Charleston, SC - Nov. 5 - 16, 2009

On November 5th we drove 220 miles south from soggy North Carolina to sunny Charleston, South Carolina.  Along the way we stopped at Buck Hall Landing Campground to visit Susan Fain, our friend and fellow full-timer who was staying there for a couple of weeks.

After our visit, we continued south to our beautiful new home at Oak Plantation Campground.  Oak Plantation is located on John's Island, about 10 miles west of historic Charleston and is one of Good Sam's top 100 RV parks.  It offers spacious, dry sites, good interior roads, expansive common areas and massive, moss-draped oaks.  The only negative was a very small laundry facility. 

We were pleased to discover our neighbors from Lanier Campground in Surf City, NC were parked next to us at Oak Plantation.  Like us, they were quite happy to be in a nice, clean park and no longer slogging around in a mud bog.

Charleston has a fascinating and diverse history. In 1669, the British Lords Proprietors adopted the Fundamental Constitution of Carolina guaranteeing religious freedom, thus leading to the influx of French Huguenots, Sephardic Jews and other diverse groups.  The town became known as 'the holy city' due to its numerous churches and synagogues.

Although 'Charles Town' got its start as a British colony, the city soon took on a distinctive Caribbean character.  Many Carolinians owned sugar plantations in the islands and rice plantations in the Carolinas.  They realized the Caribbean's bright pastel colored buildings and broad verandas suited the warm, humid climate of the low country better than the traditional English dark brick building material.  The historic district retains this colorful architectural style.

Over the years the city continued its diverse evolution.  During the colonial period, residents repelled the military advances of the French and Spanish, but happily absorbed some of their culture.  The city survived pirate attacks and the British occupation during the Revolutionary War.  It became the center for the African slave trade, fired the first shots of the War of Northern Aggression and endured General Sherman's wrath, to become the exciting multicultural city it is today.

Our first excursion in Charleston was to the downtown visitor center.  From there we walked to the historic district for a narrated, horse drawn carriage ride around the district.  The driver was very informative and amusing - the horse was enormous, but slightly stubborn.  After our ride we lunched, wandered around the city admiring the architecture, window-shopped on King Street and browsed the public market.

A few days later we visited the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, one of many plantations in the area available to tour.  The gardens were wild and beautiful with graceful bridges reflected in placid waters, classical statuary tucked away in overgrown grottoes, and alligator infested swamps.  The Drayton family home, though more modest than those in "Gone With the Wind", was gracious with a wide wrap-around porch, polished hardwood floors and beautiful antiques.  While we enjoyed our tour of the plantation, it is clearly in need of some maintenance.  It is touted as the best in the area, but we think that is a bit of advertising hoopla.

We also visited the Charles Pinckney National Historic Site.   Charles Pinckney was the youngest delegate to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia and contributed greatly to the drafting of the constitution.  Indeed, some credit him for our freedom of religion.  The historic site is Snee Farm and was owned by Pinckney until he lost it and his fortune while pursing public service and ignoring his personal affairs.

We then visited Fort Moultrie on Sullivan Island just north of Charleston Harbor and part of the Fort Sumter National Monument.  Fort Moultrie has guarded the harbor from the days of the Revolutionary War to the conclusion of World War II.  Various parts of the fort have been restored to reflect specific eras of its long history.

After all that history it was time for refreshment.  So we were off to Seel's on Sullivan Fishcamp and Bar for a bucket of oysters and a couple of brews.  We had never shucked hot, steamed oysters before and had a great time.  The restaurant is 'peanut shells on the floor' casual, the food is good, and the clientele and servers fun.  It was a great way to cap off a perfect day.

We also visited a few beaches and parks, walked a few paths and got lost in a few neighborhoods.  It was a great visit to a very interesting and lively city, but we had an appointment with Alliance Coach in Wildwood, Florida so had to move on.