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Columbia. I grew up here--and keep trying to leave again! <G>

But we do have a wonderful zoo---Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Gardens. Some
popular exhibits are the gorillas (one female has an injured finger permanently
stuck shooting the bird! <G>), the koalas, the elephants, and the lorikeets
(you can feed them nectar in a cup for a dollar. There's also a lovely
carousel!
They have Homeschools Mondays!
http://www.riverbanks.org/s04education/homeschool.shtml
The botanical gardens are just gorgeous---and a nice walk.

The State Museum has a King Tut exhibit that has been held over until
January. It also has a hands-on science center, a SC history walkthrough, a dinosaur
exhibit, a toddler/young child room and more. Closed Mondays, but open Sunday.

The Art museum on Main Street has a waiting room painted by Christian Thee,
one of outr presenters. Trompe l'oiel. Again, I think, closed on Mondays.

There's a tiny firefighter's museum---it's not big, but they've packed a lot
into it. Sandra actually told ME about it last year before she came. Duncan
and I had a good time there! Old fire engine and photos and equipment! Attatched
to the firehouse! Fun!

The state house is a nice place to walk and hang out---just down the street
from the hotel. Anne and her boys and Marty spent several hours there late one
night! <G> There are stars in the walls where Sherman's cannonballs hit it!
Cool! If you take peanuts or popcorn or bread, the squirrels will eat out of
your hand.

Across the street is Trinity Cathedral (episcopal) where Ben and I were
married. There are neat gravestones there.

We have MANY old houses on tour. Just drive around or google "historic
houses Columbia, SC".

I'm sure that if you google Columbia more places will pop up. These are just
the ones that pop into MY head!

Charleston is a romantic southern city. DO try to get there if you're coming
from afar! It's worth the two hour drive from Columbia!

Walk along the Battery---lovely little tree-lined park on the waterfront in
downtown Charleston, complete with old cannons to climb!

The Slave Market---where slaves were bought and sold. It is now a touristy
spot where they sell all kinds of stuff---but the neatest thing they sell is the
sweetgrass baskets. All sorts of baskets and things woven out of sweetgrass
(found only on the coast of SC), made by the daughters of daughters of
daughters of slaves. They are quite expensive---and beautiful. Every bride receives at
least one sweetgrass basket as a wedding present! <G> The Salve Market
shouldn't be missed. Like I said, it's become touristy, but if you stand back, close
your eyes, and breathe deeply, you can imagine what it was like 150 year
ago!---ghosts.

Take a carriage ride---the horses wear diapers, but it's a nice way to see
the old city, cobblestone streets and all.

Next to the Market are a lot of good restaurants. A.W. Shucks is good and
casual for seafood. Garibaldi's a good for italian, but pricey. Poogan's Porch is
"southern". Baker's Dozen, for breakfast & pastries. Charleston is THE place
for food!

There's an aquarium, and you can see dolphins naturally in the bay on the
water side of the aquarium. They also have an I-Max theatre.

There's a Pirate museum. I haven't been since 1973! Sorry. I don't remember
much!

Charlestowne Landing was built when I was leaving Charlestom in 1970. I've
never been, but it's supposedly a nice glimpse into SC history.

The Citadel, the military college of SC, is a lovely "drive-through". VERY
historic, and ummmm---controversial! <G> Ben's alma mater. Beautiful buildings,
if you can look past the bars on the windows!.

Rainbow Row is a row of VERY colorful houses---painted pinks and blues and
yellows and very famous.

Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie are cool. Moultrie is a just drive to the
beach. Sumter is a boat ride (take bread---you can fed the seagulls that follow the
boat---and dolphins follow it too!)----it's where the first shots were fired.

There's an aircraft carrier that you can board--the Yorktown. I went YEARS
ago---I don't remember all that much except how incredibly HUGE it is! and that
they have a giant mixing bowl with a recipe for chocolate chip cookies for a
million! <G> 20 dozen eggs, 25 lbs of butter, 60 bags of flour---I thought that
was NEAT! You can also see where they sleep and eat and everything. A cool
stop!

Beaches: Folly Beach is quirky and bohemian---a lot of "alternatives" down
there (it's our favorite---and we're going for the day tomorrow). Isle of Palms,
Sullivan's Island, & Edisto Beach are the most beautiful---and ritzy. There
is camping at several state parks (eewre FULL of state parks!). I think you can
buy a membership for very little and camp all over. Google "SC state Parks".

Charleston's one drawback, for me, is the damned one-way streets! <g>

Along the coast, heading north are MANY beaches. Litchfield is north as you
approach Myrtle Beach and Pawley's Island's "logo" says "elegantly shabby"! <g>
---lots of golf along the coast for those into spoiling a good walk!

Brookgreen Gardens is a must see. Its has the most beautiful sculptures done
by the owner of the property many years ago. Her history and the history of
the property is there. Nice shop too. The horses at the entrance are worth the
whole visit for me! <g> And there's usually an art exhibit available, I
believe. Lovely gardens, to boot!


Myrtle Beach. Well, no self-respecting South Carolinian would be caught dead
there---it's a tourist trap, and you're welcome to it! <G>. The beaches aren't
very pretty, but they have the pavillion--rides and such. Lots of stores and
shows. You can STAY busy there! They have an excellent aquarium, so I
hear---better than Charleston's and I really liked Charleston's!

Another little town that might be of interest: Camden is a small and
beautiful town about 40 minutes northeast of Columbia, Their slogan: "Come spend a few
peaceful hours where the British spent a rough year!" Just for you, Shyrley! <
G> It's where Lord Cornwallis and "Bloody" Bannistre Tarleton, a ruthless
Brit, struggled to keep the colonies. They were defeated by the Swampfox, Francis
Marion (all very loosely portrayed in the Mel Gibson movie, The Patriot). It
was also the winter home of a bunch of yankees for many years---and they
still come down and winter their racing thoroughbreds here.( I used to exercise
racehorses there for Frank Whitely! 50 lbs ago! <G>). It's a nice place to spend
a day.

I'm sure other locals can chime in on what not to miss. And if you have any
particular questions, I'll try to find the answers for you.

I'm so excited you're all coming!

~Kelly



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