Plus: Fall family getaways; a quaint North Carolina mountain town

PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE FAMILY COPPOLA HIDEAWAYS

The lobby features a replica of a mural in The Godfather Part II.

The legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola recently opened the All-Movie Hotel in an old Days Inn just south of Atlanta. Home to a state-of-the-art production facility, the Peachtree City property was initially created for the cast and crew of Coppola’s forthcoming Megalopolis, but its twenty-seven rooms are now open to the public. With its cinematic touches and Godfather callbacks, the one-of-a-kind venue might just be an offer movie buffs can’t refuse.

Awendaw, South Carolina. I love a good day trip. It’s often cheap, requires little packing, and we’re home by dark to sleep in our own beds. On a recent “day-cation,” my husband and I journeyed north on Route 17 from our Charleston home for a morning on Bulls Island, the largest barrier island within the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. Below, a snapshot of our outing.

Essential pit stop: The delightfully eclectic Sewee Outpost is a must-visit country store anytime you’re in the area (just ask our editor in chief). Besides whatever necessities required for a trip, I always snag a few jars of local jam and peruse their fabulous selection of outerwear. Much to my kid’s delight, there’s a whole aisle of gag gifts (we got cricket lollipops last time). Make sure to grab a country ham biscuit or two for the road.
Lowcountry safari: After a thirty-minute ferry ride to the five-thousand-acre island, the Coastal Expedition naturalists gave us tips on where to spot native wildlife including bald eagles, black squirrels, and the plethora of alligators who sun themselves on the grassy berms. “Just march past them with confidence!” encouraged our cheerful guide as we eyed a rather hefty specimen dozing peacefully. Insider tip: Don’t forget bug spray—unlike the gators, the mosquitos are notoriously savage.
Seafood feast: Later, after the ferry docked back at the boat ramp, we headed five miles down the highway to the Seewee Restaurant to split a giant platter of crispy-fried local shrimp. The little roadside diner backs up to the Francis Marion National Forest and is a stone’s throw from another worthy day-trip destination: the Center for Birds of Prey.