Mom chose Magnolia Plantation (yeah!), so up the Ashley River we went. After enjoying a delicious continental breakfast, we headed 12 miles northwest of Charleston to the Magnolia Plantation which has been owned by the same family for 14 contiguous generations. Like Charles Kuralt, I love going to this place. 500 year old Live Oaks line the drive, so perspective is established from the start. We bought tickets to the grounds, the Audubon Swamp, and the house tour. Mom liked the swamp tour, best.
Prior to the swamp tour, we toured one of the many gardens. Flowers, especially Hydrangeas, bloomed all-around. A majority of the magnolias had already blossomed, but we did see some trees with flowers on them. Riding aboard the tram to take the Audubon Swamp tour, we saw several alligators in different swamps, several Snake Birds, ducklings, a beautiful Blue Heron, and deer. Original slave quarters dotted the landscape, and we saw the oldest pre-historic Indian mound on the east coast, which John Drayton Hastie refused the Smithsonian to excavate including writing this stipulation in his will). Ending our day with the house tour, we saw some beautiful pieces of furniture, including a Chippendale bookshelf.
We headed back to Charleston, eating at the posh Palmetto Cafe, where Mom got me to try arrugala (yuck, ekk) for the first time. Mom dined on scrumptious chicken salad, and I enjoyed a delicious seafood club. Then, we took a walking tour down E. Bay Street to South of Broad, and on to Battery Park. I had to leave Mom at Battery Park, because I had walked her to death. I scurried up Meeting Street to our car, drove to pick her up, and we drove King Street visiting its design, apparel, and antiques districts. We also looked for Trademark Properties, Richard Davis' business, but we could not find it, disappointingly so. Exhasuted, we headed back to the inn.
Tomorrow, it is to Williamsburg via North Carolina's Outerbanks! Lighthouses, yippee!
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