FUN IN THE SUN: Soaring costs don't have to put damper on travelers' summer vacation plans
By SONJA GLEATON, T&D Features WriterSunday, May 18, 2008The warm-weather months have arrived in South Carolina, and thoughts are turning to planning a summer vacation.
At a time when gasoline prices are soaring and the cost of food and accommodations is getting higher, families are seeking innovative ways to take an affordable summer vacation. Many are opting for day trips or weekend getaways to nearby locations instead of long-distance traveling and lengthy stays.
When planning a vacation, stop by the nearest chamber of commerce or travel center, and pick up guides, brochures and area maps. Also, contact the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism for more information. These free materials can help day trippers and weekend vacationers chart a course, learn about new places to visit and things to do locally and find great places to eat. Also available are coupons and motel discount booklets.
A great vacation may be just around the corner. Orangeburg County and the surrounding area has much to offer as a vacation destination. Opportunities such as golfing, fishing, horseback riding, canoeing and camping are available practically year-round. There are gardens, lakes, nature trails and historical sites to visit that are affordable for even the tightest budget.
South Carolina is also noted for the many festivals held annually throughout the state. Spending a day or weekend at a festival is one way to have fun and discover more about a city or town. From the sandy beaches to the mountain region, festivals are family-oriented, offer an abundance of foods, and the entertainment programs are usually free.
Here are some ideas to get you started on planning a fun family vacation experience on a budget:
The Edisto Memorial Gardens
Orangeburg's Edisto Memorial Gardens is rated as one of the top 20 visitor attractions in South Carolina by the Southeast Tourism Society. More than 600,000 people visit the Gardens annually.
Now covering 175 acres, there are beautiful azaleas, camellias, roses and flowering trees among centuries-old, moss-draped cypress trees. Nestled along the banks of the Edisto River, the longest undammed blackwater river in the world, the Edisto Memorial Gardens is an ideal location for a day outing. Wear comfortable walking shoes, and bring your camera and binoculars along.
The Edisto Memorial Gardens are open daily from dawn to dusk free of charge to the public.
The All-America Rose Selections Inc. Public Display Garden is home to more than 4,000 rose plants representing approximately 120 labeled varieties. The Edisto Memorial Gardens is also one of only 23 test gardens in the United States.
In addition to its hundreds of flowers, plants and trees, the Gardens also features a soldier's memorial fountain, a novel water wheel and pieces of unique sculpture. There is also a Butterfly Garden that provides food, water and shelter for winged creatures.
The city and the Pilot Club of Orangeburg have developed a Sensory Garden, designed especially for visually impaired visitors, in the Edisto Memorial Gardens. The Sensory Garden features plants with distinctive textures and fragrances that are described on plaques in Braille and in English. The grounds also have a water garden with a waterfall.
For a nominal fee, families can enjoy the adjacent Spray Park, which is open May through August and weekends only during September. The Spray Park features a 6,000-square-foot spray pad with spray equipment, rest rooms, a picnic shelter and a traditional playground.
Discover Horne Wetlands Park, and view plants and wildlife in their natural setting by strolling along the 2,600-foot boardwalk located between the rose garden and north fork of the Edisto River in the Gardens.
If your trip to the Edisto Memorial Gardens is planned as a week-day outing, take time to visit the Orangeburg County Fine Arts Center located in the gardens. The center is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. A variety of artwork such as paintings, mosaics, pottery, woodcarvings, quilts and more are on display at the arts center. Special exhibits are also featured in the second-floor Lusty Art Gallery.
Santee
If camping, hiking, fishing, swimming, boating, shopping and golf sounds like the vacation package you are longing for, take a short drive to Santee and Santee State Park.
The Town of Santee is noted for its fine restaurants, motels, shopping and golfing. Santee, on the shores of Lake Marion, is considered the eastern gateway to Orangeburg County's Heritage Corridor.
Santee also provides access to other small towns such as Elloree -- which boasts a number of antique shops, the Elloree Heritage Museum and Cultural Center and Elloree Community Gardens -- and historical Eutawville, which is near Indian Bluff Park.
Santee State Park is situated along Lake Marion and is known for its catfish, largemouth and striped bass fishing. Santee State Park offers cabin rentals, has an RV campground and spaces for groups to pitch tents. There are boat ramps, two nature trails, a seven-mile bike trail and a swimming area. A nature-based boat tour of Lake Marion is also available.
Museums and more
There are many other attractions in Orangeburg County and surrounding areas that can be included in your summer vacation or weekend entertainment package. Here are a few popular choices and contact information:
- Arthur Rose Museum -- 803-535-5337 or www.claflin.edu
- BlueBird Theatre (ask about shows) -- 803-536-5454 or www.optp.org
- Branchville Railroad Shrine and Museum -- 803-274-8820
- Calhoun County Museum and Cultural Center -- 803-874-3964
- Edisto Memorial Gardens Spray Park -- 803-533-6020
- Elloree Heritage Museum and Cultural Center -- 803-897-2225
- Fisheagle Tours -- 803-854-4005
- Indian Bluff Park, Redbank Road, Eutawville -- No phone number, but this park has a deepwater ramp to unload fishing boats, playground for children, picnic shelter, rest rooms and bathhouse.
- I.P. Stanback Museum and Planetarium -- 1-800-260-5956 or www.scsu.edu
- Orangeburg County Fine Arts Center -- 803-536-4074
- Riverbottom Farms and Campgrounds -- 803-568-4182
- Santee State Park -- 803-854-2408
- S.C. National Heritage Corridor -- Region 3 Discovery Center, Blackville -- 803-284-3976
- Stevenson Auditorium (ask about shows) -- 803-533-6000
For information about state parks, visit www.southcarolinaparks.com.
T&D Features Writer Sonja Gleaton can be reached by e-mail at sgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-533-5540. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.
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When planning a vacation ...
- If you plan to go fishing while vacationing, be sure your fishing license is up-to-date.
- Golfers need to call ahead for tee times and other information.
- Make reservations in advance for motels, cabins or campsites, and take the confirmation number with you.
- Pack a small first-aid kit for emergencies.
- Don't forget your prescription medications.
- If you are leaving pets at home, make arrangements for their care while you are away.
- Pack what you will definitely need and additional clothing for unexpected weather changes.
- Take an emergency kit along for your car including a flashlight with extra batteries, jumper cables, antifreeze, Fix-A-Flat, a jug of water, pliers, screwdrivers, a wrench, roadside flares, an old towel or rags and a pressure gauge. Be sure your spare tire is ready to use.
- If taking a bicycle on vacation, pack a repair kit for the bike also.
- Put an up-to-date map in the glove compartment and a blanket in the car.
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The 'Five Rules of Traveling with Food'
By NANCY S. HARRISON, County Extension Agent
Vacation season is upon us. Many families take food with them for picnics and for keeping little stomachs (and mouths) full while driving in the car. But improperly stored food could result in an unwanted vacation souvenir -- foodborne illness.
Packing and storing food with food safety in mind can prevent this vacation disaster, and it isn't that difficult. Just remember the "Five Rules of Traveling with Food."
Rule 1: Plan ahead.
Have plenty of ice or frozen gel-packs on hand before you start packing. Some foods don't require refrigeration -- peanut butter and jelly and some cheeses, for example. Perishable foods, like meat, poultry, eggs, fish and prepared foods, do require refrigeration, so if you're taking summer salads, making sandwiches on the road, or bringing food to cook over the course of your vacation, plan to keep them on ice in your cooler throughout the trip.
Rule 2: Pack safely.
Pack perishables directly from the refrigerator to the cooler. You can pack meat and poultry while it is still frozen. It will thaw during the trip, extending its safety and shelf-life. Keep meat and poultry in containers or zipper bags so that raw meat juice will not drip onto other foods.
A full cooler will maintain its cold temperature longer than one that is only partially filled. Pack the remaining space with more ice or with fruit and non-perishable foods.
Rule 3: Preserve the cold.
Put the cooler in the passenger section of the car instead of in the hot trunk. Frequently opening the cooler lid will cause the inside temperature to increase. Preserve the cold temperature of the cooler by keeping the lid closed and by replenishing the ice as soon as it starts melting.
Rule 4: Pitch the warm.
Remove any foods that become warm or above refrigerator temperature (41 degrees). Bacteria grows rapidly at warm temperatures. At the end of the day, if the ice has melted, and the food feels warm, discard any meat or poultry left over.
Rule 5: Keep hands and utensils clean.
Protect your family from disease-causing bacteria by keeping hands and utensils clean. If soap and water will not be available, pack some moist wipes. Bag and set aside dishes and utensils to wash with hot soapy water when you reach your destination.
For more information about food safety, call the local Clemson University Extension Service at 803-435-8429 ext. 112, 803-874-2354 ext. 113 and 803-534-6280.
