A Traveler's Experience

Ashley River Road (SC)

I loved my first visit to the South! After months of planning, I was a little worried that it wouldn't live up to my expectations, but as soon as we picked up the rental car and drove off with the windows rolled down, I knew it was going to be the perfect vacation. The air was cool and humid and alive with the smells of spring blossoms.

We visited every point of interest along the Ashley River Road and found so much to look at. I love history and architecture, so traveling the Byway was a treat! Old St. Andrew's Church had such a peaceful atmosphere, and I loved looking at the headstones in the cemetery and thinking of all the people who had lived in this area so full of heritage.

Another satiating experience with history was visiting Drayton Hall. As our tour guide, Helen took us through the estate, she explained the architectural and historical significance of even the small details. Her enthusiasm and knowledge really made the tour. She truly gave me a glimpse into the past of those who had lived here. I loved her stories about the Drayton family. After the tour, we had ample time to wander around the grounds. My friend and I took a walk down to the Ashley River and there was an African American slave burial ground available to tour, but we didn't get a chance to see that. Drayton Hall offers several programs designed to increase awareness of the role of African Americans in the early South. I wish we had time to take advantage of them. As a side note, I found that the Drayton Hall Gift Shop had the best prices, so if something there catches your eye, don't hesitate to buy it. You might find the exact same thing at other shops, but for twice as much!

We took advantage of the sunny afternoon to visit Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. The blooming camellias welcomed us with cheery color. We wandered all over the gardens without really organizing our time. If I could do it over again, I'd map it out a little better because there is so much to see! We noticed later that there were bicycles for rent and wished we had known that before. Bicycles would be an ideal way to tour the gardens because it is so vast and there is so much to see. Our feet were definitely hurting by the end of the day, but we just didn't want to stop! There are a couple of additional sites that you can add to the basic admission price. We chose to tour the plantation house because we had such a great experience at Drayton Hall. It was really interesting, but now I wish we had toured the Swamp Garden or taken a carriage ride instead.

You would think we'd be tired of touring old plantations after a full day, but we traveled to Middleton Place the next morning and had another fantastic time! I felt like the experience at Middleton Place, especially in the stableyards where there are costumed historical interpreters, really helped me to understand all that was required to keep a great estate like that running. My friend and I ate lunch at the restaurant. It was delicious and not unreasonably priced. They serve authentic southern cuisine. My friend had she-crab soup, and I tried the gumbo. I think eating there added to the experience, not to mention it gave us the energy we needed to see everything. One of my favorite memories from Middleton Place was seeing an alligator! I had never seen one before. At first, I couldn't believe it was real, so I inched a little closer to it. It was definitely real, just little.

Of course, a visit to the Ashley River Road wouldn't be complete without also visiting Charleston. I loved walking along the harbor. The weather had turned a little chilly, so there weren't too many people out. We did lots of antique shopping and got tons of ideas for crafts at the boutiques found on the historic streets. I just wish we had more time to spend. It all went so quickly. We made sure to plan some time to visit one of the beaches. Not being really familiar with the area, we just followed the freeway signs and ended up crossing the harbor to Sullivan's Island. No one was on the beach that day, so we got to enjoy the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean all to ourselves. I even saw a starfish - a first for me.

The best thing about vacations are all of the opportunities to do something you've never done before,
and the Ashley River Road was chalk full of those!