We’re starting to explore the East Coast of the US driving between New York and Florida. Each time we’ve been staying at different places along the way. This week I’m featuring three places we recommend, two luxurious stays and one “no frills but cheap” that’s perfect for an overnight.

Salem, Virginia

The Lofts at Downtown Salem

The Lofts are conveniently located near Route 81, but in the heart of downtown Salem. There are three restaurants within walking distance, and plenty more within a 5-10 minute drive.

This is a convenient and luxurious stay! Our suite had a full kitchen, small living room area, queen size bed, a nice sized bath and even a wash/dryer. We only spent one night here, but I would definitely opt for a longer stay, now that I know how comfortable it is here.

Mt Airy, North Carolina

Mayberry Motor Inn

This motor inn is near Interstate 74. It’s clean, and in the no frills but cheap category. (The towels were super thin.) It’s perfect for an overnight if you are passing through and want to see the town Andy Griffith grew up in. The staff was friendly and had recommendations for local places to eat.

I called to make a reservation, although there is an online form you can request a booking from. You’ll likely need to talk to someone anyway, so I recommend just picking up the phone if you’d like to stay here.

Charleston, South Carolina

Mills House

The Mills House Charleston isn’t convenient to Interstate 95. It’s located in the French Quarter of Charleston’s downtown and I would recommend staying at least two nights here. There are so many things to do and places to explore, one afternoon isn’t enough.

We stayed in the Deluxe Room with a City View. It has a place to sit where you can look over the city’s waterfront. The moonrise and sunrise was spectacular. These photos don’t really show how nice the room is. The room rate does get pricey especially during peak times, so if you are budget conscious a weekday stay would be your best option.

Thank you for reading 😄 

We’ve recently been focused on staying at independently owned motels and hotels, instead of chains. I’ve been impressed with the level of service with most of our small stays. We’ve been finding places to stay overnight through Expedia, which is a nice way to discover places that are reasonably priced and independently owned. We’ll keep sharing finds we feel are worth staying at.

‘til next week, happy exploring!
Kathleen

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