Conroy’s musical words created images of Charleston that beckoned me to visit its historic streets, peer into centuries-old mansions, and feast on bounty from the nearby sea. For years I’d been reading Conroy’s books, which poetically detail living in South Carolina’s low country. These include The Boo (his first published book), The Prince of Tides, Beach Music, The Water is Wide: A Memoir, and South of Broad. The tantalizing descriptions transported me to the region—well, almost. Being there was going to be a geographic feat because I’d devoured his books in a variety of locales far removed from South Carolina. Fortunately for me, the Internet changed all that. In August 2014, I reconnected with a classmate from college. Michael and I were on the college tumbling team and performed a doubles balancing act. There were some sparks but no real fire. Fifty years later—he in South Carolina and I in Phoenix—began corresponding … we married in Gaffney, South Carolina, on January 7, 2015. Within a month, we headed south to Charleston. I’m not sure what South of Broad was like when Conroy was a child, but today it’s considered one of Charleston’s most storied neighborhoods. The South of Broad walking tour begins on Charleston’s southeastern tip, at the intersection of East Battery Street and Murray. From this panoramic vantage point, overlooking historic Charleston Harbor on one side and beautiful gardens and rows of palatial antebellum mansions on the other, moving in any direction may take some will power. It was from this spot that cannons roared with the opening salvos of the Civil War and where great fleets of war ships and merchant vessels have passed for centuries. This elevated waterfront walking promenade, surrounded by great oaks, brilliant azaleas, and dazzling oleanders is one of Charleston’s favorite observation points. Onlookers can see the barrier islands that ring the city, as well as historic fortifications at Fort Sumter and Castle Pinckney that rise from sandbars and islets in the harbor. This same view undoubtedly inspired Conroy to write some of his most beautiful prose. So here we were and had much to explore. One of our must visits was to the annual Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, SEWE, held at Charleston Place, because my hubby is a very talentedwatercolorist and had oftenmade a pilgrimage to this three-day showcase of everything about wildlife and nature. Through an incredible lineup of events—from fine art exhibits, conservation education, and sporting demonstrations—SEWE helps visitors explore their “wild” side and pay tribute to their naturally beautiful world. In addition to oohing and aahing about the wide variety of paintings and sculptures, a few blocks away in Marion Square, we were treated to thrilling fly-bys of captive raptors. Cameras poised, we both tried to capture each one in flight—a feat in itself.
Charleston Place is the venue for many events, including the annual Southeastern Wildlife Exposition.
Charleston City Market is the place to find souvenirs of your visit.
The Charleston Battery is a fortified seawall at the tip of the Charleston peninsula and lined with historic antebellum homes. Photo by Doug Hickok
Even if you’re not a wildlife artist, the flora and fauna around Charleston is bountiful—especially the feathered kind. Mild winters and a large variety of habitats, (beaches, barrier islands, tidal creeks, saltwater marsh, swamps, pine forests, hardwood bottoms, and freshwater lakes and ponds) make the Charleston area a premier birding destination any time of the year. According to Wikipedia, approximately 427 bird species are found in South Carolina—all but a few can be found in the low country.
16 COAST TO COAST FALL 2016
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