Our Tails from Two Cities – Part 2

April 13-15

Charleston SC

We departed Savannah on Monday morning for a short drive up the coast to another historic US city, Charleston SC. The convoy included 3 rigs – ours,  Wayne and Lynn’s and our California friends.

In 1670, Charles Town was founded by the British. Approximately 200 years later it would become Charleston when the American’s defeated the Brit’s in 1865. The city is much larger than Savannah, but still expels a significant amount of “southern charm” with it’s friendly residents (they leave their garden gates open for visitors to “look in”, but please don’t enter), architecture, religion and unique culture.

We decided on Tuesday that we would go on a 2 hour guided walking tour, with a lifelong Charlestonian while the other’s decided on a 2 hour guided bus tour. Our tour started at 10:30am and it went to about 12:45pm. Our group had 14 people in it and the guide was great and we really enjoyed it. We learned a lot and walked a lot! Our final recommendation from the guide was a recommendation on King Street for some authentic South Carolina BBQ. (they take claim to the term southern BBQ – which usually means pork). After a great meal and some cold libations (another hot and humid day touring), we decided to head to some areas of the historic area that we hadn’t seen. After a couple more of hours of walking (and sweating), we reconnected with Wayne and Lynn and headed back to camp arriving around 4:30pm. We had decided earlier to have a BBQ (burgers and salads) and a camp fire after dinner. Our California friends(Bill and Marilyn) where invited to join us and we had a nice evening (warm) chatting.

Wednesday, the four of us were up and in Wayne’s truck by 9 am heading to Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. That morning, the weather was tenuous but the weather held out with pleasant temps of the high 70’s and only a couple of sprinkles around mid afternoon. Magnolia has a long and storied history just like Charleston which I won’t get into in any depth. Arriving around 9:45, we purchased the all inclusive package with 4 guided tours (45 min each)which covered the nature train, the house tour, the Nature boat and the Slavery to Freedom tour. There was also a self guided “swamp tour”.

Magnolia use to be a 2,000 acre parcel and is now approx. 500 acres. In the 1800’s it was a working rice plantation. Around 1870, the plantation was opened as a tourist attraction by one of the Drayton’s, John who was an ordained minister, who needed the money to keep and maintain the property. A beautiful property and definitely something to see. If you want more information – http://www.magnoliaplantation.com/  or take a look at a few of our pics below….

More Magnolia pics to follow once we get better internet service…

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Another beautiful home

Another beautiful home

A beautiful home in Charleston

A beautiful home in Charleston

Charming street in Charleston

Charming street in Charleston

George Washington stayed in this beautiful Charleston home.

George Washington stayed in this beautiful Charleston home.

Map of the original Charles Town

Map of the original Charles Town

Beautiful church in Charleston

Beautiful church in Charleston

Church steeple

Church steeple

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And more beautiful houses!

And more beautiful houses!

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This is Rainbow Row

This is Rainbow Row

Pineapple Fountain wading pool

Pineapple Fountain wading pool

A lovely park on the waterfront

A lovely park on the waterfront

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Battery Park

Battery Park

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John Rutledge - One of the signors the Declaration of Independence

John Rutledge – One of the signors the Declaration of Independence

 

The Plantation House - not as big as it looks with the large wrap around porches

The Plantation House – not as big as it looks with the large wrap around porches

Beautiful old trees throughout Magnolia Plantation

Beautiful old trees throughout Magnolia Plantation

An Alligator "relaxing" in the marsh

An Alligator “relaxing” in the marsh

 

Half Moon bridge at Magnolia Plantation

Half Moon bridge at Magnolia Plantation

Driveway approaching plantation house

Driveway approaching plantation house

Great Blue Heron in marsh at Magnolia

Great Blue Heron in marsh at Magnolia

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More Alligators

More Alligators

The gang

The gang

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Lots of Peacocks roaming the gardens

Lots of Peacocks roaming the gardens

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Manicured gardens

Manicured gardens

More Azalea

More Azalea

The Slaves houses

The Slaves houses

Wayne and Lynn - Slaves

Wayne and Lynn – Slaves

Rob and Kathy slaves

Rob and Kathy slaves

Inside one of the slaves homes

Inside one of the slaves homes

Inside slave house

Inside slave house

Beautiful Azalias

Beautiful Azalea

The Audubon Swamp at Magnolia

The Audubon Swamp at Magnolia

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