Heads: Carolina(s)

Since we have all this time on our hands being unemployed and graduated, we decided to take a little road trip through the Carolinas. 

We made a pit stop at Poplar Forest, Thomas Jefferson's "retreat." It was like a tiny, less-interesting Monticello.

A S H E V I L L E

 Our first stop was in Asheville, NC to see the Biltmore Estate: the largest private home in America. This was the inspiration for our road trip--I saw it on the Travel Channel years ago and have always wanted to visit. Worth $100? No. I think after you've seen palaces in France, America just can't compete.

 

Photography isn't allowed inside the house-- they take a souvenir picture on the opposite side of this room for you to buy at the end of the tour, Disneyland-style. I covertly snapped this one because how could I not? Best room in the house.

The prettiest part of the estate is definitely the grounds. It looks natural, but most of this stuff was actually planted! They employed a genius landscape architect, I loved the view.

And a picture to prove I was there.

C H A R L E S T O N

Charleston kind of represented the ideal place for Todd and me: coastal and green for him, charming and Southern for me.

We took a walking tour the first morning we were there a thing or two about the city's history. We walked around the S.O.B. neighborhood (South of Broad) and looked at all the gorgeous houses. And walls.

That afternoon was kind of a let down. We were supposed to take a boat out to Fort Sumter island, but it started raining. Sideways. We Westerners would probably call that a hurricane, but it's just a par-for-the-course summer storm out here.

So instead we went to see the Angel Oak, supposedly the oldest tree East of the Mississippi. It's 300-400 years old and GIANT. Whomping Willow, anyone?

M Y R T L E   B E A C H 

We stopped on two beaches on the last day of our road trip-- Folly Beach and Myrtle Beach. And just like the most overused story in the history of ever, Todd saved a starfish.

The guide at the state park suggested we stop at another park down the road, where he guaranteed we would see crocodiles. Todd was on that like white on rice.

Hello, Mr. Crocodile. Please stay in your pond.

We saw like five crocodiles. Just a few feet away, no big deal! There were also gorgeous white Ibses and blue Herons, so everyone was happy.

 

The real reason we were in Myrtle Beach was for the unlimited crab legs at Captain George's Seafood Buffet. Todd loves this place. We've eaten at Captain George's on the Outer Banks, Virginia Beach, and now Myrtle Beach. This one was the best, by far. There are actually entry queues like a theme park ride, it's that popular. And the serving bays look like pirate ships, so I'm sold.

 This trip was also to celebrate our third anniversary, which is today. 

THREE LONG YEARS, Todd says. 

;)