Our Thanksgiving was going to be spent with family in Georgia, so I of course, felt it was a perfect opportunity to take a day trip to South Carolina to conquer my 49th state of 2008. John, Daniel & I headed northeast early in the morning towards the Palmetto state’s “Upcountry”. Upcountry is a six-county region in northwest South Carolina. We had a 150 mile drive to get to the state line.
Our destination was the World of Energy in Seneca. This is Duke Power Co.’s information center adjacent to the Oconee Nuclear Station. The exhibits illustrating the use of water, coal and uranium in creating energy were perfect for 8 year old Daniel and also detailed enough to elucidate us. A highlight was the fission chamber demonstrating atoms’ role in energy creation. There’s a nature trail, butterfly garden and picnic area but we stayed indoors on this November day.
We lingered for over an hour and then headed out in search of lunch. In the small town of Walhalla we drove by a decrepit looking building with what appeared to be torn sheets hanging as curtains in the windows. Block lettering proclaimed CAFÉ and the parking lot was packed. Hmmm…. A 30 second drive farther along the main street revealed no more welcoming options so we doubled back. It was good. Really! Walhalla is known for its German heritage and Oktoberfest celebration but our meal was traditional Southern. I love my onion rings!
The Palmetto State’s first public alligator hunt took place this September. About 1000 people won the rights to purchase a permit. Public hunting had been banned in 1964 as gator populations dropped. Now there are about 100,000 in SC. We saw no alligator but perhaps that because we were there in November, AFTER the big hunt.
The first European settlement in America wasn’t St. Augustine or Jamestown, but San Miguel de Guadalupe, on the coast near what is today the Ga.-S.C. border. Built in 1526, it failed after only six months.
Michael Martin Murphey’s Carolina in the Pines is a perfect song choice because we were definitely in the Carolina Pines. Watch his performance for Letterman on May 22, 2007. He did Wildfire live (which I LOVE!) and Carolina for the webcast. It’s great to see and hear him perform as well as the original recording in the mid-70’s.
http://www.duke-energy.com/visitor-centers/wolrd_of_energy.asp
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