Logos Theatre at the Ark Encounter for "The Lion the Witch and the Wardr...

We have mentioned the Logos Theatre before...  we were able to enjoy their latest production at the Ark Encounter in Williamstown Kentucky recently.  They did CS Lewis' "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe"!

Harbour Town Lighthouse Hilton Head Island

While on Hilton Head, we took a trip through the Harbour Town Lighthouse!

Sea Pines Forest Preserve Hilton Head Island SC November 2023

While on Hilton Head Island, we spent a little time driving around Sea Pines Forest Preserve!

Hilton Head Island South Carolina 2023

While near Savannah, we spent some time on Hilton Head Island!

Crazy Crab Hilton Head Island

We had a great meal at the Crazy Brab while on Hilton Head Island!

First Baptist Church in Columbia, South Carolina

 First Baptist Church in Columbia hosted a state convention in 1860 to discuss secession after the election of Abraham Lincoln.  Delegates unanimously voted to leave the United States, becoming the first of the Southern States to do so.

So, in a lot of ways, First Baptist Church in Columbia can be marked as a very significant spot in the formation of the Confederacy... and the Civil War.

AND, when Sherman's forces invaded the city....  this church remained unscathed (I've read that his troops looked for it and got confused about which church hosted the convention). 

It is still a large functioning church. 

We stopped by briefly as we drove around the area.  I did see on their website that they have a bookstore/coffee shop on the property.  YOU KNOW that a bookstore/coffee shop on a church property WITH a Civil War connection made this a place I had to visit. 

Higher Grounds Books and Beans is a GREAT PLACE to stop for a drink!  My wife is on a smoothie kick, and they have a lot to choose from, AND they make them right using real fruit.  I had a great cup of coffee too and we enjoyed chatting with the friendly staff there!  If I lived in Columbia, this would absolutely be my hang out!

South Carolina Confederate Relic Room & Military Museum in Columbia SC

The South Carolina Confederate Relic Room & Military Museum in Columbia South Carolina has a ton of cool old Civil War items.  They are trying to make this a military museum in addition to the Confederate items but....  well, we were here to check out their old Civil War flags.

Here are a few photos we took.  The museum isn't huge, but it is packed with some quality items.

South Carolina State House, Columbia South Carolina

The South Carolina State House in Columbia South Carolina is a must see.  I think it might be one of the more significant buildings linked to the Civil War.

We walked in to the massive government building and went through the usual very reasonable security to get in.  Right after that, another nice employee asked us if we were looking to do a tour and we confirmed that we were.  Almost instantly, we found ourselves, along with another couple, touring the huge building.

At first, we were shown a short film on the State House.  Then, we were taken around and told about the building itself, and all it had been through.

Construction started on the State House in the early 1850.  The project was slowed by the Civil War.  When Sherman invaded...  well, they did a number on Columbia.  The Old State House was burned, while it's nearby unfinished replacement (the current state house) took on a ton of damage too.  In fact, on the outside of the building, six stars mark where cannon balls hit and caused damage.

In the film we saw, they showed that a sword and a mace are displayed when certain government bodies are in session.  The original sword was stolen and never recovered.  The current one is still exceptionally significant and it is valued at a half million dollars.  The mace has been in use, I believe, since the 1700s.  According to the film it is estimated as having a value of PRICELESS!

Heritage USA, Fort Mill South Carolina Postcard

I'm guessing this postcard is from the 80s.

"Heritage USA Victoria style enhances the beauty of the shops lining the Partner Center at Heritage USA."

We drove by here nearly a decade ago.  I have no idea what the status of the property is today.

Sam Kendall's Restaurant in Camden South Carolina.

At the recommendation of Bruce and Katherine at Bloomsbury Inn, we spent a very nice evening at Sam Kendall's Restaurant in Camden South Carolina.

My wife wanted a simple burger, but she said that this one was very good.  I ordered some fish tacos and they were really something special. 

We actually had a couple of nice waitresses taking care of us, and our cups were never empty.  The place is kind of dark and relaxed.  They were playing some really mellow rock while we were there.  I heard Don Henley's "Last Worthless Evening" as I walked in.  There was a very relaxed and nice vibe going on.

Historic Camden Revolutionary War Site, Camden, South Carolina

Historic Camden Revolutionary War Site was the second Revolutionary War site we visited in this nice small town.  They have some open cabins with exhibits in them, and a driving tour.

Mary Boykin Chesnut: A Biography by Elisabeth Muhlenfeld

While on our recent trip through South Carolina, I knew we would be travelling though areas where Civil War diarist Mary Boykin Chesnut lived.  In fact, as we planned, we were able to book a room at a GREAT B&B where she lived at one time!

If you are not familiar with Mary, she is quoted all over the place when it comes to the Civil War.  She was married to Confederate officer James Chesnut Jr., and she was very good friends with President Davis and his wife Varina.  Obviously, she is writing from a significant Southern perspective.

Mary wrote about her experiences during the Civil War, and later rewrote them.  They were not published during her lifetime, but different edited versions have been released since.  You can find her actual rewritten work in an 800+ page volume, and her original diary are available.  Introductions and annotations, I have heard, are very helpful.

Anyway, during our stay at Mary's former home, Bloomsbury, I acquired a copy of a very nice biography from inn keepers Bruce and Katherine Brown.  The book is by Elizabeth Muhlenfeld and I think this is probably the best starting point when delving into the world of Mary Boykin Chesnut.

Mary had a very interesting life, and, with her ties to the very upper levels of the Confederacy, she had a lot of access to a lot of information.  In fact, her perspective is really unique with her status and her friends.

During her lifetime, she also translated books, and tried her hand at writing fiction.  Muhlenfeld covers the topics of the fiction Mary tried to write.  Those works are available if one wants to read them, but I am pretty sure that this biography's descriptions of them will satisfy most reader's curiosity.

The biography also talks about changes made by Mary when she rewrote her diaries later in life.  AND, since the volumes of hand written records by Mary Chesnut were not published until some time after her death, the biography talks about the journals themselves, and how they do eventually get published.

Mary has a very fascinating life in general too.  It is very interesting to see how her life changes going into the Civil War.  Obviously there are big changes during the war, and very dramatic ones afterwards.

Bloomsbury Inn, Camden South Carolina

I may have mentioned this here before, but my wife and I will often have a little debate about where to stay when we travel.  I want to stay somewhere with some serious history to it.  She wants to stay somewhere that is just fabulous.  Well, we found a B&B on this trip that really made us both happy.

AND, to be honest, we had already found a good deal on a standard hotel room in the area.  But, after we read up on Bloomsbury Inn, we knew we wanted to splurge a bit and enjoy a couple of nights here.


We noticed that the Inn has over 350 reviews on tripadvisor, and ALL of them are 5 stars!  Think about that.  My wife saw the photos online and simply loved the look of the place.

I saw that Civil War diarist Mary Boykin Chesnut had actually lived at the home at one time.  That was enough to get me to want to stay here!  I always love reading an author's work at their former home.  It's a rare and magic opportunity!

Our room was so nice and comfortable.  This is a great home that is nearing its second century mark but it is in amazing, well kept shape.  It is old and charming, and all areas of the home are spotless.

There is a very nice main living room that is perfect for the evening socials that owners Katherine and Bruce Brown host.  Each evening you can sip tea and talk to other guests and the Brown's about where they are from, or what they are doing in the Camden area.  It is a very nice time.

We also enjoyed spending time on their very roomy porch in the evenings.  There are plenty of chairs for just hanging out and reading.

We had unforgettable breakfasts while we were here.  They really do an amazing job each day at 9am.

All guests are seated at a nice large table, and the great foods start to come out.  Bruce and Katherine are justifiably proud of what they do here, and they told us all about the items as they brought them out.  A local coffee roaster (Little River Roasting Co. in Spartanburg) actually makes a special blend for the B&B that they serve each morning.

The meals were great- I am still thinking about a strawberry soup that was served before the big meal one morning.

I really enjoyed the "everyone at a table for breakfast" experience here too.  Like us, we found that the others who visited Bloomsbury enjoy travelling and history.  It was nice chatting at breakfast before our day started.

Each morning after breakfast, Bruce gives a talk on the history of the home.  It is very interesting, and I was eager to hear all about Mary Chesnuts time at the home.  Bruce also talked briefly about his great grandfather who fought in the Civil War, and actually died in Kentucky at Perryville!

This was definitely a B&B that we didn't want to leave.  Its a great old house, and the Brown's really take things to the next level as they take such good care of Bloomsbury and its guests.  These are sweet people.

Let me also add that Camden is simply a great bed and breakfast town.  Its not known for it's nightlife, but there are pleasant restaurants in town.  There is great history, and just a nice, relaxed vibe.  This is a great town to spend a couple of days at Bloomsbury, and then slowly explore their historic parks, and main street area leisurely.

Battle of Camden, Camden South Carolina

During the Revolutionary War, the British scored a big victory over US forces in Camden, South Carolina.  The site of the battle is preserved with some markers.

We stopped by when we got to town.  They are doing a lot of work in this area though...  there was some construction equipment and tape blocking paths, etc.  We were still able to step out and see a couple of markers.

Maurice's Piggie Park BBQ in Columbia South Carolina

While we were in South Carolina, I really wanted to hit some barbeque places, and I especially wanted to visit the ones associated with the Bessinger family.

Like the other barbeque spots we visited in South Carolina, this one also gave us a HUGE pile of food!  Again, for all we got, we thought Maurice's was a good value too.

This was a very friendly spot too (we visited the Piggie Park at 800 Elmwood Ave.).  There was a very sweet lady who took our order and talked to us here and there as we visited.

The Bessinger family has been around doing BBQ in South Carolina for a long time, and have developed a quality reputation.

Columbia Fireflies- Columbia Georgia

Our first stop when we entered Columbia Georgia was at their new single A ballpark, Spirit Communications Park, home of the Columbia Fireflies!

We wouldn't be around for their game on this evening, and that was eating me up.  I really love catching a game at a nice minor league park.

Even if I am not able to catch a game in a nice town like Columbia, I still want to visit the park!

So we stopped by.  We parked, and made our way up to the venue.  We actually passed a couple of friendly staff who directed us to the team shop.

We did not catch her name, but an extremely friendly lady was running the store.  She talked about how much she enjoyed working at the park, and being a part of the team.

I picked up my usually items, some stickers, a pin, a shirt. etc.  I have picked up some of the Lego like Oyo figures at some parks, but they did not have them here.  Anyone else collecting the team mascots?


The staff was very nice about having the park open, and they told us to feel free to check out the field and take some photos!

This is just a great park in a very friendly city...  and I can't wait for my next visit to Columbia- I'll have to catch a game next time!