Category: Land Vacations

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Civil War Sites

Civil War Sites

History buffs have a lot of historic sites to visit in South Carolina. From Fort Sumter to Parris Island, South Carolina is absolutely brimming with Civil War and American history. 

We have the site of the first shot of the Civil War in Charleston at Fort Sumter National Monument. The National Monument also includes the Visitor Center on Patriots Point and Fort Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island. The Fort Sumter National Memorial is a fascinating look into the beginning of that war. There are preserved elements at Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie with still standing artillery and other historic items. A visit to the Charleston Museum will give you a better understanding of the importance of these sites. It has an exhibit called “City Under Siege” which gives interesting details about what lead to the secession and the battle at Fort Sumter. While you are in Charleston, the Secessionville Historic District on James Island is a collection of sites and structures relevant to the Civil War.

No Civil War history would be complete without a visit to River Bridge State Historic Site. It is on a 400 acre site about seven miles from Ehrhardt. You can do a walking tour which lets you view the mostly intact Civil War fortifications and the cemetery.

Even our State House in Columbia has Civil War significance. It narrowly avoided complete destruction during Sherman’s march in 1865. The building has six bronze stars marking where artillery batteries hit the building.

The SC State Museum in Columbia features a Confederate Relic room, a Military Museum, as well as an impressive Civil War collection. There is a replica of the H.L. Hundley submarine (you can see the original in Charleston), several copies of the original Ordnance of Secession as well as plenty of authentic artifacts.

 At the Parris Island Museum at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot near Beaufort, you can get an in-depth look into several Civil War conflicts taking place around the Port Royal Sound area. There are several Confederate Museums in SC. The Confederate Museum in Charleston houses a collection of Civil War goods and items. Greenville is home to the South Carolina Confederate Museum. Myrtle Beach is home to the South Carolina Civil War Museum which features authentic firearms, uniforms, and other artifacts.

There is lots of history in our state offering in depth looks into the era and you can have fun learning.

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Destinations to Explore

Alaska is an amazing state. You can cruise between May and September, perfect for school vacations! Alaska has breathtaking scenery, amazing wildlife, and spectacular glaciers. You can see whales, go dog sledding, visit frontier towns, go on amazing helicopter tours, and see glaciers calving. It is a fabulous experience! You can cruise on the major cruise lines or some of the smaller lines for more adventurous cruising.

Hawaii is an exotic place with several islands to explore. The good part of traveling to Hawaii is you don’t need a passport. After all, it is part of the United States. You can whale watch from November to early May and visit sea turtle sanctuaries. There are extinct and active volcanos to visit; beautiful beaches from pink sand to black sand; stunning cleaved, green-clad volcanic cliffs dripping down to the sea, cascading waterfalls and many more awesome sights to see. And where else can you go to an authentic traditional luau?

How about the Fjords of Norway, Sweden, or Iceland? Fjords are beautiful, long, narrow inlets with steep sides or cliffs, created by glacial erosion and offer beautiful vistas. Speaking of Iceland, you can go for the Northern Lights, several national and state parks, rainbow colored mountains, the Blue Lagoon where you can swim in the healing waters, black sand beaches, geothermal pools, and urban cities as well as stunning scenery.

Imagine, visiting Antarctica and seeing penguin colonies, soaring glacier cliffs, calving icebergs, whale seals, albatross. There are icebreaker ships and expedition ships which have experts and naturalists for learning about wildlife, geology, oceanography, glaciology and history. Visit the Galapagos Island and see giant tortoise, sea lions, birds, iguanas beautiful white sand beaches, hiking, diving and snorkeling. 

Australia offers the iconic landmarks in Sydney, beautiful beaches with lots of surfing, and of course, The Great Barrier Reef. You can visit a number of World Heritage Sites including the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, the Blue Mountains and the Rainforestation National Park, ride a camel along the shore, or learn the secrets to pearl farming,  New Zealand has black sand beaches and the world’s yacht racing capital, Auckland. Inside Auckland’s Waitomo Grotto, you will see the glittering glowworms, or enjoy an exclusive kiij at Maori and Polynesian exhibits. Along Akaroa’s Southern Alps you can see the white-flippered blue penguins and fur seals. New Zealand is home to Maori legends and steaming volcanic lakes.

Mediterranean cruise vacations are packed with history and culture. You can have sun and sand or just enjoy the natural beauty of the area and become immersed in the number of diverse cultures in the countries on the Mediterranean. Some of the countries include Italy, Spain, the Greek Islands, Malta, Croatia, Turkey, Portugal and Egypt. Or you can cruise the Italian or French Riviera. The Baltic Sea cruises visit Scandinavian cities such as Copenhagen, Helsinki, Stockholm, plus St. Petersburg in Russia.

Or try a non-sea cruise. River cruising is on small ships typically less than 200 passengers. Rivers don’t have high waves either for those of you who are prone to seasickness. River cruising is more intimate and you usually dock right in the city center so sights are often walkable. River cruising is as varied as ocean cruising. You can cruise on the Amazon, Danube, Nile, Rhine, Dnieper, Douro Portugal, Elbel Germany, Main, or Seine. Cruise the Volga or Svir in Russia, Dnieper Ukraine, or Dutch Waterways. In the US you can cruise the Upper or Lower Mississippi, the Ohio or Tennessee, or the Columbia or Snake Rivers. In the Far East you can cruise the Yangtze in China, Mekong in Cambodia and Vietnam, or the Irrawaddy in Myanmar. There are also Barge Cruises on European canals. Barges typically hold 8 passengers and the cruise is easily customizable so you can see whe you want to see.

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All Inclusive Vacation





Why would you want to consider an all-inclusive resort for your vacation? At all-inclusive resorts, you can enjoy everything they have to offer at no additional cost. You know what your vacation will cost and there are no surprises when checking out, as you might have on a cruise. All meals, even speciality restaurants, water activities, shows, entertainment, drinks and pools are included in the price. The only exception is spa treatments and some motorized water sports. Pick your all-inclusive based on what you want to do for a fabulous vacation!

Each all-inclusive brand offers different amenities. Some have swim-up rooms where you can swim from your room terrace to the main pool. Some have butler service or concierge service. Most have 24 hour room service. Some have in-suite plunge pools, Jacuzzi, and in-suite rain showers or outdoor private showers. You can have a destination wedding of your dreams or a fantastic honeymoon.  You can go snorkeling, windsurfing, surfing, diving, fishing, play basketball, beach volleyball, or bocce ball, take language lessons, cooking classes have a cookout on the beach, go whale watching, watch turtles hatch and go into the ocean, participate in special parties like dance parties, watch a movie under the stars on the beach, go to eco-parks, have a private dinner on the beach, etc.

 If it isn’t an all adult resort, there are family rooms and clubs for children which offer many activities and family time. There are activities just for children from camping on the beach, video games, and sports to learning a new language or learning to cook.

It can be confusing to compare all the different all inclusive brands and all inclusive individual hotels. The choice is enormous and each island, city, or country usually only have a few of the brands. You can do the research yourselves, or call your travel advisor for help. If you find the right all-inclusive you can  have a vacation with a lifetime of wonderful memories! 

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Get busy on your Bucket List

What is a bucket list? It is a list of all the things you want to try, goals you want to achieve and life experiences you want to have before you die. Have you always wanted to go to Hawaii or Alaska? How about Iceland and see the Northern Lights or Australia and see kangaroos in the wild? Or maybe you have wanted to see all 47 State Parks in SC? Do you want to learn how to grow tomatoes, make a table, sew a dress or cross stitch a picture? Whatever you have always wanted to do, you should make plans to do it.

We all say “Someday.” But if you don’t plan for it or even schedule it – it will always be “Someday”. Make a list of all the things you would like to see and do. Include everything – from the River Cruise in Europe to going to see the Braves play baseball or zip lining. Then look at all the things on the list. Mark off everything that isn’t really important to you. Put your list in order of priority. You can break that down into whatever you can do this year, next year or if you need to save money for it, can you achieve it in two or three years? If you save towards a goal, you are more likely to do it. 

Or pick out the top three things. What excites you the most? What has to be done in during certain times? (An Alaska cruise can only be April until September.) Then start planning the three things. What do you need to do to make that happen? How much does it cost and how long will it take you to save for that? What is the first step? – then do it! Be as specific as possible and anticipate potential problems so when the time comes to make your memories you can focus on enjoying the moment without facing last-minute issues.

One suggestion is to discuss what is on your bucket list with a travel agent. When they know the things you want to do, they can watch for the best deals to help you attain the things on your list.

Your bucket list should be a changing list. As you do things, you might add something else or take something off. Or even better, you have just done it!

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Disney’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Disney World’s new land, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened August 29, 2019. This land is a highly themed area that allows you to live your own Star Wars adventures as you explore the remote planet of Batuu.

You arrive at Batuu, an outpost along the galaxy’s Outer Rim on the frontier of Wild Space when you enter the land. The planet is home to Black Spire Outpost, an infamous port for smugglers, traders and adventurers wishing to avoid any unnecessary entanglements with the First Order. When you arrive at Black Spire Outpost, you encounter aliens, droids and other inhabitants of this planet. Along the way, you may encounter some familiar faces, such as Rey, Chewbacca, or even Supreme Leader Kylo Ren and his Stormtroopers. Soon after you arrive to the planet Batuu, you’ll be able to transform the Play Disney Parks app into your Star Wars: Datapad—designed to guide you deeper and deeper into an adventure in a galaxy far, far away.

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is an interactive ride experience. You climb into the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon and take the controls of the ship as a pilot, an engineer or a gunner. The engines rumble as the Millennium Falcon blasts off, pushing you and your crew back into your seats when you jump into hyperspace towards adventure. Along the way you’ll face danger at every turn. The ride experience responds in real time to the actions the crew take.

A second attraction, opening Dec. 5, 2019, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, is Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. It puts you in the middle of a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance. The Resistance is gathering recruits for a secret mission. Along the way, Star Wars characters—including Rey, Finn, Poe Dameron and BB-8 may join you to fight the First Order. Your journey takes you aboard a full-size transport shuttle which is captured by a First Order Star Destroyer, with Kylo Ren on board. Fortunately, a covert team of Resistance fighters is at the ready to give you a fighting chance to escape—and a chance for the Resistance to rise.

A multi-purpose transport shuttle docked on top of a large hangar beckons guests into Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo restaurant, a designated location for traveling food shuttles. You can sit inside the spacious hanger, or grab a table in the rustic outdoor seating area surrounded by the crumbling walls of the old marketplace.

The Droid Depot invites you to construct your own droid. You pick pieces off a conveyor belt stocked with parts, chips, manuals and other tech items  to build one of two core models (R-series or BB-series). You can customize your droid with various parts and colors. These droids interact with elements throughout the land, enhancing your adventures. 

At Savi’s Workshop, you can build and customize your very own lightsaber and bring it to life through the power of kyber crystals. You’ll choose one of 4 available hilt themes – Peace and Justice, Power and Control, Elemental Nature, or Protection and Defense. Reservations highly suggested!

In Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities, shop for mysterious and unique galactic artifacts. You will find a selection of rare and mysterious items for sale, representing different eras of the Star Wars galaxy, including holocrons, ancient Jedi and Sith artifacts, lightsabers and more.

Resistance Supply is a “makeshift” location at the Resistance’s hidden command post, selling Resistance pins, badges, hats and other accessories to help you feel like part of the cause. 

First Order Cargo, meanwhile, is a temporary First Order storage dock easily identified by a never-before-seen First Order TIE echelon ship. The cargo location offers you a chance to pledge your loyalty by purchasing pins, caps, gear, model ships and more (you will be actively recruited by members of the Resistance while there).

You become part of the story as you try galactic food, beverages (Blue Milk, Green Milk, a variety of exotic drinks like the Sour Sarlacc or Tatooine Sunset), shop for items, and help control the Millennium Falcon in the Smugglers Run ride. You can interact with different areas in the park with your Play Disney Parks mobile app. With the app you can aid a smuggler, pledge loyalty to the First Order, or join the resistance.

Call today and let us help you arrange your Disney trip!

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Planning your Land Vacation

Are you planning to travel and see the sights? Is it overwhelming to plan the trip? There are options. You can do a guided tour, an escorted tour, or you can use a packaged plan or do it on your own. It depends on your travel preference and the amount of time you can spend planning.

Escorted Tours are the easiest. You pick out a tour from one of the many vendors and everything else is taken care of. They are typically conducted by an expert travel director who takes care of every detail for you, from beginning to end. They normally include flights, hotels, any transportation needs, most meals and sightseeing. Most are done mostly using a bus. However, some have bicycling, boats, etc., depending on where you are going. Most have at least one incredible experience that you never thought of doing and all have amazing itineraries.

Guided Tours are similar but are less regimented. They are usually lead by a local expert who will only escort you on some of the activities. Some meals, accommodations and sightseeing are usually included. There will be someone available to answer any questions, but they will not lead all the excursions. This is great for people who want some freedom during their tour but still want the services of a guide.

An Independent Travel Package is just what it says, independent. The trip is planned for you with lots of free time to explore on your own but you are not set into doing specific things. There is usually a local person available to answer questions and suggest sightseeing, restaurants and activities – much like a concierge at a hotel. This is ideal for  you if you like to set your own pace. The research and planning is done by the Tour Company who can make reservations, obtain sightseeing tickets, etc. and be available for questions, but you can do the sightseeing at your own pace.

Or you can plan your one trip from start to finish. So, decide which is more your travel style and go explore!

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Glamping

Glamping is described as glamorous camping with amenities, and in some cases, resort style services not usually associated with traditional camping. It’s like roughing it with a private bath with hot and cold running water, air conditioning, heater, kitchen, luxury linens, beds, etc. This kind of camping can be tents, villas, cabins, lodges, teepees,  airstreams or treehouses; the variety is part of what makes it fun. Glamping available in many places in SC.

 

Sleeping under the stars on a comfortable mattress instead of a hard surface, intense communing with nature and the freedom of a camping holiday with the comfort of a 5 star hotel are what glamping is all about. These accommodations are nestled in nature in forests, lakes, mountains and beach. Glamping is available all over the world.

 

Yurts, round structures with solid framings covered by canvas, are becoming popular because of their comfort, energy efficiency and are easily customized. Teepees and treehouses are also popular. But by far, small cabins and tents on platforms are the most common glamping accommodations.

 

Some sites even have a concierge and/or chef prepared meals available. Many have bikes, hammocks, fire pits, planned activities, jacuzzi, swimming pools and continental breakfast. Most are out in nature so you can relax and enjoy the quiet but still have the comforts of home. 

 

It’s a known fact that the South has lots of unspoiled, natural beauty. From the mountains to rivers and ocean, there are many wonderful places to have outdoor experiences year round. Glamping provides the opportunity to get out and enjoy nature while still enjoying the comforts of  home.

 


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Ireland, the Emerald Isle





Ireland is called the Emerald Isle because of the vibrant green colors of the rolling hills and vales. Ireland is a fascinating place with something for everyone. Beautiful scenery, famous landmarks, ancient castles, pubs, Celtic ruins and natural wonders, it is rich in culture and friendly people.

Probably the most famous places is the Cliffs of Moher, one of the most visited natural attractions in Ireland. The cliffs stand around 700 feet above the coast and are five miles long – with an awe inspiring vista.

If national parks are a favorite of yours, Killarney National Park is for you with walking trails, wildlife, ancient forests and the beautiful lakes of Killarney. You can also visit the 19th century Muckross House and Gardens while there. 

The Rock of Cashel, also called St. Patrick’s Rock, is the most visited heritage site in Ireland. It was the fortress of the Munster kings in the Early Middle Ages and has 12th, 13th and 15th century additions. It is a spectacular  archaeological site. It is noted to be the most remarkable collection of Celtic art and medieval architecture to be found anywhere in Europe.

Of course you have to visit Dublin while in Ireland. There is so much to do and see. From the colossal St Patrick’s Cathedral, to the Dublin Writers Museum, to the Guinness Storehouse, Grafton Street with it’s flower sellers and performance artists, Trinity College built in 1592, St. Stephen’s Green with it’s beautiful gardens, and picturesque bridge and playground, to the General Post Office with the 1916 bullet holes of the Irish Rebellion, there is a wealth of things to do and see. 

Blarney Castle is high on the must see list. It was started back in the1200’s and is not far from Cork. The Blarney Stone was set into a tower of the castle in 1446. According to legend, if you kiss the stone it will enable you to have the gift of gab but getting to the stone requires hanging over a sheer drop off. You can also visit the extensive gardens at the Castle.

This is just a small sampling of the wonders in Ireland. Cork is a great place with many attractions, also the Aran Islands, the Ring of Kerry, Wicklow, Bunratty Castle, Sean’s Bar – the oldest pub in the world and lots of other great places to see and things to do!

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The Best States for a Budget-Friendly Summer Road Trip

From Travel Pulse by Patrick Clarke

1. North Carolina

North Carolina is the best state in the U.S. for a wallet-friendly summer road trip in 2019 as it ranks inside the top 10 for both costs and activities. It ties California for the most scenic byways in America and is also home to some beloved beach towns, many of which you’ll find during a road trip through the Outer Banks.

2. Wyoming

You might be surprised to find that Wyoming ranks second among the 50 states when it comes to a road trip this summer, but the Equality State can’t be topped when it comes to costs, beating out the 49 other states. The all-important category takes into account average gas prices, maximum toll costs, lowest price of a three-star hotel room and lowest price of camping, among other key indicators.

3. Minnesota

Safety propels Minnesota into WalletHub’s top three as only Vermont and Maine fare better. The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul are undoubtedly worthwhile during the warmer summer months but don’t overlook Duluth, a port city with a gorgeous waterfront.

4. Virginia

Virginia doesn’t rank any lower than 16th in either of the three categories, meaning it’s not only safe and budget-friendly, but it’s entertaining as well. Shenandoah National Park’s Skyline Drive is a must regardless of the time of year and the state boasts the fifth-lowest cost of camping in the nation.

5. Texas

The Lone Star State is one of only two in the U.S. to rank inside the top 10 for both costs and activities, coming in at fourth and seventh, respectively. If it’s affordability and fun you’re seeking, you can’t go wrong in Texas.

6. New York

Unsurprisingly, only two other states fare worse than New York in terms of costs. However, it ranks second behind only California for road trip activities and fourth among the 50 states for safety. The Big Apple will be a popular stop for many this summer, but Upstate New York promises plenty of scenery and serenity.

7. Louisiana

Only Alabama tops Louisiana in terms of the lowest average gas prices this summer, according to WalletHub’s research. Give yourself a few days and make the road trip from Lake Charles to Grand Isle, stopping in Lafayette, Baton Rouge and New Orleans along the way.

8. Oregon

Cost is the one category holding Oregon back from the top five as it trails only California and North Carolina for the country’s most scenic byways and ranks inside the top 10 when it comes to road tripper safety. Consider a cruise up the Pacific Coast via U.S. Route 101 or venture inland to explore places like Bend and Crater Lake National Park.

9. Utah

Nearby Utah ties Oregon for third nationally in terms of most scenic byways and ranks 17 spots better for costs, making it a budget-friendly option for road trip vacationers prioritizing price and scenery this summer.

10. Wisconsin

Wisconsin ranks eighth in terms of both costs and safety. America’s Dairyland trails only Wyoming for the lowest price of camping and ranks fourth among the 50 states for the lowest average cost of car repairs in the event that your vehicle breaks down.