It was a January evening at Middleton Place. Upon passing the softly lit entrance gate off of pitch black 61, in the far distance, you could see the brightly lighted North Flanker. It was about all you could see at this point in the darkness of the sunless landscape until the peering lights of your vehicle discreetly fell upon the branches of the tall oaks lining the drive leading up to the parking. Upon exiting your vehicle, the trailing smoke of the flaming wick lamps showed the way to the welcoming lights of Middleton's restaurant. The occasion, Restaurant Week, and Middleton Place Restaurant was featuring a 3 for $50 menu.
We did not have a reservation, so our choices were to either wait an hour and a half for an 8 pm seating or take a seat in the intimate bar area. We obviously chose the later option, which turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The large open room was warmed by an inviting, crackling fire, and we took a seat well positioned to take advantage of this welcoming amenity. Patron's leaving would make a final stop to warm themselves by the fire. One patron mentioning how cold it was sitting by the big windows of Middleton's elegant dining room. Also, the only thing you could hear over your conversation was the popping of the blazing wood, unlike the loud chatter of the main seating area. Check the box of another unexpected plus.
Our friendly server, who was also the bartender, promptly placed the restaurant's large menus on the table with two glasses of water, a full set of silverware for whatever, and two small plates for bread. First consideration was obviously our choice of opening drinks. My friend perused the extensive wine menu and I had already predetermined my choice, a Manhattan. Our server asked me my choice of Bourbon, and I said Knob Creek. My Manhattan was made just the way I like it, with a substantial kick, assuring me I got my moneys worth.
Our server stated the specials for the night, but we were there to partake of the 3 for $50 menu, which offered you a choice between two first courses, three second courses, and two third courses. For the first course, my friend and I chose the She Crab Soup made with lump crab and Sherry. For the second course, I chose the Chicken Perloo with the locally, famous Carolina gold rice, Andouille, bacon, caramelized apple, and fried parsley. My friend picked the Braised Lamb Shank with Carolina gold rice, Middlins risotto, roasted carrots, and red wine lamb reduction--sauce. The third course we both chose Apple Crumble with vanilla ice cream.
The bread was brought to the table and not long after the She Crab soup. We drank our drinks, buttered our bread, and conversed while we waited for the main course. The She Crab Soup was superb--a pleasant touch of Sherry and just the right flavor of crab, not overwhelming.
The main course arrived sizzling hot. Like the She Crab Soup, the different flavors in the rice dish was very balanced. The sausage and bacon did not dominate the hint of apple flavor and the texture of the rice had a soft crunch--enjoyable. The juicy chicken topped the rice and pulled apart easily. It was a satisfying portion for an entree. As to the Braised Lamb Shank, it was a first for my friend and she said she is now a fan of lamb. Finally, the Apple Crumble with vanilla ice cream was just that. When I think back on it, I should have tried the Southern Pecan Pie with caramel and whipped cream.
I give high marks to our server and bartender, Lucy. She was attentive, conversational, and humorous. Finished plates were cleared, so the table was never cluttered, and water topped off. She made drink inquiries as needed. She also had the added task of keeping the fire cozy, which she handled diligently.
Middleton Place Restaurant is elegant and historical. A good choice for Charleston Restaurant Week. For a table in the main dining room, be sure to make a reservation. However, the bar area is a pleasant surprise on a cold, January evening.
With the Ashley River lazily meandering in the distance, a peaceful easy feeling came over me as I sat on a wooden bench leisurely sipping on a plastic cup of red wine. I was in the company of one of the oldest oak trees in the Charleston Lowcountry. Greyed from age and bearing the scars of a sometimes tumultuous past, the Great Oak's long, broad branches majestically overshadowed the calming waters of the Rice Fields where fish launched themselves into the air like mortar shells and alligators prowled the surface like the H. L. Hunley in search of an unwary prey.
Clinging to the tree's weather-beaten bark, a cardinal curiously watched my every move. We weren't alone. With the Octagonal Garden to the right and the Sundial Garden behind, the soft, intimate chatter and light laughter of fellow strollers navigating the garden's preened pathways filled the warm evening air. The occasion is Wednesday Garden Stroll and Wine Tasting at Middleton Place.
The Wednesday Garden Stroll and Wine Tasting was started as a way for visitors to experience the beauty of Middleton Place in the early evening light and a more relaxed atmosphere--no tour guides needed. It is just you, the gardens, and a world renowned vino. The Wine Strolls are an invitation to drink in the incomparable natural beauty of the plantations 274 year old gardens--the oldest landscaped gardens in America. Each week, samples of specially selected wines from around the world are uncorked by the Middleton Place Restaurant for you to savor. A different wine region and beautiful garden location in bloom is chosen for the stroll.
Enjoy the following story of last year's wine stroll.
Middleton Place takes on an altogether different look and feel in the subdued light of the early evening hours. Its impressive garden's shadows lengthen, and the shaded hues lighten under the setting sun's penetrating rays filtering through the lower branches of its thick tea olive hedges and taller oaks and magnolias. Peace and serenity abound. It is the perfect setting for sipping on a glass of wine as you engage in intimate conversation with your chosen group of close friends or that special someone while you stroll the garden's quiet walkways.
Middleton Place's Garden Stroll and Wine Tasting is a 2-hour weekly event occurring on Wednesday beginning at 5:30 pm. On April 13, the evening I attended, three tables were located in different areas of the expansive gardens. You receive eight tickets--one ticket equaling one pour for each wine offering. You can double or triple each pour with one additional ticket each. At the end, a bonus pour was available at the Farm of Middleton Place. Each week the locations change, so if you attend more than one through the spring, your vantage point will not be the same. Some attendees bring their own glasses.
The first table was at the Crane Pool, which overlooks Rice Mill Pond, one of the more stunning views on the property. There were three offerings. My first choice was a double pour from Australia called Yalumba Y Series Sangiovese Rose'--easier printed than pronounced. I just said, "I'll try the one from Australia to start." I am not a wine connoisseur. My second choice at this table was also a double pour of Borsao Macabeo Chardonnay from Spain. Both were very good, but I favor the Rose' since one of its more prominent flavors was pomegranate.
A table filled with appetizers was at this location consisting of cheeses, crackers, fresh vegetables, chocolates, and finger foods, such as meat-filled empanadas.
The second table was in the Small Secret Garden. Navigating the gardens can be similar to walking a maze, so I just followed the sound of conversation to find the table, which was hidden at the end of a secluded path that opened into an enclosed area surrounded by tall, thick hedges. There were three offerings at this table also. Underwood The Bubbles was a Champaign and Sparkling Wine from Oregon. Lapostolle Grand Selection Sauvignon Blanc from Chile was a second choice. I chose a double pour of the third offering, a Christopher Michael Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington. If I were to use a word to describe it, my simple palate would respond with one word, "smooth."
The third table was the least popular with the crowd. It was located at the Wood Nymph Statue at the far end of the gardens in-between the Reflection Pond and the flooded rice fields. The Sangrias were placed here, and I did a double pour of the red. Sangria is what it is.
It was my third wine tasting at Middleton Place over the years. A substantial crowd attended this event. The stroll through the famous gardens was picturesque as usual. The wine was fine. The weather was ideal, a very comfortable temperature tempered by a slight breeze. The sunlight was perfect. I always enjoy meeting people who read my articles. I had the opportunity to meet a group from my original state, Ohio. I had brief conversations with numerous others while standing in line. I also met three local Summerville ladies, one of whom told me she is a dedicated reader and fan of my blog. There was one annoying guest, but a spray was available to make its presence tolerable. The Middleton Place Garden Stroll and wine Tasting is all about the above. Mission accomplished.
Middleton Place takes on an altogether different look and feel in the subdued light of the early evening hours. Its impressive garden's shadows lengthen, and the shaded hues lighten under the setting sun's penetrating rays filtering through the lower branches of its thick tea olive hedges and taller oaks and magnolias. Peace and serenity abound. It is the perfect setting for sipping on a glass of wine as you engage in intimate conversation with your chosen group of close friends or that special someone while you stroll the garden's quiet walkways.
Middleton Place's Garden Stroll and Wine Tasting is a 2-hour weekly event occurring on Wednesday beginning at 5:30 pm. On April 13, the evening I attended, three tables were located in different areas of the expansive gardens. You receive eight tickets--one ticket equaling one pour for each wine offering. You can double or triple each pour with one additional ticket each. At the end, a bonus pour was available at the Farm of Middleton Place. Each week the locations change, so if you attend more than one through the spring, your vantage point will not be the same. Some attendees bring their own glasses.
The first table was at the Crane Pool, which overlooks Rice Mill Pond, one of the more stunning views on the property. There were three offerings. My first choice was a double pour from Australia called Yalumba Y Series Sangiovese Rose'--easier printed than pronounced. I just said, "I'll try the one from Australia to start." I am not a wine connoisseur. My second choice at this table was also a double pour of Borsao Macabeo Chardonnay from Spain. Both were very good, but I favor the Rose' since one of its more prominent flavors was pomegranate.
A table filled with appetizers was at this location consisting of cheeses, crackers, fresh vegetables, chocolates, and finger foods, such as meat-filled empanadas.
The second table was in the Small Secret Garden. Navigating the gardens can be similar to walking a maze, so I just followed the sound of conversation to find the table, which was hidden at the end of a secluded path that opened into an enclosed area surrounded by tall, thick hedges. There were three offerings at this table also. Underwood The Bubbles was a Champaign and Sparkling Wine from Oregon. Lapostolle Grand Selection Sauvignon Blanc from Chile was a second choice. I chose a double pour of the third offering, a Christopher Michael Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington. If I were to use a word to describe it, my simple palate would respond with one word, "smooth."
The third table was the least popular with the crowd. It was located at the Wood Nymph Statue at the far end of the gardens in-between the Reflection Pond and the flooded rice fields. The Sangrias were placed here, and I did a double pour of the red. Sangria is what it is.
It was my third wine tasting at Middleton Place over the years. A substantial crowd attended this event. The stroll through the famous gardens was picturesque as usual. The wine was fine. The weather was ideal, a very comfortable temperature tempered by a slight breeze. The sunlight was perfect. I always enjoy meeting people who read my articles. I had the opportunity to meet a group from my original state, Ohio. I had brief conversations with numerous others while standing in line. I also met three local Summerville ladies, one of whom told me she is a dedicated reader and fan of my blog. There was one annoying guest, but a spray was available to make its presence tolerable. The Middleton Place Garden Stroll and Wine Tasting is all about the above. Mission accomplished.
With the Ashley River lazily meandering in the distance, a peaceful easy feeling came over me as I sat on a wooden bench leisurely sipping on a plastic cup of red wine. I was in the company of one of the oldest oak trees in the Charleston Lowcountry. Greyed from age and bearing the scars of a sometimes tumultuous past, the Great Oak's long, broad branches majestically overshadowed the calming waters of the Rice Fields where fish launched themselves into the air like mortar shells and alligators prowled the surface like the H. L. Hunley in search of an unwary prey.
Clinging to the tree's weather-beaten bark, a cardinal curiously watched my every move. We weren't alone. With the Octagonal Garden to the right and the Sundial Garden behind, the soft, intimate chatter and light laughter of fellow strollers navigating the garden's preened pathways filled the warm evening air. The occasion is Wednesday Garden Stroll and Wine Tasting at Middleton Place.
The Wednesday Garden Stroll and Wine Tasting was started as a way for visitors to experience the beauty of Middleton Place in the early evening light and a more relaxed atmosphere--no tour guides needed. It is just you, the gardens, and a world renowned vino. The Wine Strolls are an invitation to drink in the incomparable natural beauty of the plantations 274 year old gardens--the oldest landscaped gardens in America. Each week, samples of specially selected wines from around the world are uncorked by the Middleton Place Restaurant for you to savor. A different wine region and beautiful garden location in bloom is chosen for the stroll.
Enjoy the following story of a previous wine stroll.
This week's selected location was the southern magnolia-lined walkway along the spring-fed Reflection Pond. The four white-cloth covered tables were evenly spread out under the tall trees the full distance of the pond and strategically located at pathway entrances for easy access into the sprawling gardens. On each table were two bottles of wine--one red and one white. Each setting was accompanied by a basket of crackers for cleansing the palette between tastings.
The wine region selected was South America. At Table One, Tomero Torrontes 2013 from Mendoza, Argentina was the white offering and Malma Malbec 2012 from Patagonia, Argentina was the red. At Table Two, the white offering was Cautivo Chardonnay 2014 from Mendoza and the red was Errazuric Max Reserva Carmenere from the Villa de Aconcagua, Chile 2011. Moving to Table Three, Arido Moscato 2013 from Mendoza was the white and Colonia Las Liebres Bonarda Clasico 2013 from Mendoza was the red. Table Four topped off the selections with a Sangria Blanco and a Sangria Roja.
The correct pronunciations I leave to you to figure out--some Spanish required. The Cautivo Chardonnay was my white wine favorite and the Bonarda Clasico was the red I sipped under the Great Oak. After a few glasses of the South American vino and a dash of imagination, I found myself rubbing shoulders and clinking glasses with Henry and Mary as a guest of their garden party. Blame my whimsical tryst to the past on the wine.
If you want to get that peaceful easy feeling, Middleton's Wednesday Garden Stroll and Wine Tasting is where you want to be. It is a perfect blend of fine wine and floral gardens accented with the aroma of magnolias and oaks interlaced with a tremendous concentration of gentle sunlight. This event is elegant and well-balanced. Extend the evening with an overnight stay at the Inn at Middleton Place and/or dinner at the Middleton Place Restaurant .
Now, create your own story with a visit to Middleton Place on one of the scheduled dates.
Summerville is at present shimmering in a sea of magnificent multitudinous masses of magenta. It is the annual azalea bloom putting on its best dress for the upcoming Flowertown Festival hosted in Summerville's Azalea Park. The flowers are the official doorkeepers of spring greeting all to the celebration of warmer days. Drive anywhere on the streets in the town's historic district between Central Ave. and S. Main and you will be convinced Summerville is rightfully crowned the "Flower Town in the Pines".
Rightfully the "Flower Town in the Pines" because Summerville is also famous for its pine trees, but unfortunately, the pollen bloom that rains down from its branches, when the weather warms, is not enthusiastically embraced with happy celebration like the azaleas. With that being said, pine trees and azaleas are a perfect collaboration because azaleas grow well in its shadows.
The varieties of azaleas are as bounteous as its blooms thanks to hybridizing, or crossbreeding. They are native to North America, so it is likely they greeted our arriving ancestors in some form. All North American species are deciduous, meaning they drop their leaves. The evergreen varieties come from Japan where they can be hundreds of years old. The plants and blooms are mildly toxic, but I can personally dispute this assumption as not likely to be a deterrent to consumption. When I lived in northeastern Ohio years ago, I planted extensive rock gardens and plant mounds on my property. I attempted to incorporate azaleas into my scheme, but was unsuccessful. It seemed the branches were a favorite delicacy of deer, who ate the plants down to a stub before having a chance to pop a bud.
The azaleas that helped make Summerville famous are most likely the non-native variety. These originated in China and Japan, and made their way to the U.S. via England, France, and Germany. According to azalea historian Fred Galle in the United States, Azalea Indica (specifically speaking about the group of plants called Southern Indicas) got its name because when it was discovered, Asia was known as the East Indies. The first hybrids were planted in Charleston, South Carolina.
John Grimke Drayton imported the Azalea Indica from Philadelphia--where they were grown only in greenhouses by a nurseryman who also had a branch nursery in Charleston--and introduced them into the estate gardens of his rice plantation on the Ashley River. Marie Clinton Hastie wrote about the beginnings of her grandfather's garden, "it was somewhere in the mid 1840s that the Azalea Indica was introduced to Magnolia." His garden was the first in America to plant azaleas outdoors.
Thanks to the generosity of George Segelken, a pioneer in azalea propagation, Summerville became the place to see these uncommon plants in all their abundant glory in 1935. People came from all over to view the lush beauty of the town's Azalea Park. Segelken named the salmon pink colored azalea "Pride of Summerville." The park is the predominant venue of the Flowertown Festival.
The Flowertown Festival ranks as one of the largest festivals in the Southeast with an origin that goes back to 1972. The three-day festival also carries the well-deserved distinction as one of the Top 20 events in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society. One of the main features of this family-oriented festival centers on the promotion of arts and crafts. More than 200 craft artisans and vendors are given the opportunity to showcase their creative wares throughout Azalea Park. The Taste is another feature that offers festivalgoers a chance to sample appetizers, main courses, and desserts from local restaurants. For the young ones, there will be a Children's Jubilee/Kid's Fest, for the adults, a Saturday farmer's market. Admission is free and parking is free. The Robert Pratt Band will be sending musical vibes through the town's historic district.
The current festival was predated by a previous one in 1941, when Summerville celebrated the first Azalea Festival—a four-day event that included dances, concerts, a parade, and a formal ball. The festival promoted local business and celebrated the town's community pride, a pride as old as the trees. Summerville's rich history dates all the way back to the late 1600s. In those early days, coastal residents sought refuge from the heat and mosquitoes among the cooler pines of Summerville. One of the trees redeeming features was the turpentine scent it emitted, and even doctors considered it a cure for a variety of respiratory ailments. Many came all the way from Europe for the pine air and its believed benefits, but it was not just for the air, they also came for the southern charm and beauty.
Spring is a great time to experience Summerville's southern beauty, charm, and community pride. It is the season to celebrate the Flowertown Festival in The Birthplace of Sweet Tea beginning on April 1st, and this is no April fools. Speaking of sweet tea, allegedly, in 2003 as an April Fool’s joke, the Georgia House introduced a bill making it a "...misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature" to sell iced tea in a restaurant that did not also offer sweet iced tea on the menu. The bill never went to a vote. You can not accuse the Georgia House of lacking in humor. South Carolina adopted sweet tea as the state's Official Hospitality Beverage in 1995.
Of course, you cannot have sweet tea without a tealeaf, and Summerville owns the bragging rights for a particular variety. With French explorer and botanist Andre Michaux's planting of Oolong tea on the Middleton Barony in 1795, South Carolina was the only colony in America producing tea plants at that time. Later, Dr. Charles Shepard founded the Pinehurst Tea Plantation in Summerville in 1888, where he made tea growing a profitable reality. While Oolong tea could be your choice in making sweet tea, any kind can be used, though black tea is always a classic.
Well, that is Summerville—azaleas, sweet tea, and the biggest festival in the Southeast. While visiting for the Flowertown Festival, grab a glass of the best sweet tea at Sweetwater One Twenty Three. When you see me walking around town, be sure to say, "Hey." I am always interested in making new acquaintances.
Beginning at Slands Bridge and extending 22 winding miles through thick stands of moss-covered oaks and dense marshes to the site of Charleston's first settlement in 1670, its brackish waters and pluff mud shoreline are saturated with early Antebellum history. It was a thoroughfare to Charleston and a lifeline for its dependent downstream settlements and expansive plantations, including the Colonial Dorchester settlement and the Ashley Barony site.
Relatively undisturbed by the passing of time, this undulating liquid menagerie is unparalleled in its historic significance and natural value. People by the droves come from all over the United States to its lush banks to drink in its tranquility and wonder at its one-time opulence.
Middleton Place, Magnolia Plantation, Drayton Hall, and the lesser known but equally enchanting Runnymede Plantation are poetic names indelibly written on the river's adjoining signposts welcoming visitors to their riverside gardens and reflective ponds. These scenic estate vistas are saturated with history and part of the stunning tidal river named after the 1675 Chief Lord Proprietor of the Carolina Colony, Anthony Ashley Cooper.
This living ecological attraction was and is the Ashley River Corridor--home to 26 separate sites listed in the National Register of Historic Places and designated a State Scenic River. Events inviting you to explore and experience the river's natural amenities are scheduled throughout the year, especially in the spring, when it all comes to life in the Lowcountry's warming sun and pleasant evenings. Something for everyone, following is a list of March's offerings.
1) Middleton Place Spring Wine Stroll--The weather and the setting were perfect. There was but a whisper of a breeze playing on the long branches of the old oaks. The fading sun cast a tranquil shade of pleasant over the beautified gardens--considered the oldest in America. The numerous reflective ponds, alive with the chatter of its amphibious residents, were one with the surroundings. Their mirror-like surfaces are disturbed only by the watchful eyes of the long-toothed reptiles common to these Lowcountry waters.
Stroll the gardens of Middleton Place while sipping on samplings of old and new world wines. Each Wednesday evening, a different garden location is paired with a selection of wines for you to sample. Enjoy spectacular views and light snacks. It begins March 18 and runs to May 27 this year.
Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at event.
Date: Wednesday, March 18 – May 27, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
4300 Ashley River Road
Charleston, SC
2) Magnolia Plantation Rice Field Boat Tour--Slip back in time as your boat glides through Magnolia's old flooded rice field along the Ashley River. While you explore the cattail-fringed canals, your naturalist captain will transport you to the age of rice growing and river-going. Alligators still slip silently across its channels as egrets wade along the shore, stalking fish or frogs. You might even surprise a flock of wood ducks or spy a grackle building its nest. Today the rice is gone, but the history is still alive.
LENGTH: One hour
LOCATION: Departs from a dock in the historic Garden.
TIMES: Seven days a week from March through October each year.
COST: $8 per person with paid garden admission, children under 6 free.
3550 Ashley River Road
Charleston, SC
3) Drayton Hall Historic Entertaining and Wine Tasting--Originally a fruit orchard, Drayton Hall was built somewhere around 1738, thus making it over 282 years old. The house is part of the most significant, undisturbed historic landscapes in America and one of the earliest and finest examples of Georgian-Palladian architecture in the United States. Of course, the use of the word undisturbed must be dissolved in a glass of salty brine and consumed with a grain of rice.
Please join us for a historic entertaining-inspired interpretive conversation followed by a wine tasting. Take the opportunity to learn about the Draytons’ entertaining through research, archaeological discoveries, and Drayton diaries. Then, enjoy wines with histories relevant to entertaining at Drayton Hall through the generations.
March 21, 2020
3380 Ashley River Road
Charleston, SC
4) The 2nd Annual Ashley River Adventure Race at the Bridgman River Access/Future Ashley River Park Site--Features a 5k trail run through the future park, an 8-mile downriver paddle, a post-race party at the Inn at Middleton Place, and a Fun Float (no running; untimed; you paddle your boat with everyone else) for those that want to participate in a more leisurely manner. As always, post-party tickets are available for your friends, family, and general spectators.
Kayak or SUP are not provided. Bring your own, or make it super easy on yourself by renting from Edisto River Adventures who will meet you at the race start with your boat and pick it up from you as soon as you finish at the Inn. Cost is $35 for boat rental and all gear. Contact ERA at 843-695-8146 or email at info@edistoriveradventures.com.
March 21, 2020
200 Renken Road
Summerville, SC
5) The Charleston Bluegrass Festival--A brand new event presented by Friends With Benefits Productions, Awendaw Green, and Ear For Music. The festival takes place on the pristine 6,000-acre grounds of the Woodlands Nature Reserve across from Middleton Place.
Patrons can expect a weekend of revelry complete with some of the finest names in bluegrass across three lakeside stages. The event offers plush camping options, local food/craft vendors, and outdoor activities. Patrons can look forward to mind-bending art installations and exciting performance art.
The Charleston Bluegrass Festival reaches beyond your typical weekend music festival, offering festival-goers the opportunity to rent a kayak to fish on two stocked lakes, go for a hike on miles of wooded trails, or hop on a stand-up paddleboard and enjoy a view of both stages from out on the water, and if being lazy is the desired activity, Eagles Nest Outfitters will be on hand, providing a plethora of hammock options for fans to lounge.
The Woodlands Festival is proud to partner with some of Charleston’s finest culinary curators to offer vast food options, from local food trucks and neighborhood restaurants, offering fans from around the country a taste of Charleston. In addition to curating a world-class bluegrass lineup, The Charleston Bluegrass Festival will most certainly showcase the best of everything Charleston has to offer—nature, food, art, music, and more.
GENERAL ADMISSION WEEKEND PASS: $109.00
VIP WEEKEND PASS: $249.00--Prime Viewing/Private Bar/Private Restrooms
GENERAL ADMISSION SINGLE DAY - FRIDAY: $65.00
GENERAL ADMISSION SINGLE DAY - SATURDAY: $65.00
Ticket prices do not include camping-camping price details.
March 20-21, 2020 4279 Ashley River Road Charleston, SC
Beginning at Slands Bridge in Summerville and extending 22 winding miles through thick stands of moss covered oaks and dense marshes to the site of Charleston's first settlement in 1670, its brackish waters and pluff mud shoreline is saturated with early Antebellum history. Including the Colonial Dorchester settlement and the Ashley Barony site, it was both a thoroughfare and a lifeline in the hand of early Charleston for its dependent downstream settlements and expansive plantations.
Relatively undisturbed by the passing of time, it is unparalleled in its historic significance and natural value. People by the droves come from all over the United States to its shores to drink in its tranquility and wonder at its one-time opulence. Middleton Place, Magnolia Plantation, Drayton Hall, and the lesser known Runnymede Plantation are poetic names enduringly written on its adjoining signposts that welcome visitors to its riverside gardens and reflective ponds. Rich with a wide variety of fish and wildlife, these scenic vistas are all a part of the extraordinary tidal river named after the 1675 Chief Lord Proprietor of the Carolina Colony, Anthony Ashley Cooper.
With 26 separate sites listed in the National Register of Historic Places and designated a State Scenic River, this was and is the Ashley River Corridor. Enjoy the pictures of the Ashley River.
