Such a nice trail for walking, running or biking. Reminds me of Silver Comet Trail, how it goes…read morethrough the backyards of older neighborhoods. The spur down by the river was the trip's highlight. Quite lovely. This trail has all needed amenities... bathrooms, bike tire inflation stations, good signage, and nicely paved asphalt.

The greenway in runs right to the ritzy waterfront area, but there several miles of it. It is…read morepaved, and while on occasions it passes sports facilities or people's backyards, it is generally quite green. It is usually well-attended and I have not had any safety concerns; it certainly feels better than comparable areas on the other side of the river. There are plenty of bikers, but the trail is generally wide enough not to present any major issues of overcrowding. It's definitely a good way to get a taste of the environment without driving too far from the city.

During the Civil War, Major General Hugh Judson Kilpatrick's cavalry commandeered Banksia Hall in…read morethe town of Barnwell for five days, burning down much of the town during their stay. Banksia then became a Federal occupation headquarters during Reconstruction. This memorial is on a small triangular park in the center of Barnwell, directly opposite the Barnwell City Hall and the Barnwell County Courthouse. It is quite corroded and the 24 foot tall marble monument is in need of a cleaning. There are inscriptions on three faces of the monument. On the North face, "Erected by the women of Barnwell to the memory of their countrymen who fell in the war for the rights of the states. And who died to maintain the principal that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed." On the South face, "Who wrung from the great commander of the opposing armies the humiliating confession that they could be overcome only by attrition. And in the deadly contest in which they engaged their spirits were never broken. Their courage never quailed. Their convictions never deserted. And their manhood was never surrendered." And on the West face, "Who throughout a long and bloody struggle displayed a heroism and devotion to duty unsurpassed. If ever equaled in the annals of war." As these monuments are slowly being removed from the South, stop by and check it out while it's still here. [Review 16841 overall - 872 in South Carolina - 354 of 2022.]

This marker is in excellent condition. It points out the final resting place of one of the 56 men…read morewho signed the Declaration of Independence. The marker reads, "Tomb of Thomas Heyward, Jr. (1746-1809). Member of South Carolina Provincial Congress and Council of Safety and of Continental Congress. Signer of Declaration of Independence and Articles of Confederation and captain of militia at Battle of Port Royal and Siege of Charleston. Prisoner of war 1780-81. Circuit Court Judge 1778-89." Born in what is now Jasper County, SC and educated at home, he traveled to England to study law where he was a member of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple. Elected to the Continental Congress in 1775 and the following year signed the Declaration of Independence. Taken prisoner by the British during the siege of Charleston, he continued to serve as a judge after the war, retiring from the bench in 1798. [Review 12384 overall, 2170 of 2019.]

After a "destination lunch" in Yemassee SC, our server asked if we were seeking history. Replying…read morethat it was an interest, they suggested going just six miles down the road. Yes! Six miles and 250 years earlier, we drove into a hauntingly beautiful open grove of ruins did we go! Park off the street easily. Off street parking with no sidewalks or crossings, then you'll walk into history. Burned once by the British in 1777, rebuilt, then burned one more, and final time by Sherman's mary in the civil war, as he rained terror on these rural folk, returning from conquering Savannah in the final years of the civil war. Some people remain behind in the graveyard, so please be respectful during your time here. It's silence and magistry will stay with you. The old water pump still delivers cold, sweet spring water, so have some before you go. Bring a cup (no waste cans!), or go old school and use your hand. The sadness comes from knowing that these bricks were made by slaves...

My wife and I visited here on an anniversary trip from a recommendation of a friend. It's about 50…read moremiles from Charleston SC but was well worth the drive. We were the only ones there. It's a historic site known as Prince William's Parish Church. Built between 1745 and 1753 in the English Georgian style with Roman Tuscan or Doric elements, it served as a chapel of ease for the parish. The church has a dramatic history, traditionally believed to have been burned twice: first by the British in 1779 during the Revolutionary War and again in 1865 by General Sherman's forces during the Civil War, leaving only its massive brick walls. However, a 1866 letter by Milton Leverett suggests the church was not burned in 1865 but instead gutted for materials to rebuild homes destroyed by Sherman's army, challenging the traditional narrative. I'd highly recommend a trip here if you are in the area and like things like this.

The historic ruins in Lowcountry South Carolina are quite fascinating. Most everything from early…read moreAmerica has been built over, or still stands, but this is a site where you can get a feel of some history but also of nature taking the site back. There is a preservation effort ongoing. The road is mostly paved (and the Yelp map marker inaccurate; I've tried to fix it), but the last turn takes one on to a dirt road where all there is to do is park at the gate. Ropes surround the ruins, but a circumnavigation still offers plenty of photo opportunities. The entire concept of a "chapel of ease" and the history of the place make for interesting reading. Curious travelers will find the Sheldon Church which is not that far away to be a more substantial visit, but these are likely among many that are worth saving and worth visiting.

Friday 03-25-2022, Tony and I stopped at PON PON Chapel of Ease Ruins near Waltersboro, SC. It is…read moreFREE to enjoy and experience. It was burnt twice. The tombstones were hard to read. Free parking!

During the town of Elloree's 1986 Centennial Celebration, Elloree dedicated a historical marker to…read morethis, the oldest remaining structure in the city limits. TEXT: "This two-story house of heart pine and wooden peg construction was built by William J. Snider, founder of the town of Elloree. This house was moved from Charleston about 1870. This house is the first and oldest residence remaining in the town. 1886 1986 INTENDANT MAYOR W.J. Snider W.B. Bookhart, Jr. WARDENS COUNCIL" J.E. Thames J.C. Ulmer, Jr. H.M. Peak A.D. Hudson, Jr. J.D. "Joe" Griffin Nancy T. Oliver A.L. Ott Lewis E. Rourk Erected on Founder's Day December 23, 1986 Elloree Centennial Year by the Town of Elloree" Some local debate remains as to whether Snider should be regarded as "founder."

Along the roadway, this interesting highway marker reminds of the time before the Civil Rights Era…read moreand the landmark Supreme Court decision Brown v Board of Education. This is how it used to be. The marker stands in front of the school building and reads on the front, "Gifford Rosenwald School, sometimes called Gifford Colored School, was built here in 1920-21. It was one of 500 rural schools built for African-American students in S.C., founded in part by the Julius Rosenwald Foundation from 1917 to 1932. The first of four Rosenwald schools in Hampton County, it was a two-room frame building constructed at a cost of $3,225." and on the reverse, "Gifford Rosenwald School had two to five teachers for an average of almost 200 students a year in grades 1-9 until it closed in 1958. That year a new school serving Gifford and Luray, built by an equalization program seeking to preserve school segregation, replaced the 1921 school. The old school has been used for church services and Sunday school classes since 1958." It looks like the school has seen better days and they are looking for donations to perform a restoration project. [Review 16839 overall - 870 in South Carolina - 352 of 2022.]

This is a very beautiful public park near downtown Augusta, GA, that we visited last weekend. This…read morewas a pleasant place to w, walk here visitors can enjoy local artists, flowers, and a great review of the river. We really enjoyed this area as it was very safe, quiet, and relaxing. We visited in December so we had great weather. BOAT HOUSE RENTALS look on Airbnb! The hostess (Beth) operates the rentals and the Sunday market along river. Beth was absolutely informative and an excellent host. This was a great experience, one of my bucket list! This was an excellent and very comfortable hotel option while we were visiting the Augusta, GA area last weekend! This boathouse lodging is situated conveniently on the Augusta marina, so there was no parking issues. The reservation process was very easy, and we had no issues communicating with the owner all through our visit. This houseboat was an older vessel, that was restored and could easily be enough space for 4 adults. On our visit we just had 2 adults, so the full size bed was more than comfortable. They also have two two size buckbeds that could be used for kids or other adults. This houseboat was very cozy and comfortable. It had direct TV and all the other options (microwave, refrigerator, stove.

Quite very nice place to visit. Take your day trip there walk along the Riverwalk. Beautiful houses…read moreto look at as you sit on the riverbank after the walk past all the vendors selling their personal goods.

So I dropped my luggage in room 666, map in hand, inappropriately dressed for the cold, but looking…read moreimpractically chic. Just loved how the traffic light posts spoke to me: "wait! Wait!" Wait!" as I kept pressing the button just to hear it. Did it so often in each traffic light I encountered that I skipped psychotherapy that week. I decided to put everything on hold...and waited. Augusta's River Walk overlooks the Savannah River and on the other side incredibly gorgeous homes of South Carolina. The weather man had predicted cloudy skies and he was wrong. The sky could not have looked more blue (will not use the correct "bluer," because it's shortness sounds so limiting and this sky was boundless) or more spacious. As I sat on the steps of the Jessye Norman Amphitheater, I thought about Louis Armstrong and his rendition of "What a wonderful World"... and now that technology is prevalent, I pulled out my cell phone and YouTubed it. The place was deserted... an old lady feeding some birds and a grandchild giddily watching. Some rowers practicing for the Regatta which was to take place the next day. Red buoys bobbing and floating marking the course. Bare limbs on trees calling forth Christmas. I felt a pang of envy wishing I could listen to Norah Jones or Diana Krall playing her piano right there. From what I heard when I inquired to some of the bartenders I met later on... the amphitheater is barely used now. Forgotten. It is sometimes rented for around $300 as a wedding ceremony venue, but concerts have become a rarity. I can't think of another place where I might watch a concert so perfectly nested. So I sat there enjoying the concert in my head.

I recently visited during the NOGs Tour of Hidden Gardens and was reminded what a lovely home this…read moreis! Truly one of my favorite homes to tour in Savannah. Wonderful history and they do a fabulous job. I also love that they are a part of the Coastal Heritage Society. I often get the annual pass to visit this home as well as other Savannah sites.

I visited this historic home after seeing a couple of the rooms featured in the movie Bride Hard…read more Once I was there to experience the well preserved beauty of the home it was easy to see why it was chosen as a film location. My tour guide was very knowledgeable about the history of the house and even other movies filmed there. The tour started in the basement with stories about slave workers. The tour ends in the upstairs bedroom, learning about about Alida "Harper" Fowlkes. It you are interest in historic homes, definitely check out the Harper-Fowlkes House if you are in Savannah.