Charleston is home to Fort Sumter, where the first shots of the Civil War were fired. History buffs will enjoy taking a ferry from Liberty Square or Patriot's Point to the fort, which is a national monument. You also can visit the Angel Oak, a Live Oak tree estimated to be about 1,400 years old. For dinner, try Hank's, which has been named the best seafood restaurant in Charleston for a decade, according to Charleston City Paper. Hank's serves everything from buttermilk fried chicken to she crab soup to shrimp and grits.
Fort Sumter Cruise
360 Concord St., Ste. 201
Charleston, SC 29401
843-881-7337
http://www.spiritlinecruises.com
Hank's Seafood Restaurant
10 Hayne St.
Charleston, SC 29401
843-723-3474
http://hanksseafoodrestaurant.com
In New York, you can do everything from picnicking in Central Park to enjoying a carriage ride to taking in a Broadway show. A number of businesses near the park offer picnic-type foods, including Bouchon Bakery, which puts a whole new spin on PB&J with its cashew butter and seasonal jam sandwiches. Broadway.com has tickets available for most shows, and horse-drawn carriages are in abundance in Central Park. Carriage rides run about $34 per ride--not per person--and last about 30 minutes. And if you're hungry after the show, check out Sardi's, which has been in operation for more than 80 years. The menu features everything from a beef, veal and sweet pork sausage crepe to curried chicken with jasmin rice. Sardi's post-theater dinner is offered Tuesday through Saturday.
Bouchon's Bakery.
Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle
10 Columbus Circle
New York, NY 10019-1158
212- 823-9364
http://www.bouchonbakery.com
Broadway.com & Theatre Direct International
729 7th Ave., 6th Floor
New York, NY 10019
800-BROADWAY or 212-541-8457
Sardi's
234 West 44th St.
New York, NY 10036-3909
800- 727-3471
www.sardis.com
Central Park
Centralpark.com
Norfolk is where the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean meet, and people gather to enjoy harbor cruises, dinner and a thriving nightlife. Attractions include the interactive audio and visual exhibit "Waterways to Freedom," which recognizes the Underground Railroad, and the Attucks Theatre, a cultural stage that recognizes the area's African-American community. For dinner, check out the Freemason Abbey Restaurant, which is located in a 136-year-old renovated church. The menu includes broiled flounder and prime rib.
Waterways to Freedom
Spartan Suites, Conference Room
Norfolk State University
2601 Corprew Ave.
Norfolk, VA 23504
757- 823-8407
http://www.visitnorfolktoday.com/site/waterways-to-freedom
Freemason Abbey
209 W. Freemason St
Norfolk, VA 23510
757-622-3966
www.freemasonabbey.com
