Sweet Carolina

I was fortunate enough to go to Charleston, South Carolina last week. I was sent by a volunteer association to attend a seminar and meetings for leadership training and ideas for running a committee. Since I was going down there, I decided to pay to stay the weekend. I had never been to The South before, unless you count Orlando, which I don’t. I had never seen the Atlantic Ocean before either. The work-related part of the trip was very helpful and worthwhile. I got to meet young professionals with similar jobs from all over the country and Canada and brought back a lot of good ideas from other sections to use in our Minnesota Section.

It was pouring rain the night I arrived Wednesday night, but then the weather was great through Sunday. Highs were in the mid 70s and it was unusually low humidity for the time of year. I stayed at the Holiday Inn just across the river from the main downtown peninsula. I had a rental car, so I put it to use. I drove the 10 miles out to Folly Beach each of the first two evenings. The beach was full of shells and I saw a cool historic lighthouse out in the water.






On Saturday morning I drove 10 miles up the Ashley River to an area where a few historic rice plantations on the river can be visited. I chose to see Magnolia Plantation and Its Gardens. There is an old plantation mansion that was burned down during wars and rebuilt a couple times, but I didn't even want to pay to tour it. I did take my time in the gardens, and they are incredible. Garden doesn't seem to be the best term for it. I would call it a large landscaped park with gigantic moss-draped oaks, cypress, and other trees, rows and hidden trails of shrubs, ponds, fountains, and swamps, hidden Classical-style statues, and flower gardens that were first planted in the 1600s. Because everything is so old and overgrown, the gardens have a very natural feel. Also adding to the nature is all kinds of reptiles and birds. I saw big turtles, alligators, egrets/herons, and all kinds of small birds. The sweet aroma in the gardens was unbelievably potent from all of the flowers. The whole place is simply magical and beautiful. The word that fits best is heavenly. Guys, keep your women out unless you want to endlessly hear about wanting to get married there. On the down side, it is sad to know that the gardens were paid for and built by slave labor and that the original family still owns the plantation. At least they do acknowledge it to some extent and present the history of the slaves.









Also on the Magnolia Plantation grounds is the Audubon Swamp. It is a cool nature trail through a thick southern swamp. I also saw gators, turtles, and big birds here.





On Saturday afternoon I explored the historic downtown district. Many of the building were pre-Civil War and a lot of them were even pre-Revolutionary War. Lots of old, yet fancy and well-kept old mansions and churches on narrow stone and brick streets and surrounded by palm trees. Downtown was also filled with the scent of flowers, although not as strong as the plantation gardens. One of the best seafood meals I ever had was the Salmon Florentine on pasta at A.W. Shucks.




On Sunday morning I headed over to the beach at Isle of Palms. This was a great beach that was clean and full of fine white sand. I got some great Beach Boys vibrations, but unfortunately also got some good beach radiation and burns.


On Sunday afternoon I drove back down the river to another plantation, this time to Middleton Place. The gardens here were equally beautiful and inspiring to the Magnolia gardens. The differences are that Middleton was more geometrically landscaped arrangement like a European palace garden and there was an old farm village. I saw a heron and swans up pretty close. It was quite serene and tranquil just walking around here.











I went back to Folly Beach one last time in the evening to say goodbye to the Atlantic. I walked around to the back side of the island to see the sun setting over the backwaters and swamps.



I had a great trip and highly recommend the Charleston area – especially to couples due to the romantic atmosphere from the old mansions and flowers. The whole region seemed very classic Deep Antebellum South - full of Southern belles, mansions, and great southern mossy trees. My highlights of the trip were the plantation gardens because they were so enchanting and unlike anything I had seen before. By the way, I actually did condense the number of photos quite a bit since I took over 450 of them.