Congaree National Park & Camden

Before our summer comes to an abrupt end with Evan's first day of kindergarten, we decided to take a short family trip to Virginia (including Jamestown and Colonial Williamsburg). Perhaps we also hoped that higher latitudes would bring relief from the oppressive summer heat in Macon. . .

Out first real stop was Congaree National Park in South Carolina. Sure it was 97 degrees with 95% humidity, but at least the "mosquitometer" read "moderate" when we arrived at the park. (According to the rangers, "moderate" means that the critters are not plentiful enough to carry away children or pets weighing over 68 pounds).

After strapping ankle weights to the boys and dousing them in OFF, we set out on a 2.4 mile hike through the tallest old growth forest in the eastern US.

We spotted deer, turtles, an abandoned moonshine still, and enjoyed the beautiful old bald cypress trees.

Will and the boys also completed their Junior Ranger workbooks, earning badges and patches.


Actually, the mosquitoes were not bad at all, and the shade of the great trees made for a pleasant walk.

Our next stop was an hour north at the Camden Battlefield. It seems fitting on a trip that will take us as far as Yorktown, the site of Lord Cornwallis' ultimate defeat, that we began our revolutionary war tour at his first headquarters of the southern campaign. There is not a great deal to see at this stop, but Evan and Alex are starting to get a feel for some of the history and the basic idea of the revolution . . . despite their father's latent Toryism.

Here are some more pictures of a great first day that will take us as far as Emporia, Virginia (where we beat the heat at the Hampton Inn pool).