peninsula Grill, one of the most celebrated restaurants in Charleston.

Lodging: Planters Inn

Day 3

Shuttle to ACE Basin 1 Hour
Bennett’s Point Biking Route 16 Miles with Shuttle
Pontoon Boat Excursion 2 Hours
Rhett House Biking Route 13 Miles

We begin the day with a shuttle to the northern edge of the ACE Basin (formed by the Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto Rivers), one of the largest undeveloped estuaries and associated wetlands on the eastern seaboard. Its tranquil scenic roads meandering through yellow pine and live oak forests are perfect for pedaling. At Bennett’s Point we stop for a catered lunch and then board a covered pontoon for a journey through the inland waterways. Our boat captain is happy to answer questions about the basin, and you may spot its shy inhabitants, including dolphins, alligators and eagles. Once docked at Coosaw Landing, take the Backroads van or ride your bike to Rhett House Inn in Beaufort, a port town whose entire center has been designated a National Historic Landmark.

Rhett House Inn was built as a private residence before the Civil War and still feels like a grand plantation home, with beautifully landscaped gardens, spacious balconies and luxurious furnishings. After an informal cocktail hour on the spacious front porch, we indulge in a delicious meal at the Saltus Grill.

Lodging: Rhett House Inn

Day 4

St. Helena Biking Route 23 Miles with Shuttle
Longer Option: Hunting Island State Park 29 Miles
Shuttle to Beaufort 30 Minutes

This morning we shuttle 20 minutes to the Penn Center on St. Helena Island. Founded in 1862 as a school for freed slaves, it now serves as a historical and cultural center for Sea Island African-Americans (Gullahs). The center’s York W. Bailey Museum features exhibits on the school’s significance, the Sea Island lifestyle and its link to West Africa. After touring the center and learning more about the history of the area, enjoy a shady bike ride through the island’s primarily Gullah neighborhood, past modest homes set on beautiful live oak–lined streets. Notice the fields of sweetgrass, used to make the coiled handmade baskets for sale throughout Charleston. If you want to add some more miles to your ride, continue to Hunting Island State Park, where we convene for a seaside picnic. This 5,000-acre park has three miles of pristine sandy beach, so you can stop along the way for a dip in the warm Atlantic. (Don’t forget to tuck your swimsuit into your bike bag.) Also worth a visit is the 19th-century Hunting Island Lighthouse.

Back in Beaufort, spend the afternoon shopping for souvenirs or relaxing and people-watching in the waterfront park. You’re on your own for dinner this evening, and Beaufort has many excellent restaurants to choose from. Just be sure to save room for homemade dessert back at the inn!

Lodging: Rhett House Inn

Day 5

Shuttle to Savannah 1½ Hours
Savannah Lowlands Biking Route 13 Miles
Longer Option: 22 Miles

A morning shuttle takes us across the state line into Georgia and to Savannah’s serene outskirts. Begin your ride at legendary Bonaventure Cemetery, the final resting place of the area’s most famous figures, including Pulitzer Prize–winning poet Conrad Aiken and songwriter Johnny Mercer. Pedal along the stunning Intracoastal Waterway to the Isle of Hope Historic District, an area set aside in the 1800s for Savannah’s elite. Admire the opulent homes in every imaginable style, from Victorian and Greek Revival mansions to Craftsman bungalows. The Wormsloe Plantation, established in 1737 by one of Georgia’s first British colonists, is of particular interest. This grand 19th-century manor and its mile-long drive lined with stately oak trees and plantation ruins create one of the most photographed landscapes in the South. It’s the perfect setting for a signature Backroads picnic, which we enjoy before continuing to Savannah proper, where you have time to explore the city’s galleries and shops.

This evening we’re treated to true Southern hospitality at the antique-filled Gastonian. Set within two restored townhomes, The Gastonian is nestled in the heart of Savannah’s historic district. Whet your appetite with hors d’oeuvres at the inn before gathering for a farewell dinner at the nationally acclaimed Elizabeth on 37th restaurant.

Lodging: The Gastonian

Day 6

Historic Savannah Guided Walk 2½ Hours
Optional Shuttle to Charleston 2½ Hours

This morning a local historian joins us for a walk through the beautifully preserved streets and squares of Savannah, the ―Hostess City of the South.‖ Savannah was designed with walking in mind, and our tour through wisteria-scented squares, oak-lined avenues and secret alleys showcases some of the city’s most picturesque spots. We conclude at the elegant home of former history professor John Duncan, who welcomes us inside for a private tour.

Afterward, put guilt aside and embrace all things fried, pork-seasoned and vinegar-doused—it’s time to savor an authentic Southern family-style lunch at the legendary Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room! Then we say our goodbyes.