We’ve spent a lot of time in the Charleston area over the years but we’d never been to Angel Oak Tree on Johns Island. Plus there’s an interesting fact regarding the Waterfront Park which I’m going to share with you in this blog post!
We started in Goose Creek, SC and made our way down to John’s Island to Angel Oak Tree. The attraction is free and phenomenal. There’s only a very small “formal” parking area and most folks park along a mile long road. You’ll get the idea when you get there.
We parked and walked a short distance to the entrance. It was a chilly day to begin with and under this massive tree it had to have been at least 10 degrees cooler.
Here’s some background on the tree from Angeloaktree.com…..
My camera couldn’t catch the magnitude of this tree. Branches are held up by wood blocks, wires, etc. all in order to preserve it.
After we looked at marveled at this monstrous tree – the largest Oak tree east of the Mississippi River – we moved on to our favorite place…. Waterfront Park in Charleston
Whether or not your familiar with the Waterfrontpark in Charleston – it’s close to the Battery, close to Rainbow Row, and there is a huge park here as well. Charleston also has a lot of ghost tours and carriage rides and of course the open market and a whole lot more.
What will you find at Waterfront Park… first you’ll walk up to a gigantic water fountain that people splash around in during the summer months, you’ll also find a beautiful walking pier with great wrought iron benches, and just before the pier you’ll find four copper maps depicting the history of Charleston, SC.
Twenty-five years ago I’d take my children to Charleston and I’d look at these maps – an actually studied them. I read every word. I also noticed the name imprinted on the last one and wondered who that belonged to. It was forged in there so I assumed it was the mark of the maker.
Little did I know I would eventually know the maker, as he is my husbands uncle! How cool is that?
That’s right – the person’s driveway we are driveway surfing in, made these maps along with his friend at the local foundry who poured them.
How exciting it was years ago for him, to show me, the actual molds he used to make these maps. Then the story of how they became what they are!
The hardest part about Charleston for us was finding parking. But we succeeded! And a few quarters later we were in our spot for an hour. We actually took up more than our spot but no one seemed to care – we were on the corner! 🙂
We weren’t being tourist in Charleston this trip – we’ve both done that many times before. It was more about relaxing and just looking around.
You can also view the Carnival Ecstasy from here, if it’s in port – which I’ll admit – they were boarding and I was looking up last minute cruises!
Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge and Carnival in the background!
Awesome!
It was a good day! Next time I’ll be sure to bring a back pack of clothes and necessities and board on one of those last minute bookings!!!!! I was so envious! Those folks were going to the Bahamas where it was warm and no unseasonably cold! We waved them off and hoped they had a great trip!