The Lowcountry is famous for its award-winning beaches, legendary golf and tennis, and amazing water sports, but did you know that it is also an area rich in history? Significant landmarks from the Revolutionary War, Antebellum,  and Civil War Eras abound in the towns of Hilton Head, Bluffton, and Beaufort. If you’re a history buff or just want something a little more off the beaten path on your vacation, check out these resources. For history on Hilton Head, visit heritagelib.org to schedule a tour of the Zion Cemetery and Baynard Mausoleum. You will see the gravesites of 4 Revolutionary War heroes, you will also see the island’s oldest structure, and much more. Also available is a tour of historic Fort Mitchel named for the General who was integral in shaping Hilton Head History. Both tours feature costumed tour guides that really bring history to life.  Looking for more on the history of Old Town Bluffton? Head to historicblufftonsc.com for a wealth of information including details on how to take a guided tour with audio that will take you past Antebellum homes and historic churches. You can also do a self-guided tour if you prefer. Maps are available on the Hayward House back porch 24/7.  Beaufort is the second oldest town in South Carolina. Established in 1711 it sits on Port Royal Island, one of 65 islands that make up Beaufort County and it is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. There is much to see and do in this little gem of the south…including a visit to some places they say may be haunted! Go to cityofbeaufort.org for the scoop.  Who knows, you might just leave your vacation a bit smarter than you were when you got here!  P.S. We’ll take a look at Savannah and Charleston soon! Subscribe to stay in touch.

Father’s Day this year is June 19th, but believe it or not its road to becoming an official day was anything but smooth sailing. In the early 1900s two women who were inspired by the creation of Mother’s Day tried to get the idea of Father’s Day off the ground. In West Virginia Grace Golden Clayton, the daughter of a minister proposed a service to honor fathers, particularly those who had recently died in a terrible mining accident. In Spokane Sonora Smart Dodd was inspired by her civil war veteran father who also raised her as a single parent to organize an event that saw her delivering presents to handicapped fathers, boys from the YMCA wearing roses in their lapels (red for living fathers, white for those who had passed), and local ministers delivering homilies about fathers.  However, men initially viewed the idea of Father’s Day as too similar to Mother’s Day, making it seem too feminine an idea. Also, at that time in our history society was patriarchal, so many fathers felt a day to celebrate them was rather silly since it was the mothers who were underappreciated.  It wasn’t until 1972 a full 48 years after Mother’s Day became a National Holiday that President Nixon declared the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day.  Of course today it’s a day to let dad do all the things he loves to do, and the Lowcountry is a perfect place for many of those activities (fishing, grilling, kayaking, etc.) We can help you add just the right spice to his day with local beef jerky and hot sauce from shthatshot.com, bbq sauce from bulliesbbq.com, or perhaps a custom bourbon glass from Burnt Church Distillery.  However you want to honor dad we will make it even more memorable!