Gordon Shaffer

Historic Charleston prospered like no other city during the times of slave trading. Slaves were off loaded at the wharfs and taken to a short distance to be auctioned to traders and to parts further south. The Old Slave Mart Museum on Chalmers St is housed in the same building that was constructed for the purpose of jailing and selling slaves while remaining out of sight. The Mart was the most renown and busiest of the slave trading businesses in town. The museum has two floors of exhibits. The top tells the history of the transatlantic slave trade. The bottom or first floor portrays the activities of domestic slave trading in SC and at the Mart specifically. Admission is very reasonable; under $10.

Located within Huntington Beach SP near the entrance to Brookgreen Botanical Gardens. There's a fee to enter the park and a $2/person charge to enter Atalaya. Since the outside is unappealing at first glance, it is highly suggested to go inside. Atalaya is the winter home of Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington. Inside is surprisingly fascinating and will shed light on the Huntington's; her sculpting with live animals and using aluminum; he designing a sprawling Moorish-influenced compound as it was being built; and their unique eccentricities which made Atalaya impressive and far advanced for its time (1930s). It was used as an art studio and a place of rest & study. Built as an oceanfront property, the waves were literally lapping 10 to 15 feet from their front patio. Now the ocean cannot be seen as it's 100 ft or so from the house. Tours are self guided. Fortunately, we arrived at the start of an afternoon guided tour. A gift shop and restrooms are at the castle's entrance. Ample parking nearby.

Don't try to circumnavigate the lower falls when you can access the upper falls from Embry Dr. It's much simplier, safer and enjoyable. The trail is through a floor of soft pine needles, ending with some tricky maneuverings and a steep descent on stairs to the falls. To get there go the road to PEEC. That will junction w Embry Rd as you turn right toward PEEC. Continue another 2 or 3 miles until you see a brown mailbox jutting out into road. Immediately you will enter a S curve and there's a small pullout and trailsign set off in the woods.

This is a very pleasant 1.0 mile hike/walk easy enough for all, even children. The path is groomed with small gravel (wide & flat) half the way to the falls. There's several water crossings atop well constructed bridges & walkways. Once you cross over the metal-creaky bridge the path becomes a trail until you reach the falls. The falls are wonderful. Well worth seeing. Some people may hope to maneuver around the lower falls in an attempt to hike a more adventurous way to the upper falls. I say save the effort and drive to the Upper Falls TH on Emory Rd past PEEC and hike down to it.

Set aside your preconceived picture of a field of floating cranberries. This bog has way more to it than a few cranberries. The bog's name is actually taken from the nearby Cranberry Creek that run through it. (FYI, bogs often look more swamp-like with short, scraggling looking trees an account of anerobic and acidic conditions due caused by a huge sponge of spagnum moss that undergirds everything.) We took a 2 hr guided, educational tour that is offered periodically. One should call and find when and make a reservation ahead of time. The $6 cost per person is very reasonable. Our guide, Barrett, was excellent in his ability to tell us everything we didn't know we wanted to know about the bog. It was surprising how enjoyable it was. There's no way a person could leave without a greater appreciation of the unique biome of bogs.