Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is Blue Highways Time Travel

We are taking the Blue Highways way back, like to the 1600’s.  

This is Magnolia Plantation and Gardens in Charleston. Being an enthusiastic amateur photographer, I have loved this place for a long time. It is really hard not to take a great picture here. It’s a place where nature and history continuously collide in the most amazing ways. 

Getting there, I usually take the Charleston Highway from Aiken. It is one of my favorite backroad trips and a very pretty drive. Still, nothing prepares you for the beauty that awaits at the other end. 

Magnolia is one of the oldest plantations in the country and was founded by Thomas and Ann Drayton in 1676. Today, descendants of the Drayton family still own the plantation. 

You can spend hours admiring, or camera in hand, capturing beauty. One of my favorite shots is a white bridge and its reflection in the water. This may be the most commonly shot photograph at Magnolia, but I had to take my shot, too. The trails and paths through Magnolia lead to a treasure trove of gardens and wildlife, including the occasional alligator. 

For the history buff, Magnolia also offers tours. They include the historic gardens, house, and swamp gardens. They also have a nature train. 

If you finish your visit early, it’s a 20-mile drive to Folly Beach and it is worth the short trip. Want more history? Charleston is 34 miles away. 

Have fun, and I’ll see you on the Blue Highways! 

Fun Fact: Magnolias date back 100 million years. They existed before bees, so they must rely on beetles for pollination. The beetles use magnolia pollen for food. 

Admission to Magnolia Plantation is $35 for adults, $32 for seniors, $18 for youth, $14 for children (5-11) and $3 for those under 5. It can take a couple of days to explore the 600-acre plantation. Wear comfortable shoes!