Sunday

South Carolina Bound

Tuesday May 27

Gretchen and I are on our way to see Kelley, Seth and Maggie, but first we are going to Columbia so we can go to Congaree National Park, one we have not been to and need to check off our list! We decided to visit the NPs we have not been to in the lower 48; Congaree, Dry Tortugas, Isle Royal, Key Biscayne, Monmouth Cave, Pinnacles, and Voyagers in the next year or two. Since we have never been to Columbia, we headed downtown after checking into our hotel. We ate dinner at the Hunter-Gatherer Brewery and Ale House; the beer and the food were both great. We walked around the University of South Carolina campus which we thought was really well kept and quite lovely. A drive around the center of the city took us by the Capital and left us with the impression that Columbia is a nice, livable city. It might be that we drove downtown on Devine Street which is upscale with some truly divine houses.

Wednesday

It was a nice cool spring morning to visit Congaree NP. The 26,000 acre old growth bottomland hardwood forest is the largest remaining tract in North America. The Park has a nice 2.4 mile boardwalk so visitors can get a feel for the forest. We were really surprised we could walk it's length with few biting insect encounters.

Huge Oak Tree

Southern river systems were once covered with this type of forest land but severe logging in the 1800s decimated most of it. Congaree was saved because of the remote area and difficult conditions for logging. It is home to tupelo, elm and oak trees that top 100 feet plus cypress trees, one 27 feet around, and a record loblolly pine reaching 165 feet!

Although Gretchen and I were not enthused about visiting Congaree NP, we both felt it was a worthwhile stop; a unique ecosystem with a lot of history. After leaving the Park, we stopped at the Calla Lily Cafe in Manning for lunch and then drove to the Hill's in Murrell's Inlet.

Thursday

Pegasus..largest sculpture in Gardens

In the morning we went to Brookgreen Gardens that are only about a mile from Kelley's house. It is a wonderful place established by Anna Hyatt Huntington and her husband in 1932. Anne and her husband had a summer beach house in Murrell's Inlet. She was a well known New York sculptor and the driving force behind the Gardens. She wanted to highlight sculpture in a garden setting and the result is the renowned 9,100 acre park we strolled through with Kelley and Maggie this morning. There is something for every one, with a children's zoo and play area, historical exhibits about life on the four plantations that the Gardens encompass, trails, boat rides and a lot of cultural events.

After lunch, Maggie and Kelley headed home for a nap and we walked around the rest of the gardens (Gretchen needed steps) and we took in an exhibit housed in an air conditioned gallery...Kent Ullberg: A Retrospective.

Maggie and Mommy

The retrospective was quite impressive with several maquettes of large installations found in cities around the world. We had just finished our walk through the Live Oak AlleƩ and went into the gallery, when a half hour down pour moistened the grounds! The Gardens are exquisite! Thanks Kelley and Seth for providing passes for us!

When Seth got home from work, we ended the day by going to eat at Quigley's Pint & Plate....fine beer brewed on site and great food.

Daddy and Maggie

Friday

Today we went to the beach at Huntington State Park. Maggie loves the beach. She jumps the waves and makes cakes with her sand toys. She is a happy little girl and we noticed on this visit that her speech has exploded. She is constantly babbling and trying to say things you say to her.

It was a fun visit, good to see you guys.

 

 

 

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