Hither & Yon

Hampton Inn, East Knoxville

Our overnight stop on the drive home from Myrtle Beach last night was the Hampton east of Knoxville, just off I-40.

Other than the first four room keys not working, we had a good stay.

The grandkids enjoyed swimming for a bit this morning before getting on the road for the last five hours of the trip.

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Key West Grill

For our last evening in Myrtle Beach, we made our way to the Key West Grill at Broadway at the Beach.

We expected a wait, but were seated immediately (at 6 p.m.).

I had a grilled chicken and mixed green salad. It was good, if not great. The other meals we ordered were likewise good.

The grandkids, of course, were entertained by the live lobsters, which were on the menu, and the live macaw, which was not.

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Crabby Mike's

The lovely Robin and I experienced Myrtle Beach favorite Crabby Mike's for the first time last evening.

We arrived just after 5 p.m. and still had a seventy minute wait. The place was absolutely packed.

Most folks come to Crabby Mike's for the crab legs. But we didn't. Robin would have liked more non-fried options but I enjoyed the catfish, rotisserie chicken, and prime rib. Not enough to justify the price (even with a coupon), in my opinion, but we weren't hungry when we left.

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Hopsewee Plantation

The lovely Robin and I set out yesterday morning with Aubrey, Kevin, Calleigh, and Ryder, for Hopsewee Plantation, south of Georgetown, South Carolina. It seemed like a reasonable activity on a day when Tropical Storm Arthur came rolling past the area.

Hopsewee, a National Historic Landmark on the shore of the North Santee River amid an elegant lawn of moss-hung trees, is an eighteenth-century indigo and (later) rice plantation that has been preserved rather than restored, and is a private residence--not a museum--to this day. It was once the home of Thomas Lynch, Jr., a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

We arrived just in time for the 1 p.m. guided tour, and were so glad we did. We were not allowed to take photos inside the plantation house but some can be viewed at http://www.hopsewee.com.

The guided tour took us through the entire house, top to bottom, from the cellar to the attic (the above photo was taken on the second-floor balcony, facing the river, which is the front of the house, as most visitors in the eighteenth century approached the house from the river). So fascinating. Only five families have owned the house, although it was built almost forty years before the Revolutionary War. Though not the sort of house most people associate with the antebellum South, it is a typical low country rice plantation dwelling of the early eighteenth century with four rooms opening into a wide center hall on each floor. Though it was looted during the Civil War, it was not burned as many other plantation houses were, and thus retains the original black cypress construction, hand carved "candlelight" molding in each room, and heart pine floors.

The above view is from the back of the house constructed on a brick foundation covered by scored tabby (a plaster formed from crushed shells, sand, and water). The house has been furnished by the current owner, who graciously fawned over our grandson Ryder outside the tea room adjacent to the house.

Two of the original slave quarters remain on the grounds; they were inhabited by the descendants of slaves who stayed on and farmed the plantation into the 1950s.

It was such an enjoyable, memorable experience, and we were so lovingly led through the tour by our tour guide. I couldn't more highly recommend it.

Hopsewee Plantation is located at 494 Hopsewee Road, Georgetown, SC 29440. Extensive information is available on the website.

Carolina Roadhouse

Yesterday afternoon some old friends dropped by the house we're staying in for vacation. I asked for restaurant recommendations.

They mentioned Carolina Roadhouse but said the wait would be too long. So a bit later I called for call-ahead seating and we drove the 25 minutes or so the restaurant.

So glad we did. Boy, howdy! We checked in and were seated within five minutes.

Our server was a delight. The salad was delicious. And I could have MARRIED the buttered croissant.

My twelve ounce prime rib with green beans was excellent, and everyone else attested to the perfection of their meals as well. It wasn't cheap but boy, was it good.

Carolina Roadhouse is located on Rt 17 north of Myrtle Beach. You should go sometime. And you should take me.

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Lincoln Park Grill

Yesterday the lovely Robin and I joined our dear friends Jim and Diane for lunch at Lincoln Park Bar and Grill on Route 17 Bypass in Myrtle Beach.

Not only was the company finestkind, but the food and service was, too.

I loved my mixed green salad (with steak). Robin loved her pulled pork sandwich, and Jim and Diane raved about their meals too.

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