Advice on South Carolina, Charleston, and Northwards

[MrLynn]

Next month, after picking up our NTU Escape 21 in Kentucky, we're heading to Huntsville, Alabama (to check out the Space Museum) and thence to a campsite in the DeSoto Falls Recreation area in North Georgia, for the Bear on the Square music festival in Dahlonega. On the way we'll stop in the railfan site of Dalton, Georgia.

From there we plan to head to Charleston, South Carolina, where we'll play tourist, and then up the coast to Powhatan, Virginia, were daughter and family live.

We're wondering where we should be stopping, and what to see (and photograph) on the way across SC, and, thence as we proceed northwards to Virgina. Advice on what to see and do in Charleston would be welcome, too. Never been there!

Bonus points for more railfan sites!

[brroberts]

We enjoy New Bern and outer banks areas. We also like the Williamsburg area. You need reservations for the Hatteras National Seashore. We go to Oregon Inlet and usually have a large expanse of beach practically to ourselves.

[Fender]

If you're looking for a campground we've stayed a couple of times at James Island Campground.
It is a well maintained municipal campground and has a shuttle in and out of Charleston if you're not up for driving.
Nice sized fully serviced sites, lots of walking trails.
We've also stayed at Oak Plantation which is nice. More the style of a "resort" than a campground. Within walking distance of grocery stores, etc.
Charleston is great. The downtown market is well worth checking out.

[HABBERDABBER]

For your visit to the Rocket Museum in Huntsville, register early if you intend to stay at Monte Sano S.P. which is very near to the museum. They were redoing a number of sites last Fall, and many were closed and unavailable.

We were coming from the North and on the Interstate 65 there was a sign for exit...state park. We took it, and drove 40 or so miles to Joe Wheeler S.P. only to find the campground closed due to tornado damage. A ranger told us about a funky but useable private campground nearby. I can't recommend it, but it was very cheap with full hook-ups. Sketchy appearing full time residents, but swell folks. Not scenic by any stretch of the imagination, but I'll take "any port in a storm".

[MrLynn]

Originally Posted by HABBERDABBER

For your visit to the Rocket Museum in Huntsville, register early if you intend to stay at Monte Sano S.P. which is very near to the museum. They were redoing a number of sites last Fall, and many were closed and unavailable.

Good advice. Wife Jane got the last two sites available for the days we will be there.