BrookGreen Gardens near Myrtle Beach. This was one of my stops a few years ago.

I am very excited to have been invited as a Featured Author to the Amelia Island Book Festival, and plan to make the most out of my trip! I love the South (especially in February), and look forward to eating grits every single day I’m below the Mason-Dixon line.

Though I considered flying, there is so much I want to see on the way down to Florida that I decided to take my time and drive.

I will be writing posts each day on my blog about where I am, so here is an abbreviated itinerary in case you want to stop back.

I will spend my first night on the ocean in Myrtle Beach, which will make it an easy trip down to the beautiful historical town of Georgetown and surrounding area. Many people don’t realize how historic these old port towns are, so I will be sharing the history (and the food and the shopping), at each of my stops.

Just South of Georgetown, I will be in Gen. Francis Marion territory, so plan to explore the swamps and towns that he ruled during the Revolutionary War.

I will spend the following night just outside of Charleston with my niece, then head down to Amelia Island, Fla. (east of Jacksonville). Lots to see here from Civil War forts to historic buildings that pre-date the founding of our country.

My schedule gets really busy then, with an author cocktail hour that night, followed by a full day of teaching at Nassau County High School and then dinner for invited authors. The next day will be busy as well, with book signings of both of my historical fiction novels, and seminars.

Then it will be time to explore St. Augustine and the Fountain of Youth! I’ve booked a spectacular hotel overlooking the water and within walking distance to everything.

When I leave St. Augustine, I won’t have too far to drive. Savannah is my next stop — and yes, I booked a river-front room with a balcony in an old cotton warehouse. So much to see and do here — and the restaurants are fabulous. It will be hard to decide what to do first.

After Savannah, I will be heading home–just in time to work the Blues Brothers show at the Majestic Theater.

Stop back here everyday because I intend to make time to record this exciting trip and share with you the history of each stop.

Jessica James