29 days in Charleston, Chapel Hill & New Orleans Itinerary

Many visitors describe their Charleston holiday as a warm embrace by an old, dear friend--who lived about 200 years ago.

Get outdoors at Charleston Tea Plantation and The Center for Birds of Prey. Deepen your sense of the past at sights like Aiken-Rhett House and Old Sheldon Church Ruins. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Charleston: Litchfield Beach (in Litchfield Beach), Botany Bay Plantation Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area (in Edisto Island) and Hunting Island Lighthouse (in Beaufort). There's still lots to do: kick back and relax at Folly Beach Public Beach, see the interesting displays at Edmondston-Alston House, make a trip to The Calhoun Mansion, and take an in-depth tour of Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon.

To find more things to do, photos, maps, and tourist information, read Charleston trip itinerary maker .

Sydney, Australia to Charleston is an approximately 23.5-hour flight. You can also do a combination of flight and bus. The time zone difference moving from Australian Eastern Standard Time (New South Wales) to Eastern Standard Time is minus 15 hours. October in Charleston sees daily highs of 30°C and lows of 18°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 12th (Fri) to allow enough time to drive to Chapel Hill.

Chapel Hill is a town in Durham and Orange Counties, and the home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Health Care. Reynolda House Museum of American Art and Seagrove Creations Pottery Gallery will appeal to museum buffs. Your cultural itinerary includes sights like Old Salem Museums & Gardens and William C Lee Airborne Museum. Explore Chapel Hill's surroundings by going to North Carolina Zoo (in Asheboro), Kersey Valley Spooky Woods (in Archdale) and Hawk Manor Falconry (in Lillington). There's much more to do: see the interesting displays at Cryptozoology & Paranormal Museum, identify plant and animal life at San-Lee Park, relax in the rural setting at Tobacco Farm Life Museum, and learn about winemaking at Rosemont of Virginia Winery.

To find photos, reviews, and more tourist information, go to the Chapel Hill online travel planner .

Drive from Charleston to Chapel Hill in 5.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of flight and bus; or do a combination of car, train, and bus. Expect a bit cooler temperatures when traveling from Charleston in October; daily highs in Chapel Hill reach 26°C and lows reach 13°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 20th (Sat) so you can travel to New Orleans.

Known for its Creole cuisine, rich musical tradition, and nearby swamps and plantations, New Orleans is one of the nation's oldest cities.

Get some cultural insight at Garden District and St. Louis Cathedral. You'll discover tucked-away gems like Whitney Plantation and Houmas House Plantation and Gardens. Change things up with these side-trips from New Orleans: Houma (Regional Military Museum & Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge) and Crosby Arboretum (in Picayune). Spend the 24th (Wed) exploring nature at Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. There's still lots to do: see the interesting displays at The National WWII Museum, get to know the fascinating history of Jackson Square, take a stroll through Royal Street, and make a trip to French Quarter.

To find where to stay, photos, other places to visit, and tourist information, use the New Orleans trip app .

Do a combination of bus and flight from Chapel Hill to New Orleans in 5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. You'll gain 1 hour traveling from Chapel Hill to New Orleans due to the time zone difference. Traveling from Chapel Hill in October, you will find days in New Orleans are little chillier (22°C), and nights are somewhat warmer (22°C). Cap off your sightseeing on the 28th (Sun) early enough to travel back home.