The current pandemic has allowed us the opportunity to explore more of this great country of ours. On our most recent travels, we visited South Carolina and Georgia and loved the people, culture, scenery, food, architecture and history of this amazing region. Our trip came complete with oak trees and Spanish moss, country roads, cypress swamps but also fine dining, boutique shopping and impeccable accommodations.

Our travels began in San Diego with a Southwest Airlines flight to Charleston, South Carolina. As always, Southwest boarded us in small groups onto a cleaned and disinfected plane, and kept the middle seats empty (up until at least October 31). Our travels were safe, pleasant and convenient. The Southwest Airlines Crew Members always make the trip enjoyable.

Founded in 1670, Charleston is a living museum with mansions, historical sites and a harbor that make for a perfect day of walking and exploration with something new around every corner. The Battery, a park at the southern end of the city features monuments and naval relics and is surrounded by Southern mansions making for the perfect starting point for a walking tour.

We stayed at the Montage Palmetto Bluff which was the perfect balance of Lowcountry traditions with modern amenities and impeccable service. This unique community is home to a luxury hotel and private residences secluded away on 20,000 private acres of undeveloped land, marshes and rivers. Conservation is pivotal to the property’s mission and it actively works to maintain the natural state.

The property is explored on your complimentary bicycles which allow you to travel to different villages, restaurants, pools and activities. We rode to the boat landing and launched a kayak to explore the lagoons. The gators were an unexpected surprise!

Our journey continued on to Savannah, Georgia. Founded in 1733, the area was favorable for growing cotton and rice, and with that came plantations and slavery. From this wealth, beautiful estates, neighborhoods and parks were built. The most beautiful of the plantations, Boone Hall is still in operation today. Continually growing crops for over 320 years, this historic site responsibly presents the history of slavery in an educational and respectful way.

The beauty of the plantation is not lost on anyone as the ¾ mile Avenue of Oaks has been featured in film and TV, including the motion picture, The Notebook. Speaking of films, life really is like a box of chocolates as Savannah was home to many of the scenes of Forrest Gump.
Historic charm, friendly people and endless activities make the South a perfect ESCAPADITA.

www.southwest.com
www.palmettobluff.com
www.boonehallplantation.com