Spring Break 2012 - Wilmington, N.C. to Charleston, S.C.

April 22, 2012 • Leave a Comment

Hi all,

Sheree and I took off Saturday, April 1 for a six-day spring break trip. Sheree drove the Outback and I drove ye ol pick-up, pinball machine riding in the back. A very nice day except for the pouring rain on the way down from Durham. We spent a nice afternoon with Corey and Joanna, delivering the pinball machine and truck to their new house, and later we went out for yummy fondue in downtown Wilmington We spent the night at the Inn at Wilmington. We left Riley at home at a kennel and took Cierra with us, but also kenneled her in Georgetown and Charleston SC.

Our trip: Wilmington to Charleston

Corey and Joanna's first home.

Sunday, April 2 - We drove south toward Myrtle Beach, SC, making a few stops along the way and eventually arriving at Myrtle Beach State Park. We camped for two nights. It was crowded but fairly quiet, except for the occasional jet (campsite at end of runway!) This was my first experience using a CPAP machine in a tent. Best tent sleep in years. Great weather. (Actually, a little too hot Monday(88))

Greenfield Park, Wilmington NC
		Myrtle Beach just south of the maddening crowds.

Monday and Tuesday - Highlights of this area were Brookgreen Gardens and Huntington Beach State Park. We had wanted to camp at Huntington Beach but we(I) waited too long to make reservations. Brookgreen Gardens was a wonderful surprise we enjoyed for two days. Check out the slideshow for many more pictures.

13 baby gators on this little island at Huntington Beach State Park
	Brookgreen Gardens is a National Historic Landmark with the most significant collection of figurative sculpture in an outdoor setting by American artists in the world and has the only zoo accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums on the coast of the Carolinas.
		Charleston 2012	Brook Gardens
The names and narratives are countless and fascinating, but no story is more interesting than that of Brookgreen Gardens' visionary founders, Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington. Read more ....

Video - out back of the gardens......

After staying two nights, we headed to Georgetown SC and the Mansfield Plantation. If you are familiar with the movie "The Patriot" with Mel Gibson, many key parts were filmed here. Very unique B&B. We took a nice bike ride and some short hikes.

Slave quarters left and right as you approach the main house.

Look for this scene in the movie "The Patriot"

We slept in the old school house.

Sleeping in a classroom. ;-)

, a 1718In 500 acre plot of land was granted to a family on the outskirts of the bustling new village of Georgetown, South Carolina. Construction began on the main house fifty years later, and soon after, Mansfield Plantation blossomed into one of the largest rice plantations in South Carolina.

Today, Mansfield Plantation covers nearly 1,000 acres and is recognized as "one of the most architecturally intact rice plantation in South Carolina." It is a member of the National Register of Historic Places and is now owned and operated by the descendent of the original Parker family owners, John Rutledge Parker, and his wife, Sallie Middleton, Jr

to learn more about Mansfield Plantation. Visit our Click here slide show to see more images.

Next, off to Charleston SC and the 1837 B&B. In Charleston, we walked, ate dinner, took a ghost tour and rode rickshaws. Just before the ghost tour was to begin a rather serious thunderstorm delayed our departure, which required sitting in a quaint little pub until skies (almost) cleared. Great atmosphere for a ghost tour.

Plantation stop on way to Charleston	Charleston B&B	1837 B&B Charleston
Just another southern plantation on the way to Charleston	1837 Bed & Breakfast - very cozy and delicious. Web Site.