Atlanta, SC Greenville & NC Asheville Travel Guide

Spring Break spanning 3 states—checking off Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina! 📅 Day 1: Atlanta Aquarium & World of Coca-Cola Two classic Atlanta attractions you can’t miss! World of Coca-Cola: Opens 10am-5pm (until 6pm on weekends). Georgia Aquarium: Opens 9am-8pm (until 9pm on weekends). Pro Tip: Buy tickets and reserve time slots in advance! If you start with World of Coca-Cola, definitely pre-book the dolphin and sea lion shows. If you wait until noon (after finishing the Coca-Cola tour) to book on-site, slots will likely be sold out 🐬. 📅 Day 2: Around Atlanta Ponce City Market | 1.5h Grab a latte from Dance Goat (the outdoor café is perfect for people-watching ☕) before wandering into the indoor market. Tried the fried chicken livers at Hops on the first floor—super unique and flavorful! Gibbs Garden | 2h A 30-minute drive from downtown Atlanta. By late March, cherry blossoms and tulips are in full bloom—absolute eye candy 🌸🌷. Helen (German Town) A famous Bavarian-style town near Atlanta! It’s great for tubing in summer, but if you’re just there to shop, it’s a bit underwhelming 🛶. However, the German restaurant Hof is a must-try—their pork knuckle is delicious! Greenville (SC) After dinner in Helen, we drove to Greenville for the night. Why? It’s often ranked one of America’s “most livable small towns” (we had to see it for ourselves! 🏘️). It’s a short drive to South Carolina’s iconic churches (perfect for tomorrow’s plans). 📅 Day 3: SC Churches & NC Asheville South Carolina Church Sunrise | 6am We planned to watch the sunrise here… but had to skip it due to a wildfire 🌲🚒. Critical Reminder: Always check the church’s opening hours and safety updates beforehand! Biltmore Estate | Total 3h (2h for the House) After the church detour, head north to Asheville—it’s only a 30-minute drive! This estate is 100% worth the visit. Buy tickets on the official website in advance (they include a reserved time slot for the House tour). It takes 15 minutes to drive from the Biltmore entrance gate to the main House. Explore the House + the gardens/conservatory together—those two spots are more than enough. Bonus: Your ticket includes 5 free wine tastings at the estate’s winery 🍷! Asheville Downtown | 0.5h Don’t miss Double B Bus Coffee—such a fun, quirky spot for a quick pick-me-up ☕. Omni Park Inn | 0.5h A historic resort where past U.S. presidents have stayed! Free parking for 1 hour—plenty of time to wander and soak up the old-world charm 🏨. Greenville Falls Park | 0.5h We got back to Greenville around 7pm, just in time to catch the sunset at the falls—stunning! After that, we wandered downtown and grabbed dinner. Fun fact: Greenville’s downtown feels surprisingly similar to Shanghai’s vibe ✨. 🎁 As always, I stocked up on fridge magnets and enamel pins—my go-to travel souvenirs! #Atlanta #AtlantaTravelGuide #RoadTrip #USA #SouthCarolina #NorthCarolina #PhDLife #Georgia #AmericanLife