The Heritage Corridor

The Heritage Corridor is a federal government sponsored program of designated tourism friendly corridors situated throughout a handful of states featuring historical, cultural, artistic, and natural resource rich travel corridors. In the mid 90’s, the states of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina banded together to attract tourism to their own coastal corridor. This aspect of the Heritage Corridor originates along highway A1A in St. Augustine, Florida and runs north along highway 17 through northern Florida, right on through all of coastal Georgia on into South Carolina clear through to Georgetown where it terminates just short of Pawleys Island, South Carolina. The predominant historic theme along these storied highway routes is the Spanish and English conflict in pre-colonial America. Interspersed along these now infrequently traveled rural routes are many eco-tourism adventure vacation opportunities such as flat water kayaking, bicycling, nature guides, tour operators, and many diverse local restaurateurs.

Most definitely this mostly forgotten crescent of the southeastern seaboard coastline, that snakes it’s way along barrier islands, through swamps, salt marshes, and ocean side beaches through the Georgia coast and north through South Carolina’s lowcountry, could be characterized as the road less traveled. Tourism to this part of the world has been largely diverted to more popular destinations north and south since the advent of Interstate 95. And this is precisely why savvy travelers are coming back in greater numbers year after year as they prefer a more leisurely paced holiday adventure by motorcar or Amtrak train if not running the Intracoastal Waterway by boat.

With world class historic cities such as Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia popular vacation destinations within their own right, it just makes sense for the sporting folk among you to undertake day trips filled with fishing, shrimping, oystering, or crabbing on the multitude of tidal creeks, explore the maritime forests, and swim or body surf at the invitingly non-crowded beaches. Hundreds of years of generational history and heritage flourish here. The region’s West Africa roots are evident with the traditions of the Gullah/Geechee culture. Take in the many art exhibits, lowcountry craft exhibitions, and annual festivals that crop up at various geographic locales during all of the seasons of year. Make it a point of emphasis this coming year to schedule a long week end getaway or day trip along coastal Georgia’s and South Carolina’s Heritage Corridor. You will be deeply enriched as well as receive a unique cultural pick me up while touring our regional vacation paradise for outdoor lovers.

Photograph by Lawrence A . Monteith