UKLouise

Hi All, we are making our visit first ever to South Carolina later this year, and I would love to visit a plantation, we will be staying around Charleston, Savannah and Hilton Head Island,
can you recommend some of the best plantations to visit?

Thanks

suewoo

Middleton is my favorite, but it's pricey. I love the carriage ride through the swamp. Drayton has the only original home -remember, lots of burning down houses during the Civil War. Magnolia is pretty too. You probably should google them and see what strikes your fancy.

bachslunch

suewoo's suggestions are excellent. Of the three, Middleton has the best gardens and grounds while Drayton Hall has the best house. All three were well worth the visit, though.

Gretchen

I third Middleton for Charleston. Since you are going to be in MB (or better Pawley's/Litchfield!!) you can also stop at Brookgreen Gardens in Litchfield. This was a rice plantation but is now known for it's gardens and incredible sculpture done by Anna Huntington. The Huntingtons lived across the road at Atalaya 6 months of the year and she did her sculptures there. The "house" is also worth a look for the sheer jaw dropping thought of living there--basically a huge square of rooms that you go from one to the next all the way around!!
You should also go out to the beach at Pawley's to look at the Historic District there--where the rice planters/plantation owners from Charleston came to escape the malarial mosquitoes in summer.
And then at least drive through the historic district of Georgetown, just a few miles on down the road toward Charleston--lovely homes some dating from the Revolutionary War.
There is a nice Georgetown cookbook that not only has wonderful recipes but also a guide to the historic houses and other plantations on down the road toward Charleston.

aliska

We enjoyed visiting Boone Hall plantation in addition to the 2 already mentioned. Boone Halls "looks" like the plantations you saw in old movie sets. I believe the beautiful live oak entry drive has been used in several movie sets. Also, their "slave street" is unique and well preserved if you are into African American history, this is interesting as well. Do be warned, the house was built in the 20th century, as were several in the area as well.

http://boonehallplantation.com/

DRJ

When at Middleton, take the walk through the azalias to the Middleton Inn, one of the finest 20th century pieces of architecture in SC.

suewoo

The Allee leading into Boone Hall has indeed been in movies. But the house was built in the 1930s so people get disappointed, not realizing that most plantation homes were burned during the Recent Unpleasantness.

The gardens at Boone Hall are great, as are the slave cabins.

I totally second a visit to Brookgreen.

I'll also suggest the Old Sheldon Church ruins outside Beaufort off 17. It' beautiful.

Gretchen

If you want to see an "allee" on your way south to Charleston go to the Litchfield Plantation--a bed and breakfast on the original Litchfield Plantation. The house is a LOVELY "small" platation house sitting at the end of the drive of live oaks. There is a guard at the entrance but if you say "pretty please", may I show our guests (or in your case, your English accent) he has let us drive up and come back.

UKLouise

Thank you all very much, I shall enjoy looking up all the suggestions, this is such an interesting holiday for us, I am really enjoying doing the research, I am sure it will be an amazing holiday when it actually happens too!

PS (This comment relates to another topic I posted) We might change our flights and fly direct to Charlotte, depends on my husbands work, which would certainly cut down on the driving!

Gretchen

A LOT!! and easier.

Brian_in_Charlotte

CLT over ATL will save you hours on the road and avoid having to navigate Atlanta traffic right after you land.

nini

Middleton Place is well worth a visit and the Inn there is a good place to have lunch-local specialties are on the menu. Drayton Hall is unfurnished but very interesting. The interior paint is original and looks amazingly good considering how old the place is. Don't remember any gardens there but the property is beautiful.

HotWheels

We very much enjoyed Drayton Hall at Charleston for the historical factor - and also one other that has not been mentioned here so far - Hampton Plantation, which is farther out from Charleston than the others mentioned, but also original. Rather than being greatly groomed with gardens, they seemed more "real". I would also like to second a visit to Atalaya at Huntington Beach State Park (very relaxing, natural area)and Brookgreen Gardens across the road. (We enjoyed the jeep and river tours there also). Don't forget to stop at Pawley's Island and see the Hammock Shop for fun...