South of the Border
 

I passed through South Carolina recently and couldn't prevent myself from noticing the huge amount of billboards for "South of the Border", just over the NC / SC border in SC.
I didn't stop becuase it looked like a big tourist trap to me.

Anybody ever been there?

South of the Border is one of the all time best tourist traps - pointless and tacky. I grew up in New Jersey and had occassion to drive to Florida several times. South of the Border was always a stop. Usually had lunch and bought some fireworks. It's been about ten years since my last visit so I can't vouch for what the place is like today. Worth visiting at least once.

God, that place has been around at least since the 70's. Very campy, but worth visiting. Brings back memories of 80's era road trips from MD to Fl...

I have only been there once. 1976, 9 years old. Still remember....LOL

You've brought back long lost memories http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...um/biggrin.gif!

Fond memories...

It had to be about 1976, driving from Pittsburgh to Orlando with mom, dad, and my sister. The first real vacation that we ever had. Seeing the signs along I95 and discovering that you can actually buy fireworks in a store!

I haven't made the drive to Florida in many, many, years but thinking about South of the Border brought back a lot of great memories! Almost makes me want to take a road trip.

Like it says on the billboards:
"eef you follow pedro's signz, ze treep seem MOCH shorter"

If anyones interested, here's the website:
http://www.pedroland.com/index.htm

This place is like a piece of Amnericana.

Anyone that has driven down the east coast has seen it.

I think SC limits the kind of fireworks that can be sold these days. You can get better fireworks in Tenn and Al.

From my observation at SOTB a couple of weeks ago, I wouldn't want to see the stuff that can't be sold in SC. They had some big-a** stuff there.

I made a point of stopping in at South of the Border on my way North from Florida. First time in 22 years or so. God, what a dump. Absolutely nothing for sale that you'd actually want to buy (OK, I just went into the "drug store" looking for a clean restroom and then the fireworks store). Even the SOTB postcards had stupid images that would mean nothing to the average recipient. Every Cracker Barrel has more interesting "junk" for sale in their gift shop, and some of that you'd actually consider bringing home from a road trip.

Color me disappointed...

PDH

This post brings back memories...first time I hit South of the Border was December 1966. The signs started several hundred miles away and we, as 12 year olds were anticipating Disney World East. What we finally found was a fireworks shack about the size of a double wide trailer and a motel. Next trip was about 25 years later and it really WAS like Disney East. Goes to show what a good ad program can do.

Don't miss it. It IS tacky. Very very tacky. But it's also a great way to pass the time when you're driving from New England to Florida.

And when you get you there, you have a good laugh at how stupid the place is.

And if you have kids, they'll think it fantastic.
R.

Did you mean 1976?

I figured he/she meant DisneyLand East.

I drove 100 miles from Charlotte one Saturday just to see what it was. Boy were my kids http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/mad.gif! Nothing but Crap with a capital C.

You never sausage a place!
Heh. I remember that one from a bumper sticker

Yeah, but folks driving to Florida from the Northeast have no good reason to be in TN or AL ...