Exploring the Road less Traveled
Wanderlust
ON THE WAY
Located around 45 miles outside the city, the Awendaw
Passage (Palmetto Trail) is a perfect place to pull the bikes off the
car, go for a run, or just stretch the legs and enjoy sweeping views
of a pristine saltwater marsh.
The trail winds along the creek for which it is named and is easy
to ride for beginners, at least in the starting portion. Experienced
bikers will find more of a challenge as the trail moves deeper into
the woods, as it
gets more ‘rooty’
and technical.
With several long
wooden bridges
traversing the
marsh and lots of
speed available
on the pine straw
and packed sand,
it is a worthwhile
place to stop the
car and spend a
few hours.
34
WBM january 2021
By Fritts Causby
HE ROAD TRIP is as American as apple pie, blue
jeans and cheeseburgers. And with concerns
about the pandemic still making air travel a
risky proposition for many people, it is more
important than ever.
But who wants to spend all their free time in
the car?
Sure, some will say that it is more about the
journey than the destination, but for those who
would prefer to spend the weekend exploring
the outdoors, getting some fresh air, or just
relaxing on the deck of a waterfront restaurant
instead of driving, it’s worthwhile to break out
the map and target some fun areas that are
easy to reach.
In the past, driving to Charleston from Wilm-ington
could be a wrenching, brake-crunching
experience, an endeavor that could easily
consume the better part of a day. But since the
completion of the bypass around Myrtle Beach,
the drive is mostly composed of four-lane roads
and can be done in about three-and-a-half
hours — in the off-season, anyway.
in Charleston
T
JEFF WEBSTER/FLIKR