Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, South Carolina
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
Charleston, South Carolina has been a big draw for a lot of people for a long time. Even before America was a country, settlers migrated toward the area due to its lovely weather and fertile ground. It should come as no surprise that there were plantations in the area as well. Many of these plantations fell defunct after the South lost the Civil War and could no longer rely on slave labor. These days, however, they’ve found a new life as a serious tourist attraction.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens was founded in 1676, survived both the American Revolution and the Civil War, and has been open to the public since 1870. Since then, it’s seen thousands of visitors every year and has even been named one of America’s Most Beautiful Gardens by Travel & Leisure Magazine. A day at Magnolia Plantation is an excellent way to spend a day relaxing in the beauty of nature.
The gardens at Magnolia Plantation are considered a “Romantic Garden,” with roots in Europe. Romantic Gardens are designed to help people forget the grind of a boring workday, and come home to experience the beauty of these incredible surroundings. It’s considered the last large-scale Romantic Garden in the United States.
There are plants and flowers that are in bloom here all twelve months of the year. They also take a unique approach to gardening: instead of working to control nature and the way the plants grow, they work in conjunction with it, creating a more natural landscape. The plantation is still owned by the descendants of the same family (over 300 years later), and each generation has added something unique to the space. Don’t miss the sprawling live oaks—they’re a staple of the south.
Plantation homes were built for opulence. Often large and sprawling, with multiple floors and wraparound porches that featured towering columns, the home at Magnolia Plantation is a quintessential plantation house. Guided tours take you through the home, and last between 35-45 minutes each.
While you’re touring the house, you’ll learn about the history of the area, the plantation, and the way it lasted through both the American Revolution and the Civil War. You’ll get to see vintage furniture from the 19th century, as well as quilts, lamps, and other heirlooms. You’ll also learn about the Drayton family, who have owned Magnolia Plantation for over 300 years.
The plantation is large, and while walking it allows you to take your time with the areas you love the most, it may prevent you from seeing some areas. Thankfully, there’s the Nature Tram, which puts you up close and personal with the park’s various gardens. You’ll get to visit all of the park’s different wildlife areas: forests, lakes, marshes, and wetlands.
It’s a 45-minute tour, and you’re likely to see first-hand a wide variety of wildlife that lives on the plantation. Egrets, turtles, herons, and even alligators call the plantation’s property home. More than that, you’ll also see darker parts of the plantation’s history, from a Native American burial ground to 19th century slave quarters.
After visiting these gardens, you’re no doubt going to want to try your own hand at gardening. And you absolutely should. You can start by taking home a few plants from the plantation’s own garden center. The Gilliard Garden Center offers both seasonal and specialty plants that you can take home as a reminder of these beautiful grounds.
Named for a former greeter and employee at the gardens and housed in a cabin she used to live in, today it’s a thriving spot full of beautiful plants just waiting for a new home. And no matter the type of plant you’re looking for—from common to rare, you’re likely to find it here. Including heirloom varieties, herbs, shrubs, and hybrid flowering plants. Make sure you’ve got space in your RV to bring a few home with you.
You may not often think of rice when you think of the south’s agricultural history, but it’s actually a big part of it. It’s no longer used, and you’ll see why if you take this boat tour. In actuality, the fields are now flooded, allowing a large tour boat to slip through what used to be fields and fields of rice.
A tour on this boat allows a naturalist to give you a history of the area’s rice growing, as well as a basic guide on the unique way rice is grown. While you’re out there, you’ll also likely spy some flora and fauna of the area. Cattails are everywhere, wood ducks are common, and an alligator or two may slip right past the boat.
Why not round out your visit to a plantation with a stay at a plantation? Oak Plantation Campground has over 200 sites, all with full hookups, and with wifi and cable TV on top of that. It’s located near numerous other amenities like grocery and general stores, and there’s also a trading post that stocks most RV-related supplies. Top it off with private fishing and disc golf, and it’s hard to find a reason not to stay here.
Inside James Island County Park, there’s a beautiful campground that will satisfy all of your camping needs. All sites have full hookups and wifi, and there’s a dump station on location. What’s more, you get all of the amenities associated with James Island County Park, as well. Paved trails for walking and bicycling, a climbing wall, a splash zone, paddle boat and kayak rentals, and much more. There’s even a crabbing dock if you want to try your hand at that.
Located in very close proximity to a number of attractions around Charleston, Lake Aire RV Park & Campground is an ideal place to be your vacation’s home base. There are full-service sites or primitive, so you can choose your camping adventure. There’s even a small lake (hence the name) where you can fish without a license. A pool, outdoor sports, and a playground make sure no one goes bored—and that’s not even everything.
Also located on an antebellum plantation, the Mount Pleasant/Charleston KOA brings with it all of the great reviews and amenities normally associated with Kampgrounds of America. You can enjoy a wagon ride to the Oakland Plantation and see the oldest known house in Mount Pleasant. You can also get outside and enjoy yourself on hiking trails, a disc golf course, renting a bike or boat, or fishing in the private lake. This is in addition to full RV hookups. What’s not to like?
There’s a good chunk of decommissioned military buildings around Charleston, and Foster Creek Campground sits on a Naval Weapons Station. There are a total of 54 back-in sites here, all with full hookups. There’s also wifi available. There’s a small playground, a picnic area, and water access to taking out a kayak or canoe. Stay at this unique location and you’ll remember this vacation forever.
The Magnolia Plantation has a small cafe that serves breakfast and lunch. For breakfast, which is served until 11 a.m., there are both hot and cold options available. For lunch, you’ll find sandwiches and other daily specials. There are also dozens of snacks available, from chips to ice cream. They also serve a variety of beverages, including coffee, beer, and sangria.
Charleston, South Carolina, (shown above) is no slouch when it comes to local dining. You’ll find a little bit of everything here, from the finest of fine dining options to casual pizza and burger joints. There are steakhouses with giant cuts of beer and chops, and barbecue places with ribs falling off the bone, and lots of fancy French fare as well. And believe it, you won’t have any trouble finding a few good fried chicken joints, or places serving up low country boils. Buy it by the bag and take it home to your RV, spread out the newspaper on the table, and dig in.
Charleston knows food, and they know how to eat well here. You’ll find plenty of delicious options, no matter how picky your fellow travelers may be. Try something new, or stick with something safe. Either way, be sure to enjoy your beautiful surroundings while you chow down.