Ah, Charleston, South Carolina
(Charleston was our first full day of the trip and a bit of a pain... but worth it)
Animals... History.... Mostly Animals... Oh, and a new County-Credit! Whats not to like...
Animals... History.... Mostly Animals... Oh, and a new County-Credit! Whats not to like...
Our day trip up to Charleston from Hilton Head was a late addition to the trip. Originally the plan was to leave Wednesday morning and drive up to Hilton Head but a week or so before leaving we decided to leave Tuesday afternoon, now giving us an extra day to do something with. Charleston was something I had been thinking about but it wasn't 'close' to where we were going... but it was closer to HH than say.... Orlando. A trip to visit Fort Sumter was also on my "To Do" list... So I kinda floated the idea to Mariah and she seemed down, Chelsea seemed less interested in the idea, even more so once I revealed due to the fort being on an island, it was necessary to take a boat... and the boat had set times (IE: Our boat was 11 AM, and Charleston was +2 hours drive from HH)
Well, having just driven up from Orlando the night before and not even unpacking into the hotel room until nearly 9pm.. After the excitement of our room calmed down.... it was off to bed for a lovely 8 am wake up. Chelsea came around to the idea of going up with us, although stated she'd be grumpy on the drive up until she had fully awaken. 8:30 came and off we went to Charleston giving us a little extra time to ensure we made our boat. The drive was pretty uneventful and mostly on county roads, not real highways or anything and no real traffic until we got into the city itself.. After fining a place to park and kinda jogging up to the boat dock... we were ready for our adventure.
(and we didn't almost, kinda, miss the boat.....)
Liberty Square, part of the National Park Service
Where you catch the ferry boat to Fort Sumter!
(you can also get a ferry from Patriots Point, across the river but Liberty Sq. offered better times)
(you can also get a ferry from Patriots Point, across the river but Liberty Sq. offered better times)
Uh, the boat! For it being the off season and rather chilly, we were kinda surprised how many people were here... And all waiting for us to get on. haha.
Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge
It's the third longest cable-stayed bridge in the Western Hemisphere
It's the third longest cable-stayed bridge in the Western Hemisphere
Castle Pinckney, seen from the ferry.
Shoreline and seascape
Charleston, from the ferry
Fort Sumter National Monument
It's kinda amusing to me how they have hours listed once you've reached the island...
Uh, once the boat leaves, you're stuck.
It's kinda amusing to me how they have hours listed once you've reached the island...
Uh, once the boat leaves, you're stuck.
The fort and barrier rocks
The entrance to the fort
....Where the Civil War began
As a history fan... it was something I really wanted to do, and while on the smaller side (and hearing/reading reviews that its not so great) I was still pretty excited to visit.
As a history fan... it was something I really wanted to do, and while on the smaller side (and hearing/reading reviews that its not so great) I was still pretty excited to visit.
The island itself was man made from a sandbar that at high-tide would vanish underwater.
(with rock from New England!)
(with rock from New England!)
Inside the walls of the fort.
Ruins
parts are in pretty rough shape.. but it added to the realness of being there.
The first of many, many cannons we saw.
Boom?
(oddly enough, there were signs all around the fort asking visitors not to sit on / ride the cannons)
((something I've never done elsewhere, ever... . oh wait))
(oddly enough, there were signs all around the fort asking visitors not to sit on / ride the cannons)
((something I've never done elsewhere, ever... . oh wait))
The fort and the island
seascape and stuff. Even in the cold and gloom, it was rather pretty.
one of the at least 3 visible, unexploded shells stuck within the wall at Fort Sumter
Another overview of the ruins.
Um.... yeah
Oh hey look.... That guy, and um.. those girls too?
Awesome 33 star flag!
I'd never seen that pattern before, I really liked it.
I'd never seen that pattern before, I really liked it.
The Flag of the Palmetto Guard
Reproduction of the 33 star flag...
And that plant that pretty much destroyed America.
And that plant that pretty much destroyed America.
Uh, happy anniversary?
Mostly flagless flag poles.
The Atlantic Ocean
Overview map of the fort as it is today
And of how it was before the war.
After an hour or so on the island, it was time to get back on the boat and head back into the city.
After an hour or so on the island, it was time to get back on the boat and head back into the city.
The USS Yorktown, aircraft carrier
Had we taken the ferry from Patriots Point, we could have visited the ship.
But again, Liberty Sq times worked better for us... Also, there happened to be something there I was very interested in.....
Had we taken the ferry from Patriots Point, we could have visited the ship.
But again, Liberty Sq times worked better for us... Also, there happened to be something there I was very interested in.....
The South Carolina Aquarium!
I honestly didn't plan on visiting... I didn't think the girls would wanna and it was a little pricey...
but it turned out, they both wanted to go in... So I didn't fight it.
ha
It's not the biggest aquarium I've been to.. but its a good size and has some nice displays and areas. We were only there maybe an hour and most of that time was spent in once single area (that was also revisited before leaving...)
I honestly didn't plan on visiting... I didn't think the girls would wanna and it was a little pricey...
but it turned out, they both wanted to go in... So I didn't fight it.
ha
It's not the biggest aquarium I've been to.. but its a good size and has some nice displays and areas. We were only there maybe an hour and most of that time was spent in once single area (that was also revisited before leaving...)
Fish... and uh, more fish.
Liberty, a bald eagle rescued from Naples, Florida and now living at the Aquarium.
An albino gator
And, a duck!! :D
Little gator <3
A green Moray Eel
Tortoise
Giant fish tank
Nope, don't have time for y'all
(rattlesnakes)
(rattlesnakes)
Vasa Parrot
Oh look, more fish!
And more snakes....
Ray
Mr.Shark
Ugh, I dislike Octopus.
But whats most important in visits to aquariums.....
But whats most important in visits to aquariums.....
LARGE
NUMBERS OF
RING-TAILED
LEMURS!!!!
:D :D <3 <3
(they were amazing!!!)
After leaving the aquarium we walked down the street a little to find someplace to get lunch.
:D :D <3 <3
(they were amazing!!!)
After leaving the aquarium we walked down the street a little to find someplace to get lunch.
Ending up at East Bay Deli.
A local chain, I believe we were at the original location.
A local chain, I believe we were at the original location.
My veggie / avocado sandwich was yummy..
Although that nasty pickle was offensive.
After lunch we went back to my car and drove around to visit a few parks within the city.
Although that nasty pickle was offensive.
After lunch we went back to my car and drove around to visit a few parks within the city.
Waterfront Park, along the Cooper River was the first stop.
It's got this large fountain you can play in and get wet with... but seeing is how it was in the low 40's... we didn't really wanna get wet.
It's got this large fountain you can play in and get wet with... but seeing is how it was in the low 40's... we didn't really wanna get wet.
Oak Tree lined walk way
And... (ew) the Pineapple Fountain
Another photo of the Oak tree path.
Oh hey, a cannon!
White Point Garden was our next stop, built in the 1800's.
White Point Garden was our next stop, built in the 1800's.
The meeting point of the Ashley and Cooper rivers.
Lots of Oak <3
Sergeant Jasper Monument
(Battle of Sullivan's Island during the American Revolutionary War)
(Battle of Sullivan's Island during the American Revolutionary War)
Horse drawn carriage and southern mansions.
Neat sea monster // fish water fountain in the park
William Moultrie
At this point the rain really kicked up and we decided to bail and had back a few hours south to our hotel and some din-din along the way. It ended up raining (pretty hard at some points) the entire drive home, the whole night, and into the next morning.. but by 9am, it had stopped and we had a rather nice day for exploring the Island itself.
Sweet, out of order posts! <3
(up next, Hilton Head Island itself, and the lovely resort!)
woo.
woo.
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