11/12-11/19

We arrived in Myrtle Beach from Jacksonville, NC. Myrtle Beach feels very much like Orlando, FL. There are fun tourist attractions all over the area including a Ripley’s Believe it or Not, Go Kart Racing, a giant ferris wheel and amusement park, and a Dave and Buster’s.

We parked at Target and stayed for 3 or 4 nights in their parking lot with no issues. The weather was cold, dark, and rainy for the time that we were there, so we didn’t do much exploring in this area. We did, however, go to Dave and Buster’s the night before we moved on to Charleston. We had some drinks beforehand and played arcade games for a few hours. At the end of the night, we exchanged our tickets and took home a few prizes from the Winner’s Circle.

The next day, we landed in Charleston, SC. We were originally going to stay in a Planet Fitness parking lot, but upon arriving, the parking lot was too small and it was packed with cars. We moved to a nearby Walmart and stayed there for 2 or 3 nights.

We visited the downtown Charleston area with a side quest to find some interesting street art. We didn’t find much graffiti art, but instead found that the historic downtown area was rustic and well preserved. We took pictures of several homes that formerly belonged to the former Governor and his family.

John Rutledge’s home was built in 1763 and now functions as a bed and breakfast. John Rutledge was the first governor of South Carolina and was a signer of the US Constitution. His homes were preserved as historical landmarks and had some information about their history on display.

Closer to the shore, you can find the Pineapple Fountain at Waterfront Park, representing how the pineapple has historically served as a symbol of Southern hospitality. We enjoyed a beautiful sunset on the beach. We played frisbee with Lucy the doggo and picked up some shells and stones for our little collection. We also stopped into a gift shop on the beach which had a resident Macaw parrot named Bubbah. He talks to all the customers of the shop and claims to be over 60 years old.

The nest day we travelled a little further away from the bus and visited the Angel Oak Tree. The tree is over 450 years old and it’s being preserved and guarded by the city so that it can reach it’s full life span. Currently, it stands 66.5 ft tall, measures 28 ft in circumference, and produces shade that covers 17,200 square feet. Its longest branch distance is 187 ft in length.

After our adventure, we went out to eat at a craft burger and beer restaurant about a half a mile from the Walmart we were parked at. We had a great time at dinner, making the best out of our last night with Jono and Maria. The next day, we would be traveling southbound towards Georgia while they turn around and head Northeast toward Ohio.