Page 22 - AAA Magazine – Ohio Auto Club – September 2022

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By dinnertime, we navigated through the countless boutiques and galleries of King Street to land at 82 Queen for a low-country cuisine in its quaint courtyard. It was an incredibly delicious meal, unrushed and unphased by toddler interruption. A refined seafood gumbo for my husband, filet mignon and marinated shrimp for me.
Let’s not forget the Cabernet to wash it down slowly, peacefully. I was filling up on bliss.
VENTURING OUT
We couldn’t take full advantage of being sans children without a quick bar hop to cap off our first night, but a high-traffic day left us with a mission to expand our exploration on Day Two to a more laid-back location.
First, we took our rental car across the Ashley River five miles to the McLeod Plantation Historic Site. Established in the mid-1800s, the McLeod Plantation was built from the successful cultivation of sea-island cotton, and on
the backs of enslaved people, completely stirred my conscience. Through a guided tour, we learned of truths and histories nearly erased.
Chauffeured by the massive oaks canopying the main path, we took in the enormity and beauty of the McLeod family home in comparison to the structures built for the enslaved families — a complete juxtaposition. We walked in silence taking in the memoriam that the property has become. I’d look from the fields to the 600-year-old oaks’ powerful limbs and wondered about the realities only
the trees know.
The beauty in Charleston’s nature didn’t stop as we
continued our jaunt south. My husband – a true team player – went along with my busy itinerary and endured his bloodshot, itchy eyes and sniffles to see the famous Angel Oak.
“Did I take my allergy medicine this morning?” he asked as we looked upon the massive tentacled branches of what’s argued to be one of the oldest, largest trees east of the Mississippi. He had.
If not for his allergies, we, as Ohioans in March, truly craved the beach. It wasn’t warm enough on Kiawah Island to get in the water, but we walked the expansive
beach picking up seashells as souvenirs for the kids and sat to appreciate the magic that is a Carolina ocean view. While on Kiawah Island, we spent time at Freshfields Village shopping and eating lunch. A beautiful children’s
book, “All About Mermaids,” caught my eye from the window of a bookstore and has since subsequently been read nearly 100 times at the request of my dozing, 4-year-old daughter, Millie. She caps her days pondering the magic of mermaids, while I close the book and am reminded about the magic of this trip.
WORTH IT
It turns out Charleston was exactly what I needed.
My gas tank was refilled. The trip was easy (we left
on a Friday morning and were back home on Sunday allowing two full days of experiences), accessible (direct flight from John Glenn Columbus International Airport), affordable (price ranges for hotels vary depending on your budget) and memorable.
Spending our nights in the historic, bustling city on our first day filled with tours we never could’ve fully enjoyed with two young kids in tow, with an escape to a peaceful nearby empty beach on the second day created the perfect recipe. It was an idyllic balance that checked
all my boxes.
Unless otherwise noted, photos are by Audrey Adair.
3220 | AAA MAGAZINE
Audrey Adair is a Pataskala, Ohio-based AAA member.
For trip planning assistance, contact a AAA Travel agent or visit AAA.com/Travel.