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Charleston is home to a sizable historic neighborhood that is packed with gorgeous old buildings, lovely cobblestone roads, and centuries-old tourist attractions, conjuring up romantic ideas of the Old South. It was established in 1670 and is both the oldest and biggest city in South Carolina. This splendid area is located just inland from the Atlantic on a peninsula between the wonderful Ashley and Cooper rivers. Charleston draws a lot of tourists who come to view its lovely antebellum architecture and tour its enormous plantations and gardens because of its rich history, legacy, and culture. One of the best things to do in Charleston is sure to see the historic homes and museums, but the city is also famed for its Southern friendliness, which only enhances the appeal of its evocative old neighborhoods, and for being the hub of the oldest garden in The United States of America, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. Here is a highlight of the most important things to know about this paradisiac place.
Overview Of The Magnificent Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
The marvelous Magnolia Plantation and its fabulous gardens are close to Drayton Hall and Middleton Place. It dates to 1676 and is well-known for its historic mansion, gardens in the Romantic style, and impressive assortment of attractions and exhibitions. Although it first welcomed guests in 1870, two decades after the national botanic garden debuted, Magnolia Plantation & Gardens in Charleston, South Carolina, asserts that it is the country's oldest public garden. Additionally, it is said to have the oldest Indica Azalea collection in the nation.
Furthermore, Magnolia Plantation provides educational opportunities that highlight the lives of the former slaves who had resided there. Visitors may tour the lovely interior of the mansion and discover the history of the enslaved African Americans who labored on the plantation in addition to meandering around its unending gardens. Magnolia Plantation should not be missed out on since it offers a petting zoo, boat rides through the rice fields, and tours of the swamp.
- Tour duration: To tour Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, tourists need between 45 minutes and 5 hours.
- Opening time: Daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Entrance fee: $29 per adult, $15 per child (from 6 to 12 years old)
Spend Some Time With Your Beloved One In The Romantic-Style Gardens
In place of concrete, the pathways of Magnolia Plantation are lined with tiny gravels that crunch under tourists’ feet as they walk. The routes wind through each other, around ponds and lakes, and to hidden caverns. Huge oak trees provide a canopy of shade for the flowerbeds and bushes, where a new flower blooms each month. Visitors can tour the Magnolia Plantation location, which is frequently photographed while meandering around the gardens. Near the plantation home, The White Bridge spans a little lake. Although the bridge is frequently used as a background for photos and selfies, actually crossing it is the most thrilling part.
Discover The Plantation House
The Magnolia Plantation's Main House is not the original plantation home and is not really a typical southern plantation. Before the Revolutionary War, it was constructed in the adjacent Summerville, and shortly after the Civil War, it was relocated to its present position. Guided tours of the home and cover the Draytons' and Magnolia Plantation's history. The majority of the exquisitely adorned house is covered during the tour. The History Room, a free little museum featuring old artwork, photos, and tidbits about the plantation, is a must-see and is located on the first floor of the Main House.
- Tour duration: 45 minutes
- Guided tour fee: $10 per person
Ride The Exciting Nature Tram
An interesting tour of the plantation is provided by a tractor pulling several covered trailers equipped with benches. The driver provides interesting historical information about the plantation as well as other interesting places and points out any spotted alligators on the road during the enjoyable journey. It is recommended for all first-time visitors to take the Nature Tram, as it provides an exhilarating introduction to Magnolia Plantation's wonders. The ride travels via the Slave Quarters, the Main House, and the Wildlife Observation Tower, the border of the Audubon Swamp Garden.
- Tour duration: 45 minutes
- Guided tour fee: $10 per person
Other tours are also available as The Rice Field Boat Tour is another option as well. It is a leisurely trip through the former magnificent rice fields of the plantation in a covered pontoon boat and From Freedom to Slavery guided tour, which examines the Civil Rights Movement's highlights as well as the history of slavery on the plantation.
- Tour Duration: The Rice Field Boat needs one hour
- Fee: $10 per person
Visit the Audubon Swamp Garden
The path through the marsh garden may be reached by a wooden boardwalk with an electronic gate that requires a code. Like the guided tours, this part of Magnolia Plantation has an additional fee, but it is absolutely worth the few more dollars. The electric motor moves the wooden door aside, letting visitors access another world as if it were a portal to a fanciful country. A gorgeous pond with algae growth is crossed by the wooden walkway. The boardwalk skirts the perimeter of a second pond before ending at a sign indicating that tourists have reached The Rookery, a magical spot.
- Fee: $10 per person