Charleston, SC - Thursday July 20th

We left Myrtle Beach Thursday for Charleston. It was about a 2hr drive. I hated not to go since it was so close. On our way down Hwy 17, we saw a sign for Hampton Plantation Historic Site. So we decided to check it out. It was built somewhere around 1730-1750, but in the 1780's it was transitioned to the mansion pictured. It was a Rice Plantation. George Washington visited the house in 1791. We peeked inside, but did not go in as they charged $4 a person and we didn't have any cash. The huge tree in front of the house is named the George Washington Oak. When he visited the home the owner said that they were planning on cutting down the tree as it interfered with the front view of the home and he told her not to. So a limb is braced with a telephone pole and held up with a cable!!



Here we are coming across the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge into Charleston. The Picture turned out pretty decent considering I was in the backseat and taking it through the front windshield!
It replaced the existing truss bridges and opened July 2005. It is North America's longest cable stay span bridge. I'm just so full of knowledge. ;) The second photo was off the internet. The old Bridge that is pictured beside it is no longer there.

After Cailey got a nap and we found a parking spot, we headed to the market and to eat lunch. Luckily where we wanted to go (Bubba Gump Shrimp) was on market Street. So it was all very convenient and all in walking distance. If you ever get a chance to eat at a Bubba Gump, do so. It was so fun and really good!!
After eating lunch we strolled through the market. We had such a great time looking at all the neat stuff. We did get a few things from the market. These pictures are just some I found on the internet. We didn't take any, but I wanted you to see it. It is 3 or 4 sections long.

Here we are on The Battery. There are great views of the Charleston Harbor and Fort Sumter. There was such a nice cool breeze here!! Had to get some pictures in front of the famous "Pink Palace". I read on the internet that Oprah owns one of the mansions on the Battery.


Here's Cailey on a Cannon in the White Point Gardens. My mission was now complete! =)

Me & Cailey in the Park. Here's a little historical tidbit that I found: During the early 18th century, the park was used as the home of the gallows, where Stede Bonnet - the "gentleman pirate" - and dozens of others were hanged. By 1837, the land was in use as a public garden.
Interesting.

Here are some houses that are across the street from the White Point Gardens. The 2nd & 3rd pictures are of the Meeting house. It is a B&B now. Like a lot of the old buildings are. We picked up a brochure while walking by. Prices are like $200-$500 a night!


Our last stop in Charleston before heading out to find a hotel was The Angel Oak on John's Island. It is estimated to be over 1400 years old! Unfortunately we got there about an hour after the park had closed. There is a fence around it, but Richard was still able to get some pretty good pictures of it. It's amazing!


We stayed the night at Comfort Suites in Summerville, SC right outside of Charleston. I think this was the first time I had wrapped Cailey in a towel like this. She loved it and danced around all over the room.

On the way back home on Friday. Couldn't resist taking these pictures. She was so pooped! We had a great trip and we are looking forward to going back to Charleston for a longer stay!