SCTigerCock 171 Posted June 5, 2011 Report Share Posted June 5, 2011 Thanks for the TR. I'll be up that way (Savannah) in a couple of weeks camping, and I'm sure we'll make at least one day trip to Charleston. It's been many years since I was there so I'll try to spot some of the buildings in your pics.Where are you camping in Savannah. We do a long weekend every fall to Savannah, but always stay at a hotel on East Bay. It is crawling distance from river street. :rofl2: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anolefan 8 Posted June 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2011 Great pictures Tom. I am enjoying your relaxing stroll around Charleston. Of course I still wouldn't be up at 8 o'clock in the morning to do it :rofl2:I know I have issues with sleeping in late, even on vacation. I am a very early riser.We stayed at James Island County Park. As other Fiends have said -- just wonderful. Truly a great campground. In addition to the dog park/water park, there were tons and tons and tons of bike trails that we rode forever.Loving your photos -- just beautiful!Thank you!I will definitely make James Island a destination for an upcoming trip. I have heard too many good things about this park not to.That tree lined sidewalk at Riverfront park is beautiful. I could sit there all day, especially with a DD coffee!Maybe the lifeguard sign was put there for people like me?! YOU said the water is ankle deep....so that would probably be hip deep on me. :rofl2: I promise to wear my arm floaties if I decide to take a dip in that fountain!Now that is funny!Well done!Wow, everything looks so different then what I remember. Of course, I lived there before Hurricane Hugo.I wish I had taken and kept more pictures. Of course back then, it was all film cameras and film and processing was expensive and we were BROKE!!Funny you mention film cameras. I debated taking an old Canon A-1 SLR for this trip, but digital has spoiled me. I want instant gratification and not knowing how something turns out drives me nuts now.Thanks for the TR. I'll be up that way (Savannah) in a couple of weeks camping, and I'm sure we'll make at least one day trip to Charleston. It's been many years since I was there so I'll try to spot some of the buildings in your pics.Definitely plan to give yourself the majority of the day, and I would recommend parking somewhere by Market Street. This will give you a good starting point and you should be able to walk to a majority of spots from there.Have a wonderful trip, and enjoy Savannah, we love it there also. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kampfirekim 260 Posted June 5, 2011 Report Share Posted June 5, 2011 Happy Anniversary! Great photos. I love Charleston!America runs on Dunkin'.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anolefan 8 Posted June 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2011 Well, it is now just about 8am on Tuesday morning and I have enjoyed a wonderful walk, had my gourmet cup of DD coffee, and have relaxed in Waterfront Park for a while.When I went back into the hotel lobby I was greeted with a nice arrangement of fresh fruit and pastries. We ended up taking advantage of this everyday so we could save our hunger for lunch and dinner.We had something similar to this each morning. A chocolate filled croissant and a regular croissant. They were yummy!We had planned to visit Fort Sumter and the next ferry to depart was at 12pm, so we decided to walk over to Liberty Square, purchase our tickets, then find a place to eat a late breakfast. We thought this place looked good so we stopped in and had pancakes and french toast.It is located on Bay Street, just shy of Calhoun Street. We found out that this is the bakery that delivered the pastries to our hotel each morning.Surprise, surprise, I saw another wonderful church on our way back to wait for the Fort Sumter Ferry.These two houses are right off of Calhoun St. on the way to Liberty Square. They have left the houses and built around them. It is kind of an odd appearance, but neat at the same time.You can see the Single House design better on this house from this angle.Liberty Square. The aquarium is directly next door on the left.The USS Yorktown from the ferry.Approaching Fort Sumter. It is still an impressive and imposing sight, even after all these years.The next set of photos are taken during our visit on Fort Sumter. I'm pretty sure this is an artillery shell stuck in the wall.This wall is still leaning from artillery blasts.Here we are getting ready to board the ferry on our way back.Up next we visit the US Military Museum. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BouncingTiggers 98 Posted June 5, 2011 Report Share Posted June 5, 2011 Happy Anniversary!!You are doing a wonderful job with this TR. Looking foward to more. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sensei 18 Posted June 5, 2011 Report Share Posted June 5, 2011 Where are you camping in Savannah. We do a long weekend every fall to Savannah, but always stay at a hotel on East Bay. It is crawling distance from river street. :rofl2:We're camping at Ft. McAllister mainly so we can go fishing and crabbing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anolefan 8 Posted June 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2011 Happy Anniversary! Great photos. I love Charleston!America runs on Dunkin'.... Thanks!I am patiently waiting your 2nd trip report which is right around the corner! :banana: Happy Anniversary!!You are doing a wonderful job with this TR. Looking foward to more.Thank you!We had a wonderful time. I'm trying to get this done quickly, but I took more photos than normal. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anolefan 8 Posted June 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2011 When we returned to the dock after visiting Fort Sumter, we noticed the American Military Museum next to the aquarium and decided to pop in to see what it was all about.It is not a large place, and looks rather modest from the outside. I was greeted with a nice man who gave me a little history of the museum. Apparently everything housed here is authentic. He said most of the items were donated from one individual, which after walking through, amazed me. He told me to take as many pictures as I wanted as that is how the museum is promoted. I obliged :)The museum was designed to take you from the most recent conflicts to the oldest. This was one of my favorite places we saw during our trip definitely recommend it if you are interested in US Military history.Up next, we stroll down to Battery Park, get some dinner, and take a Ghost Walking Tour. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
doodlebug....Cherie 461 Posted June 5, 2011 Report Share Posted June 5, 2011 Love the pictures from the military museum. That's one thing I've never seen in charleston. Looks like I need to make another trip to SC :banana: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anolefan 8 Posted June 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2011 Love the pictures from the military museum. That's one thing I've never seen in charleston. Looks like I need to make another trip to SC :banana:We really enjoyed it. I would have never known about it had we not walked over that way to see what was in that area. It was a pleasant surprise.Moving right along, after a short break at the hotel we walked down to Battery Park, then back up to Market St. for dinner.On our way we saw some beautiful homes. Here is the only shot I got from the park. This house is one of the oldest in the city.Now this next photo is where things got interesting for me. Once we got back to the hotel for the night, I downloaded my photos to my netbook and I noticed some odd things in this photo. Let's look at that a little closer.Now I will be the first to admit that I have been somewhat sheltered and up until looking at this photo I had never even heard of an "orb". Since we were staying in one of the most haunted cities in America, I figured I would look into this online. Now after researching this I know that most of these things that come out in photos are dust, moisture, insects etc.., but what the heck is going on with the green thing in the upper right hand corner. And if you look closer you will see the two other appearances I circled around the car. I don't know what they are, but I didn't need to use a flash and the buildings behind me blocked out any direct sunlight. I can also say that I have had this camera for 3 years and have never seen anything like this come out in a photo.Naturally after seeing this photo I was all about going on a Ghost Tour, so after eating dinner we sought out a tour company. We decided we would go with Bulldog Tours as they have received good reviews and they have access to buildings that other companies do not. I wanted to go on the Haunted Jail Tour, but we ended up going on the Ghost and Graveyard Tour instead.Here is one of those self taken photos while we waited for our tour to begin.Bulldog Tours.We enjoyed our tour, and our guide was interesting and did a great job keeping us interested in the stories she told.Here are some photos of the Circular Church Graveyard I took during our tour. Check out the orbs, dusts, insects, or whatever they are in some of the photos.And with that, Tuesday is in the books.Up next, we visit a pretty cool plantation. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
doodlebug....Cherie 461 Posted June 6, 2011 Report Share Posted June 6, 2011 Oooooooo. Ghosts. I am now putting the graveyard tour on my list of things to do next time I visit Charleston. This report just keeps getting better. :banana: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveInTN 3,247 Posted June 6, 2011 Report Share Posted June 6, 2011 I'm sorry to let you down, but I only took 2 food pictures, and they aren't that special.I will tell everyone where we ate each day though, we had great luck with food this trip.Oh, you're not letting me down! I'm really enjoying this report!! :dance:We've done ghost tours in Williamsburg and in Boston, and I've never gotten any orbs or nothing in my photos. I gotta get back to Charleston! What a cool experience! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted June 6, 2011 Report Share Posted June 6, 2011 Tom-I am enjoying all of your photos.Good job reppin' the Rays!(I am surprised Magicbus hasn't broken out with any of his Red Socks smack)TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Total Joker ... TJ 203 Posted June 6, 2011 Report Share Posted June 6, 2011 :suspense: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PureTcrazy...rita 380 Posted June 6, 2011 Report Share Posted June 6, 2011 I am really enjoying your report! The military museum looks really interesting. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anolefan 8 Posted June 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2011 Oooooooo. Ghosts. I am now putting the graveyard tour on my list of things to do next time I visit Charleston. This report just keeps getting better. :banana:I know. I have another odd experience coming up in my next post.Oh, you're not letting me down! I'm really enjoying this report!! :dance:We've done ghost tours in Williamsburg and in Boston, and I've never gotten any orbs or nothing in my photos. I gotta get back to Charleston! What a cool experience!Definitely! I visited Williamsburg, but never even thought to take a ghost tour. I'll have to make a point to do that when we get back there with the kids.Tom-I am enjoying all of your photos.Good job reppin' the Rays!(I am surprised Magicbus hasn't broken out with any of his Red Socks smack)TCDFunny you mention the Rays. I remember the grief I got for my son sporting the Rangers hat during our New Years trip. Guess what we brought him for a souvenir? A Charleston Riverdogs hat LOL!:suspense::)I am really enjoying your report! The military museum looks really interesting.Thanks. That, and the plantation I'm about to post about were my favorites. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SCTigerCock 171 Posted June 7, 2011 Report Share Posted June 7, 2011 FYI about the military musuem, there is a chance it will be closing or relocating. This was on the local news recently and I haven't been able to find an update.http://www.abcnews4.com/story/14680993/lowcountry-museum-may-be-history Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anolefan 8 Posted June 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2011 FYI about the military musuem, there is a chance it will be closing or relocating. This was on the local news recently and I haven't been able to find an update.http://www.abcnews4.com/story/14680993/lowcountry-museum-may-be-historyThat stinks. Come to think of it, we were the only ones there during our visit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted June 7, 2011 Report Share Posted June 7, 2011 Thanks for the awesome photo tour of Charleston - looks like a fantastic city and your pics are really great!Can't wait for more... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anolefan 8 Posted June 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2011 We are now up to Wednesday, and after the amount of walking we did Monday night and all day Tuesday, we decided to get in the car and go for a drive.We looked up the plantations in the area and decided that Drayton Hall would fit us the best. It was old, it has been preserved and not restored, so that intrigued us as we wanted to see something close to original.Here we are waiting for our car outside the hotel.Drayton Hall was about 25 minutes away from the hotel, and here is the view driving up to the main house.Here is the back side of the house facing the river.Another view of the back of the house.Looking towards the river.An impressive oak.They even sell their own bottled water!Here is the view from the front of the house.We had the best tour guide ever. Her knowledge was amazing and she explained the history of the plantation, the family, and the area in great detail. I got so caught up listening to her that I really didn't take too many photos of the house, but got a few decent ones. As I stated before, the house has been preserved, so it really looks awesome inside. From the lead paint on the walls, to the uneven floor boards, it just felt like you were stepping back to the late 1700's. The house was built in 1738 and was completed in 1742, and has withstood all the natural disasters since. The other buildings around the house have not and this is the only structure standing. Here are the photos I got of the main house. Check out the detail on the ceiling.This is a mahogany swag that each window in this room had hanging above it.Nice detail on the stairs.On the way back to the hotel, we ate at this cafe and if you are ever visiting this plantation I would recommend you eat here. It is on the same road as the house on the way back into town.When we got back to the hotel, we decided to take it easy the rest of the day and hung out around the hotel.We did have to get some Gelato at this place, which was two doors down from the hotel. Day three in the books.Thursday we visit another plantation and I have another weird experience during my early morning walk. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted June 7, 2011 Report Share Posted June 7, 2011 Love all the architecture/detail shots!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anolefan 8 Posted June 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2011 Thanks for the awesome photo tour of Charleston - looks like a fantastic city and your pics are really great!Can't wait for more...Love all the architecture/detail shots!!Thanks Monique!I could have stayed for 2 weeks and probably not gotten bored. It was a wonderful vacation. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted June 7, 2011 Report Share Posted June 7, 2011 Looks like someplace I could walk around taking photos for weeks! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
H in SC 85 Posted June 7, 2011 Report Share Posted June 7, 2011 Tom, Great Trip Report. Wow!!! I feel like I have been on a grand tour of South Carolina’s greatest City. Glad ya’ll had a great vacation, thanks for sharing with us. :D Quote Link to post Share on other sites
doodlebug....Cherie 461 Posted June 7, 2011 Report Share Posted June 7, 2011 We have visited Charleston at least 15 times over the last 18 years. It amazes me how much of the city I still haven't seen Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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