This was our celebratory trip for Evan's graduation and Hillary getting a new job! We're off to historic Savannah and a new state for us, South Carolina! Our first stop was the Wormsloe Plantation outside of Savannah. This plantation was built buy an Englishman who named it after his hometown. The plantation was used as a site for some of the Revolutionary soldiers. They have Revolutionary re-enactments on the property. We even got to see them shoot muskets. Parts of the base of the original homestead is still on one of the trails of the property. This land is famous for its long driveway lined with live oak trees.
Our next stop was the Oatland Wildlife Center. If you love animals or nature walks, I highly recommend this stop! The trails were easy and beautiful. We walked back to a lake and fed the ducks, saw many of the unique southern plants, and loved seeing the different animals. The trails included walking through the petting zoo, walking along the woods, walking through the plants, and even walking along a boardwalk through the marshes. For as much as we enjoyed this place, we were shocked it only cost $5 to enter!
Our next stop was Fort Pulaski National Monument. This fort was used by Confederate Soldiers during the Civil War. I thought this fort was so unique with the moat around the outside and the tunnels through the inside. You can explore some of the tunnels which go between the walls of the fort to through the hills and mounds inside the walls. The idea was for enemies to get lost while walking through the tunnels, and I could see how that would happen! We got to see a wild alligator in the moat while we were walking around! It was surreal to see the damage the cannons did to the fort walls.
We finally made it into Savannah! We decided to 'splurge' and do the Old Time Trolley Tour. I'm so glad we decided to do this to help with my foot, because the historic district is over two miles long! These tour guides were so informative, and each person added their own personal touch to the information provided. You can get off at any stop and get on at any stop as long as they can see your receipt or sticker. Savannah has 22 'squares' in the city with many parks and beautiful historic homes and buildings. We walked through the beautiful Forsyth Park, saw filming locations from Forrest Gump, ate at the famous Leopold's Ice Cream, saw a pirate house with secret underground tunnels, saw a 300 year old oak tree, visited the Savannah History Museum, and did some shopping along the riverfront. We got caught in a torrential rainstorm while walking around. Thankfully, we ducked into a market and stayed dry! This town is absolutely gorgeous with the historic buildings and Spanish moss.
We stopped by the Magnolia Plantation. This was a site of an attack from the British during the Revolutionary War. The home was under renovation while we were there, but we got to walk through the beautiful gardens and trails. There was also a petting zoo there where we got to pet some deer! She kept trying to bite my dress thinking it was a real flower.
The next stop was the Audubon Swamp Garden. This was one of my favorite places! It was so peaceful with wonderful wildlife sightings (heron, cranes, anoles, tortoises, alligators) and plant life. Be mindful of the animals around you! Thankfully, we didn't see any gators too close to the trails.
We did a tour of the Middleton Plantation. The grounds had sheep everywhere! I was determined to pet one, and I finally got to near the end of the visit. This home was absolutely beautiful. There were paths and trails all over the grounds, leading to lakes, gardens, and the old well house. The site of the original homestead is still visible. We also saw a 1000 year old oak tree! My body was not used to all of this sunshine and outdoor time. I ended up getting a horrible sunburn after walking through these grounds.
We went to see the famous Angel Oak Tree! This was a very popular spot with limited parking. There are also signs everywhere to NOT sit on the branches, but we saw so many people doing this. The spread of this tree was so unbelievable. This tree is estimated to be around 400-500 years old. Some of the branches were supported, and there were baby trees being germinated from the original. It was really neat to see the preservation being done to this amazing tree.
Our next stop was Fort Sumter National Monument. Fort Sumter was built for defenses during the War of 1812. It later became the sight of the first shots of the Civil War. You have to take a ferry to reach the fort. While on the island, they do a flag raising ceremony. There are current additions to the fort, so be prepared for the black buildings when there.
While in Charleston, we went to the Charleston Museum. We also went to the Old Provost and Exchange Dungeons. This building was used for prisoners during the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and slave trade. It was also one of the four remaining sites of the ratification of the US Constitution. We also visited the Slave Mart.
We spent time walking around downtown Charleston. The buildings were beautiful and not far from the waterfront. We walked to the harbor and through some of the parks. We saw dolphins, but they were too fast for me to get a picture. We got to see a parrot talking to the crowds! We also saw the Charleston 'Rainbow Row' houses. We walked through a large outdoor market there as well.
Our last stop was Myrtle Beach! The hotel we got was amazing! We had a huge room with a separate living and kitchen area. The hotel had a huge free breakfast buffet. It also had a lazy river, water slides, and hot tubs. It was right along the beach! We played mini golf, bought new swimwear, went to Ripley's Believe It or Not, ate at an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet, and just enjoyed some downtime on the beach!
On our way home, we saw a wrecked semi-truck that was torn apart and hanging in the trees and telephone wires! We were sad to be heading home. This trip was so relaxing and much needed after our hard work during the year. We were celebrating new beginnings for the both of us, and ready for our next adventures!
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