NFR Low Country - Charleston, SC

My cousin is getting married and this might be the last time my grandmother is together with all of the family. So the wife and I decided to take a little vacation and head for the Low Country. While this song is about Savannah, it is the first tune that comes to mind



Day 1 - We left Bozeman Tuesday and it was 20 below. Landed in Charleston 7 hours later and it was 75. Crazy. My wife also loves the humidity.

Day 2 - Charleston is known for shrimp and grits. So I wanted to check that one off. I get a few recommendations and we settled on Fleet Landing on the water. Place was phenomenal.

Ever get a bucket of Diet Coke?

Next we headed to Fort Sumter.

Interesting fact, the Ft was three times as high as what you see here but so much of it was destroyed during the war.

Another interesting fact, Charleston was basically the last to surrender. April 14, 1865 the Union Flag was hoisted over the Garrison. That was also the same day Lincoln was assassinated.

I'm fascinated with history. This ended up being much more interesting than I though.

It is a 30 minute ferry ride to the island where the Ft is located. On the way back we had great views of one of the most iconic bridges in the south. I want to try sailing.

There is so much history in this city. Today we are taking a walking tour downtown. Tonight we are doing a ghost tour. tbc....

 

[Evan B]

I've spent a lot of time there with my good friend who is a lifer there. Tons of great food and fishing.

 

[Bruce Baker]

Thanks for posting @swimmy. I never had a bucket of any soda, but I'll gladly take a bucket of Classic Coke. I like history as well and I appreciate and thank you for making these types of posts. Please keep it up!

 

[Bruce Baker]

I also liked seeing the chart on the table. I think those are cool.

 

[wanderingrichard]

Hope you get a chance to visit Rainbow Row, too.
There is so much history and culture there you could spend years checking it all out.
Been over that bridge a lot. Feels funny when the wind gets up and you can feel the bridge vibrate through your tires

 

[Buzzy]

Enjoy the warmth, thanks for sharing the photos.

 

[bennysbuddy]

I'm just amazed with all your activities that you find time to work ? LOL

 

[Paige]

Back in 86-88 or so AM/PM had buckets for the fountain drinks, a fried dropped on on his lap when I hit a pot hole, was like 2 liters all over him!

 

[NukeLDO]

Grew up there. Was fishing for king mackerel off the south jetty on the day they raised the Hunley, just a mile or so from where I was anchored up. Hunley was the first submarine to ever sink another ship. Huge flotilla followed the barge with the submarine on it back into the harbor. The Hunley is now in a museum on the old Charleston Naval Base. If you're ever there, I highly recommend it as a piece of history worth learning about.

 

[NukeLDO]

And while the Hunley successfully sank the USS Housatonic, Hunley never returned to port. When recovered, the remains of the eight man crew were found inside, and eventually received burials with full military honors.

 

[swimmy]

Day 3 - Guided tour of the Old City. Couple of facts

Charleston was founded in 1670.
It was preferred as it was one of the deepest ports at the time on the southern coast
The #1 export was Carolina Gold Rice. It was considered the best in the world.
The #1 import was slaves. 60% of African Americans living in the US can trace their roots back to the port of Charleston.
Charleston was the richest city on the continent through the 1700's.
Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I think the guide said at its peak Charleston had 8 of the 10 wealthiest people on the country. They would've been, by today's standards, billionaires.
Charleston had four signers of the Declaration and Constitution.
The building where the Constitution was ratified is still standing. More on this.

I learned the difference between a graveyards and cemeteries. A graveyard is connected to a church. There are many scattered through the city and interesting seeing some that dated back to the 1700's.

This is one the oldest buildings in Charleston. It is where they housed the gunpowder.

The French Quarter District.

This is where the Dock Street Theatre is located. Originally built as a hotel in 1809, it fell into disrepair after the Civil War. It was restored in 1935 and is on the historic register. It continues to get lots of use.

@wanderingrichard Rainbow Row.

St Michael's Church, the oldest church in Charleston, which dates back before the Revolutionary War. Place just smelled like history. Everything is pretty much original.

That concluded the morning.

 

[swimmy]

Lunch at 82 Queens. The weather is perfect so you can take advantage of the courtyards. I had a Flounder BLT. I'm not a picky eater but the food is outstanding.

After lunch, we toured the Provost/Dungeon. This was a multi-purpose facility used to house prisoners, slaves, political opponents, and the like. Place was creepy and hard not to think about all the suffering that occurred here.

This was also the point where much of the imports/exports traveled through. The taxman would take note and prior the Revolutionary War, would account for the taxes you owed the King.

This building, like so much of our history, is a tale of two stories. Downstairs was the dungeon. Upstairs played host to George Washington on his single visit to Charleston and where the Constitution was ratified.

Next, we walked the Battery. Some of these homes are ridiculous.

If you've watched Southern Charm, this is Patricia's home.

To end the day, we took a ghost tour and walked some of the graveyards. Kind of fun, not scary.

This semi-circle is the oldest grave in Charleston. Believe is dates back to the 1600's.

Today will be a little more heavy due to the content. More to come.

 

[wanderingrichard]

Try to get south of West Ashely to The Glass Onion. its another great eatery

 

[Matt B]

It is a 30 minute ferry ride to the island where the Ft is located. On the way back we had great views of one of the most iconic bridges in the south. I want to try sailing.

I learned to sail in that harbor, under the old bridge. I still recall the thrill of piloting that J-22 around while I asked my bikini-clad college Co-Ed crew, their chests speckled with splash from the waves, to sheet the jib...all while earning college credit.

 

[swimmy]

I learned to sail in that harbor, under the old bridge. I still recall the thrill of piloting that J-22 around while I asked my bikini-clad college Co-Ed crew, their chests speckled with splash from the waves, to sheet the jib...all while earning college credit.

Have no clue what that means but that sounds awesome

 

[swimmy]

Yesterday was a heavy day as we visited the McLeod Plantation. Many romanticize the Antebellum South but McLeod is known for telling about what really happened on these plantations. It was a very powerful experience.

This is what many want you to see...

But there is a very dark side of the story that is often side-stepped. These bricks were handmade by slaves, usually by the kids. Here you can see fingerprints that were left during the manufacturing process.

Here is the "housing." One room, no bathroom, wood floors.

One thing that was a sign of progress, on this tour there was a bi-racial gay couple along with a black man and his son. How fitting. We did not form the perfect union, but we strive to form a more perfect union. Very wise words.

Slavery will always be one of the great crimes against humanity. And the story should be told without sugar coating. If you ever find yourself in Charleston, I highly recommend this tour.

 

[swimmy]

Grew up there. Was fishing for king mackerel off the south jetty on the day they raised the Hunley, just a mile or so from where I was anchored up. Hunley was the first submarine to ever sink another ship. Huge flotilla followed the barge with the submarine on it back into the harbor. The Hunley is now in a museum on the old Charleston Naval Base. If you're ever there, I highly recommend it as a piece of history worth learning about.

Thanks. We are going this morning to check it out.

 

[MarshRat]

Welcome to the Lowcountry! You hit some great weather. I'll be out both days this weekend on a buddy's skiff. PM me if you need restaurant rec's or activity rec's. Hope chucktown shows you a good time.

 

[Matt B]

Thanks. We are going this morning to check it out.

When I wanted to get folks out of town I used to like to take them to see the Angel Oak out toward Wadmalaw. Plus you can usually get some Cajun flavor boiled peanuts on the way.

 

[Buzzy]

When I wanted to get folks out of town I used to like to take them to see the Angel Oak out toward Wadmalaw. Plus you can usually get some Cajun flavor boiled peanuts on the way.

Boiled peanuts - I had the pleasure of working with a young lady from Georgia. She used to talk about "boiled peanuts" - which was foreign to me being a country hick from Sequim. After one of her trips back home, she brought us a fresh "bolled peenuts". What a treat! Cajun flavor?