My Trip to Magnolia Plantation:

Last week a good friend of mine had family in town from Virginia.  Among the must see sights in Charleston, Magnolia Plantation was on the agenda.  I, being a resident of Charleston, had never been to "one of the Top 25 Most Visited Houses in America" before and I jumped at the chance to accompany them.

We arrived on a beautiful morning to a friendly staff and reasonable admission rates.  Parking was free and not terribly difficult.  The 3 guided tour options were Nature Boat Ride, Magnolia Plantation House and Nature Train.  We opted for the first two and skipped the train to take a walk in The Audubon Swamp Garden. 

The Boat tour was very comfortable.  The open pontoon boat glided along the canals and we were given a concise but not riveting description of the history of the 150 acre rice field.  During the hour long tour we saw many different species of birds and a few alligators!  It was very enjoyable.

The Plantation house is impressive.  The elevated wrap around porch was not only an classic architectural gem, but a source of constant breeze.  I imagined having mint juleps and watching the sunset.  We were a large group waiting for the house tour, so we were split up and shuffled through different rooms at opposite ends of the home.  Velvet ropes protected 9 generations of antiques while we were given a glimpse of the Dray ton family's history in their classic southern home.

Walking around the grounds we were welcomed by stunning gardens and picturesque views.  The grazing Shetland ponies were irresistible.  Constant "yelps" were hard to ignore from the peacocks with spring fever.  All in all it was a perfect day in Charleston at a historic site that is a true must see!

By: Thea Riley, AgentOwned Realty Co.