Until I traveled "The Vacation Road," I had never met a mermaid or a basket lady. I had never swayed in a Pawleys Island hammock on a lazy summer afternoon. I had never tasted the rich, salty flavor of Frogmore stew. I had never gazed at the flowery fireworks of a daylily quite as spectacular as the one named 'Low-country Sunrise.'

U.S. 17 North hugs the coast for almost 100 miles from Charleston to Myrtle Beach. (People who love this highway call it The Vacation Road.) I'm spending a week exploring its nooks and crannies, and I think I know why it's so beloved. Mile for mile, no other road in the South holds more surprises. There's a pace to this highway that's as restful as a hammock. Come and take a ride. Here are some of the best stops along the way.