Hailing from California, we have some amazing National Parks, but we’re severely lacking in the National Memorial category. That made it all the more awesome to get our hands on some American history at the Wright Brothers Memorial. Splendid and serene is a good way to describe this place. Big, expansive spaces crowned by a hill showcasing a beautiful art deco sculpture. There’s also a quaint (albeit dated) museum with a replica of the Wright Flyer, their huts on the sand, and some great artifacts from the Wrights’ workshop. Nearby, markers show how far the Wrights flew during their time on the Outer Banks.
A few key things when you visit. The price is a little steep, but it’s a National Memorial—get over it. It’s really windy there, so bring a kite. There’s a cool bronze statute of the Wrights’ flight on the back side of the hill, so don’t forget to check that out. And it is totally worth hiking to the top of the hill. The views are really great from up there and the sculpture/monument is something to behold, especially if you’re into art deco.
Out of the myriad carriage tours in Charleston, this one got our money. And I’m really glad we chose it because it was a wonderful way to experience the city. So the way the carriage tours work in Charleston is that each tour group pulls its carriage out, meets the city official who gives them a randomly(?) chosen path, and that’s the path you get to see. You could go on three tours and get a different one each time—or the same. Kind of strange, but necessary to keep down congestion I suppose.
We got what I consider a really solid tour experience with a path that took us through the center of the old city, down by the waterfront on Bay Street, near the park on Battery, and then back up Meeting Street. Pretty much checked all of the boxes for seeing the best of Charleston, and we had an excellent tour guide who made the experience really fun. I’m not one for guided tours when you can just walk or drive yourself around, but there’s just something magical about being shuttled around in a carriage with a great guide that’s a really cool experience. Well worth taking a carriage tour!
Now that’s something you don’t see everyday. A giant, full-scale replica of a Greek temple built from what appears to be concrete and stone right smack in the middle of the city. Like, literally across the street from the hospital. Really strange. But once you get past the weirdness, it’s actually kind of cool. We didn’t get a chance to go inside, but we did spend a few minutes just walking around the place. Great place for a photo or two, but don’t be fooled by the pictures you see online—this place is not as secluded as you’d think, and it’s really busy in the afternoon. Guess we don’t have to visit Athens now.
I do love visiting historic sites. And there are few as uniquely beautiful as the Hermitage. Sprawling grounds, a stunning home, and interesting installations abound. Is it cheap? No. But well worth it considering all there is to see and do at this wonderful site. Whether you just want to browse the gift shop and museum or take a tour of the grounds and President Jackson’s home itself, there’s a little something for everyone. For my wife and I, we preferred the tour of the main house and the garden. And on the day we visited, children from the local elementary school were acting as docents, reciting what they’d learned in their history classes. Adorable.
Out of the myriad carriage tours in Charleston, this one got our money. And I’m really glad we chose it because it was a wonderful way to experience the city. So the way the carriage tours work in Charleston is that each tour group pulls its carriage out, meets the city official who gives them a randomly(?) chosen path, and that’s the path you get to see. You could go on three tours and get a different one each time—or the same. Kind of strange, but necessary to keep down congestion I suppose.
We got what I consider a really solid tour experience with a path that took us through the center of the old city, down by the waterfront on Bay Street, near the park on Battery, and then back up Meeting Street. Pretty much checked all of the boxes for seeing the best of Charleston, and we had an excellent tour guide who made the experience really fun. I’m not one for guided tours when you can just walk or drive yourself around, but there’s just something magical about being shuttled around in a carriage with a great guide that’s a really cool experience. Well worth taking a carriage tour!
The lighthouses in Southern California are pretty lame, so it was really cool to check out a good lighthouse for once. We made our way up from the coast to check out the Currituck Lighthouse, and I’m really glad we did. It’s this towering brick structure you can climb for a rather steep price. It’s a long climb up the couple hundred steps, but totally worth it—unless you’re scared of heights. From the top, you get to look out over the nearby Whalehead Club and park a spectacular view of the Outer Banks that seems to stretch on forever. There’s also a small museum built into the lighthouse with some great historic photos and other artifacts from the lighthouse’s past.
Hailing from California, we have some amazing National Parks, but we’re severely lacking in the National Memorial category. That made it all the more awesome to get our hands on some American history at the Wright Brothers Memorial. Splendid and serene is a good way to describe this place. Big, expansive spaces crowned by a hill showcasing a beautiful art deco sculpture. There’s also a quaint (albeit dated) museum with a replica of the Wright Flyer, their huts on the sand, and some great artifacts from the Wrights’ workshop. Nearby, markers show how far the Wrights flew during their time on the Outer Banks.
A few key things when you visit. The price is a little steep, but it’s a National Memorial—get over it. It’s really windy there, so bring a kite. There’s a cool bronze statute of the Wrights’ flight on the back side of the hill, so don’t forget to check that out. And it is totally worth hiking to the top of the hill. The views are really great from up there and the sculpture/monument is something to behold, especially if you’re into art deco.
Reviews of gardens are always tough to write. After all, getting a good picture on what a garden is like depends on so much. Time of the year. What’s in bloom. How busy it is on tha the day you visit. And so on.
That said, the Elizabethan Gardens were great when we visited. Really cool entrance. Very pretty gardens. Price is a little steep (and I’m from the land of expensive gardens—you don’t know how pricey a garden visit can be until you’ve visited the Huntington Library). That about sums this place up.
So we arrive, walk around the park a little, and see the variety of pretty trees and man-made installations. Very calm and very serene, especially near the water. I’ll definitely be back next time we make our way to the Outer Banks.
I’m not going to lie, but this place was a little creepy.
So there we were, heading down from Wilmington to Charleston and we decide to stop off at our first plantation since we landed in the South. It’s just a little down the road, no big deal, we think—but then we drive for what seems like miles down small roads, then smaller roads, until we arrive in this huge clearing.
We get out of the car, walk past all of the signs warning of the numerous dangerous animals and insects lurking about, and hike up the short path to the plantation. And there it is, a beautiful white home that looks like it could be the set of a horror movie. There were chairs and candelabras strewn about as if someone was about to perform a seance—and this was the middle of the day.
But despite the haunted feeling surrounding the place, we met some nice folks (including a very friendly Park Ranger) and strolled around the property comfortably before heading back on the road. It’s a little off the beaten path, but definitely worth a visit if you’re looking to get your plantation fix in. And best of all, it’s totally free to just walk around.