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| Heritage Trails |
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hat type of traveler are you? Do you chart your own course, travel on a whim, and never know where you’ll end the day? Or, do you prefer to discover a map from others who have gone before, showing not-to-be missed treasures to find along your well-traveled path?
Editor’s Note:
If you’re a trail blazer, read no further. Perhaps someday you’ll stumble upon these wonderful pieces of history, nature, arts,
crafts and culinary delights.
We hope so, because they’re worth the trip and some are difficult to find on your own. However, for those who grow weary of wasted time, roads missed and dead ends,
this information is for you. Read on.
Fried shrimp, a pig-pickin’ party (not as gory as it sounds), boiled peanuts, sweet tea, fried green tomatoes — these are just a few of the Southern treats enjoyed by generations of families and friends.
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ut food is only one part of the picture. (It’s a large part, because, after all, Southerners do enjoy any excuse to sit down and share a meal together.) However, the authentic South includes a mixture of small farms, dedicated craftsmen and women, nature’s bounty, and songs from the past.
To understand the current Carolinas’ lifestyle requires learning about how and why it all began. Luckily, there are pathways to follow, and assistance at every turn. You’ll find that the Carolinas offer so much to entertain and educate those who visit. Here are a few of the possibilities:
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South Carolina
The South Carolina Heritage Corridor |
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“The South Carolina National Heritage Corridor offers visitors an opportunity to experience the unique dialects, distinctive local dishes, remembered traditions and rich Southern heritage that make us who we are today,” explained Michelle McCollum, Executive Director of the Corridor.
“Our Discovery System leads visitors on a journey that will take them off of the most traveled roads and place them on the back roads where the heart of our culture can be found,” she said. According to Ms. McCollum, the motto for the Discovery System is “The Journey is the Destination.”
She continued, “What better way to experience South Carolina than to eat our shrimp and grits, paddle through our black water swamps, listen to our bluegrass music and watch a Revolutionary War re-enactment on the very spot where blood was shed?”
For those looking for Southern hospitality and small town charm, the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor can certainly provide that experience. This work in process is being created by a public and private partnership of private citizens, governmental agencies, businesses, conservation groups and communities. Running from the northwestern corner of S.C. along the Savannah River, the 240-mile corridor travels through the Edisto River Basin and culminates at Charleston.
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Within the corridor are two routes that traverse its entire length:
The Discovery Route and The Nature Route.
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The Discovery Route visits plantations and slave quarters, farming communities and mill towns. Travelers can learn about the culture and history which formed the state. The route follows the path of the nation’s first passenger railroad, through small towns that evolved as market centers and meeting points. Heading north and west, the Route reaches the Appalachian foothills.
The Nature Route begins at magnificent Table Rock Park, which has recently undergone renovation, restoring its historic granite and chestnut lodge. Traveling west and south along the foothills of the Blue Ridge, the Route follows the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway, then moves to the Savannah River Scenic Highway, where it wanders past lakes, national forests, small communities and dense forests. Through the swamps and marshlands of the ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge, the Route continues, passing through Charleston, Seewee Center, Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, and the picturesque fishing village of McClellanville, and ending in the Francis Marion National Forest.
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Four distinct regions offer smaller routes with different personalities, according to the landscape and history. Self-guided tours are available, as well as personalized assistance for itineraries, directions and brochures. The Resources Box will lead you to these adventures.
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Region 1
Mountain Lakes
From the waterfalls and mountains of the upstate, to farms that introduce children to rural settings, to arts and crafts galleries, visitors along this route learn about a wide variety of subjects. History buffs will enjoy discovering more about the state’s textile heritage, as well as historic events that occurred many generations before. Small towns offer regional dining and quaint shops.
Region 2
Freshwater Coast
The Joanne T. Rainsford Discovery Center
405 Main Street, Edgefield, SC
Call: 803.637.0877
This route follows the historic communities of Abbeville, with its famed opera house, Edgefield, birthplace of the state’s most famous politician, the late Strom Thurmond, Greenwood and McCormick Counties. The impact of cotton on the state, the Revolutionary War battles fought here, and the activities for children, ensure that families will create wonderful memories at every stop along the route.
According to Whitney Ellis, Executive Director of the Discovery Center, one of the most memorable visits was by a couple from Finland. “They came here, and spent the entire afternoon rocking on our front porch, watching and meeting other visitors,” she explained. “They wanted an up-close look at small-town America, and we gave it to them.”
Individuals and families stop at the Center for advice and itineraries, and a number of tour groups arrive in the early morning to get their bearings before departing for a full day of touring. “There are so many aspects of history, culture and art in our region,” Ms. Ellis said, noting, “Sometimes, visitors are surprised that they can spend several days in our area without seeing everything.”
Region 3
Rivers, Rails and Crossroads
A Discovery Center is scheduled to open in late Spring. It will feature state of the art exhibits sharing the heritage of Region 3. A gift shop will offer local art and South Carolina-themed mementos. Information will be available at the official website, www.sc-heritagecorridor.org.
Aiken, Barnwell, Bamberg and Orangeburg Counties include small towns such as Denmark and Blackville, Graniteville, Vaucluse and Aiken, site of a popular winter colony for horse enthusiasts more than a century ago, that remains an enclave of equestrian culture today (with a renaissance in polo well underway).
Region 4
Treasures of the Lowcountry
Colleton, Dorchester and Charleston counties are included in this route, which features sites of the oldest settlements in South Carolina. A delight for history buffs, the region is equally precious for nature lovers who travel through Wildlife Refuges, and small towns with unique attributes, including antique galleries, African-American history tours, bird-watching, military history trails, and much more.
An interactive exhibit is planned for the Charleston Visitor Center.
Visit the Heritage Corridor online at www.sc-heritagecorridor.org and find links to these and other important historical, cultural and natural treasures that make a wonderful vacation experience.
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North Carolina Heritage Cultural Trails
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“The story of North Carolina can be told through its arts and crafts, rich natural resources, history that lives on in restored plantations and small farms, and the people who live here. From the mountains to the Atlantic Ocean, a number of trails invite exploration for a day or a week.
The Cherokee Heritage Trail includes the southern mountain region of western North Carolina, plus part of Tennessee and Georgia. The voices of Cherokee men and women can be found in the Cherokee Heritage Trails Guidebook, adding personal insights that vastly enrich the travel experience. Check Resources for more information.
The African American Heritage Trail is a collaboration among 14 non-profit organizations that showcases the contributions made by African Americans who lived and worked in Salisbury, North Carolina. Check Resources for more information.
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Don’t miss
HomegrownHandmade.com,
a Website that leads visitors through a collection of roads and trails to things you never dreamed of. Even the trail names are intriguing: Art Roads and Farm Trails; Hushpuppies, Pimento Cheese & Sweet Tea; Creeks, Cooking & Culture; and Music, Millponds & Mousetraps are a few routes that lead you from museums to organic farm stands, to art centers, galleries, and even a goat farm or two.
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Visitors can watch a patient craftsman turn a piece of wood into a dulcimer. Or step through fields of herbs, flowers and vegetables. Then, stop for lunch at one of hundreds of tiny cafes where national fast food chains just wouldn’t fit in.
With nine distinctive and separate routes covering much of the state, it may take several visits to see it all – and you should.
Discover Craft NC features
travel itineraries to
museums, art galleries,
craft schools, and artisan
centers. Handmade in
America, located in
Asheville, promotes and
identifies crafts and where
to find them in Western
North Carolina. The Craft Heritage Trails of Western North Carolina
is a great resource
publication for travelers
who want to discover why and
how crafts became such an
important creative outlet
for those living in the
North Carolina mountains.
In the Piedmont region, the North Carolina Pottery Center is located in Seagrove, one of the state’s oldest pottery communities. (There are almost 100 potteries in the area and some
have been in operation for eight generations.)
“What makes Seagrove so fascinating as a destination is that it is an authentic artists’ community with a great deal of diversity,” said Denny Mecham, Executive Director of the Center. “Our visitors arrive focused on pottery, and many travel long distances to find us.” According to Ms. Mecham, the area not only has a history, but it also has carried that history forward into the present, and will continue into the future. “There is a wide range of pricing, as well as diversity of the art,” she says. Visitors include museum curators, private collectors, and individuals who value the artists’ culture that is so strong.
For history buffs, the North Carolina Civil War Trails identify almost 100 sites and events that shaped one of our nation’s most significant events. Standing in the midst of a massive battlefield, discovering coastal forts, cemeteries, and strategic locations bring the Civil War into focus on a very human scale. |
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The Destination/The Journey
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A rich, storied Carolina history lives on today in the nature, architecture,
monuments and many faces for descendents. The Heritage Trails which are found
throughout the Carolinas provide a lifetime of opportunities for families to
learn more about the past and enjoy time together.
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Katherine O. Pettit has worked as a
writer, magazine editor, printer and public relations consultant. The Columbia
resident has published more than 250 articles in magazines and newspapers.
Her writing explores a variety of subjects including travel, lifestyles,
business and management.
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