For any family member or friend that comes to visit, keep in mind that in addition to sightseeing and hanging out on the beach in Hilton Head, we will also take a day trip to one of my favorite places in the whole wide world, Charleston, South Carolina. Charleston has the look and feel of New Orleans; alive with old city charm, rich in history and tradition.
The other day my Dad and his wife and her sister came to visit me for a few days. Actually first they stopped in Atlanta to stay with my cousin Shandra and then they traveled further south to Orlando to visit with my Uncle Harrison and my brother Tommy and his kids. Since I don’t have children to play with (like my brother) or a nice relaxing indoor swimming pool at the house (Uncle Harrison), their visit with me meant plenty of time enjoying the sights outside in the heat.
I first took my family down to the May River in Old Town Bluffton to enjoy a cool breeze on a boat dock. Next we headed over the bridge to Hilton Head and slowly climbed to the top of the lighthouse in Sea Pines plantation. It’s hard for my Dad to pass up a day at the beach so of course before we left the island, he had to hit the water at Coligny. Saturday, on my Dad’s last day here, we decided to drive over to Charleston for a few hours, and then my Dad and my stepmother and her sister were to hit the highway to go back home to Indiana from there. I only wish we had more time to spend in Charleston.
Our first stop included the downtown Visitor Center where we parked our cars. Since we hadn’t had breakfast we made our way to the Farmers Market at Marion Square where I enjoyed a plate of Shrimp and Grits and my Dad discovered a vendor that made New Orleans beignets (a pastry made from deep fried dough sprinkled with powdered sugar). Next we hopped on one of the free trolleys to the Historic District and found vendors selling sweetgrass baskets, jewelry, Stetson Cowboy hats and more at the Old City Market. I purchased a children’s book there from a beautiful local author titled The Bookdwellers.
On foot we went in search of the Old Slave Mart, where my tour book says is where slaves were sold and exchanged in the 1800’s, but on the way there we ran into a Gullah man selling sweetgrass baskets off to the side of the road who said slaves were sold and exchanged back at the Old City Market, which I disputed after we left the man, because as I pointed out to my Dad, my tour book says…
Upon arrival at the Old Slave Mart (now a museum) we took a few pictures but decided we did not have enough time to tour the building. My Dad was eager to get on the road. He wanted to hit Knoxville for an overnight stay before nightfall. On our way to a trolley stop I convinced them to check out Waterfront Park where we met an old Gullah woman who just like the Gullah man, said that slaves were sold at The Old City Market. This wonderful lady told us about her family history. She told us that her people were descendents of slaves from the nearby Boone Hall Plantation. She also showed us a book written by her niece; Joyce V. Coakley, titled Sweetgrass Baskets and The Gullah Tradition. I plan to order the book on Amazon.com.
I said goodbye to my Dad and my stepmother and her sister back at the downtown Visitor Center. Since the day was still early for me and I was only an hour and a half from home, I decided to take a plantation tour at nearby Drayton Hall, where “the main house is considered one of the finest examples of Georgian-Palladian architecture in the United States.”
Known as a former rice plantation, the grounds of the property are well kept and beautiful. This plantation has been home to seven generations of slaves and descendents of slaves and has survived two wars, The American Revolution and The Civil War. I really enjoyed the tour of the main house and also my walk down to the banks of the Ashley River behind the property. I stuck around for a 45-minutes Connections program which was an interactive presentation on early African-American history in the Lowcountry.
After my tour I got on the road for home. There is so much more for me to do in this gorgeous city, but that was enough for one day. My entire experience in Charleston this weekend as always was wonderful. I’ve been here several times before, but this was the first visit with family. I love sharing my discoveries and adventures with loved ones. They always makes the experience for me that much more enjoyable.
The other day my Dad and his wife and her sister came to visit me for a few days. Actually first they stopped in Atlanta to stay with my cousin Shandra and then they traveled further south to Orlando to visit with my Uncle Harrison and my brother Tommy and his kids. Since I don’t have children to play with (like my brother) or a nice relaxing indoor swimming pool at the house (Uncle Harrison), their visit with me meant plenty of time enjoying the sights outside in the heat.
I first took my family down to the May River in Old Town Bluffton to enjoy a cool breeze on a boat dock. Next we headed over the bridge to Hilton Head and slowly climbed to the top of the lighthouse in Sea Pines plantation. It’s hard for my Dad to pass up a day at the beach so of course before we left the island, he had to hit the water at Coligny. Saturday, on my Dad’s last day here, we decided to drive over to Charleston for a few hours, and then my Dad and my stepmother and her sister were to hit the highway to go back home to Indiana from there. I only wish we had more time to spend in Charleston.
Our first stop included the downtown Visitor Center where we parked our cars. Since we hadn’t had breakfast we made our way to the Farmers Market at Marion Square where I enjoyed a plate of Shrimp and Grits and my Dad discovered a vendor that made New Orleans beignets (a pastry made from deep fried dough sprinkled with powdered sugar). Next we hopped on one of the free trolleys to the Historic District and found vendors selling sweetgrass baskets, jewelry, Stetson Cowboy hats and more at the Old City Market. I purchased a children’s book there from a beautiful local author titled The Bookdwellers.
On foot we went in search of the Old Slave Mart, where my tour book says is where slaves were sold and exchanged in the 1800’s, but on the way there we ran into a Gullah man selling sweetgrass baskets off to the side of the road who said slaves were sold and exchanged back at the Old City Market, which I disputed after we left the man, because as I pointed out to my Dad, my tour book says…
Despite what you might have heard, the Old City Market was not the site of slave auctions in the years before Emancipation. That dubious distinction goes to the Old Slave Mart. Slave marts like this one sprang up around the district beginning in 1856 when the practice of selling slaves on the side of the Custom House was outlawed.
Upon arrival at the Old Slave Mart (now a museum) we took a few pictures but decided we did not have enough time to tour the building. My Dad was eager to get on the road. He wanted to hit Knoxville for an overnight stay before nightfall. On our way to a trolley stop I convinced them to check out Waterfront Park where we met an old Gullah woman who just like the Gullah man, said that slaves were sold at The Old City Market. This wonderful lady told us about her family history. She told us that her people were descendents of slaves from the nearby Boone Hall Plantation. She also showed us a book written by her niece; Joyce V. Coakley, titled Sweetgrass Baskets and The Gullah Tradition. I plan to order the book on Amazon.com.
I said goodbye to my Dad and my stepmother and her sister back at the downtown Visitor Center. Since the day was still early for me and I was only an hour and a half from home, I decided to take a plantation tour at nearby Drayton Hall, where “the main house is considered one of the finest examples of Georgian-Palladian architecture in the United States.”
Known as a former rice plantation, the grounds of the property are well kept and beautiful. This plantation has been home to seven generations of slaves and descendents of slaves and has survived two wars, The American Revolution and The Civil War. I really enjoyed the tour of the main house and also my walk down to the banks of the Ashley River behind the property. I stuck around for a 45-minutes Connections program which was an interactive presentation on early African-American history in the Lowcountry.
After my tour I got on the road for home. There is so much more for me to do in this gorgeous city, but that was enough for one day. My entire experience in Charleston this weekend as always was wonderful. I’ve been here several times before, but this was the first visit with family. I love sharing my discoveries and adventures with loved ones. They always makes the experience for me that much more enjoyable.
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