Historic Homes...A Parade into the Past

Day One

Fly into Savannah International Airport in Savannah, Georgia.
Drive to Beaufort. On your way stop at Sheldon Church Ruins located off Hwy 17. (travel time 45 minutes)
Enjoy a tour of the African-American history and Gullah culture on St. Helena Island.

Drive north on Hwy 17 to Charleston. (travel time 2 hours)
On your way to Charleston visit one of the plantations such as Middleton Plantation, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens or Drayton Hall, located on Hwy 61.
Enjoy an evening in historic downtown Charleston.

Begin the morning visiting some of the historic homes in downtown Charleston, such as the Nathaniel Russell House, Aiken-Rhett House, or Edmondston-Alston House.
An afternoon historic tour of downtown Charleston can be enjoyed in a carriage ride or by foot. Be sure to visit White-Point Gardens as well as Waterfront Park.
Cross the Cooper River on the new Arthur Ravenel Bridge into the town of Mount Pleasant and visit Boone Hall Plantation or Charles Pinckney National Historic Site.
Depart the Charleston area to Georgetown, driving north on Highway 17. (travel time 2 hours)

Visit Hopsewee Plantation and the restored waterfront area of Georgetown.
Then continue to travel north on Highway 17 to explore the sculptures exhibited at Brookgreen Gardens.
Once you've completed your tour of the coastal area, drive to the capital city of Columbia. To get to Columbia, take Highway 17 north to Highway 501, then take 378 west towards Columbia. (travel time 3 hours)
On your way to Columbia visit Swan Lake Iris Gardens in Sumter, later enjoy a relaxing dinner at one of Columbia's many restaurants.

Begin your visit in Columbia with a guided tour through South Carolinas State House.
Later that morning tour one or many of Columbia's famous historic homes, which include the Robert Mills House, the Hampton-Preston Mansion, and the Mann-Simons Cottage.
Later that afternoon drive east on Interstate 20 to the historic town of Boykin, Exit 98.
Then drive South Carolina's country roads to Rock Hill. Take Highway 521 to Camden, then Highway 97 through Liberty Hill onto Highway 21 which leads into Rock Hill. (travel time 1 hour 30 minutes)

Begin the morning tour with a visit to Historic Brattonsville.
Drive Highway 5 to I-85 south to Spartanburg, then take I-26 east to Exit 28 for a trip to Walnut Grove Plantation. (travel time 1 hour 30 minutes)
Spend the evening dining in one of the many restaurants in Spartanburg.

Begin the morning early driving west on I-26 to take the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway 11 to Pendleton Historic District. Spend the morning touring this historic town. (travel time 2 hours)
Depart in the afternoon for Abbeville where you can visit the Historic Town Square and Burt-Stark Mansion. (travel time 1 hour 30 minutes)
Then follow Highway 72 to Greenwood. (travel time 30 minutes)

Tour Ninety Six National Historic Site in the town of Ninety Six. The first battle of the American Revolution in South Carolina took place here.
Then drive the South Carolina Heritage Corridor on Highway 23 to the town of Ridge Spring.
Have lunch, shop for antiques and tour the historic homes and churches in Ridge Spring. (travel time 1 hour)
Travel to the city of Aiken on Highway 1 to tour the Thoroughbred Hall of Fame and Hopeland Gardens (travel time 45 minutes)
Spend the evening in the historic Wilcox Inn.

Continue to drive the Heritage Corridor, taking Highway 78 to Aiken then take Highway 19 to 278, and follow Highway 278 until you reach I-95 at Ridgeland.
Then follow I-95 south into Savannah, Georgia to the Savannah International Airport. (travel time 2 hours 30 minutes)