Immediately after school got out, my aunt called me up asking if I would possibly want to go on a 2 week long trip with her and my brother Ben, to Louisiana, Georgia, North and South Carolina, and the Smokey Mountains. Sadly, I had to decline. Nah, I'm just kidding of course I said, "ABSOLUTELY!"
Before the trip departure, I was researching all the places we were going to go to to try and get a background behind the locations so I could get a better understanding and deeper connection to the places we would be visiting. This definitely helped me feel a deeper connection to the places I visited and it was a completely different experience knowing about the history of these places instead of just going there. If you're planning to go on a trip this summer, I recommend to research about the historical backgrounds of your locations beforehand!
So, I'm going to go stop by stop and explain what we did there. I will also throw in a few of my pictures!
Stop 1
First on the schedule was New Orleans, Louisiana. This was the stop I was most excited for because I had never been, and I had heard that it was definitely a place where you're constantly on edge. I don't know why the feeling of being constantly on edge excited me that much, but it did. I think I was the most excited to be able to feel all 5 of my senses turned on at once 24/7.
The three of us knew that New Orleans was a city to watch out for because it's ranked the 4th most dangerous city in the United States. After hearing this fact, it made me even more excited but it made my aunt on edge and Ben uncomfortable the whole time. Granted, I was a little scared at some points and my 5 senses were definitely ALL engaged, but other than that, it was amazing.
The food was scrumptious, the people were interesting, but fun, and the cities vibe was a combination of laid back, edginess, and colorful. If you haven't been to New Orleans, I say go for it, you will not be disappointed!
Our second major stop in Louisiana was the Oak Grove Plantation.
While we were at the Oak Grove Plantation, I saw a plethora of gorgeous flowers, gardens, buildings, and Oak trees. While seeing all of the beautiful parts in the plantation, I had to remind myself that it's also a remorseful place because it used to be a slave plantation. There are old slave quarters throughout the plantation with a story about what happened in each quarter, who lived there, and what their roles were and it was really neat to read about the history of those people's lives.
The main focus of the plantation was the plantation owner's home. Leading up to the home is a 12 Oak Tree long pathway with a brick pavement walkway and constant shade provided by the ginormous Oak trees. The house is filled with gorgeous, antique furniture and a few original pieces of craftsmanship and paintings. The house was stunning inside and out.
Stop 2
Second on the schedule was Savannah, Georgia. While we were there, we planned to visit Tybee Island.
Tybee island is a small island that provides a gorgeous beach, and proudly holds Georgia's oldest and tallest lighthouse that still functions to this day! While I was there, I learned that active lighthouses are painted all different patterns with the three colors red, white, and black. I was also offered the opportunity to climb up the lighthouse's 178 stairs to the top to be able to have an insane overlook of Tybee island and the beautiful beach that I later had the chance to visit.
Fun Fact: I am an almost 16 year old teenager and I was struggling to hike up those stairs y'all. Having surgery and not working out for at least a year and a half really does a toll to your body.
Anyways, the hike down was definitely a lot easier, but the stairs themselves are very narrow and slick, so you had to be cautious to make sure you didn't slip and fall. After the lighthouse, we went and payed the beach a well deserved visit. Lucky for us, the weather wasn't too hot, or too cold, it was just right. (When explaining this to my aunt, I felt like Goldilocks and the Three Stooges.) We spent a good 2 hours on the beach with our fancy reclining beach chairs, sun umbrella, and some handy dandy sunscreen. Luckily, I got a nice tan, but my brother Ben looked like a rotten tomato when we got back to the hotel. Poor guy.
If you are ever in Georgia in an area that's close in proximity to Tybee Island, I completely recommend visiting the island. You won't be disappointed!
Stop 3
Third on the schedule was Charleston, South Carolina. While we were there, we planned to visit Fort Sumter.
For those of you who love U.S. History, you would know that Fort Sumter is in fact, located on its own island. So, in order to get to that island, we had to ride a ferry. I was totally cool with that, I love ferry's, but I had to wake up at the break of dawn and that was not my favorite.
Fun Fact #2: For those that know me, they know that I either stay up late and sleep in, or go to bed early and still sleep in. Waking up before 10 a.m. never does my body any good. Another note, when I am woken up early with my chance of sleeping in stripped away from me, I am not the happiest camper.
So, after I was forced awake, we had to get ready fast to make it to the ferry early enough to make sure we were the first people in line because we wanted to have "window seats" at the top of the ferry so we could feel the breeze and smell the outdoors. Because we got there INSANELY early, we had some time to kill so we decided to walk around the grounds of the museum. I was too tired to read anything, so Ben and I just sat in park benches while my aunt read everything. But while we were waiting to board the ferry, I noticed people walking around the building and not coming back around. Curious, I went to go see what was happening and right as I turned the corner, I saw a line. I asked the people what that line was for, and they said it was for the ferry. The line was super long and I'm just standing here thinking to myself, "We got here early specifically for this reason, and we aren't even in the line." So, I walked back to my aunt to tell her the exciting news and she just laughed. After that funny moment, we went and stood in line to wait for boarding permission.
After about 10 minutes, we were given permission to board the ferry. I honestly don't know why we still had hope that there were going to be seats available up top, but we did and our hopes resulted in being downgraded to the middle deck which was still fun but we didn't have the extra nature spice. After the ferry departed, Ben and I went to the front of the boat and stood there to be able to feel the breeze and smell the nature. After about 20 minutes, I went back inside and watched the Office for 10 minutes until we docked at Fort Sumter. (I know what a teenager but y'all. The Office is my jam.) Once we docked at Fort Sumter, we all made sure we were the first off of the boat so we could get a good picture of the fort. Our attempt at getting a "good picture" failed. It was either blurry, or only half shown in the picture because it was too bright outside to be able to see the phone screens. Despite not being able to get a good picture, the experience there completely made it up. While I was walking the grounds, it was interesting to be able to think that I was walking on the same grounds as people who were living in war. I got to experience the views they saw, the canons they used, the hill they had to climb up, and much more. The best part about Fort Sumter was the flag raising ceremony.
Because we got up at the break of dawn, we were able to take the first ferry, which gave us the opportunity to witness the raising of the American Flag over the island. We didn't know that they were going to ask for volunteers to help with the flag raising, but when they asked, Ben, being an Eagle Scout and a lover of his country, immediately stood up and walked right over to that flag and helped raise it up. After the ceremony, I told Ben that now he gets to claim that he helped raise the American Flag over Fort Sumter. He thought he was pretty cool.
Fort Sumter is definitely a place to remember and a great place to visit if you love your American history.
The day after, we went and visited Rainbow Row. We didn't originally plan to visit this attraction, but while we were at the flea market, one of the locals recommended us to go and visit Rainbow Row because it was only 10 minutes from where we were. At first, we were hesitant because we were all hungry and wanted some food, but I'm glad our resulting decision was to see the exciting place.
For those of you that travel, you know that when you're in major cities, the parking is HORRIBLE. You either have to walk a million blocks, or, pay for parking. Very rarely do you find a free parking spot. So, because of the parking issues, my aunt dropped me off so I could take a few pictures while she circled the block to come pick me back up. Modern problems call for modern solutions y'all.
Anyways, Rainbow Row was very unique, fun, and filled with color. If you're a person who likes all of these things, you should definitely visit.
Stop 4
Fourth on the schedule was Asheville, North Carolina. While we were there, we planned to visit the Biltmore Estate.
Built from 1885 to 1895, the Biltmore Estate is a GINORMOUS mansion filled with 250 rooms which partly included an indoor pool, indoor bowling alley, indoor garden, a gorgeous organ in its dining hall, custom painted, or carved, ceilings, iron-lined spiral staircase, and many more gorgeous and unique characteristics to the mansion. While I was walking through it, I was in awe the entire time and I felt so small compared to the insanely tall ceilings and huge rooms.
While you are pulling up to the estate, it is like you are traveling through a jungle. There were so many exotic plants imported from all over the country, and never a dull space. It was green all around you constantly. Backing up to the estate, is hundreds of acres of rolling green hills and thousands of trees. While Ben and I were walking along one of its many balconies, I kept pointing at the greenery and nudging Ben telling him to look at this or that, and repeating over and over how pretty it was. There was a constant breeze that chilled the entire main floor of the estate.
Surrounding the estate, are gardens also filled with exotic flowers, plants, bushes, and fish that lived in the ponds throughout each garden.
The estate was insanely gorgeous and I highly recommend that you pay a visit!
Final Stop!
Last on the schedule was The Great Smokey Mountains National Park. The spot where we went was located in Tennessee. While we were there, we planned to hike the Deep Creek Trail which consisted of 3 waterfalls that were on a stretch of 4.6 miles.
While we were on the trail, we were able to find some interesting looking rocks, leaves, and sticks. Yes, sticks. The trees there were all formed normal, or an abnormal way, to where it effected the sticks appearances to also look abnormal.
Anyways, while we were hiking the trail, the waterfall pictured below was the waterfall we saw as we came to an end of our journey. It was a very much appreciated touch to our last hurrah of the hike.
In the picture, you notice that there are trees and bushes literally covering every square inch possible. That was how it was on the entire hike. It was absolutely stunning and despite my laziness, I would definitely go back in a heart beat. It's a breathtaking sight to see.
We made it!
Finally! After our two week long journey filled with gorgeous sights and exciting new places, we made it back home safe and sound. I had such an amazing time on my trip and I can't wait to do it again sometime!
To travel is to live. - Hans Christian Andersen
Comments