A Traveler's Experience

Ashley River Road (SC)

Because I've lived all my life in the West, I didn't know what to expect from the southern part of the country, especially in March. It was absolutely beautiful. My friend and I got into Charleston at night, too late to really see anything, but the evening was still warm and humid, so I knew the weather was perfect for our trip.

The Ashley River Road is only 11 miles long, but we couldn't have fit it into one day if we tried. We started our trip by visiting Drayton Hall, a preserved rice plantation home from the pre-Civil War era. We took a tour of the home and walked around the massive grounds. It was amazing to hear such an important part of history and see its context on such a beautiful day.

We headed to Magnolia Plantation afterward. It was such a different experience than Drayton Hall, but equally fascinating. The home was restored to a more modern style, but the feeling of its history was still there. The gardens were in full bloom with camillias, and the grounds were green and lush.

We ended up hitting Middleton Place the next day. We spent about 6 hours there and still weren't able to soak it all in. Middleton Place is enormous and beautiful. There are many preserved and restored structures, including a plantation home and a stable yard with animals. Again, what a completely different experience than the others! The gardens and grounds, as well as a rice field and stables of animals, are all in working order, like a living history exhibit! I also enjoyed listening to actors tell the story of their "trades" as they demonstrated pottery and woodworking in traditional attire.

The plantation homes are a must for visitors to the Charleston area. There would be no better way to really experience the history of the South than by imagining what it would have been like to live in one of the homes on the stately grounds, or to be a slave in the fields or gardens.