I used to live in Atlanta, and recently took a vacation in the Carolinas.

I can absolutely recommend a road trip starting in Atlanta, then looping through Greenville, SC, Charleston, SC, Savannah, GA, then back to Atlanta. More ambitious? Go farther and see a bit of North Carolina or Tennessee.

Greenville is a charming city with a "happening" downtown. It's a college town, full of the energy of young people. I have a friend who is a professor at Furman. My friend and the spousal unit love Greenville and Furman.

Charleston and Savannah are beautiful cities, full of charm. One of the best tours of my life was of the Boone Plantation outside Charleston. A "foodie" friend of mine just got back from Charleston, and is now trying hard to lose the pounds she gained from the plethora of fine restaurants.

Just outside Atlanta is Stone Mountain. As a kid, I can remember when the sculpture on the side of the mountain was only about halfway complete.