Charleston, SC
Warning: This is a very long post about a very cool vacation!
Friday after school we drove two hours to Charleston, SC, there is one word to describe this city: CHARMING! Full of rich American history with old homes and buildings in their original structure, most were over 200 years old, we fell in love and couldn't help thinking about our forefathers and what they went through to provide the America that we have today. It was the perfect place to be for Veteran's day weekend. Unfortunately history isn't that exciting for our kids (not yet), SO we had to throw in some "kid friendly" activities. Like the Aquarium:
The kids LOVED this little starfish, I think Maddy tried to walk away with it to keep forever.
The little sea turtles were also a favorite. They had horseshoe crabs and small stingrays you could touch, Madelyn immediately wanted to get in and touch, but Rylan was hesitant, but after seeing his little sister be fearless, he convinced himself that he could do it.
Scanning the harbor outside of the Aquarium
As we got ready to take the ferry to Fort Sumter, Ian got a tad restless, Scott said he had it covered and whipped out an Oreo cookie for him...ugh yuck! It did the job, but he was a complete mess afterwards. Plus the people in line with us got a kick out of it too!
Boarding the Ferry. . .
A little history about Fort Sumter, it is an island off the coast of Charleston that was originally built on a sandbar to protect the harbor from other nations and pirates. It played a large role in the Civil War, the first shots were fired there and it was bombarded by the Confederates when the Federals took refuge there.
This is what it used to look like:
It still has all the original bricks, the only thing that is gone are the barracks that are were in that back wall, it is now a museum and offices for the park administrators.
This is a look inside the fort now where they would shoot the cannons
My young strapping men! I love how Rylan is putting up his leg like his dad.
Day 2: We drove by this park the night we arrived in Charleston, so we decided to come back to it. It actually used to be Fort as well, but has been converted into a park but still has a lot of cannons and guns dating back to the 1800's.
The trails and trees were so very picturesque and quaint! I couldn't help myself.
I LOVE THESE TREES! I have always been a tree lover, (thanks to my mom) but these trees were so old and so interesting to look at. They were perfect climbing trees, their branches were connecting to each other making a natural tent that covered the whole park!
Next we walked on their boardwalk along the banks of the ocean, this was just one of the houses that was in downtown Charleston which was across the street from the boardwalk. Look at that, three porches! Beautiful!
The famous "Rainbow Row". . .
Then we stopped for a picnic at a park with lots of fun fountains.
I just had to get a picture of my kids with the Palmetto trees and pineapple fountain in the background. On our way back to the car we found this really cool building, we loved the brick wall. . . so of course it was picture time:
Rylan took this one
Our Ian was so happy to get out of the stroller, but this was the only smile we could get out of him, he was more interested in smacking the wall.
Sassy Madelyn
Handsome Rylan
next we headed over to Folly Beach, it wasn't quite swimming weather, but it was still a gorgeous day to stroll on the beach
Rylan loves to wade in the water, and chase the waves
While Maddy likes to hunt for shells, dig in the sand and get dirty
Scott likes to get romantic and smooch me! (Notice Ian laughing in the backpack)
Like our matching shirts? It all started when Scott got one and I loved it and wanted to steal it so he got me one and a few more for himself. They are very comfortable.
Day 3: Magnolia Plantation
Friday after school we drove two hours to Charleston, SC, there is one word to describe this city: CHARMING! Full of rich American history with old homes and buildings in their original structure, most were over 200 years old, we fell in love and couldn't help thinking about our forefathers and what they went through to provide the America that we have today. It was the perfect place to be for Veteran's day weekend. Unfortunately history isn't that exciting for our kids (not yet), SO we had to throw in some "kid friendly" activities. Like the Aquarium:
The kids LOVED this little starfish, I think Maddy tried to walk away with it to keep forever.
The little sea turtles were also a favorite. They had horseshoe crabs and small stingrays you could touch, Madelyn immediately wanted to get in and touch, but Rylan was hesitant, but after seeing his little sister be fearless, he convinced himself that he could do it.
Scanning the harbor outside of the AquariumAs we got ready to take the ferry to Fort Sumter, Ian got a tad restless, Scott said he had it covered and whipped out an Oreo cookie for him...ugh yuck! It did the job, but he was a complete mess afterwards. Plus the people in line with us got a kick out of it too!
Boarding the Ferry. . .
A little history about Fort Sumter, it is an island off the coast of Charleston that was originally built on a sandbar to protect the harbor from other nations and pirates. It played a large role in the Civil War, the first shots were fired there and it was bombarded by the Confederates when the Federals took refuge there.
This is what it used to look like:
It still has all the original bricks, the only thing that is gone are the barracks that are were in that back wall, it is now a museum and offices for the park administrators.
This is a look inside the fort now where they would shoot the cannons
My young strapping men! I love how Rylan is putting up his leg like his dad.Day 2: We drove by this park the night we arrived in Charleston, so we decided to come back to it. It actually used to be Fort as well, but has been converted into a park but still has a lot of cannons and guns dating back to the 1800's.
The trails and trees were so very picturesque and quaint! I couldn't help myself.
I LOVE THESE TREES! I have always been a tree lover, (thanks to my mom) but these trees were so old and so interesting to look at. They were perfect climbing trees, their branches were connecting to each other making a natural tent that covered the whole park!Next we walked on their boardwalk along the banks of the ocean, this was just one of the houses that was in downtown Charleston which was across the street from the boardwalk. Look at that, three porches! Beautiful!
The famous "Rainbow Row". . .
Then we stopped for a picnic at a park with lots of fun fountains.
I just had to get a picture of my kids with the Palmetto trees and pineapple fountain in the background. On our way back to the car we found this really cool building, we loved the brick wall. . . so of course it was picture time:
Rylan took this one
Our Ian was so happy to get out of the stroller, but this was the only smile we could get out of him, he was more interested in smacking the wall.
Sassy MadelynHandsome Rylan
next we headed over to Folly Beach, it wasn't quite swimming weather, but it was still a gorgeous day to stroll on the beach
Rylan loves to wade in the water, and chase the waves
While Maddy likes to hunt for shells, dig in the sand and get dirty
Scott likes to get romantic and smooch me! (Notice Ian laughing in the backpack)
Like our matching shirts? It all started when Scott got one and I loved it and wanted to steal it so he got me one and a few more for himself. They are very comfortable.
Day 3: Magnolia Plantation
After our relaxed day at the beach and park we were ready to go sight seeing again, so we went to Magnolia Plantation which was founded in 1676 by the Drayton family, Magnolia Plantation has survived the centuries and witnessed the history of our nation unfold before it from the American Revolution through the Civil War and beyond. It is the oldest public tourist site in the Lowcountry, and the oldest public gardens in America. They had a little mini zoo with the tamest animals that you could just go right up to and pet. Deer, goats, rabbits, pigs, chickens, turkeys, peacocks, turtles, ducks and they also had a fox and some birds in cages.
Scott realized that this was the closest he is going to get to a deer this fall, no hunting with his dad in Idaho for him :(
As we entered the gardens they had this sign:
Scott and I really loved that quote, there is nothing greater than the elegance, grace, and beauty of nature.
Scott realized that this was the closest he is going to get to a deer this fall, no hunting with his dad in Idaho for him :(
As we entered the gardens they had this sign:
Scott and I really loved that quote, there is nothing greater than the elegance, grace, and beauty of nature.Apparently there are a lot of weddings here and they are booked more than a year in advance, and we could see why,
These ponds were used to harvest rice, but now they are swamps with fish, turtles, frogs and alligators. Walking around it made me feel like I was in the book Fablehaven on the secret nature reserve that protects beings of myth and legend. When I saw a butterfly land on a flower near me I literally gasped, "um, is that really a fairy that I can't see because I haven't drank the "magic milk?" I was completely entranced by the magic and beauty.
These old trees had ivy and spanish moss hanging on them, a picture just doesn't do it justice, they were huge and intricate and beautiful some were growing out of the water
And this is our new house in Chicago. . .naw just kidding this is the house on the plantation, oh so dreamy huh, I think I could have been a southern belle sitting on a porch sippin lemonade
This plantation still had some of the homes of the working slaves
We didn't dare go on any of the 45 minute tours they had offered on the plantation, with noisy kids, an annoyed tour guide and breakable things we didn't think it would be a good idea, but Scott and I thought that we would love to come back with no kids and enjoy every little bit of it. We still had fun exploring with our kids. Charleston, SC is a great place to see!
These ponds were used to harvest rice, but now they are swamps with fish, turtles, frogs and alligators. Walking around it made me feel like I was in the book Fablehaven on the secret nature reserve that protects beings of myth and legend. When I saw a butterfly land on a flower near me I literally gasped, "um, is that really a fairy that I can't see because I haven't drank the "magic milk?" I was completely entranced by the magic and beauty.
These old trees had ivy and spanish moss hanging on them, a picture just doesn't do it justice, they were huge and intricate and beautiful some were growing out of the water
And this is our new house in Chicago. . .naw just kidding this is the house on the plantation, oh so dreamy huh, I think I could have been a southern belle sitting on a porch sippin lemonade
This plantation still had some of the homes of the working slaves
We didn't dare go on any of the 45 minute tours they had offered on the plantation, with noisy kids, an annoyed tour guide and breakable things we didn't think it would be a good idea, but Scott and I thought that we would love to come back with no kids and enjoy every little bit of it. We still had fun exploring with our kids. Charleston, SC is a great place to see!
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