Your Muse Awaits ....
Fascinating stories rarely told during the summer abound across South Carolina
Here are just a few story ideas that could be the basis for great fall features. To discuss any of these, or to get contact information and photography, contact the Director of Public Relations for the SC Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism, Dawn Dawson-House, at ddawson@scprt.com or (803) 734-1779.
You can keep up with stories as they emerge by browsing the official web site at www.DiscoverSouthCarolina.com and / or subscribing to South Carolina’s e-newsletters by clicking here.
Story Categories
New Pat Boone Family Theater at Myrtle Beach
The Pat Boone Family Theater is slated for a grand opening in August 2011. Approximately $1 million in renovations will turn the former NASCAR Café restaurant into a 600-seat theater where only 50 feet will separate the back row of the audience from the stage. Pat Boone, who rose to fame in the 1950s and 1960s and continues to record, will help book acts and also perform several times a year. A Boone Museum will feature some of his memorabilia. The theater will have a resident illusionist and mentalist, Morgan Strebler who will perform three shows six days a week in peak season with interactive and mind bending illusions. The theater will also host gospel concerts, Christmas shows and other family friendly events. The venue will also feature a late-night lounge, set to open in early fall. More info. Contact. Other New Developments in Myrtle Beach! Photography.
New Horse Concierge and Dog Concierge services at historic hotel
The Willcox hotel in Aiken, South Carolina, heart of Thoroughbred Country, now offers concierge services for their guests’ horses or dogs. Specialists at the hotel can direct guests to a number of equine services in town, including farriers, feed dealers, grooming, equipment repair services and veterinarians. And dogs are greeted with water and food bowls, and doggie treats upon arrival, and they are given a doggie bed in their rooms. The Willcox’s guests have come to appreciate the elegance and superior service of the 113-year-old hotel, where Teddy and Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and dozens of Vanderbilts and Whitneys stayed. Once the playground of the rich and famous, The Willcox today offers something for everyone while maintaining its distinctive character of good taste, luxurious settings and fine dining. More info. Contact. Photography.
Charleston Area Family Fun and New Charleston Explorers Club
Families are invited to embrace a theme—adventure, encounter, imagine or unplug—while using the newly launched CharlestonFamilyFun.comto create a customized vacation itinerary. Age-appropriate activities at area attractions, a list of local beaches, child-friendly restaurants and tours, vacation packages, coupons and a portal to the brand new Charleston Explorers Club are key components of the site. The adventure begins at any Official Charleston Area visitor center, where families receive a keepsake passport upon registering for the free Charleston Explorers Club, a creative program that combines a tangible passport and inked stamps with social media-style check-ins. With passport in hand, families embark on a journey to more than 30 participating attractions. Every site has an emblematic icon and unique secret code. Explorers then log in at CharlestonExplorers.com and turn the secret codes into prizes while working up the ranks from deckhand to admiral. As ranks are achieved, secret prizes arrive in the mail. The Charleston Explorers Club never expires, meaning families may map out visits to participating attractions over the course of several vacations and prizes will continue to arrive. More info. Contact. Photography.
First Electrical Charging Stations on the Carolina Coast
Ocean Lakes Family Campground now has the first set of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in the Coastal Carolinas. Ocean Lakes built two stations as part of its award-winning iCare Program aimed at reducing the environmental impact of its campground and guests. The Level 2 EV Charging Stations are open to the general public, as well as Ocean Lakes guests. Contact. Photography.
New Music Trail set up in Spartanburg
A remarkable number of prominent musicians hail from Spartanburg, South Carolina. To honor these musicians, a Music Trail and an audio tour have been installed in downtown Spartanburg. Visitors can dial a number from their phone to learn about the artist as well as hear a sample of their music. The initial honorees include a dozen musicians who are either deceased or are bands that no longer perform in their initial makeup. The Marshall Tucker Band, Pink Anderson, Walter Hyatt, William Walker and Ira Tucker are among the musicians honored on the trail. Each year, new musicians will be added to the trail, with the hopes of the trail circling the downtown area. Contact.
New interpretive signs at RevWar Trail
A series of historical interpretive signs have been produced for the Camden District Revolutionary War Trail to also include the Battle of Camden trail. A full color brochure is also now available to tourists to provide a self-guided tour along the trail with interpretive signs at each of the major locations. Camden was at the center of some of the hardest fighting between the Americans and British in the struggle for independence. The tour begins at Historic Camden Revolutionary War Site, where the original town was located. Two of the Revolution’s most important battles were fought in Camden…the Battle of Camden in August 1780 and the Battle of Hobkirk’s Hill in April 1781. Contact.
New exhibit – Lunch Counter at Mann-Simons Cottage
Historic Columbia Foundation is pleased to announce the opening of a new exhibit at the Mann-Simons site. The exhibit tells the story of the lunch counter, in operation on the site from 1891 to 1909, from an archaeological perspective. More than 3,700 artifacts were recovered during an archaeological dig at the site. Thanks to the discovery of a large, well preserved trash pit during excavations in 2006, the day-to-day operations of the lunch counter can be told in remarkable detail and offers visitors a glimpse at what fast food looked like 100 years ago, as well as why Jim Crow segregation took the form it did in the American South. The exhibit is composed of five display cases, offering a representative sample of the artifacts recovered in terms of architecture, food and beverage, tableware and food preparation, infrastructure, and household trash. More info. Contact. Photography.
Improvements at Charleston City Market
The heartbeat of downtown Charleston just got a little stronger. Thanks to a $5.5 million, 18 month, makeover to the Charleston City Market, a central tourist attraction in one of America's most historic and picturesque cities. Built in 1788, Market Street became a public food market with a structure formally built in 1807 when stands were rented for 25 cents a week. Since that time the Market has been under threat of being closed to be a freight station or shopping mall, rebuilt or replaced. With this renovation it will continue to thrive as the number one free spot to visit in Charleston. Renovations include the Great Hall’s walkway — built in the early 1970s when the market last saw an extensive remodel — which has been replaced with a central aisle that stretches through the three renovated open-air buildings of the Market. New skylights run the length of the Hall and through formerly enclosed arched windows. Also, along a small part of North Market Street, visitors can now enjoy an umbrella-shaded outdoor dining area near two restaurants in the Great Hall. More info. Contact. Photography.
New Society House in Charleston
The Society House is Charleston’s newest luxury lodging experience. Originally built in 1801, it combines the charm of Historic Charleston with comfort that discerning travelers have come to expect. Located at 292 King Street, the Society House offers the privacy and space of a downtown apartment with the indulgence of a luxury hotel. The nine suites boast full kitchens with stainless steel appliances and beautiful granite countertops, spacious living rooms, contemporary furnishings, state-of-the-art flat panel satellite televisions, complimentary high-speed wireless internet and spa quality bath amenities. For more information, visit www.TheSocietyHouse.com. Contact.
The Elliott House Inn renovated and reopening
The beloved Elliott House Inn is scheduled to reopen this Fall after a two year renovation. Returning guests will find 25 cozy rooms with remodeled bathrooms, flat screen televisions and new furnishings that maintain the Inn’s historic Southern charm. Structural renovations include reinforcement of interior and exterior walls, an enlarged building housing laundry facilities and new stairs and walkways. The Inn will continue to provide guests’ favorite amenities including an afternoon Manager’s Reception, a large heated courtyard hot tub and continental breakfast delivered on silver trays. Previous Inn guests will find a revitalized Queen Street featuring the new Husk and Petticoats restaurants joining Charleston classics Poogan’s Porch and 82 Queen. Information about the Inn’s renovation progress can be found on its Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/ElliottHouseInn. Contact.
The Aiken Railroad Depot
The rebuilt Aiken Railroad Depot houses the Aiken Visitors Center and Train Museum. Although new, it has a place in the untold history of
· how the first two “railroad towns” in the world came about: Aiken & Summerville, SC
· the first designed steam powered commercial railroad in the world
· the longest in the world at that time (136 miles in 1833)
The Aiken Railroad Depot, originally built on this site in 1899 and rebuilt in 2010, exists due to William C. Whitney’s championing its construction. In 1898 Whitney’s beautiful young bride Edith Randolph Whitney suffered a horseback riding injury in Aiken and died in May of the following year. Legend persists that Whitney blamed the earlier tiny Aiken depot as a reason for a critical delay in his wife’s care. More info. Contact. Photography.
Renovated, Historic Beaufort Arsenal
The historic Beaufort Arsenal, a tabby structure built in 1798 to store weapons for Beaufort’s Volunteer Artillery, was recently renovated. Still maintaining its historic significance, the building now houses the visitor center and the offices of Beaufort’s Visitor and Convention Bureau and is open to the public as an event venue. The arsenal was used in every war fought in the United States. More info. Contact. Photography.
Tourism Going Green in Columbia, SC
The growing concern worldwide over global warming and climate change has led to dramatic changes in consumer attitudes, travel seasonality and other travel trends. With an ever-increasing number of well-informed travelers looking to significantly reduce their carbon footprint by opting for environmentally-friendly travel and tourism services, our region is excited to offer travelers a greener option. The Columbia Museum of Art implemented a renewable energy project using an array of solar panels on the roof of its building which is reducing the amount of energy the museum has to purchase. The Museum received a grant to fund the 177 solar panels, special installation equipment, 6 electrical inverters and a web based monitoring system. The solar panels will produce up to 10% of the Museum’s daily usage, offset 40 tons of carbon every year, save 379 trees per year and generate 53,340 kilowatts per hour. A special educational webpage at columbiamuseum.org provides visitors with fun facts, live readings of energy saved, photos and interactive games for kids. At the Holiday Inn® & Suites Columbia - Airport, they are passionate about green lodging. Designed to meet LEED certification, the hotel features eco-friendly materials and efforts with rainwater harvesting and recycled pool-side furniture. Travelers can also breathe easy at this eco-friendly property. They are the first hotel in South Carolina to meet EcoRoom Certification, designed for LEED certification. And, they’re 100% smoke free. More info. Contact.
Fall Color and the Great Outdoors
Women's only hickory-shafted golf tournament
Established in 1912, the Aiken Golf Club was the first in the nation to have women’s tees built in. They honor that legacy by hosting an exclusive, ladies only, hickory-shafted golf tournament – the only such tournament in the world – every fall. The course is only 16 miles east of Augusta National. The 2011 tournament will be held Oct. 28-29 at the course. Contact. Photography.
Oconee’s All Wet
Families looking for a variety of water-based activities can do no better than to visit Oconee, the Cherokee word for “land beside the water.” The variety of water-based activities will challenge a family to enjoy them all in a week. Why not begin with an educational trip popular with kids? Visit the Walhalla Fish Hatchery to learn about trout and watch the fish school. Then, picnic lunches in hand, hike to a beautiful, cool, secluded waterfall—like lovely Station Cove, splashy Yellow Branch, or impressive Whitewater Falls, the highest waterfall in the East. Or visit one of our popular lakes--Hartwell , Jocassee, and Keowee--to camp, swim, sail, or fish. For more of a challenge, adventure seekers can canoe, kayak, or whitewater raft on the “Wild and Scenic” Chattooga River. Contact. Photography.
Farm and Garden Festivals in the state’s heartland
Hug an alpaca, pick humongous blackberries or enjoy hot chocolate and live music while choosing the freshest and fullest Christmas tree you’ve ever had during the bi-annual Farm and Garden Festivals of the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor. From September- December and March-June farms from all over the 17-county area host an assortment of festivities each weekend to provide fun and educational activities for the family. Contact.
Resort helps protect endangered Loggerheads
On the 10 miles of beach on Kiawah Island, there are more than 230 loggerhead sea turtle nests this season, the entire stretch carefully protected by the Kiawah Island Turtle Patrol, one of the largest in the United States. These resort residents create buffer zones and monitor the incubation process for the eggs, which are buried just 18 inches below the sand. Loggerheads have become endangered after their coastal, sand-dune habitats have decreased and ocean fishing practices have injured or maimed them. Finding loggerheads on the beach is rare, but visitors to Kiawah sometimes are lucky enough to witness a nesting, a “hatch” and mad rush to the sea, or they can watch a “turtle release” after the turtle has been rehabilitated by the South Carolina Aquarium. More info. Contact. Photography.
The Wild and Scenic Chattooga River
May 10, 2014, marks the 40th anniversary of the Chattooga River’s designation by Congress as Wild and Scenic. Remote, pristine, rugged, and undammed, the Chattooga was known by few until Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty, and Jon Voight made it famous. The popularity of the movie Deliverance, based on James Dickey’s 1970 novel and filmed in part on the Chattooga, was responsible for a surge in interest in the river and resulted in an effort to preserve this unique resource and protect it from development and misuse. As a result, the Forest Service oversees commercial rafting ventures, river safety rules are in place, road and use access is limited, and the mountain laurel and rhododendron grow in peace on its rocky shores. Contact. Photography.
Bikeville USA
Also known as Bikeville, Greenville has become a hub for avid cyclers. One of the most popular trails in the area is the Greenville Hospital System Swamp Rabbit Tram Trail, a 13.55 mile biking trail that runs along the Reedy River connecting Travelers Rest with the City of Greenville. A new favorite near the end of the trail- The Café @ Williams Hardware, offers folks a place to stop in off the Swamp Rabbit Trail, visit with friends, have a bite to eat and enjoy an old-fashioned sense of community. On a Saturday early afternoon, it’s almost impossible to find a place to park your bike among the dozens lined up outside the café. For those in search of a shorter journey, Lake Conestee Nature Park has 2 miles of paved trails and 3 miles of natural trails. For women, the new Pedal Chic boutique is the only women-specific cycling and athletic boutique in the Southeast, offering an unparalleled selection of apparel for the female athlete (ie Designer duds for cycling gals). And of course, as Greenville is home to both George Hincapie and the Greenville Hospital System USA Pro-Cycling Championships- held each year in May. More info. Contact. Photography.
Dive Oconee
You don’t have to go to the coast to enjoy your scuba gear in South Carolina. Many divers spend their weekends at Lakes Jocassee and Keowee when typical coastal dive spots are just too far to go. And there’s much to see here. In Lake Jocassee, divers can visit a quarry (complete with a motorcycle and basketball goal), a cemetery, an underwater forest, and a Chinese junk. Some 300 feet down, very experienced divers will find the three-story Attakula Lodge, an inn on the shores of the Whitewater River. Nearby the inn are stone columns that once marked the entrance to a 1920s camp for girls. Lake Keowee offers the Hot Hole, a warm area rich in wildlife, and an overhead dive to an old pump house/water treatment facility. These areas are so popular that divers come from the coast to the mountains to visit them! Contact. Photography.
South Carolina’s State Heritage Horse
A breed thought to be extinct in the 80s and 90s has made a comeback in a big way. Marsh Tacky horses originated from Spanish stock during colonization period, and their descendants still hold the same sure-footed, levelheaded traits that carried soldiers well through the Revolutionary and Civil War. Marsh Tackies can be found throughout the Pee Dee Region, on trails and in military reenactments. Marsh Tacky breeder David Grant provides tours of his stables and explains why the Marsh Tacky holds the designation of the official SC State Heritage Horse. More info. Contact.
Brevard Fault Zone
A massive geologic fault, old and worn, cuts Oconee County: the Brevard Fault Zone. Separating the Blue Ridge to the west from the Piedmont to the east, this fault marks the seam where in a drama of ancient violence, rock layers to the east were shoved westward by colliding continents up and onto layers to the west. For an analogy, think of ice flows on an Arctic sea being shoved atop one another, with resulting breaks and folds and ridges, or try it yourself at home, sliding two flat pieces of cardboard against each other across a tabletop. Let the edges catch and bend and then jump on top of each other with a jerk. Now think of this happening in rock layers across the Southeast, across western South Carolina, and across Oconee County. If you want to stand on the fault, go to the bridge over the Chauga River on Whetstone Road, called Blackwell Bridge by some, or drive to the Chauga at Grapevine camp or Hellhole, or for a more relaxed and filling visit, drive into Brasstown Valley off Hwy 76 and have some Brasstown BBQ on a quiet evening, thinking of cataclysms past. It was a long time ago. Contact. Photography.
Wounded Warrior Hunt
This special hunt welcomes injured active duty US Marines and soldiers plus adult handicapped hunters and youth hunters with the state’s Outdoor Dream Foundation to the Lowcountry wilds of South Carolina. About a dozen plantations will open up their grounds for this hunt and the hunters typically harvest deer and wild hog.Contact. Photography. Video.
“Caching”Oconee
Do you love mystery . . . treasure . . . fancy technology . . . excitement? You don’t have to be James Bond or Indiana Jones to find it in Oconee County—you just have to own a GPS receiver. Join the growing number of geo-cachers and combine travel, outdoor recreation, and an online community. Seek out the hundreds of interesting, surprising, and breathtaking cache sites in Oconee. Pack RC Cola and a Moon Pie, gather up your camera and handy GPS receiver, and set your sights on adventure. Eat boiled peanuts at one site; go swimming at another; splash in a waterfall at a third. Then log on to www.geocaching.com, report your successes to fellow cachers, and begin planning your next tour deep into Oconee’s outdoors. Contact. Photography.
Hilton Head Island is known as the, “Golf Island.” There are 24 courses on this 12-mile long- and 5-mile wide piece of real estate paradise. But, what golfers still may not know is how special golfing on Hilton Head Island can be in the fall. Temperatures are in the 70s, the skies are a crisp, clean Carolina blue, the humidity drops and the only reason to be indoors is out of exhaustion from too much play. Group golf outings are easily accommodated by the hotels and resorts – groups can even stay in large, ocean-oriented private homes, cooking and relaxing together. While on the Island, eco-minded guests can enjoy the outdoors even more by playing an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program certified course – there are six on the Island. More info. Contact. Photography.
How do you do, Tugaloo? (Locals call it Bull Sluice Lake)
There’s a gem of a reservoir on Oconee County’s border with Georgia, filled with waters flowing from the Chattooga and Tallulah Rivers. Usually spelled Tugaloo, some rhyme the name with “do you do”; some rhyme the name with “bugaboo.” Some rhyme the name with “do you know,” especially those who spell the name Tugalo. Of course, the locals call it Bull Sluice Lake, which makes sense if you’ve heard the tale that the Chattooga River’s original Bull Sluice rapid was where the lake is now, and that the name was only given to the rapid some 20 miles upstream when the lake was flooded, a matter of some 100 years ago or so. You might know that rapid, just upstream from the Highway 76 bridge, at a place that used to be called Rouge’s Ford. . . .Contact. Photography.
Revisit Deliverance
James Dickey’s acclaimed novel was published in 1970; the movie was released in 1972—come 2012, that’s 40 years ago, an anniversary well worth celebrating. Filmed in various locations in Oconee County, South Carolina, and Rabun County, Georgia, the film galvanized bold (and sometimes ill prepared) adventurers to risk the roiling rapids and dense forests of the Chattooga River. Starring Burt Reynolds and Ned Beatty, Deliverance served as the catalyst for the booming whitewater rafting industry in the area and the federal designation of the Chattooga as a Wild and Scenic River. Contact. Photography.
The River You Don’t Know—the Chauga
The Chattooga River is Oconee County’s star—famous river, big name, a real action star. But there is another classic river in the western part of the county—visited less, paddled less, fished less—just less well-known: the Chauga. Formed in Mountain Rest, at the coming-together of the various branches of Village Creek, from a multitude of springs, and out of the waters flowing from numerous small lakes with vacation homes, past corn fields and pastures on bottomland, the Chauga casts off its rural beginnings and becomes a wilderness. Steep, remote, rugged, wild—these words are all apt for the Chauga River—the Chattooga’s smaller, but maybe tougher, brother. Contact. Photography.
Station Cove
When you mention a cove to most folks, they think of an arm of a lake, a bending shoreline, maybe a few docks with kids playing or a fisherman casting a lure. And while this is true, there is another meaning in the mountains: a steep valley opening from the heights behind, like a bowl or cupped hands, usually pouring water onto the lands below. And, if this cove is south-facing, then sunlight and warmth pours into it, and the backing hills shelter it, and the whole valley grows rich and varied plant life, blooming early and lingering late, the way that you can grow a fig bush against a south-facing brick wall. Station Cove, near historic Oconee Station, is such a setting—a garden-spot of wildflowers, shrubs, and mixed hardwoods, with a gorgeous waterfall to boot, and well worth a visit. Contact. Photography.
Purple Martin Phenomenon
During July and August, the Lake Murray sky gets dark and millions of Purple Martins fill the predawn and evening skies, establishing seasonal digs at Lunch (Bomb) Island in the middle of Lake Murray. Lunch Island, once a practice bombing range for World War II plane crews, is the perfect spot for the birds to roost. By day they disperse for many miles to feed. At night, they settle onto the island. There are about three-quarters of a million birds and the numbers are still increasing. Visitors can view this unique attraction, the largest, natural, roosting sanctuary in North America by boarding a boat for an evening cruise. More info. Contact.
Paddling along the Swamp Fox Trail
Find yourself paddling back in time to the Revolutionary War sites that earned Gen. Francis Marion the nom de guerre “Swamp Fox.” Several outfitters, including Naturally Outdoors and River Rats, lead relaxing excursions through the cypress tree canopied portion of Lynches River to Snow Island which was the hideout of the legendary war hero. More info.Contact.
Wine on Tap at Nose Dive in Greenville
Not only does Nose Dive in Greenville have a clever name and interesting menu, but it also has wine on tap. That’s right. Beer isn’t the only beverage on tap anymore. The gastropub is offering four wines on tap: merlot, sauvignon blanc and chardonnay from Silvertap and pinot noir from Saintsbury. The price by the glass is from $6 to $10. It is one of the few restaurants in the country serving wine on tap, but it is a trend likely to spread rapidly in the coming years. Wine on tap is good for the environment. Each reusable barrel of wine contains the equivalent of 26 bottles or 108 glasses of wine. So each barrel means 26 bottles and labels don’t have to be produced and shipped. Contact. Photography.
Chocolate, Chocolate and More Chocolate!
Chocolate is just about everybody’s favorite treat and at Bush River Farm in Clinton, South Carolina, chocolate is King and Queen in the sweet circle. Chocolate isn’t just for holiday delights because at The Farmhouse at Bush River Farm chocolate cooking classes are offered throughout the year. How about a chocolate breakfast? This might include white chocolate scones, granola with chocolate bits, chocolate waffles with grand Marnier reduction syrup or just a chocolate truffle at the end of the breakfast. And a lovely cup of hot chocolate can make any visitor happy. The Farmhouse also hosts other cooking classes but the “Chocolate” class is a favorite of many because students are introduced to new chocolate creations that will make desserts have a WOW factor. Students are taught to make their own chocolate covered cherries, experiment with cocoa/chipotle chili blends in cakes, learn how to make a chocolate-orange mousse cakes that melts in your mouth and also make the popular chocolate crème Brule. More info. Contact.
Gourmet Dining on Wheels
Food trucks in Columbia have taken mobile dining to a whole new level. Gourmet shrimp burgers, orzo pasta salad with feta and tomatoes, fried green tomato sandwiches and mac-n-cheese stuffed chicken wings are just some of the good stuff found from these units. Vendors such as 2 Fat 2 Fly, Pawley’s Front Porch,Alfresco Mobilista and Bone-In Artisan BBQ are the ones serving up these dishes and desserts, and they are getting attention in the state’s capital city. More info. Contact. Photography.
Cooking Classes at a charming Inn
Cooking classes at Abingdon Manor offer a fun way to relax, unwind, cook and eat your way through a weekend. Each class is suitable for up to six people, who will spend the weekend at this beautiful Inn in South Carolina’s scenic coastal plain, and receive hands on instruction for some of the Inn's favorite recipes. For one price, the package includes two night’s stay at the inn, breakfast Saturday and Sunday, dinner Friday and Saturday, wine sipping, the cooking classes, a recipe book, an apron and lifelong memories of a gourmet dinner in a charming setting. Contact. Photography.
Liver Nip Capital of the World – Newberry, South Carolina
Every year at Oktoberfest in Newberry, there is a Liver Nip cook-off. Liver nips are probably of Germanic origin and can range from little chunky bits of liver swimming in a peppery, creamed gravy to a dumpling-like concoction. Knödel is German for dumpling, which may be part of the derivation of the name. One recipe starts with a chuck roast for the broth. The dumplings are made with flour and beef liver that was basically scraped so that it was almost liquefied. The nips were then dropped into the boiling beef stock and cooked until done. Nothing special was done to thicken the broth; that just happened from the flour in the dumplings. Another recipe is to have little liver meatballs finely ground, spiced and pan fried. They are often covered in white gravy and go great with mashed potatoes. Sometimes eggs, flour, chopped onion, salt, thyme, sage and parsley are added, often along with heavy cream. The liver can be chicken or calves. This recipe is not for the faint of heart or the cholesterol challenged. Contact.
Grits and Groceries
Heidi and Joe Trull each bring a life-long love of homecooking to do "real food, done real good," at Grits and Groceries, with daily specials that combine Cajun, Creole, and Southern cooking traditions. Originally born and raised in the Carolinas, they recently moved back from New Orleans where Heidi owned and operated the well-loved restaurant, Elizabeth's, and Joe spent a decade as the pastry chef at Emeril Lagasse's Nola. When they realized their family was growing to three, they found the perfect spot in rural upstate South Carolina to open the renovated country store turned restaurant. The world-class homemade dessert menu changes daily and the Saturday Brunch is an extravaganza of special dishes that make your mouth water just reading the menu. Wherever possible Heidi and Joe use locally-grown organic produce and dairy goods and they grow an extensive garden to provide seasonal vegetables to the restaurant. Contact. Photography.
Eat like a local with these favorite recipes!
Some of the most popular dishes in the Greenville culinary scene can easily be made at home with these recipes. Try your luck at Easy Panella as the appetizer, Shrimp and Grits as an entree, and Soby’s White Chocolate Banana Cream Pie for dessert. Enjoy! Contact. Photography.
Burgertown
South Carolina is known for its classic barbeque sandwich – pulled pork, mustard sauce and a fresh bun. But, if you spend anytime in Columbia, you might find that it’s really a Burger town! There are so many options and price points. One may desire a simple $2 burger and milkshake or one may want a $12 burger with a glass of Cabernet. Whatever your taste buds desire, there’s plenty of burgers to chose from. Click here for a list of burger joints to head to. More info. Contact.
South Carolina Roots run deep at Red Bone Alley
Smooth, creamy, and packed with jumbo shrimp from coastal South Carolina - You’ve never really tasted shrimp and grits until you’ve ordered them from Red Bone Alley. The menu focuses on South Carolina regional cuisine. Closely tied to the land, sea and rivers that abound in the region, South Carolina's cuisine is influenced by hundreds of years of French, Mediterranean, African, English and West Indian cooking. The atmosphere is full of southern grace and hospitality, and even includes an ice cream truck with free desserts for kids. Details. Contact. Photography.
Frogmore Stew
Frogmore Stew is a classic Lowcountry dish, a one-pot stew of savory shrimp, spicy sausage, corn-on-the-cob, red potatoes, seasonings and “uttah tings!” The dish – also known as Lowcountry boil -- likely got its origins from shrimpers and locals who threw together leftovers for a quick meal. Although the dish contains no frogs, it is named after a small community on a sea island near Beaufort. More info. Photography.
Charleston Area Cuisine
To tell the story of Lowcountry cuisine is to trace the progression of plantation-field-to-table fare through more than 300 years of history and three distinct evolutions of chefs—the vanguards of Gullah, the forerunners of fine Lowcountry dining and today’s talents who prepare sophisticated interpretations of local ingredients. With emphasis placed on seasonal staples and flavors reflecting the Caribbean and African influences on the region’s sea island heritage, the cuisine is the heart and soul of Charleston culture. Tastemakers abound in this slice of the South. For three consecutive years (2008 – 2010), a Charleston chef brought home the esteemed James Beard Foundation Best Chef Award, a triumphant three-peat for a region flush with talented toques. Meanwhile, the World's Largest Oyster Roast takes place every January, when two tractor trailers full of the salty mollusks are hauled onto the grounds of Boone Hall Plantation, and the fragrant fog of oysters steamed in wet burlap hangs above the shuck ‘em-and-slurp ‘em crowd. More info. Contact. Photography.
Culinary Revival in Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand
Throughout the last decade a culinary revival has been flourishing throughout the Grand Strand with local chefs altering traditional Lowcountry dishes to add a more modern flare. The “Carolina Coastal Cuisine” prides itself in using fresh local seafood and produce, rice, sweat potatoes, grits, country ham, peanuts and fruits such as peaches and berries. Local, favorite chefs are using unique timeless recipes passed down for generations while adding their own 21st century interpretation. Popular, new restaurants are emerging throughout the Myrtle Beach area incorporating beloved cuisine from the Carolinas as well as flavors from around the world to create a memorable and unique dining experience. Contact. More info. Photography.
A Kickin’ Kind of Flavor
Kickers Restaurant is an eclectic restaurant located in the heart of Uptown Greenwood, South Carolina, featuring marvelous worldwide cuisine including Greek, Caribbean, Moroccan and Cuban. Chef Abdel Dimiati, a native of Zimbabwe, has a deep passion for creating great entrees and experimenting with unusual combinations of spices and food items. Kickers has a daily menu of soups that range from Moroccan to Caribbean to Indian to Cuban-you name a country, Chef Abdel has a spice. A favorite menu item is the Sundance Pimento Burger. The pimento spread used on this burger is a collection of spices that gives new meaning to pimento cheese! The famous Moroccan turkey burger with its raisins, almonds and aromatic spices is a crowd favorite. The Honey Soy Salmon has a sweet tangy sauce made from an array of Asian spices and it is always a sellout. Chef Abdel can be reached at 864-943-5300 or visit http://www.kickersrestaurant.com.
The Music to Your Mouth Culinary Festival, sponsored by Coastal Living magazine, will be holding its fifth annual event, November 14-20, 2011, at the beautiful grounds of the prestigious, award-winning residential resort community of Palmetto Bluff, located along the May River in Bluffton, South Carolina. This year’s event features a power-packed line up of chefs, culinary experts, winemakers, and sommeliers from across the southeast and as far away as California and France. Hosted by BRAVO TV culinary expert, Gail Simmons, the event includes golf outings, over- the-top pig pickins and oyster roasts, Saturday’s main culinary festival, wine tastings, cooking classes, boat cruises and more. Themed this year as the, “Whole Hog,” visitors can expect to find Southern foods, activities and flavors at their finest. More info. Contact.
The Colonial Cup – Tailgating of a different sort
Each fall, millions gather for the ritual of tailgating at college football games, but in Camden, there’s tailgating of a different sort. The Colonial Cup steeplechase races at Springdale Race Course bring out tens of thousands who layout their fine china and gourmet dishes around the horse track for a day of racing. It’s a Carolina tradition that’s about 42 years old, and shows no sign of fading. In fact, this year’s races will feature a salute to the military. The racing association is giving away more than $150,000 worth of tickets to military members (active and retired) and their families on a first-come, first-served basis, and is planning other tributes. MSNBC news anchor Rita Crosby is scheduled to address the crowd. More info. Contact. Facebook photos. Promotional video.
Borders, Yorkies and Jack Russells welcome! Terrier Trials at the Colonial Cup
Each year, families have a chance to put their pet in the spotlight at the Colonial Cup Terrier Fun Day. Dog owners can register pets for Steeplechase or go-to-ground races and a high-jump competition. As part of the Carolina Cup Racing Association’s “Saluting our Military” events, there will be a Patriotic Pooch Costume Class. Pets in Old Glory regalia will be on parade to show their support to thousands of service members and their families. The events are open to Borders, Yorkies, Jack Russells and mixes as long as the pet can fit through a 9-inch hole. More info. Contact.
The ghost of the Newberry Opera House
The Newberry Opera House is the performance home for many great acts -- from The Oak Ridge Boys to Michael Bolton. However, in the wee hours of the morning, it is also home to a beautiful young woman who populates the back balcony and watches the final work of the technical crew as they close up a late night performance. Unnamed, she is believed to have lost her love during the Civil War and keeps watch for him hoping to find her soulmate among the constant flow of visitors on the stage. Her story is not the only ghost story in Newberry. For others ..... Contact. Photography.
Boo at the Zoo
October 14 – 16 and 21 – 30, 2011
Hey, kids! Put on your cutest costume and head over to Riverbanks Zoo and Garden for the popular Halloween spook-tacular, Boo at the Zoo. Children 12 and under are invited to wear costumes for a spook-fest complete with Frankenstein’s Foam Zone, an eeky freaky DJ dance party and a trick-or-treat trail with candy and more. This family-friendly festival runs for 13 nights leading up to Halloween from 6 to 9pm. Contact. Access to photography.
Terror Under the Bridge!
Set in an old abandoned warehouse, this creepy landmark in downtown Conway is known by some to be actually haunted. Each year they offer new props, actors and brand new layouts of the warehouse itself. This year, the event starts Oct. 27 and runs through Halloween night. Tickets are $10 and the warehouse is located just off 2nd Avenue in downtown Conway.More info. Contact. Photography.
Nightmare Haunted House in Myrtle Beach
Located at 10th Avenue North on Ocean “Boo”levard, this haunted house attraction has been around since the 1980s scaring the wits out of tourists and locals alike. A crazy clown laughs his evil laugh as you struggle to find your way through the dark corridors. Live actors and props make the experience as chilling as possible. More info. Contact. Photography.
Ripley’s Haunted Adventure
This is a year-round attraction, open daily and located on Ocean Blvd. near 9th Avenue North in Myrtle Beach. The attraction features live actor, animatronics and bone-chilling effects not suitable for the faint of heart. More info.Contact. Photography.
Trunk or Treat on Newberry Street
Each Halloween little ghosts and goblins gather at the Newberry Street Festival Center in Aiken. Local businesses donate their time, money and creativity to participate in this safe and fun event for youth age 12 and under. Organized by the City of Aiken Parks, Recreation & Tourism, the street is lined with vehicles decorated by local businesses and dole out treats from their trunks; while having fun trying to win the best decorated vehicle contest. Carnival games, food vendors and costume contests for the best kids, family, dog, etc. round out the fun of the evening. More info. Contact. Photography.
Land’s End Light
Many locals of the Beaufort sea islands are familiar with, and have seen, the “Land’s End Light”, a single beam of light traveling down Land’s End Road on St. Helena Island. Described as an oval shape and a hue between yellow and pale orange, it travels at a height of 10 to 12 feet above the road. It is said the glow moves straight toward a parked car and suddenly disappears. Some people suspect the light is a Confederate soldier looking for his severed head. Others say it’s the spirit of an unhappy slave searching for his wife. Still others say it’s a soldier killed during a fight at Fort Fremont in 1910. Contact.
Scarecrows in the Garden
Take a stroll through the historic Robert Mills House and Garden grounds in Columbia to view dozens of uniquely-crafted scarecrows from area businesses, schools, families, and organizations during Historic Columbia Foundation’s Scarecrows in the Garden. This free exhibit showcases ghoulish, historical, and colorful scarecrows for all to enjoy. Find our "Sneaky Steve" scarecrow who is hiding somewhere on the grounds, enjoy a scavenger hunt and select your favorite scarecrow. More info. Contact.
Spirits and Pumpkins at Living History Park
Each fall, the Living History Park in North Augusta celebrates the season by offering great events colonial style! First, tours are offered for those who want to walk amongst the ghosts of yesteryear during Spirits of Hallowed Eve. Visitors are guided through the colonial village and enjoy the local lore before ending the night with entertainment in the tavern. Later in the season, the park hosts Everything Pumpkin. This event teaches everything that can be done with pumpkins…soup, brownies and even forced pumpkin (you’ll have to come to find out what this is!). A jack-o-lantern and scarecrow displays are a local favorite. More info. Contact.
Turkeys on the Run– Gobble, Gobble!
The National Wild Turkey Federation’s (NWTF) Winchester Museum is the only museum of its kind in the world. Dedicated to the history of wild turkey hunting and conservation in North America, the museum has numerous exhibits such as a USDA Forest Service helicopter where a fire burn is simulated and an extensive collection of turkey calls. For those who love interaction, there are several displays geared toward small kids and “bigger” kids, AKA adults. Amazing dioramas of the five species of the wild turkey in North America provide the backdrop for a museum that is like no other in the world. The NWTF was formed in 1973 when there were only an estimated 1.3 million turkeys remaining in the North American wilderness. Today there are more than 7 million wild turkeys. A gift shop offers hunting gear, books, toys and souvenirs. The Winchester Museum is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. More info.
Aiken's One Table Thanksgiving
The community of Aiken, SC joins in thanks in November like no other city… at one long table. In 2010 over 3,000 men, women and children of this small town broke bread and gave thanks over a feast. Decorated tables run continuously down the streets and cobblestone alleys and live music is played and it is truly a site to see. One Table Thanksgiving is made possible by several donating organizations and the volunteers of cooks and servers, all offered in the spirit of community and the season. More info. Contact. Photography.
Family “floats” in Wild Dunes’ Thanksgivings Day Parade
Wild Dunes Resort near Charleston hosts its annual Duney’s Thanksgivings Day Parade, inviting resort guests to create their own family “float” out of a golf cart or bicycle and join in the procession. And after working up an appetite, the Resort’s Lettered Olive restaurant offers guests a prep- and clean-up-free traditional feast with all the fixings. Who says the beach isn’t a year round destination? More info. Contact.
Mepkin Abbey Creche Festival
Visitors from around the country flock to Mepkin Abbey, a Trappist Monastery in Moncks Corner, South Carolina for an incredible display of hundreds of unique, handmade nativity sets from around the world. Mepkin’s Abbey’s Creche Festival is a Lowcountry holiday tradition! The monks transform their conference center into a forest of trees and candles which serve as the backdrop for the Nativity sets. This year’s festival, free and open to the public by reservation, will be November 14th thru 20th and 25th, 26th & 27th for groups under 10, and November 28th thru December 3rd for Motorcoach Tours and groups larger than 10. Reservations are required. More info and contact. Photography.
Annual Spirituals Music Concert at Drayton Hall
For the 28th consecutive year, Drayton Hall presents African-American spiritual music in concert Dec. 3 and Dec. 4. One of the longest-running performances of its kind in the Lowcountry, these popular annual concerts have become a Charleston tradition as they offer a rare opportunity for visitors to gather at the oldest unrestored plantation house in America and experience music that could have been heard centuries ago in the surrounding fields and praise houses. Tickets are $35 for adults and $30 for Friends of Drayton Hall, and include a catered reception and informal tours of the house prior to the performance. Call (843) 769-2605 for information and reservations. More info. Contact. Photography.
Holiday Ornament Tour in Rock Hill
A new Holiday Ornament Tour in Rock Hill will take visitors to four historic and culturally significant sites in the region to celebrate the holidays. The sites are the Catawba Cultural Center, Glencairn Gardens, Historic Brattonsville and Historic Rock Hill’s White Home. Each stop will include a tour of the site and each visitor will receive a keepsake ornament to commemorate the experience. More info. Contact.
Christmasville in Rock Hill
This four-day festival turns Old Town Rock Hill into a whimsical holiday village with decorations, an outdoor walking art festival, the lighting of the village and more than 70 other events. More info. Contact.
Christmas in Charleston
will tell the story of Christmas in Charleston in a magazine narrative-style fashion using four themes—Traditions, Sweet & Savory, Trimmings and Stocking Stuffers—to paint a picture of the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and overall ambiance of the holiday season from a distinctively Lowcountry point of view. More info. Contact. Photography.
Lights Before Christmas
November 19 – December 30, 2011 (closed November 24, December 24 and 25)
Experience Columbia’s longest running holiday tradition at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. From 6 to 9pm each evening the Zoo shines with nearly one million twinkling lights and more than 350 handcrafted images. Take your photo with Santa, roast marshmallows at the Jingle Bell Bonfire and be sure to wear your hat – it snows nightly during the Lights Before Christmas. Contact. Access to photography.
Historic Holiday House Tours
Enjoy the holiday season with guided tours of house museums in the capital city -- The Robert Mills House, Hampton-Preston Mansion, and Mann-Simons Site. Guides will provide stories of holidays past in Columbia and discuss how families decorated and entertained during the 19th and early 20th centuries. View a variety of holiday decorations in each house and stunning details of our faux food on display. More info. Contact.
Christmas 1860
Fridays, December 2 & 9, 6:30 - 8:30 PM
Celebrate the holiday season with a special performance by candlelight event at the
Edmondston-Alston House. The historic house will be decorated for the holidays much as it would have been in 1860. Living historians in period clothing tell the story of Charleston’s last opulent Christmas before the start of the Civil War and traditions of the day. In the courtyard, enjoy hot cider and hear Christmas carols and spirituals sung by the Washingtons, Low Country singers specializing in African-American spirituals and Gullah songs. More info. Contact.
Grand Illumination: Christmas 1782
Thursday & Friday, Dec. 15 & 16, 6-8 p.m.
Experience the plantation by torchlight, candlelight, and starlight. Step back in time to Christmas 1782. Stroll through gardens and hear costumed interpreters along the way tell stories of this joyous holiday season when the British evacuated Charleston and the Middleton family was reunited near the end of the Revolutionary War. See the House seasonally decorated and glowing in candlelight, enjoy a warm fire, live music and a buffet dinner in the Pavilion. More info. Contact
Holiday Dinner package at Restoration on King
During the holidays, guests at this unique luxury hotel in downtown Charleston will find a pre-decorated holiday tree and chilled bottle of wine upon their arrival to their one- or two-bedroom suites. Their stay at Restoration on King also comes with a carriage ride to Charleston’s classic homes decorated in holiday flair and a private dinner in the suite. More info. Contact.
This Man Called Jesus
This Man Called Jesus is a Christmas drama that draws thousands each year to Lake Murray Baptist Church. More than 40,000 people attended in 2008 during 17 performances over three weekends. Presented by a costumed cast of more than 405 with live animals, inspiring music, drama, awesome sound effects and lighting, this is a must see Christmas holiday event! The two-hour production brings to life the story of Jesus beginning with his birth and continues with his ministry, miracles, trial, and death by crucifixion, glorious resurrection and awesome ascension. A spectacular heaven finale scene leaves the audience in awe! This event is free so arrive early as seating is on a first-come, first- serve basis. More info. Contact.
The 20th Annual Christmas In Hopelands
Each year, the City of Aiken spread’s Christmas joy with the presentation of a night-time journey through Hopelands Gardens, former estate of Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin. Over the years, the city has developed the Gardens into a year-round peaceful retreat. The adjacent estate of Mrs. Dorothy Knox Goodyear Rogers, known as Rye Patch, was also given to the City of Aiken. During December, the City of Aiken PRT transforms these two estates into a Christmas gift with over 100,000 lights. Complimentary refreshments are served. Discrete placement of speakers fills the night air with songs of the season. Some evenings, a live concert is offered. Existing buildings on the two estates are also decorated for the season where thousands of visitors have a joyous experience that reminds all of the peace and promise of the season. More info. Contact. Photography.
Beaufort celebrates 300 years
Chartered in 1711, the city of Beaufort, South Carolina, is the second oldest city in the state, just after Charleston. The coastal city initially grew slowly but eventually flourished as a center for shipbuilding and later in the antebellum period as the aristocratic center for the Lowcountry plantation economy. Today it is widely known for its scenic beauty and location just south of Charleston and north of Savannah, Ga., and the historic preservation of its antebellum homes, churches and other buildings like Fort Frederick, Old Sheldon Church and the John Mark Verdier House. The city will wrap up its 300th anniversary celebration in September with a parade down Bay Street led by Gary Sinise, who starred as Lt. Dan in the box office hit “Forrest Gump,” portions of which were filmed in Beaufort. The region is also offering great vacation packages starting at just $300. More info. Contact. Photography.
150th anniversary of Penn Center
First established as Penn School, the compound of dormitories and meeting halls on St. Helena Island off the coast of Beaufort was one of America’s first schools for freed slaves. As the campus converted to community buildings and other use, Penn School later became a site for strategic planning for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Today, Penn Center is a community center that offers educational history and cultural programs in its museum and other facilities on campus. The annual Penn Center Heritage Days, held annually the second weekend in November, celebrates the unique and influential history of the center and of the Gullah people of the sea islands. More info. Contact.
South Carolina to Georgia-The Civil Rights Road
Many historians believe that if it weren’t for Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, the world might never have known about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Greenwood, South Carolina native, Benjamin Mays, is credited with mentoring and inspiring the future civil rights leader during King’s years at Atlanta’s Morehouse College, where Mays served as president. The quieter Mays is surely not as famous as King, but Mays’ impact on American history reverberates more than 25 years after his death. At the Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Historical Preservation Site in Greenwood, South Carolina, visitors get a look back to the time of Mays childhood. In addition to the cabin where Dr. Mays lived, the site also features a one-room schoolhouse similar to the one Mays attended and a museum with photographs, excerpts from his speeches and other artifacts. Mays was 22 years old when he finally graduated from high school and then attended Bates College in Maine to prove to himself that he was the intellectual equal of other people. Mays went on to become a math teacher and pastor, and in 1934 was named Dean of Religion at Howard University. He accepted the presidency of Morehouse College, known today as Morehouse University, in 1940. More info. Contact. Photography.
Birthplace and Deathbed of the Confederacy: Abbeville, South Carolina
Abbeville, South Carolina has been called the "Birthplace and Deathbed of the Confederacy." Abbeville may have been founded by French Huguenots in 1758, but not until over a hundred years later did the town earn this nickname. On May 2, 1860, one of the first mass organizations of secession was held in Abbeville, South Carolina, on Secession Hill. An ordinance of secession was sent down to the Capitol as a result of this gathering. Hence, the name “Birthplace of the Confederacy.” On May 2, 1865, Jefferson Davis held his last War Council meeting at the Burt-Stark Mansion, located off the town square of Abbeville, South Carolina. It was at this meeting that the Cabinet made the decision to dissolve the Confederacy. Again, the reason for the title-“Deathbed of the Confederacy.” Armistead Burt was a personal friend of Jefferson Davis after serving with him in Congress during the 1840’s. Confederacy President Davis chose to stay with Mr. Burt and his wife as he fled south from Richmond, Virginia. The Burt Stark Mansion contains the original furnishings in the room where President Davis met with his Cabinet. Contact. Photography.
Stay in the home of a Civil War Diarist
One hundred and fifty years ago the Civil War began. The most famous reporter of this historical human drama was Mary Boykin Chesnut. What made her diaries unique? She was there. She was with her husband when the Confederacy was formed in Montgomery, AL and she was there when Fort Sumter was fired upon. She was in Richmond taking walks with the President of the Confederacy and listening to his views. Unknown to all, she was returning to her room Bloomsbury Inn to write it all down. Come to Bloomsbury Inn in Camden, SC where Mary Boykin Chesnut wrote 10% of her diaries and rediscover the drama of the Civil War and the charm of the South. Contact.
Beaufort’s role in the Civil War
The first meeting to draft the Ordinance of the Secession was held at the Milton Maxey House in Beaufort, known today as the Secession House. As a result, Beaufort was an early target of the Federal forces. Union Gen. Isaac Stevens occupied Beaufort on the evening of December 11, 1861 --less than a year after secession. Beaufort would remain occupied by Federal forces for the rest of the war. Homes were confiscated and used by the Union for meeting places and hospitals, but never destroyed. Because of this, an uncommon amount of Beaufort’s historic beauty remains intact. More info. Contact. Photography.
Mitchelville – first town in US incorporated by freedmen
Something unexpected to find on world renown Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, is an important piece of African-American history – the establishment of the first town in the United States to be incorporated by freedmen, called Mitchelville. Established in 1862, Mitchelville was composed of residential homes, churches, places of business, government stations and a school. Children in Mitchelville were required by law to attend the school - the first such education mandate in South Carolina. Named after civil rights advocate Union Army General Ormsby Mitchel, the town flourished for more than a decade with up to 1,500 residents. Mitchelville was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 and today its historic marker denotes where the town once stood. The best way to learn more about Mitchelville while visiting Hilton Head Island is to join a Gullah Heritage Trail Tour that departs daily from the Coastal Discovery Museum on Hilton Head. Contact. Photography.
Textile History at the Zoo
Riverbanks Zoo and Garden not only serves to preserve and protect rare and endangered wildlife and places, but also safeguards a number of South Carolina’s significant historical landmarks. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1973, Riverbanks 170-acre site has a deep-rooted history dating back to the early 1800s with South Carolina’s Textile Industry and Civil War. Today visitors can view structural remains that reveal this rich past from several vantage points within the Zoo and Garden. Contact. Details. Access to photography.
Reunion of Descendants of Middleton Place
The reunion, which takes place every five years, brings together African American and European American family members to reconnect over their shared past. The Foundation staff will mount an exhibit in the Middleton Place House Museum that will bring together important family objects not normally on display. Attendees will participate in a Gullah Rag Quilting project. This African American craft uses scraps of fabric tied onto a larger piece of material to create a warm coverlet. Guests will bring scraps such as colorfast cotton clothing, napkins and linens, old neckties and other fabric scraps, and participate in making a rag quilt. When completed, the quilt will be displayed on the bed in Eliza’s House. Contact.
Plantation Days at Middleton Place
Saturday & Sunday, October 15 & 16 & November 12 & 13
Craftworkers demonstrate the skills practiced by slaves as they prepared the antebellum plantation for harvest time. In its 41st year, Plantation Days explores different aspects of 18th and 19th-century plantation life: Domestic Skills, African American, Traditional Arts, Low Country Foodways and the plantation natural environment. Observe interpreters perform open fire cooking, wool spinning, candle dipping, apple pressing, corn grinding and butter churning. Visit the blacksmith, weaving, pottery and carpentry shops and taste samples of typical Low Country food cooked on an open fire. Included in general admission are complimentary garden overview tours offered on the hour and all ongoing and scheduled activities associated with Plantation Days. Contact. Photography.
The world’s best orchids come from South Carolina
For many years, Carter and Holmes Orchids in Newberry, South Carolina, has been the premier provider of orchids of every variety. They ship orchid plants of many genera to hobbyists and commercial growers throughout the United States and to many countries around the world. Even in such lush locales as Hawaii, the finest and rarest blooms often originate in Newberry. Visitors are welcome to its 18 greenhouses Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Knowledgeable tour guides are available, and if you’re very lucky you might get one of the founders, Owen Holmes, to guide you through the Cattleyas, Cymbidiums, Dendrobiums, Oncidium Alliance, Paphiopedilums, Phalaenopsises and Phragmipediums – and you don’t even have to brush up on your Latin! To arrange a tour call (803) 276-0579 or just drop in – and prepare to be astounded. Photography.
What’s all the stink about?
Riverbanks comPOOst is a tub of all-natural composted zoo poo produced by some of Riverbanks Zoo’s most famous animals – elephants, giraffes and zebras. The compost helps reduce chemical runoff, reduce material sent to landfills and loosens heavy clay soil, among many other benefits. You must get a load of this! More info. Contact.
Beaufort’s Proud Military heritage
Beaufort is proud to host three military bases-- Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island, the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort and the Naval Hospital Beaufort. More than 17,000 active duty military members and their families live and work in the Beaufort area. Parris Island is home to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, which is responsible for training all male recruits east of the Mississippi River and all female recruits nationwide. Parris Island graduates more than 20,000 recruits a year into the Corps and has recently appointed the first-ever female commanding officer, Brigadier General Loretta Reynolds. Parris Island is open to the public for museum visits and guided tours. The Naval Hospital meets the medical needs of our local Marines and Sailors and their families, as well as the many military retirees who call the Lowcountry home. Attractions at he Naval Hospital include Naval Heritage Park, and the historic tabby stone (seashell and mortar) ruins of Fort Frederick, built in 1732. More info. Contact. Photography.
Women in the Men’s Club
Race horse training is still a boys club, but several South Carolina women trainers are showing up in the winners’ circle. Jane Dunn of Holly Hill Training Center, for example, prepped Blame, who won last year’s Breeders Cup. Other women trainers of note include Janet Elliot from Camden, Nancy Terhune of Camden, Debbie McCutcheon of Kingstree Training Center and Donna Fryer of Camden’s Custom Care Equine. Contact.
An Oconee Belle
She is delicately dressed in white and yellow, shy (as a lady should be), gentle, lovely, quiet—a true Southern Belle. You might notice her in the spring, from mid-March to early-April, in special shady forest settings, or along certain cool riverbanks, dancing with her sisters. While her friends call her Oconee Bell, she is also Shortia galacifolia, and sometimes Acony Bell, said to be one of the rarest wildflowers in the United States. In fact, Oconee is one of only seven counties in the whole country in which the delicate flower is found growing wild. Gillian Welch honors the Acony Bell in a song on her album Revival. Contact. Photography.
Oconee in Literature
Deliverance. One Foot in Eden. Saints at the River. Novels by modern writers exploring threats to the innate connection between a land and its people. Novels set in Oconee County, South Carolina. They could not have been situated anywhere else; passionate, rugged, threatening, threatened, beautiful, secretive, at times almost primitive — the local characters reflect the land itself. The effect on the locals who have the modern world thrust upon them, the threats posed to the land itself, the visceral connection to the land and to its waters — these are made clear in fine novels by James Dickey and Ron Rash. Conflict appears in each as the contemporary world tries to wield its power over the land and its inhabitants. Not surprisingly, the people fight back. James Dickey’s Deliverance (1970) inspired a movie by the same name starring Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty, and Jon Voight (1972). Ron Rash’s One Foot in Eden (2003) and Saints at the River (2005) have both been featured on public radio’s Radio Reader. Contact. Photography.
Bloomsbury was built in 1849 by James Chesnut Sr, the third wealthiest plantation owner in South Carolina. He built Bloomsbury for his daughter, Sally, so she would have a home upon his death. He also used it as his in-town home when he was in Camden. The house has 14 columns, each one made from a single pine tree, and the structure is primarily composed of cypress. Under the porch you can see the 8x8 inch beams; the house plate measures 10x10 inches. The 8500 square feet, heart pine floors and sweeping cavaliered staircase take your breath away. Visit Bloomsbury...visit history. Contact.
“Dizzy” With Jazz
The soothing sounds of jazz float heavenward under the crisp October sky. Friends gather in downtown Cheraw at Centennial Park rekindling old relationships and welcoming new ones. It’s southern hospitality at its best, Cheraw-style. Jazz great Dizzy Gillespie would be ecstatic that his hometown of “Chee-raw” is hosting the sixth annual South Carolina Jazz Festival October 14-16. The three-day event is a perfect time to celebrate jazz and the arts complete with a bebop parade, a birthday party for Dizzy, BBQ, a golf tournament, a jazz mass, and more. Most events are free, all family-friendly, with two outstanding evening concerts at the town's Theatre on the Green. Main Event concert tickets are $20 per person for a single concert or $35 per person for both concerts. Contact. Photography.
Hometown Hero, singer, songwriter, Edwin McCain
Edwin McCain is gearing up to launch his tenth album- Mercury Bound. The album is a full collaboration with singer/songwriter Maia Sharp, longtime friend in the industry, that has offered McCain, some 20 years into his career, a chance to try something new. Mercy Bound also marks two decades sinceMcCain first entered a studio. Raised in Greenville, South Carolina, McCain recorded his first independent demo in 1991, issuing his debut, Solitude, two years later. In 1997, he broke into the mainstream with the sweeping ballad “I’ll Be,” from the album Misguided Roses. Perhaps the most remarkable is the work that Edwin does in his own community of Greenville, where McCain lives with his family and has a recording studio. McCain has donated hours of his time to the music therapy program at the Meyer’s Center, and his charity- Local Boys Do Good awards grants to organizations across the Upstate of South Carolina with the money raised by the food and wine festival he co-founded -- Euphoria -- each fall. More info. Contact. Photography.
Johannes Trump, Innkeeper of Kilburnie, the Inn at Craig Farm
What do you get when you combine European and Southern Hospitality, Dutch cleanliness and a gourmet chef? The answer can be found at Kilburnie, the Inn at Craig Farm, in Lancaster, SC, a beautifully-restored historic home now transformed into a well-known bed and breakfast inn, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last year. The story of the home’s restoration is unique in itself. But also intriguing is the story of its Innkeeper, Johannes Tromp. He moved to Lancaster in 1998 from New York, where he was Director of the Windows on the World restaurant complex (atop the now-destroyed World Trade Center). Now, Tromp has established a reputation as consummate host, chef, events coordinator, enthusiastic advocate for the arts, and well-informed local historian. More info. Contact.
Free Fun for All in Greenville!
Looking for free, fun things to do? Greenville’s got you covered. Start out by giving yourself a history lesson thanks to Mice on Main, a self-guided tour of nine mice that begins in front of the Hyatt Regency hotel along a nine-block stretch of Main Street between the Hyatt & the Westin Poinsett hotels. Next head to the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum and Baseball Library, located in the house in which Jackson lived and died. The museum displays artifacts, photographs, film, books and other items of interest associated with his life. Hop on the free trolley to ride back towards the east end to catch the live outdoor music of Main Street Fridays, held at The Hyatt every Friday from March 18 through September 30. This Friday night tradition provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy downtown Greenville on our award-winning Main Street- and while you’re at it, take a leisurely stroll through Falls Park and stop to pose for a photo on the now iconic, Liberty Bridge- the 400 foot suspension bridge that hangs over the falls. Total cost -- $0. More info. Contact.
Jars with Faces and Pottery with Places
Over 4,500 years ago, Native Americans along the Savannah River discovered how to create pottery, using Spanish moss, palmetto fibers and the rich clay deposits from the soil in what is known today as Edgefield. One of the most famous potters during that time was Dave the Potter, a literate slave, who created his own pottery and signed and dated each item. Dave’s pottery was known for the “faces” that had an African origin and this was his signature on the many jars and pots he created. Many pieces of this valuable pottery can be found in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC. Old Edgefield Pottery is a working pottery studio where resident potter Stephen Ferrell keeps the tradition alive. More info. Contact.
Car Tracks in Greenville
At the BMW Performance Drive center in Greenville, you can drive BMWs the way they were meant to be driven – 90 miles per hour on a wet/dry track, slalom race course and more. It’s the most exhilarating way to spend an afternoon. And while you’re on that beat, check out Michelin on Main, Michelin's first trademark retail store in North America. The only retail store of its kind features Michelin-inspired products along with multi-media presentations, unique displays and, of course, the popular Michelin man, Bibendum. You can find everything from coffee mugs to Christmas ornaments, stuffed toys to golf balls – all with the signature Michelin Man himself. More info. Contact.
Pets are pampered at the Inn at Middleton Place
People are not the only guests who are pampered at The Inn a Middleton Place; dogs and cats also stay in style. The Pampered Pet Package ensures that both pets and their owners have a relaxing getaway. Guests receive an expanded Pet Welcome Gift and 10 percent savings on a two-night stay with comfortable accommodations, Healthy Start breakfast, admission to Middleton Place Gardens, House Museum and Plantation Stableyards as well as an evening Manager's Reception. All four-legged guests receive a gift bag with a personalized eco-friendly bowl upon arrival. Doggy bags include treats, pick-up bags, individually wrapped pet wipes and a tennis ball. Kitty bags include salmon treats, feathered fish toy, cat nip felt mouse toy and an individually wrapped pet wipe. More info. Contact.
Oceanfront Resort Hosts Fall Watermedia Workshop
Springmaid Beach Resort hosts its 59th Watermedia Workshops Oct. 30-Nov. 19. Aspiring watercolor artists will converge on the oceanfront resort for three all-inclusive workshops that provide them with watercolor painting skills, friendships and a beach getaway in beautiful Myrtle Beach. The program includes five full days of watermedia instruction by notable international instructors culminating in a Friday Gallery Night celebration. Artists also enjoy six nights of oceanside accommodations and meals at Marlin’s Buffet Restaurant, located onsite at the Resort. The cost of the program is $1,120 which includes instruction, studio fees, a private guestroom, breakfasts, lunches, evening dinners and break refreshments. More info.Contact.
A Capital of Museums
Capital City/Lake Murray Country is the place where you can tour 10 museums in one region! Each museum offers programs and activities for a range of audiences, including adults, children, and families. Here’s our top ten list …Come visit and explore these fine institutions! More info. Contact.
Swan Lake Iris Gardens
Swan Lake Iris Gardens is a Sumter community treasure. The only public park in the US where all eight swan species can be found together, the gardens originated in 1927 when businessman Hamilton Bland discovered that the blackwater pond was the perfect site for Japanese Iris. In the 1930s, he imported Royal Mute and Black Australian swans. Other species were added over the years, with Bewick swans from Japan completing the collection in 1997. With a variety of birds, seasonal flowers (including a winter camellia garden), statuary such as Grainger McKoy’s towering “Recovery,” and events including the annual Iris Festival and Fantasy of Lights, the park has become a haven for birdwatchers and botanists, and the crown jewel of the city of Sumter. More info. Contact. Photography.