Charleston

I have always wanted to visit Charleston.  A few years ago the Today show listed Charleston as number 2 on their list of the five most beautiful places in America.  I wouldn't quite say that is was the 2nd most beautiful place I've been to, but it was very beautiful and unique.  I've never been anywhere in the South so it was a fun experience and the trip as a whole was awesome! 

To save a night's hotel, we took the red eye flight and unfortunately had a 3 hour layover in Atlanta.  It made for a long night, with me only getting an hour or two of sleep at the most, but we were surprisingly refreshed to start touring when we arrived in Charleston. 

 

My parents took ambien to help them sleep on the plane.  They were so funny at our layover.  If they weren't out cold they walked around like zombies. 



Magnolia Plantation.  All of the plantations have their "specialty."  The Magnolia Plantation had the most spectacular gardens.   

 

The gardens also had these huge spiders everywhere.  Apparently, they aren't as vicious as they look and not even poisonous, but I still kept my distance.  The insects, on the other hand, couldn't stay away from me.  I had several bug bites at the end of the day. 

 

The swamp garden.  Not quite as pretty as the rest of the gardens in my opinion.  Lots of spiders here.  

 

 

Downtown Charleston.  The city is what is famous for being so beautiful.  It is definitely unique.  All of the homes in the historic district are pained with bright colors.  This street is called "rainbow row" because every house is a different color.  

The Calhoun mansion.

 The mansions at the battery.

 My impression of Tess posing. 

 

 Mary did her own impression a few weeks later. 

 

Folley Beach.  This beach is beautiful!  Had we been prepared we could have spent the entire day there.  

 

Fort Sumter.

 The U.S.S. Yorktown.

 Clark, preparing for battle.

 Mom, ready to take off. 

 

Shem Creek Park.

 

Boone Hall Plantation.  This plantation is famous for their mile long avenue of oaks.  

 The plantation house.

 The slave houses.

 The smokehouse.

 

And a big thank you to Aunt Laura and Aunt Lori for taking care of our interest back home!