Posted on 3rd May 2018
Category: Historic Sites, Did You Know?
Author: Steve Vail
When most of us think about World War II history, the SC Lowcountry, and southern coastal regions of the US do not immediately come to mind. Yet as I delved deeper into this part of our history, my discoveries brought me to a place of intrigue and amazement. Did you know...?
Posted on 13th Jul 2017
Category: Trails, Tours, Parks, Historic Sites, Family Entertainment
Author: Steve Vail
This spectacular and historic plantation with its beautiful gardens is still owned and meticulously preserved by the family that started it over 300 years ago, which is something that sets it apart from other historic plantations of the SC Lowcountry. Overrun and ravaged by enemy troops during both the Revolutionary and Civil wars, Magnolia Gardens has not only survived but has continued to thrive. While the original plantation house may not have survived these wars, it's the gardens and natural beauty of Magnolia that have always been the plantation's primary focal point. Many of the plants, trees, and gardens date back to Magnolia Plantation's earliest days.
Posted on 4th Oct 2016
Category: Tours, Historic Sites, Family Entertainment, Beaches and Islands
Author: Steve Vail
Saturday night October 1, 2016, at 7:30pm, the Morris Island Lighthouse once again pierced the darkness and illuminated the north end of folly beach and surrounding areas. The lighthouse was decommissioned in 1962 and has remained dark since. This ceremonial lighting was the first time the Morris Island Lighthouse beacon has been lit since that time. Realizing the historic significance of this lighting, I began making plans to attend as soon as I heard about it. My first plan was to walk down the old Coast Guard Road at the end of north Folly Beach and view the lighting from the beach there. However, anticipating the crowd my wife began looking into tour boats that might be covering the event. Charleston Outdoor Adventures (COA) fit the bill perfectly. We reserved our seats online and...
Posted on 30th Mar 2013
Category: Tours, Parks, Historic Sites, Family Entertainment
Author: Steve Vail
Recently some friends of mine, six IT guys with whom I've had the awesome privilege of working at McCrady Training Center in Columbia, came to Charleston for a visit, and to tour Fort Sumter. We met at Patriot's Point to catch the...
Posted on 23rd Feb 2013
Category: Parks, Historic Sites, Family Entertainment
Author: Steve Vail
Hampton Park is one of the oldest parks in the Charleston and Lowcountry area. With its grand majestic old Live Oaks, cycling, jogging, walking trails, a nearly one-hundred-year-old bandstand, and manicured flower beds and gardens this Charleston County Park is one of my personal favorites.
Posted on 9th Apr 2013
Category: Tours, Historic Sites
Author: Steve Vail
The town of Summerville, a most beautiful and interesting place. Summerville's origins date back to before the revolutionary war. Back then it was merely a village set up by many of the wealthy plantation owners to escape the "swamp gasses" of which they thought was the cause of Malaria. During the same time period, a new settlement was established on the Ashley River...
Posted on 18th Oct 2013
Category: Tours, Historic Sites
Author: Steve Vail
Having lived within the Charleston and Low Country area for most of my life, one would think that visits to the downtown area would eventually become mundane. To the contrary, whenever I have the opportunity to walk the downtown streets, I experience the...
Posted on 31st Oct 2013
Category: Tours, Historic Sites
Author: Steve Vail
The Old Charleston City Jail - From its original construction in 1802 to 1939, the building located at 21 Magazine Street was utilized as a jail and insane asylum. With the exterior stucco now falling off and exposing the brickwork beneath, this medieval, gothic-like style building projects a foreboding, grim, and haunting presence. As if that was not enough, since its closing in 1939 , it has a history of strange, mysterious, and unexplained occurrences that continue to this day. It's considered to be one of the most haunted buildings in the US.