The Yorktown is an aircraft carrier packed with history, and for me, memory. This grand lady is on display in the Charleston Harbor and can be seen while you cross the Arthur Ravenel Bridge or while you take in some sea air from Waterfront Park in Historic Downtown Charleston. I have been to the Yorktown a few times and every time I go the sense of thankfulness, awe and sadness fill me from head to toe. My family on both sides are military and I have had many experiences with people who serve and have served our country. All of these experiences come back to me while I walk through the halls of remembrance that they have tastefully set up.
Watch our video walk through of just some of the things you will see when you visit the Yorktown!
They have several experiences available for the $22 admission fee. Beside the Yorktown low and stealthy is the submarine USS Clamagore. If you want to experience a cold war era sub, don't skip this! They also have The Vietnam Experience that gives you an idea of what our boys went through during that troublesome war. They sometimes also have the USS Laffey. This destroyer was given the nickname, "The Ship That Would Not Die", and is named after a civil war medal of honor recipient. All of these are covered under the $22 admission fee.
Something you should not skip when you go is the documentary that plays in the theater to the right of the entrance. In this movie they interview people who served on the Yorktown. In those shared experiences what stuck with me was the way the men called the ship mother. For them, it was a steady area of safety that could always be relied upon. To these men the Yorktown kept them safe and brought them home. When you go remember, as I do, the people who now sit on ships. Whose metal mother glides through the waves keeping them safe and bringing them home to us.
Important tidbits:
The Yorktown is located: 40 Patriots Point Rd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464, USA
Bathrooms are located in the gift shop.
It is wheelchair accessable, to a point.
There are no water fountians
Except for certain special occasions, pets are off limits.
I recently had the pleasure to revisit Colonial Lake Park. Before it was redone by the Charleston Park Conservancy it was basically a tidal pond with some cement around it. There were a few palm trees here and there, but to my recollection there was no seating and the area around the pond was very hot. My husband and I found it by accident one day. We could find no sign for the area and had no idea what we had really come across. With the improvements made to the area by the conservancy I now think of it as a park, rather than the cement pond we found. Images of the pond in it's different forms can be found here. This park has been around since the late 1700's and has it's history wrapped up in the changing shape and ideas of freedom that molded Charleston since it's founding.
What I most liked about the revamp of the park was the greening of it. Now you can walk around this pond, get some sun, and then rest in the gathering cool of the trees that are on the corner and sides of the pond itself. In doing research for this park I came across several articles that showed the people of the area are heavily invested in what happens to it. They have, several times, stopped different types of beautification from happening siting many reasons it should not be done. For us this means the park is dearly loved by many people. It's not a place that was changed solely to attract to visitors, but, to be agreeable to those who live around it. I have read stories that people regale about coming to this tidal pond and swimming, taking picnics and just generally enjoying themselves outdoors at the park across the street called Moultrie Playground.
I would recommend this area for a good half hour walk to stretch the legs. It has some very nice green spaces, you are surrounded on all sides by the classic Charleston homes, and when the wind is right, you have the smell of the sea with the lapping of the water making for a very relaxing area. We plan to visit it again with our dog.
Now down to the important wonderings:
Colonial Lake Park is located at 41 Ashley Ave., Charleston, South Carolina 29401 {This is actually the address to Moultrie Playground, when I put in the original address, it takes you to someones home. If you are using a different GPS system change the 41 to a 42}
This park is wheelchair accessable. The park is level and well kept so no extra planning is needed.
There are no public bathrooms available. Plan accordingly.
Although the water is said to be swimmable, we can find nothing that says it's ok and nothing that says don't do it. Swim at your own risk.
We could find two water fountains, so no worries there.
Thank you for reading and joining us on this wander! If you want to learn more about this historic Park, click here.
The angel oak tree is estimated to be anywhere between 300-500 years old. It grows silently and unassumingly down a dirt and gravel path. Guarded by a church and the denizens of the gift shop it is a sight to behold. Standing by it you are witness to a creation that is an echo of times long past. Memories of fairy tale forests where, often, the best of adventures and lessons are discovered.
This is one of those adventures you just have to go see for yourself. All the words in all the world can not describe the majesty of the age of this tree. It makes me think of how it must have been in the garden of Eden when man lived in concert with nature and God walked the Earth in the cool of evening.
Enjoy the slide show!
My reverie was soon broken by the denizens of the gift shop who come out to check and make sure no one is sitting on the old oak. Yelling at anyone who even looks like they might be about to lay their gluteus maximus upon the lower branches. Here; they are serious about conservation, no ifs ands or butts.
The tree itself has several supporting harnesses and poles. Even with that, it was a nice experience. When we went a family was there comparing their growth to the width of the tree. I have had several people tell me that it is a tradition for their family to have family portraits by this tree, a hallmark of the south.
Angel Oak is located at, 3688 Angel Oak Rd, Johns Island, SC 29455. You can call them at (843) 559-3496.
Angel Oak is wheel chair accessible but the grounds are not developed so plan accordingly
This is a free admission site
Dogs are not allowed with only service animals as an exception
You can not take pictures or video inside the gift shop
Even with some distractions this is still a good wander for your travels. You are unlikely to see anything like it again and when you see it, you'll never forget it.
The Flowertown Festival, also known as the azalea festival, is a yearly event put on by the local YMCA and several supporters. It's designed to be a fundraising event and that lets you experience everything that Summerville has to offer!
There is a lot going on at the Flowertown Festival so lets just jump into the need to know's:
The event is mostly wheelchair accessible. They have done better this year than in previous years, however, the wheel chair accessible area is limited to the main road. After that you have dirt/gravel walk laid down to facilitate wheel chairs, prams, and strollers. When it rains this walk becomes muddy and difficult to maneuver, so plan ahead.
It is hot out there! This festival takes place during the Spring. Here in South Carolina that can mean temperatures between 75-100 degrees. This area is semitropical so rain is also not out of the ordinary. Be sure to take sunscreen, plenty of water and a hat just to be sure you are covered.
Animals are not allowed at this event. Even though this is an outdoor event, they do not allow recreational animals. Service animals are welcome and should be properly tagged so everyone can see.
Friday is the best time to go. People coming from out of town are settling in and haven't made their way to the festival just yet and locals are still working. If you want a less crowded experience, this is what we suggest.
Parking can be a chore. Several churches around the festival provide all day parking for $5 a day. The free parking is vast, but can fill up quickly if you don't get there early.
There are many things to see at this annual festival. People give away free samples and it is a great way to add some southern decor to your home. This is an international festival and that means some of the vendors you see will not be from South Carolina. If you are wanting something authentically southern be sure to check with the vendor before purchasing. As locals, we continue to go for the food. Several different vendors hand out free samples and if you get your picture taken by the Summerville Journal Scene they will give you free ice cream! A little tip for staying out of the sun: if you go beyond the table set up behind the food you will notice an incline and a then a side walk. This is a great place to sit in the shade and enjoy your food. The only thing asked is; you do not go into the yards of the people who live on the street and please pick up your trash!
We suggest that you take a least two days to participate in this event because of how large it is. This is a free admission event and you are not required to purchase anything. My husband and I go and have a lot of fun just looking at everything that people have to offer. This type of festival also lends itself to great photo opportunities for families and friends a like. I like to always get a picture with the big cup of sweet tea that McAlisters Deli has sitting next to their booth. This festival sits in middle of Azalea Park for which the festival was originally named. The park includes gazebos, ponds and statues to enjoy, take pictures by and generally have a great time.
Overall this is an enjoyable event that you can attend every year and one we hope you will enjoy on your next wander!
Food from a food truck may not be the most exciting outing. However, here in the south, it is equal to the food stands found in other parts of the world. You can find them just about anywhere with all kinds of different foods. They are held to same standards as restaurants so you should have no fear of eating from the fabled roach coach. There were pros and cons to this festival so lets just get right into it.
Pros:
1> This was an open air festival. There were many beautiful dogs and many children. If you had a festival like this indoors it would start to get pretty nasty pretty fast.
2> The variety of food. There was everything from an all bacon truck, to a cupcake truck, a little gelato car and a greek food truck. Just about any type of food that you could want you were able to get.
Cons:
1> The lines! I was looking forward to the all bacon truck and the mac'n'cheese truck. The lines for both was almost to the entryway. I went with two other people who also were looking forward to different trucks that were there. By talking and listening to the other people around us the wait for some was thirty minutes. In the end we left without getting any food.
2> Parking. As with most of the events in Downtown Charleston the parking is not ideal. Best case scenario you pay for parking in a parking structure and were bused over in a free trolley they had running for the majority of the event. What this travel ended up doing is parking in a an empty lot down the road and walking into the area where the food trucks were staged.
3> As seen in the video below, the crush of people was also pretty bad. This con ties in with the first one. There weren't enough tables or places to stand or sit to eat so people just stood wherever they could to eat the food. Granted that food looked yummy! However most people weren't able to get through the lines to get it, if you notice most people in the video don't have food or are still waiting to get some.
If you have a day to kill and don't mind spending it in loose lines for food and listening to live music this is definitely up your alley! The only suggestions that I would have for Charleston County is to better organize it. I will go back if it gets better organized.
Botany Bay Plantation Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area is a state preserve on Edisto Island, South Carolina. About an hour away from Summerville, this is one of the many nature areas that just take your breath away. Like most adventures in the south, your drive to this enchanting spot is one of older back (but paved) roads and through small towns whose charm is worth stopping to look at. The road off of 165 to Botany Bay is dirt and of course has the iconic angel oak drive which is cool in temperature and really begins to set the mood for your visit.
Once you approach the gate you will see an information board to the right along with a volunteer who will give you a parking pass and the rules for the area. The volunteer will also give you a map that you must return on your way out. You can have a guided tour through an app that is downloaded through the google play app store or the apple store. You are not allowed to remove anything from Botany Bay! This keeps the area as beautiful and natural as possible.
The pictures in my slideshow just don't do it justice. The first thing I thought upon entering the beach is: this must be where all the selkies come to dance. It's quiet and almost secret nature lend the area to fairy tales. I was swept away by how clean it was, except for all the shells, and enchanted by the dolphins we saw playing just off the shore line. If you are looking for a day trip this is definitely one that I would recommend many times over. As with many natural fairy tale places, it is different every time you visit.
