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Boone Hall features guided tours. The “Big House,” as it might be called, is actually a replacement of the original one, was built in 1932 by a retired Canadian diplomat. He and a small succession of other owners have maintained and protected the historic qualities of Boone Hall. Tours includes the mansion, the domestic slave quarters, farm equipment, and other points of historical interests. One highlight is the avenue of oak trees. Some are over a 1000 years old. The TV series, “North and South” was filmed here and the plantation caters to weddings, huge oyster roasts, and history re-enactments. It is mostly a walking visit. There is an interesting tour to be taken aboard a converted bus that covers the expanse of the site which makes a good conclusion. There is a small restaurant, gift shop, and display of a cotton gin.
One thing that we don’t miss at Boone Hall is a visit to its produce outlet store. This is really a variety store which follows a theme of an old grocery store. However, this one is fresh and bright with a wide selection of neat things. It features home-made ice cream that can only be described as the best ever.
Fort Moultrie and Boone Hall will take care of a day. Of course, we haven’t forgotten Patriot’s Point, which is a story by itself. It is in Mt. Pleasants also and commands the Charleston Harbor. It’s going to be one of Whetstone’s major events—No reunion or visit to Charleston is complete without spending time at the Patriot’s Point Naval Memorial Site. The presence of USS Yorktown (CV-10)--1943-1970, USS Laffey (DD 724) 1944-1975---five kamikaze and three 500 lb. bomb hits in one hour---the ship that refused to die), USS Clamagore, (SS 343)—1945-1975—the last of the diesel subs, USCG Cutter Ingham (WHEC-35) 1936-1988—50 years of service, two presidential unit citations, one U Boat: What tales! What honor! There is a Vietnam Naval Support Base and a new museum, which centers around the Congressional Metal of Honor. Patriots’ Point is indeed a subject all by itself.
After propping the feet up and maybe wafting a couple of cool sudsy things back at the hotel, we can check out the brochures for another visit. Probably we will return to the Ashley River side and checkout the Charles Towne Landing site. This is where Charleston began. It contains living history demonstrations, gardens, nature trails, a indigenous zoo ---gators, wild cats, pumas, opossums, raccoons, wild turkeys, black bear, and all the critters you will find in the wilds of South Carolina. This will include information about the zoological aspects and yes, the snakes---copper heads, rattlers, coral, the infamous cottonmouth.
Personally, I like the living history and the colonial gardens. I enjoy hearing about the production of indigo, rice, and naval stores on which the early southern economy was based. Later came cotton, the cotton gin, and the resurrection of slavery, which led to the Civil War. Exhibits include food preparation and preservation, and demonstration of daily living by the early settlers of the Charleston area. It’s all there including museums, and tours. Taking in all the walks, exhibits, museum, visiting the orientation theater, and gift shop, a person could make a day of Charlestown Landing.
Janet and I always reserve time for a return to the City Park on the waterfront of downtown Charleston. So, after our visit to Chares Towne Landing we may pick up some lunchable munchables and head back to the Battery for a picnic lunch
Afterwards she is subject to leave me entranced at the City Park looking at the marine traffic. Of course, I am fully equipped with a bag of peanuts and Pepsi while she goes off shopping at the City Market or some of the up scale boutiques about two blocks off.
By the way, parking is available in the downtown area. Sometimes we will seek out a pay by the hour lot. Over by the Visitors Center its free. Usually we can find parking around the battery. It’s free to though sometimes subject to a two hour limit. Its going to depend on the season, but parking is possible.
There is a downtown shuttle called DASH which is handy and opens possibilities of parking a few more blocks away. If that is the case the Charleston Visitor’s Center is very convenient and right beside it is the Charleston Museum of History. Both should be on the visit list. The visitor’s center probably needs to be a number one for the new visitor to get a first class orientation.
There are other sites to explore, more plantations to visit (about $20 each), scads of antique stores along any of the highways, and so many restaurants that choosing can be taxing.
Some of the other Plantations and Gardens include Drayton Hall, The Charleston Tea Plantation---yes, tea, as in Bigelow; Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, and the list goes on. Presently we are looking at Charles Towne Landing and Boone Hall. Announcements to follow as plans came together.
We have found that it’s better to avoid rush hour traffic. Advice would be to plan to be out of rush hour traffic particularly if you think you want to be someplace else at a particular time or if you don’t have a tank or iron nerves. I have found traffic at these times to be sufficiently taxing and capable of breaking relationships.
In reality, COWOYO can be a complete trip by itself, This is a big area with a lot to offer. We haven’t even touched on some of the area beaches, the CSS Hunley site, harbor, carriage, or walking tours. We have left out the Citadel, the West Point of the South since 1842. It’s there and worth a look, particularly on Fridays when the cadets pass in review. There is enough to do in Charleston to plan an entire vacation there. We will have four days. Janet and I have found that three to four days is sufficient to be tour out, walked out, and eaten out, not to mention loading up on all the “stuff” we normally collect on such a visit. We’ll do the Hunley and a few more “hits” next time.
We also need to talk about golf and, besides cars, we will include
trains, buses, and planes in our next discussion. I haven’t forgotten
hush puppies, either. We can say that plans are being drawn up and
details are being developed. Things are coming into focus. Very soon we
will do CATWRG—Charleston and the Whetstone Reunion Group. Stand by.
