Georgetown, SC day tripping

Georgetown, SC

Georgetown is the perfect distance up the coast for a day trip from Charleston. This time we combined a few birthday celebrations with lunch at the Hopsewee Plantation Tea Room. It was lovely to be there without being swarmed by mosquitoes! We had enough time to head further up to Georgetown to wander through a few antique stores and shops.

Recent day trip to Georgetown, SC

Georgetown, SC

These shots were taken on a recent day trip up the coast to Georgetown, SC. It's the perfect distance for a midday trip and a stop for pralines to nibble on the way home.

Blue skies

Georgetown, SC

The skies have been glorious lately. I walk around looking up rather than down. This one was from a weekend day trip up the coast to Georgetown, S.C. 

Easter colors

Georgetown, SC 

This home may have been painted these colors for any reason but they particularly fit at this time of year and the owners seem to enjoy playing along with Easter decor. Happy Easter to all!

Georgetown day trip

Georgetown, SC

After all the rain and sogginess it was nice to have a drive up the coast for a late lunch in Georgetown. Blue skies! White clouds! The vintage movie theater has current movies showing and visitors were enjoying the boardwalk. 

It was a quick trip but a happy break while my little car was left drying out with an elaborate system of extension cords and dehumidifiers and carpets propped up. Thankfully it seems to drive without any trouble. I saw city workers finally out clearing out our neglected drainage system yesterday and hope that continues. 

Enjoy your Sunday, kids!

 

The Oaks Plantation

The Oaks Plantation, Georgetown, SC   

The second stop on our Georgetown plantation tour last weekend was The Oaks Plantation which is privately owned and operated as a hunt club. They tortured me by not allowing me to take pictures inside. One of the most striking sights was the large flock of white ibis gathered on the back drive. They were in the trees as well but I've never seen them grouping together on the ground like that. It was a treat to see.

Hero of Two Worlds

Marquis de Lafayette, Georgetown, SC   

You don't have to call me Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette. Just call me Lafayette. 

What a life of adventure he led. He sailed to America to lend a hand in the American Revolution and happened to pull up in Georgetown, SC. Can you imagine opening your door to find a Frenchman arriving to fight the British? This statue is near the rice museum in Georgetown. 

Landing of Lafayette: After LaFayette’s plan to join the American cause under the steam of his own ship was discovered by the British, the King of France was pressured to forbid his nobleman from leaving his homeland. In fact, the King ordered LaFayette to join his father in Marseille and was informed that failure to comply with the royal command would result in his imprisonment. Again, LaFayette was not to be dissuaded.

LaFayette set out for Spain. Disguised as a woman, he set sail on April 20, 1777 for America. Although the captain of the ship intended to stop over in the West Indies to sell some goods, LaFayette feared any layovers would open a window of opportunity for the British that would result in his arrest. To avoid this delay in his mission to America, LaFayette again opened his own purse and bought the cargo from the captain in exchange for the skipper’s promise to sail directly to America.

On June 13, 1777, the Marquis de LaFayette landed on North Island near Georgetown, South Carolina. This was almost as a momentous a landing as any other in American history. 

It is almost the 240th anniversary of his arrival on June 13, 1777.  Cheers to the freedom loving Marquis!

On leaving Georgetown & Vote for Me!

Georgetown, SC 

One of the best parts about Saturday's boating excursion was looking back at Georgetown as we sailed down the river. I love shrimp boats and the view was beautiful.

Tomorrow is Social Media Day in Charleston and the topic is actually interesting: Social Media During a Crisis. The event is held at the Charleston Museum on Thursday afternoon. There are some social media award and apparently someone has nominated ME.

Vote for me: as much as it makes me squirmy, if you are inclined to register, you can vote for me in the last category for best Charleston images - Charleston Daily Photo at this link: Social Media Day Awards. Many thanks to the person who nominated me.

Lighthouse Hunting - Georgetown

Georgetown, SC 

I've been checking the lighthouses in South Carolina off of my list lately. The Georgetown lighthouse is visible from the water so it required a little planning and a boat ride to view it. There are two companies offering lighthouse and shelling trip from G-Town and for more convenient timing we took Cap'n Rod's tour which left at noon. The trips are popular and fill up so reservations are the best plan. There is a lot of history around Georgetown and I'd like to return for the plantation tour. We saw many beautiful plantation buildings through the woods.

We didn't get off at the lighthouse since it is still in operation but had a good view as we sailed by. We had close to an hour and a half on North Island to explore the boneyard beach and shell. Visitors were allowed to take shells and to carry pieces of driftwood of a size that one person could carry.

Begun in 1799 and lighted in 1801, the Georgetown Lighthouse is the oldest active lighthouse in South Carolina and one of the oldest in existence on the south Atlantic coast. However, a tablet above the entrance notes 1811 as the date of erection, differing from the nomination form’s conclusion. During the Civil War, the lighthouse was used by the Confederates as an observation post until it was captured by Union forces in May 1862. The lighthouse tower, in the shape of a truncated cone, is 87 feet tall. The stairs and center supporting post were cut from solid stone, and the outer walls are of brick. The light was rebuilt in 1812 and 1867. The lighthouse complex is in a cleared area of scrub-covered sand dunes and includes several one-story buildings that form the Coast Guard station, a dock on Winyah Bay, and a radio tower. Listed in the National Register December 30, 1974.

Georgetown totem pole?

Totem pole, Georgetown, SC  

I came to ask if anyone knew anything about the totem pole on the boardwalk in Georgetown but googling around came up with at least the artist's name - Roy Smith.

I've had a pretty lazy weekend after a busy week. I went up to the lake and slept like a baby and finally caught up with a few chores today. Back to school for all the South Carolina students in the morning!

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - birdhouse style

Birdhouse, Georgetown, SC  

It isn't Sunday morning but today's featured church is a birdhouse up the coast in Georgetown, SC. You should hear the chorus!

Georgetown has a lovely boardwalk with restaurants overlooking the water. The photos below are taken from the water side looking through the gap left by the awful fire a few years ago. The space where the historic building burnt down is still empty.

Georgetown, SC  

Georgetown, SC   

Georgetown, SC  

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - Georgetown, SC

Love Chapel, Georgetown, SC 

I take more pictures of churches than I actually attend but this might be the perfect one for me. I found the Love Chapel in Georgetown, SC and the signs caught my eye. Sinners Welcome! If you are looking for the perfect church, this is not the one!

Sinners Welcome!

The South Carolina Praline Trail

Sweeties, Georgetown, SC  

I've done a couple of Thelma & Louise day trips lately (minus the convertible, the cliff and Brad Pitt) exploring up and down the coast and we've discovered that after a little sightseeing and a tasty lunch we conveniently happen upon a praline shop for dessert. Meant to be! Nothing is better than a field trip with a little brown sugar and cream treat to cap it off. Savannah, Beaufort, Charleston and now Georgetown - bingo! Pralines.

There isn't much to review since you can't really hurt brown sugar, cream and butter unless you burn it, but I am willing to keep tasting and testing until we find the best pralines in South Carolina.

Today's sample is from Sweeties candy shop in Georgetown.

 

Welcome to Sweeties Sweets. Cindy Hedrick & Skip Yeager are the Sweeties, since 1996.  Some of the Sweets we make are displayed and available on this site but to get the full effect, aroma, and feel of our products you need to come for a visit to Historic Seaport Georgetown, SC between Myrtle Beach and Charleston on Hwy 17. Come walk the Harborwalk, eat fresh seafood, relax and enjoy.  While there look for the Old Clock Tower, we are just a couple doors down at 707 Front Street.
 

After the Fire - Georgetown, S.C.

Georgetown, S.C.

Seven historic riverfront buildings burned down in Georgetown at the end of September. I'd driven through since then but last weekend was the first time I walked by and saw first hand the terrible loss they suffered. These pictures are taken from the waterfront boardwalk.

New York Times: After Downtown Fire

Georgetown is a lovely town and I hope their downtown can bounce back from this disaster. It is the perfect day trip from Charleston and still a good place to visit.

Georgetown, S.C.

Sunset in Georgetown

Sunset in Georgetown, S.C.

I accompanied my friend Andre' up the coast to Georgetown, S.C. yesterday. I met him in the parking lot of St. Thomas Church in North Charleston where he was finishing a wedding ceremony and we hit the road to get him to Georgetown in time to say the blessing at the reception of his friend Kiah and new bride Jessica.

We arrived in time to be welcomed by this gorgeous sunset. Wow. The reception was held at the bride's family's home overlooking the waterfront. The entire setting was too beautiful for words. Cheers to the happy couple!