Ashley River Road

Trees provide shady spots on this southern road in the summertime.

Sheep graze in front of the remnants of the main house.

This path leads from the plantation house to the banks of the Ashley River.

A view of a reflection pond is complemented by surrounding trees and grass.

A visitor explores Magnolia Gardens in the springtime.

Give your friends at home a call and tell them to get on the Internet. You can wave hello from this bridge via a webcam.

A statue next to a pond at Magnolia Plantation possibly weighs the balance of good and evil.

Intriguing swamps decorated with bronze birds offer a look at the unique ecology of Magnolia Gardens.

A couple enjoys the romantic atmosphere of Magnolia Plantation and Gardens.

This creature-topped entrance ushers visitors into the eerily beautiful Audubon Swamp Garden.

Rich violet saucer magnolias blossom in the spring.

This National Historic Landmark and former governor's mansion is now a well-known bed and breakfast.

The symbolic pineapple represents hospitality in South Carolina, and Charleston is full of both the symbol and the hospitality!

Colorful and diverse facades make Rainbow Row a famous tourist attraction in downtown Charleston.

Palmettos and park benches line the promenade of Waterfront Park.

Bench swings and picnic tables make this pier and overlook at Waterfront Park a perfect place to relax.

Stop by the North Charleston Visitor Center for friendly and helpful service.

A battleship cruises past Sullivan's Island.

This more contemporary lighthouse still encompasses the charm of the old-fashioned proto-types.

The iridescent feathers of a peacock cascade down a tree at Middleton Place.

This cooper in the stableyards tells a tale of what it would be like to labor at the plantation.

Visitors may feel like they're peeping into a life outside their own while glimpsing through the window into Eliza's room.

This marble figure created by Rudolf Schadow around 1810 survived the burning of the plantation by Union troops.

Sullivan's Beach in Charleston provides easy access to view the Atlantic and comb for seashells.

Visitors park along the narrow streets of downtown Charleston to walk the sidewalks of the charming area and browse posh boutiques.

Visitors can sit and gaze out at the harbor from the Battery in Historic Charleston.

A courtyard provides a quiet, shady place for visitors to take a rest.

Founded in 1681, Circular is one of the two earliest churches in South Carolina.

Palmettos line the sidewalks on a street in Charleston.

An alligator lounges on the shores of Butterfly Pond on the grounds of Middleton Place.

Live oaks and Spanish moss complete this scenic view of the Ashley River at Middleton Place.

The top floor of the dairy was used as a worship place for many slaves during the plantation's early years.

The dairy and plantation home sit in the background in this view of the Middleton Place grounds from across the pond.

Sheep munch on grass behind the home at Middleton Place.

The only remaining of the three largest structures of Middleton Place, this home serves as a museum of possessions owned by the original owners and their descendants.

Ivy creeps along the brick of the Middleton Place plantation home.

The home of one of the slaves at Middleton Place, Eliza's house tells a story of one of the historical figures to live life on the plantation.

This building served an important process in the rice business. Run by a turbine, the mill was used as a final processing place before rice was taken to the city and sold.

This authentic rice field illustrates how the plantation owners made their living along the Ashley River.

The original plantation home was burned by Union troops in 1865. The gutted walls were leveled completely by the Great Earthquake of 1886.

Middleton Place was once its own community. Located in the stable yards are stations of living history, where you can watch a blacksmith, potter, woodworker, or weaver explain their trade.

An actor describes his woodworking trade to visitors of Middleton Place.

Live oaks draped in Spanish moss line the banks of the scenic Ashley River.

The Barbados Tropical Garden greenhouse exhibit contains plants native to Barbados, the original home of Thomas Drayton, the first owner of the plantation.

The Long White Bridge at Magnolia Plantation was built around 1840, and leads visitors to more magnificent gardens.

A lovely bridge sits in the distance, surrounded by southern vegetation.

Blossoming trees across the water indicate the beginnings of spring in the gardens of Magnolia Plantation.

Though only March, the gardens at Magnolia Plantation are green and lush. The pink blossoms on the trees are the only indication of early spring.

The Biblical Garden contains plants from the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.

A charming path leads visitors to the plantation home and grounds.

The giftshop of Magnolia Gardens is located in the basement of the plantation home.

A view from the back porch of the plantation home shows the expansive grounds of the plantation.

A pathway from the Ashley River leads to the front of the house.

The home that now sits on the grounds of Magnolia Plantation is actually the third home to be on this location. The first home was burned accidentally, the second was burned by Union troops during the Civil War.

This sign tells the story of Magnolia Plantation.

This mantle in the Drayton Hall plantation home showcases the authentic Drayton family crest.

Browse through real antebellum artifacts or purchase some lovely reproductions or souvenirs at the Drayton Hall giftshop.

The grounds behind Drayton Hall include a lovely pond and a mound where visitors could turn their wagons.

The front of Drayton Hall and its grounds can be taken in from this view near the Ashley River.

Some visitors take time before the guided house tour to look around and take pictures of the grounds.

The Ashley River served as a way to transport rice crops to Charles Town (now Charleston) to sell or trade.

This pond, off center and of interesting shape, contrasts with the rest of the symmetrical lines and angles of the home and grounds.

A group of visitors gather near the Smoking Room awaiting a guided tour.

An enthusiatic guide gives a fascinating tour of the preserved home and its owner's history.

The National Historic Trust preserves the history of the Drayton Hall by conserving the original paint and architecture.

A brick well on the grounds of Drayton Hall sits amongst a backdrop of live oaks draped in Spanish moss.

Camellias abound throughout Magnolia Gardens in early spring.

Flags complement a historical marker near the Ashley River, which tells about the British Attack of 1780.

Vegetation surrounds a red bridge spanning one of the ponds in Magnolia Plantation and Gardens.

A covered rest area at Magnolia Plantation offers respite from a long day on your feet.

A plaque on one of the garden fences marks Magnolia Plantation and Gardens as one of the nation's historic places.

A quote from the poetry of Whittier reads, "Give fools their gold, and knaves their power;/ Let fortune?s bubbles rise and fall;/ Who sows a field, or trains a flower,/ Or plants a tree, is more than all."

A public beach on Sullivan's Island gives tourists a look at the Atlantic Ocean.

Visitors will easily find the entrance to Drayton Hall. Signs leading up to the historic site are easily visible.

The long driveway framed by overhanging branches creates a dramatic entrance to the Drayton Hall estate.

This white memorial bridge leads over a quiet pond with a fountain and provides benches for quiet reflection.

This church was built by African Americans after the Civil War and still retains a membership of descendants from that time.

Established in 1863, the Springfield Baptist Church is one of the oldest churches freely organized by African Americans.

This church built in 1706 is one of the oldest churches remaining in the Carolinas.

This church was built by African Americans after the Civil War and still retains a membership of descendants from that time.

A mythic Greek figure greets visitors to the Barbados Garden, a greenhouse full of plants native to Barbados.

Benches scattered along the paths inside the Barbados Garden provide the perfect resting spot to examine different plant species.

Visitors can relax on benches while waiting for a carriage ride to tour the plantation and its extensive gardens.

A sign welcomes visitors to "The Street" where they can see original slave quarters.

A massive live oak frames this view of slave quarters on Magnolia Garden's street.

Visitors can get a glimpse of pre-Civil War life while visiting "The Street."

Bright blossoms contrast against the ramshackle slave quarters.

After the original plantation house was burned during the Civil War, the family hunting cottage was moved piece by piece to the plantation grounds.

Miniature horses graze on the lawn in front of the plantation house at Magnolia Gardens.

Magnolia Gardens offers everything, from bike rentals to carriage rides and playgrounds for the kids.

Geese roam the lawns at Magnolia Gardens.

Explore the horticulture maze at Magnolia Gardens.

Visitors can catch a glimpse of the famous Long White Bridge, which has become a symbol for the gardens, from many vantage points within the gardens.

A cupid-figure, one of Magnolia Gardens' many statuaries, rests among daffodils and ducks.

Islands decorated with statuary and pansies add a splash of color to the ponds of Magnolia Gardens.

A greeter orients visitors as they first enter the plantation.

Bright camellias bloom all over the gardens at Middleton Place.

A visitor rests on a bench shaded by a massive live oak and looks over the Ashley River.

A walkway lines the river, offering a peaceful walk past the lawns and gardens of Middleton Place.

Turtles and an alligator sun themselves near one of the butterfly lakes at Middleton Place.

Visitors tour the undulating grounds beyond the house.

Visitors can view the Spring House of Middleton Place (one of the many outbuildings necessary on a plantation) from across the pond on the Camellia Trail.

Visitors can view the Spring House of Middleton Place (one of the many outbuildings necessary on a plantation) from across the pond on the Camellia Trail.

A visitor enters the stableyards where she can get a close-up view of farm animals.

The stables mimic the facade of the main house.

A small park in downtown Charleston pays homage to those who lost their lives for the Confederacy during the Civil War.

Fancy wrought iron decorates the facade of this building in the French Quarter of downtown Charleston.

A peaceful cemetery near Old St. Andrew's Church enhances the feel of quiet reverence in this spot.

A marker tells visitors the fascinating history of St. Andrew's Church and its influence on the Ashley River Road.

A large sign welcomes tourists to Magnolia Gardens and describes all the activities available.

Finding your way through the twists and turns of the horticulture maze will lead you to a restful spot of contemplation, watched over by this statue.

Verdant foliage breaks onto the gravel path which leads to the rear of the plantation house at Magnolia Gardens.

A swan gracefully curves its long neck near a pond in the stableyards of Middleton Place.

Entering the Barbados Garden is like stepping into a different world.

Bright pink camellias and Spanish moss create an atmosphere of romance on the garden pathways.

Vegetation borders the pathway to the entrance of the plantation house.

Spanish moss hangs from a live oak over the banks of the Ashley River creating a reflection on the water.

Foliage frames this view of a red bridge spanning a pond at Magnolia Gardens.

Pink turns the moss-covered ponds into a delightful vision.

Camellias fill the garden paths of Middleton Place, whether still blooming on the bushes or carpeting the paths with petals.

Shade-giving trees overhang the Ashley River Road to create a separate space from the hustle and bustle of Charleston.

An expansive lawn where sheep graze leads up to the present plantation house.

Chickens, roosters, and a peacock make themselves at home in the farmyard by the stables of Middleton Place.

Chickens, roosters, and a peacock make themselves at home in the farmyard by the stables of Middleton Place.

A peacock in the farmyard of Middleton Place shows off his array of colors.

A new litter of piglets feed in the fenced-off farmyard of Middleton Place.

Named after the last person to live in this house, Eliza Leach, who died in 1986 at the age of 94, Eliza's House is much the same as it was for the past 100 years.

Eliza's House still stands as a monument to those who lived and worked at Middleton Place even after the Civil War.

Portraits of the family, including several by Benjamin West, and other family heirlooms are on display as part of the House Museum tour.

Although the original house burned at the hands of Union troops in 1865, the original steps facing the Ashley River remain as a reminder.

Piles of brick and part of a wall structure have survived the years and still stand in the original site of the home.

The upper floor of the Spring House was converted by "particular request" into a chapel for the benefit of the slaves working on the plantation.

Visitors to Middleton Place exit the house museum and descend a staircase to continue exploring the extensive grounds.

Carriage rides will take visitors around the gardens and grounds of Middleton Place - a nice alternative for tired feet!

Carriage rides will take visitors around the gardens and grounds of Middleton Place - a nice alternative for tired feet!

Complete your experience by tasting authentic southern cuisine made fresh at the Middleton Place Restaurant.

Pink camellia petals carpet a pathway leading to a statuary of musical cherubs decorated with flowers by a visitor to the gardens.

Find the perfect souvenir of your trip to Middleton Place at the museum shop, located by the ticket booths.

When first entering the Middleton Place gardens, visitors can choose the path alongside the reflection pool to start their adventures for the day.

Check the time of day at this sundial.

Although it's difficult to see, a woman stands next to this colossal live oak to show its amazing size.

Visitors from far away might be surprised to see turtles and alligators at the butterfly lakes of Middleton Place.

This figure of a wood nymph fastening her sandal has become an icon for Middleton Place and is embossed on their self-guided tour brochure and admittance stickers.

Because of dense vegetation on both sides of the road, cars may drive on the Ashley River Road everyday without realizing the depth of beauty beyond the brush.

This small outbuilding served several purposes over the years; one use as a luxurious, seven-seat privy. It was converted to an office in the late 19th century with the addition of a fireplace, chimney and new roof.

This National Historic Landmark is the oldest and the finest surviving example of Georgian Palladian architecture in the South.

Palmettos line a street in downtown Charleston.

The symmetrical Georgian Palladian architecture of Drayton Hall was constructed between 1738-1742.

Visitors may see interesting wildlife at this swamp near the exit at Drayton Hall.

A brightly colored peacock struts around the stableyards at Middleton Place.

Leaf strewn paths and mottled sunlight lines the brick pathway to the entrance of the simple and elegant St. Andrew's Episcopal Church.

The surviving south wing of the home faces the road, where visitors enter the grounds. The original front of the home faces the Ashley River, which visitors used for travel during colonial times.

Established in 1863, the Springfield Baptist Church is one of the oldest churches freely organized by African Americans.

Chickens and peacocks roam the stableyard area in front of fenced small brick buildings at Middleton Place.