Charleston, South Carolina

On our second day in Savannah, we decided to take a road trip. I had briefly debated staying in Charleston, South Carolina and taking the road trip to Georgia, but decided against it.

So instead we took a road trip to Charleston on Saturday. Joey did a little research and we decided to spend most of our time in the Folly Beach area and then at a plantation just outside Charleston.

We had planned to leave Savannah at about 8am, but instead got out of town more like 10 (it is vacation after all). We drove straight through to The Lost Dog Cafe at Folly Beach so we were pretty darn hungry by the time we got there at about noon.

The walls are completely covered with pictures of dogs. All kinds of dogs. Dogs from everywhere.

And even though we love dogs, we mainly went there for the food. Below, our drinks. Michael's orange juice, my sweet iced tea and Joey's iced coffee:

Joey ordered the South Carolina Peach Pancakes. So many fresh peaches!

Michael ordered the glazed Mahi salad:

I ordered the Huevos Rancheros and it was amazing.

And as if that wasn't enough, Joey also ordered a side of biscuits and gravy...

After brunch, we headed to the beach. Since it was Saturday, the beach was very crowded. Or maybe it is crowded every day. Who knows.

One thing that was abundantly clear (but not very well represented in these photos) was the fact that we were WAY overdressed. We were wearing twice as many clothes as anyone else on the beach. This was definitely a young person's beach... I have never seen so many bikinis in one place. Not even in Hawaii.

After the beach, we took a driving tour through Charleston. There are some gorgeous little neighborhoods right near the water and some fun looking shopping and eating areas. I would definitely go back if given the chance, however, since we were on a schedule, we decided to head out to

Drayton Hall

Drayton Hall is the oldest surviving example of Georgian Palladian architecture in the U.S. and one of the only pre-Revolutionary houses that remain in close original condition today. Seven generations of Draytons lived in or used the home in one form or another. No other family occupied this home. That made it unique compared to the other plantations we had visited in Louisiana.

It is the only plantation on the Ashley River to survive intact to present day despite the fact that both Colonial and British forces used it as a staging ground during the Revolution. The house was sold to the National Trust in 1974 and left preserved, but unrestored.

Above: view of the back of the home from the Ashley River.

Below: the Ashley River, it runs along the back of the property.

Below: the back of the house. You can see straight through to the front.

Below: service stairway.

below: original wall mouldings in formal living area.

Below: original hand carved plaster ceiling in Parlor.

Below: view from the front of the house.

Below: The African American Cemetery is the resting place for many of the enslaved people who lived and worked at Drayton Hall. Unfortunately I got many many mosquito bites in this location. A lot, like maybe 30. Okay, moving right along....

below: Joey playing with his camera on the drive home.