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This large clapboard mansion was built by Ladson Gibbes and his wife, the former Maris Drayton, to enjoy the more healthful climate of the foothills. The house and farm were later enlarged by subsequent owners, Dr. O.R. Broyles, James Latta, Robert Adger for his daughter Clarissa and her husband O.A. Bowen, William Warren and his wife the former Sarah Adger, and Francis Pelzer. The 10-acre site also includes the original well house and a 1790 two-story brick structure which was operated as a Tavern by the Samuel Gassaway family. The house is fully restored and furnished with antebellum antiques many of which belonged to the original families. Ashtabula is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a site on the SC National Heritage Corridor. The Pendleton Historic Foundation stages an annual Christmas historical reenactment at Ashtabula on the first weekend in December. Special school tours are offered tailored to the grade level.
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 Pendleton |
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The Audubon Swamp is a black water cypress and tupelo swamp, is lovely, mysterious, and unique to this area. Once a freshwater reservoir used for rice cultivation, the entire 60 acres is traversed by boardwalks, bridges, and dikes, featuring all varieties of local mammals, birds, and reptiles, including bald eagles, herons and egrets, otters, turtles and alligators. Allow at least 45 minutes for a self-guided walk. A 45-minute nature boat tour takes visitors through ancient rice fields.
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 Charleston |
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This 12 acre garden located just blocks from historic downtown Summerville features a riot of seasonal colors, a gazebo, paved pathways, sculpture and lots of shade. It is the home of the nationally known Flowertown Festival and Sculpture in the South.
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Summerville |
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Located in the heart of Charleston’s historic district, this prominent landmark provides a spectacular view of Fort Sumter and Charleston Harbor, where the Ashley and Cooper rivers empty into the Atlantic Ocean. It was first used as a public garden in 1837. With the outbreak of the Civil War, it became a fortification for the city. Visitors today also find an impressive display of historic mortars and cannons from the Civil War used to shell as well as defend the city. At the corner of Murray and East Bay there is a Confederate monument.
In the early 1720s, the infamous "gentleman" pirate Stede Bonnet was hanged here with about 50 others like him. Townspeople filled the gallows area and jeered as the outlaw was brought to his rightful end. Bonnet was buried in the nearby marsh. His epitaph has been memorialized and stands today in the park.
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Charleston |
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Boone Hall is one of America's oldest working, living plantations, established in 1681 by Major John Boone. The present plantation manor house dates to 1935. The famous avenue of oaks-a three-quarter mile drive lined with massive Spanish-moss draped live oaks, dates to 1743. Bordering the avenue of oaks are nine original slave cabins, which housed the plantation's house servants and skilled craftsmen. This cluster of cabins, known as Slave Street, is one of the few remaining intact in the Southeast and the only brick slave street in the U.S. Boone Hall and its grounds were prominently featured in the TV mini-series "North & South" Civil War epic by John Jakes, and Alex Haley's "Queen," among others. Crops have been continuously grown and produced here for more than 320 years. Peaches, strawberries, tomatoes and pumpkins as well as many other fruits and vegetables are still grown, with U-Pick fields open in season. The main modern market on Hwy. 17 is now open for business.
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Mount Pleasant |
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Set on a 300-acre parcel in the heart of a 9,100-acre preserve along the South Carolina coast, Brookgreen Gardens is a beautiful sculpture garden with a wildlife sanctuary, creek excursions, back road tours and seasonal events. Comprised of four former rice plantations, Brookgreen was the first public sculpture garden built in the U.S. The garden was opened to the public in 1931 by its founders Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington. Mrs. Huntington's works are featured along with other prominent American sculptors. More than 1,200 works of figurative sculpture by some 350 artists are featured in 10 separate garden "rooms," with accent pools and fountains. Seasonal offerings include a spring garden fair, two indoor changing exhibits, evening dining and other programs in the summer. Harvest Home Weekend festival in the fall and Night of a Thousand Candles during the holidays. Visit the E. Craig Wall Jr. Lowcountry Center and take enjoy one of the daily programs, tours and excursions.
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 Murrells Inlet |
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You are invited to tour 18 greenhouses and enjoy 93,000 square feet of tropical beauty. One of the largest orchid nurseries in the world welcomes visitors and provides special, guided tours for groups with advance notice. Purchase a wide variety of orchids and other plants.
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 Newberry |
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Travel back into a quieter simpler time and visit a small town in upstate South Carolina. Tour a small-town merchant’s house museum and stroll through the garden that features unique heritage roses, historic flowers and plants. Absorb the atmosphere of time past in the garden outside the Central History Museum. Walk through the garden with sculptures and benches.
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 Central |
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This 175-acre swamp/garden offers a walk-through Butterfly House with free-flying butterflies, beautiful plants, birds and more. The freshwater Swamparium features fish, reptiles and amphibians native to the swamp and nearby waterways. Representative animals from swamps of the world are also displayed. Picnic shelters and a gift shop are other amenities at the park. The swamp/garden is easily accessible with 4 miles of walking paths and the famous bateaus (flat bottom boats). Once part of Dean Hall Plantation, the gardens are especially lovely in spring when the azaleas, dogwoods, wisteria and daffodils are in bloom. The swamp was prominently featured in the year 2000 motion picture "The Patriot" starring Mel Gibson.
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 Moncks Corner |
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An accredited museum, Drayton Hall is nationally known for its exceptional guided tour of the authentic plantation house. Built between 1738 and 1742, Drayton Hall is the oldest preserved plantation house in America that is open to the public. Admission includes the guided house tour, self-guided walks of the marsh and river, "A Sacred Place" the African-American cemetery, and "Connections: from Africa to America," which discusses the influences of African-Americans at Drayton Hall from the 18th to the 20th centuries.
A National Trust Historic Site, Drayton Hall has served seven generations of the Drayton family including William Henry Drayton Revolutionary War hero, member of the Continental Congress and chief justice of South Carolina. Although occupied by the British during the Revolutionary War it survived. Drayton Hall is considered one of the finest examples of Georgian Palladian architecture in America. It retains its original interiors and has never been wired for electricity or had plumbing or heating and air installed.
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Charleston |
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