Roadside Art - The Peachoid Water Tower in Gaffney, South Carolina

The Peachoid Water Tower stands 135 feet tall and can be seen for miles away. It sits along Interstate 85 in Gaffney, South Carolina. Thousands of travelers pass by it every day when traveling from Charolette, New Carolina to Atlanta, Georgia.

It's one of the most recognized landmarks in the area and holds approximately 1 million gallons of water for the surrounding communities. Built in 1981 from concrete and steel  by a Chicago company is often referred to as "The Peach" by locals. There is a metal chain link fence that surrounds it to keep out the vandals.

If you would like to visit The Peachoid you can access it via a service road that runs between exits 90 and 92 on Interstate 95. It's on Peachoid Road in Gaffney, South Carolina. There is a small parking lot that you can pull into and its FREE to visit. A great little roadside attraction to document if you're into waymarking when you travel.

Smithsonian Channel: Aerial America Southeast Collection DVD

Several weeks ago I had the chance to review a Smithsonian Channel travel DVD and today I am back with another one. We love to travel and traveling through the Southeast is one of our favorite travel destinations. It is a really beautiful are of the country.

Title: Aerial America: Southeast Collection
By: Smithsonian Channel
Release Date: August 19th, 2014

Take off for a first-class, window-seat view of the South's most-beautiful sceneries in this brand new DVD release from Inception Media Group.

Aerial America: Southeast Collection takes you soaring over the South's breathtaking landscapes and landmarks while exploring its compelling, complex role in American History.

In North Carolina, witness the barrier islands and learn about first in flight history. In South Carolina you can experience elegant charms and extraordinary past and in Georgia's hot cities and haunted graves. Flights over Mississippi and Alabama reveal where Civil War battles were lost and the civil rights movement was born. Florida shows off its stunning beaches, lavish lifestyles and what makes the state so magical.

My Thoughts: If you plan on visiting any of the Southeast states for the first time, this DVD is a must-have! You will learn about hot spots and spots off the beaten path that you never heard of before. Not only that, some of the areas they feature on the DVD will give you new travel destinations to check out, ones that you would of never considered visiting until you saw them on this DVD.

We are planning a big 2 week trip to North Carolina next spring so we really appreciated the North Carolina part of the DVD. The photography is just amazing from start to finish and we were amazed at all of the aerial views that we got to see.

Several times we have watched this collection and every time we watch it again we see something new or learn something new about each state that is featured. Thanks to this DVD...we are adding a trip to the great state of Alabama to our travel bucket list in 2015. We have never been there and thanks to this DVD...we will definitely be visiting!

Disclaimer: A free copy of this DVD was provided to me for this review. No monetary compensation has been received. My thoughts & opinions on this item are 100% my own and are unbiased. Your opinions & views may differ.

5th Annual Weekend of Jazz at Kiawah Island Golf Resort

South Carolina is one of those states that I love to visit, particularly the South Carolina coastline. When it comes to a beautiful coastal area with stunning views of the southern Atlantic Ocean...this state has it going on! Besides being a very beautiful state, there are thousands of fun things to see and do in South Carolina.

This Fall is the perfect time to plan a trip, especially if you love Jazz music and will be visiting the state during the month of November. Check out the information below.

Earl Klugh’s 5th Annual Weekend of Jazz at Kiawah Island Golf Resort November 6-8, 2014!

Kiawah Island, SC – Since 2004, GRAMMY®-winning guitarist Earl Klugh has been bringing world-renowned artists together with jazz enthusiasts for his one-of-a-kind musically-driven lifestyle getaways. His Weekend of Jazz is now held at two Forbes Five-Star, AAA Five-Diamond properties each year; The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, and The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island, South Carolina.

Klugh’s 5th annual Weekend of Jazz at Kiawah Island will be held November 6-8, 2014 and features three incredible days of entertainment from multiple GRAMMY®-winning vocalist NATALIE COLE; versatile multi-instrumentalist, frontman and GRAMMY®-nominee TROMBONE SHORTY & his band, ORLEANS AVENUE; dynamic contemporary jazz duo R n R: RICK BRAUN & RICHARD ELLIOT; GRAMMY®-nominated guitarist CHUCK LOEB with Special Guest saxophonist ANDY SNITZER; contemporary jazz saxman MICHAEL LINGTON; local favorites THE EAST COAST PARTY BAND; your GRAMMY®-winning host EARL KLUGH with pianist and composer DAVID BENOIT; and more!

Earl Klugh's Weekend of Jazz is committed to bringing our guests one-of-a-kind experiences with the very best musical talent, unforgettable collaborations, surprise guests, exceptional culinary and wine experiences, Yogalates, golf and more – all within a Five-Star, Five-Diamond setting.

2-Night Weekend of Jazz Packages Include (Friday, 11/07 and Saturday 11/08):

Luxury accommodations for each night on the package
Tickets to main event concerts each night with priority seating
Admission to after-hours shows
Admission to VIP artist experience
Exclusive sign-up for Weekend of Jazz activities and experiences, including The Weekend of Jazz Golf Outing with PGA Tour Professional and golf commentator John Mahaffey, featuring contests, food and beverage and more on Saturday afternoon
Great discounts on suite/ocean view/villa upgrades
Great discounts on Sanctuary Spa treatments and select Kiawah Island golf courses
And more!
2-Night Packages start at $242* per person/per night in the Villas.

3-Night Packages and Sanctuary Rooms are currently sold out with wait list availability. To inquire, please call 800-654-2924. All two & three-night package guests will be automatically entered to win a VIP dinner with Earl Klugh at the event.

ABOUT KIAWAH ISLAND GOLF RESORT

Located just south of Charleston, South Carolina, along 10 miles of pristine beach, Kiawah Island Golf Resort was recently named the No. 1 golf resort on the U.S. Mainland by readers of the prestigious Conde Nast Traveler magazine. The publication also named Kiawah as the No. 3 overall resort on the U.S. Mainland. Tennis magazine named it the No. 3 tennis resort in the U.S. Kiawah Island is also known as one of the top eco-friendly resorts in the U.S., and its beach was named one of the 10 best beaches in America by famed “beachologist,” Dr. Stephen Leatherman, aka Dr. Beach. It includes The Sanctuary – a AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five Star-rated, 255-room hotel and spa – and 600 private villas and luxury homes. The resort has five championship golf courses, including The Ocean Course – host of the 1991 Ryder Cup, the 2007 Senior PGA and 2012 PGA Championship.

Kiawah Island Golf Resort Named No. 1 Tennis Resort in the World by TennisResortsOnline

Kiawah Island Golf Resort once again racks up numerous awards -- Named No. 1 Tennis Resort in the World by TennisResortsOnline and one of the top 10 beaches in the U.S. by “Dr. Beach”

This May, readers of the leading on-line tennis travel website, TennisResortsOnline, named Kiawah Island Golf Resort as the No. 1 tennis resort in the world and Dr. Stephen Leatherman, aka “Dr. Beach,” named Kiawah Island’s beach one of America’s 10 best beaches. Tennis Resorts Online awarded Kiawah their highest award for seven of the last eight years. Dr. Beach has had Kiawah Island in the Top 10 Beach list since 2008.

Tennis Resorts Online rankings list the top 75 tennis resorts in the world and are based on the overall tennis program including instruction, teaching staff, and facilities, as well as other resort facilities such as lodging, cuisine, service and value. TennisResortsOnline.com rated Kiawah as the No. 1 resort in 2006 and 2007. In 2008, it dropped to No. 3 before returning to the top spot in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 as well as in the latest poll that was released earlier this May.

Dr. Stephen Leatherman (aka, “Dr. Beach) is the director of the Laboratory for Coastal Research at Florida International University. He has ranked the top 10 U.S. beaches list every year since 1991. He bases his findings on 50 criteria, such as water and sand quality, facilities available, and trash maintenance.

According to Dr. Leatherman, Beachwalker Park “is the public beach located on the eastern end of Kiawah Island. Tennis and golf are featured here, as well as interpretative tours of the fauna and flora of the island. This is certainly a nature-lovers coast, so visitors should pack their canoes and kayaks to paddle through the tidal inlets. It is also fun to walk or bicycle down to St. Sam’s Inlet to see thousands of birds. The water is not clear here, but it is clean and provides for fantastic seafood for Lowcountry cooking.”

Kiawah Island Golf Resort is known primarily for its golf, with its premier course, The Ocean Course, hosting last year’s PGA Championship. The prestigious Conde Nast Traveler magazine named the resort as the third best on the U.S. Mainland in 2012. The resort’s hotel, The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort has earned both a Forbes Five Star and AAA Five Diamond ratings. The resort’s spa also earned a Forbes Five Star Rating. In addition, Coastal Living magazine named Kiawah Island its “Happiest Seaside Town” in 2012.

Kiawah Island Golf Resort features five golf courses, two tennis centers, 10 miles of beach, 35 miles of bike trails, 11 dining establishments, two pool/water park complexes and an award-winning nature and recreation program on a barrier island just 21 miles south of beautiful and historic Charleston, South Carolina. For more information, visit www.kiawahresort.com or call 800-654-2924.

Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina

Kiawah Island Golf Resort Announces Golf or Gourmet Escape Packages for late-fall & winter.

KIAWAH ISLAND, SC – Kiawah Island Golf Resort today announced special fall and winter “stay-and-play” or “stay-and-dine” packages. Kiawah’s “Golf or Gourmet Escape Packages” provides great deals for staying at the resort and either playing golf or dining in its award-winning restaurants.

“Whether your passion is for a day on the links or an evening of fine dining, this fall and winter the resort offers a choice – a chance to take on the course that Rory conquered at the 2012 PGA Championship (or one of the resort’s other championship courses) or, if you’re more of a ‘foodie,’ dine at one of the region’s best restaurants while staying at one of America’s premier resorts,” said Tom Bewley, the resort’s Sales and Marketing Director. “When compared to our peak season rates, the Golf or Gourmet Escape Package equals a 60% savings. It’s an extraordinary deal at one of the nation’s top resorts.”

From November 5, 2012 to February 28, 2013, guests on the resort’s “Golf or Gourmet Escape Package” can choose accommodations (Sanctuary Hotel or luxury villa) and two rounds of golf or accommodations (Sanctuary Hotel or luxury villa) and two dinners. Guests have the option of the “Champions Choice” or “Players Choice” packages depending on their taste in restaurants or courses.
The Champions Choice package includes:

Two rounds of golf per room per night on ANY course (including The Ocean Course)
-OR-

Dinner for two at ANY restaurant (including The Ocean Room and The Atlantic Room)
•Sanctuary - $400 per night
•Villa - $300 per night

The Players Choice package includes:

Two rounds of golf per room per night on Turtle Point, Osprey Point, Cougar Point or Oak Point

-OR-

Dinner for two at Jasmine Porch, Tomasso or Cherrywood BBQ

•Sanctuary - $300 per night
•Villa - $200 per night

Packages are subject to availability. Tax and villa resort fee additional. Accommodation options are a Garden View room at The Sanctuary or a one bedroom Scenic View Villa. Blackout dates include (but are not limited to) November 9-10, 16-17 and December 31. Cannot be combined with any other offer, discount or promotion. Not valid for groups. Minimum length of stay may apply.
For more information on Kiawah Island Golf Resort’s “Golf or Gourmet Escape Packages,” go to www.KiawahGolforGourmet.com or call 800-654-2924.

Located along 10 miles of pristine beach just south of Charleston, South Carolina, Kiawah Island Golf Resort was recently named the No. 1 golf resort on the U.S. Mainland by readers of the prestigious Conde Nast Traveler magazine. The publication also named Kiawah as the No. 3 overall resort on the U.S. Mainland. TennisResortsOnline named it the No. 1 tennis resort in the world for six of the last seven years. Kiawah Island is also known as one of the top eco-friendly resorts in the U.S., and its beach was named one of the 10 best beaches in America by famed “beachologist,” Dr. Stephen Leatherman, aka Dr. Beach. In addition to Forbes Five Star/AAA Five Diamond Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, the resort’s 255-room oceanfront hotel and spa, the resort manages 509 private villas and luxury homes, nine restaurants, two tennis centers, a renowned recreation and nature program and has five championship golf courses, including The Ocean Course, host of the 1991 Ryder Cup and the2012 PGA Championship.

Myrtle Beach Vacations All Inclusive in South Carolina

An all inclusive Myrtle Beach vacation is one of the most overlooked vacation options in the US. When people think beach vacations in the states, they always start looking for options in California, Florida, Hawaii, and Texas. However, South Carolina should definitely be on anyone short list.

Beaches

You can write an article on all inclusive Myrtle Beach resorts without first giving an overview of the beaches! Here is a quick rundown of my two favorites:

Hunting Island Beach

This beach sits on a four mile long island and is the most visited beach in all of South Carolina. There are many attractions on the island and it is a nice place for families and young people as well. The Hunting Island Lighthouse is a must see. This lighthouse was destroyed during the Civil War and was rebuilt in the late 1800's. The other must see attraction is only during early summer. The beach is one of the largest turtle nesting grounds on the entire east coast. If you happen to be vacationing around this time, it is well worth the effort to have a look at this phenomenon.

Folly Beach

This is my other favorite beach, due to the barrier reef. If you ever been here, you surely know what I'm talking about. This is a snorkeling and scuba divers dream. Even if you don't enjoy the watersports, you can still enjoy the beach. It is quite a bit calmer than Hunting Beach, but in my opinion equally as nice.

Nightlife

There are many nightclubs on or near the beach that offer a wide variety of options. Of course, there are many beach themed clubs that are great placed to sit around in the evening and listen to the waves. Many of these clubs are located in or near all of the Myrtle Beach all inclusive resorts. Last time I was in town, I was able to walk down the beach and go to three different "island" themed bars.

Watersports

Myrtle Beach has it all. From deep sea fishing to water slide parks, you will definitely find what you're looking for in Myrtle Beach. Be sure to check with your all inclusive resort if any of these activities are included or if the hotel offers discounts to their guests. The resort I stayed at offered a pass that allowed you to go to several area attractions and only pay for the pass once. I did not go for the deal, although it did seem to make sense if you're into the water sports.

Once again, an all inclusive Myrtle Beach vacation should be at the top of anyone's shortlist. I'm confident you will have a good time, at a reasonable cost, and come back year after year.

There are many all inclusive resorts to choose from in the US, including some great deals on all inclusive vacations in Florida.

Lake Conestee Nature Park in South Carolina

Lake Conestee Nature Park is a quiet natural area located just six miles south of Greenville, South Carolina. The 400 acre park is situated along three miles of the Reedy River and its surrounding wetlands. It offers visitors passive recreational opportunities such as walking, hiking, bicycling, picnicking, wildlife observation, and photography.

The original lake was formed in the early 1800s when the Reedy River was dammed near the community of Conestee. The dam provided power for several mills that were located along this part of the river, including paper and cotton mills. The dam was raised to its current height in 1892. The lake was once significantly larger than it is today, but over the years sediment from upstream has filled in about 90% of it. Today the lake is approximately twenty acres of shallow wetlands. The former lakebed is a flood control basin for the Reedy River, providing protection from flooding for areas downstream.

There are three miles of natural surface trails and two miles of paved, handicapped accessible trails at Lake Conestee Nature Park. Trails lead through hardwood and pine forest and past meadows that were once farmland. There are boardwalks over wetlands, a bridge over the Reedy River, and several observation decks. Trail maps are located in kiosks at all trailheads.

A variety of wildlife may be observed in the park including deer, beaver, and more than 150 species of birds. South Carolina Audubon and Bird Life International recently designated the park as an "Important Bird Area". The park's observation decks are perfect for wildlife photography. Picnic areas are located near the park office off Fork Shoals Road. Boating and swimming are not allowed at Lake Conestee.

Lake Conestee Nature Park is open daily from sunrise to sunset. There is no entrance fee. There are four points at which visitors may park and access the trailheads. At the northern end of the park there is a paved trail off Henderson Avenue. On the west side there is a paved trail and parking area at the intersection of Fork Shoals Road and Whitehorse Road Extension. Another trail access is located behind the Belmont Fire Station on Fork Shoals Road. This trail is not handicapped accessible. The park's only restroom facilities are located at this trailhead. The south end of the park may be accessed off Spanko Road by the Conestee Dam. Visitors to the Greenville area may enjoy a quiet walk through this picturesque natural area.

G. Carpenter is the General Manager at the Holiday Inn Express Simpsonville hotel. The Holiday Inn Express Simpsonville is located just south of Greenville and only minutes from Mauldin, Fountain Inn, Laurens, and the Greenville Zoo. The hotel located just off I-385 at exit 27 with easy access to I-85, I-185 and I-26. This property offers a full range of services and amenities to make your stay exceptional.

Visiting Historic Charleston in South Carolina from a Tourist's View

Historic Charleston, South Carolina is exploding with history, architecture, good eats, quaint shops, multitudes of art galleries, friendly people and one of my favorite places to be. I'm only going to be able to hit on some highlights here because this is one city that needs an entire book to tell you about all the wondrous places to visit, things to do and the history there.

The best carriage tour, in my opinion, is Old South Carriage Co. (just look for the red sash). While I’m not big on making horses lug people around, the tour is awesome. They have different routes that cover approximately 2 1/2 miles and 30 blocks of Historic Charleston. The guides are friendly (especially Sean-ask for him by name-tell him Tara from Ft Lauderdale sent you!) and usually you walk away laughing having learned more about the city than you knew before. We go every time we go to Charleston and still manage to pick up some new facts each time! Grab a tourist coupon book or check with where you're staying and you can usually get a coupon for a few bucks off your ticket price

When you're out strolling down Meeting Street, you'll encounter this quirky Hat Man that's been painted on Charleston Hat Man shop. Every part of the hat man is made of a hat! I've never been in the store but love the Hat Man painted on the wall!

Waterfront Park in Charleston is located right along the Cooper River and spans about a half mile. It features Vendue Wharf, which is a wooden pier complete with wood swings to relax on, a water fountain that you'll find kids (and adults) playing in, the "welcoming" pineapple water fountain and lots of grass area where you can kick back & enjoy the view.

Charleston Green Fair is held I believe the last weekend of September. The Green Fair is awesome to put it mildly. I love Charleston and all the green eco friendly businesses and efforts! Each year the green fair grows bigger and bigger with more vendors, more events. It's held in Marion Square Park. If it's too far for you to walk to, just call for a bike taxi to get you there!

Sweet Grass Roses and baskets are available for sale by people in the market and scattered around the Historic District. Young children can be found peddling their wares in form of sweet grass roses and crosses along with other designs. The younger ones have usually learned this unique skill from their parents and them from theirs. The roses, etc. can usually be bought affordably but be prepared to dig in your pocket for the sweet grass baskets.

Charleston Seaquarium is located on the water. In fact you can see the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge from there as well. The bridge connects Charleston to Mount Pleasant.

At the Seaquairum, I'd suggest planning on being there for at least 2-3 hours. You can explore a variety of displays featuring a multitude of fish, wild life, turtles and other creatures including jelly fish and starfish.

The kids will enjoy the Touch Tank, where they can actually touch stringrays, horseshoe crabs and other sea life. The Seaquarium also does takes part in conservation efforts and educating their guests.

Angel Tree Oak is actually located on John's Island, which is near Charleston, SC. It's supposedly the oldest living thing east of the Rockies. It's approximately 1,500 years old. It's huge, towering 65 feet high and reaches over 160 feet out. I was amazed at how complex and intricate this oak was when I saw it up close. It's just mind boggling.

There is just so much to tell about Historic Charleston, SC (not to mention the surrounding areas) that I can't possibly fit it all into one guest blog spot. I haven't even touched on restaurants (which are many!) or the art galleries (which also are many). So, my advice...go visit and experience it yourself and discover why it's one of my favorite places! Perhaps one day, I'll be blogging from there instead of about there!

This post was written by Guest Blogger, Tara Burner. Tara is an Author & Certified Inspiration & Health Coach who enjoys traveling as well!

Visiting Historic Charleston in South Carolina

Historic Charleston, South Carolina is exploding with history, architecture, good eats, quaint shops, multitudes of art galleries, friendly people and one of my favorite places to be. I'm only going to be able to hit on some highlights here because this is one city that needs an entire book to tell you about all the wondrous places to visit, things to do and the history there.

Charleston is known as the Holy City because of all the churches and their towering steeples that dot the city's low skyline. They all have outstanding architecture and history about them. Some are open for 'touring' when service isn't being held.

Rainbow Row was originally (in the mid 1700's) the center of Charleston's Commerce. The stores were on the first floor while the residence consisted of the floors above. Rainbow row stretches from 83 to 107 East Bay Street. Each house is a different color (thus the name).

The Three Sisters are a group of three houses that were built by a dad for his daughters in 1780 in the Historic Battery District of Charleston. If you take a carriage tour, you'll hear the whimsical story of these houses. I won't tell you here...you'll have to go to Charleston and enjoy for yourself.

The Battery is located at the end of Charleston peninsula. From there you can see Ft. Sumter and Sullivan Island Lighthouse. It's a popular wedding location because of the gorgeous trees, gazebos and area around it. There's a lot of history to The Battery too, but again I'll leave it to you to go visit & take a tour-learn it from them because there just isn't enough space here to give you all the historic points.

The Old Exchange Building hosts tours complete with a dungeon underneath that was used in the Civil War. It was built in the early 1700's. In the tour of the dungeon there's a place you can actually see the water in the building since it's below sea level. Again, lots of history to this so when you visit (notice I say when and not if), take the tour!

Old City Market on Market Street was donated to the city back in the 1800's to be used as a market place. Originally you could find meat, food items, fish, produce for sale there...now you can find vendors there selling an array of products from local food & candy to souvenirs and touristy knick knacks. You'll also find the locals weaving and selling their sweet grass baskets there too. FYI on the basket weavers, if you visit and feel the urge to take their picture ASK FIRST! Many do not believe in having their photograph taken so extend that courtesy to them and ask for permission first.

My favorite though I think is the Nathaniel Russel House. You are not permitted to take photographs inside the home but, I'll say this...you have to go inside this home! The architecture is amazing. There's a free flying staircase that will take your breath away along with the elaborate geometrically shaped rooms and interior design.

You can also take a free tour of the The Postal History Museum (built in 1896) located on the corner of Meeting & Broad Street (also known as the "Four Corners of Law"). The Postal History Museum offers visitors a look back into postal history. The museum is open during the regularly scheduled post office hours (yes, it's still operating as a post office).

There is just so much to tell about Historic Charleston, SC (not to mention the surrounding areas) that I can't possibly fit it all into one guest blog spot. I haven't even touched on restaurants (which are many!) or the art galleries (which also are many). So, my advice...go visit and experience it yourself and discover why it's one of my favorite places! Perhaps one day, I'll be blogging from there instead of about there!

This post was written by Guest Blogger, Tara Burner. Tara is an Author & Certified Inspiration & Health Coach who enjoys traveling as well!