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This page describes a winter trip down South that Norma and I (mostly her) organized for our mothers. Accompanying us was my cousin Steve and Daphne. |
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This page describes a winter trip down South that Norma and I (mostly her) organized for our mothers. Accompanying us was my cousin Steve and Daphne. |
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Norma and I had kicked around the idea of a winter trip with our moms for awhile. Her mom, Hazel, stays with us during the winter and my mom lives alone. We figured it would be good for all of us to go someplace a little warmer for a vacation. I suggested a riverboat cruise but Hazel wasn't quite sold on it for this season. So instead, Norma suggested a trip down south to Charleston, South Carolina; Savannah, Georgia; and Saint Augustine, Florida. To ensure my mom had a non-stop flight, we added Charlotte, North Carolina. In the end, this was too much so Saint Augustine was removed.
Now that my mom is older, traveling is more difficult. We asked my cousin Steve and his wife, Kelly, to join us so they could accompany mom on her trip and join in on the festivities. Kelly decided to stay behind to take care of their sick cat, but Steve was in. Planning out what to do was a bit of a challenge. Hazel is not as mobile as my mom. We would also have Daphne. Many things that were accommodating for Hazel was not pet-friendly.  |
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The winter of 2025-2026 has been colder than previous years with an unusually long period of snow and ice covering the ground. I did not mind this as much as most people because the reflection of light on the white surface was good for my undiagnosed seasonal affective disorder. But would the cold temperatures be a hinderance for our trip? Only time would tell.
Norma, Hazel, Daphne, and I left town in the early afternoon, driving out in a light snow. We were heading south so we figured that however bad things were in Savage would not be as bad as where we were going. Traffic was not terrible and neither was driving visibility. After about 6.5 hours of driving and a McDonald's stop, we arrived in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was very cold and windy. We checked into our room at Homewood Suites at 508 North College Street. The hotel was dog-friendly but not very much. If Daphne had to pee, I had to walk her rather far away. But that was a minor inconvenience to have the luxury of bringing her along. |
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Steve and Mom arrived in the morning. He rented a car and then met us at the hotel. They did an American Airlines red-eye flight during the night which I figured would be perfect because they could sleep on the plane. But neither did. So we let them sleep at the hotel while Norma, Hazel, Daphne, and I explored the area.
Norma and Hazel went to 7th Street Public Market which they found underwhelming. |
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While Norma and Hazel were at the market, I took Daphne for a walk along the train line on the Charlotte Rail Trail. It was cold and windy but at least it was sunny. Flowers were blooming. While winter was still going strong in Maryland, spring was just around the corner in North Carolina.
I saw some outdoor art called The Writer's Desk. The Writer's Desk is a public artwork and tribute to Rolfe Neill who retired in 1997 as Chairman and Publisher of the Charlotte Observer after twenty-two years of service. The committee chose to honor him with an artwork that will forever inform, challenge and delight. - from Americans for the Arts - The Writer's Desk 
Daphne and I walked through First Ward Park and then returned to the hotel. |
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We were rather disappointed with Charlotte. Had we arrived on a different day, we might think differently but on Mondays, most of the tourist attractions are closed. At least this gave my mom and Steve more time to relax and recover from their flight.
Norma selected a nice restaurant called Mert's Heart and Soul having cuisine that reflects the local culture. I ate catfish which was good. They displayed some artwork that I thought resembled a spotted lanternfly. 
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That evening, we stayed at the hotel and played games. We started with Triolet, which recently has been my favorite. Mom and I teamed up for that one. Then we played Rummy. Hazel sat out on that one.
Norma and I had our own room, Steve had his own room, and our two moms shared a room. That would be the arrangement for the rest of the trip. |
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We had a nice breakfast at Homewood Suites. When traveling, this is something Norma really likes...a good motel/hotel breakfast. This was especially important on this trip since we didn't want to have to do any more driving than necessary with our mothers.
Steve and Norma walked to the nearby CVS to pick up a few things and then we headed out to Charleston, South Carolina. Upon arriving, we checked into Home2 Suites in West Ashley. Next, we went out to eat at a farm-to-table restaurant called The Glass Onion. Our waitress was unusually chipper. I had the trout. |
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That evening, we played Quirkle. One of the nice things about winter is that since Norma and I have a third person in the house, board games are more fun. With five on our trip, they were even better.
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Daphne was very much enjoying the hotel bed. She would have been happy to have slept in but we had a big day ahead of us.
Our first outing for the day was Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. Birding
Nature Train Tour
Wildlife Center
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Our next stop was Charles Towne Landing.
The first permanent English settlement in what is now South Carolina was established here in 1670. Named for King Charles II, the town was built on Albemarle Point, on the west bank of the Ashley River. It began in 1670-71 with a palisaded fort and a few houses. As it grew, additional lots were laid out across the Ashley River on Oyster Point. In 1680, the proprietors of the colony moved the capital to that site, in present-day downtown Charleston. - from sign titled "10 84 Charles Towne" Hazel decided to take it easy and wait in the car while the rest of us explored. In a pond, we saw painted turtles piled up on a log. 
Normally, this place has a small tall ship, which would have very much interested me, but it was out for renovations. My mom, Steve, Norma, Daphne, and I stopped in the visitor center and then walked on the trails which meandered through the old settlement, past beatiful trees, and remnants of colonial defenses. War between Spain and England ended 10 years before the founding of Charles Towne, but the hatred and mistrust between the two empires remained. In an era of empire building, Charles Towne's existence directly challenged Spain's claim on the land they called Chicora. The colonists implored the support of Lord Ashley against the Spanish threat: "We are here settled in the very chaps of the Spaniard..." - from sign titled "On the Edge of an Empire" 
We saw lots of live oak trees. The live oak trees were, in a way, supporting their own ecosystem which included Spanish moss and resurrection ferns. During periods of low rainfall, the [resurrection fern] plant appears to shrivel and die, but the leaves will expand and resume photosynthesis as soon as rainfall returns. - from NC State Extension - Extension Gardener - Pleopeltis polypodioides 
We stopped near where the tall ship would have been at Oldtown Creek. 
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One of my favorite activities on our trip was the horse and carriage ride from Palmetto Carriage Works. I was very pleased that Daphne could join us for this narrated tour which took us through the heart of historic Charleston.
Part of our route led us past the Museum at Market Hall. 
We learned about the "earthquake bolts" added to buildings after the 1886 quake to secure masonry walls to the timber frame. These rods act as ties to prevent weak, unreinforced masonry from buckling or separating during subsequent seismic activity. 
We did some other tours but this one was by far my favorite. Afterwards, we ate dinner at Magnolia's. I had the fried chicken. |
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In addition to seeing at least one plantation, the other regional activity I wanted to introduce our moms to was "Gullah."
The Gullah language is an English-based creole language spoken by the Gullah/Geechee people, descendants of enslaved Africans in the South Carolina and Georgia low country. It blends English with West African languages, featuring distinct grammar, rhythm, and vocabulary. Primarily spoken by roughly 5,000 people today, it is highly influenced by isolated plantation life, allowing for strong African cultural retention. - from Google AI We did a two hour bus tour with Gullah Tours. Our guide had a very strong Gullah accent that I had to really strain to understand. Our moms eventually gave up, finding him too difficult to understand. Our most memorable stop was the Anson Street African Burial Memorial. The Anson Street African Burial Memorial (ASABM) honors the reinterment of thirty-six enslaved Africans and African Americans on George Street in Charleston, while also memorializing the thousands buried in unmarked graves across the city. Artist Stephen Leo Hayes, Jr. sculpted a fountain with a basin formed from earth gathered at historic burial sites. Pairs of hands-cast from living individuals reflecting the age, gender, and ethnicity of the deceased-rise from the basin, each with a stream of water flowing behind them in tribute. - from Gaillard Center - Anson Street African Burial Memorial |
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Our next stop was the Charleston City Market, which claims to be the cultural heart of Charleston since 1807.
Norma does a lot to support local economies. Me not so much. But today, I purchased a couple of bags of dried, fried okra to share with my co-workers. Mom purchased a wristwatch. |
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Leaving Charleston, we stopped at Marsh Hen Mill. With Savage being a former mill town, we expected to see a mill or some mill ruins but there was neither.
While it wasn't what we expected, the place did have some quirky charm. They fixed up their porta-john to look like an old-fashioned outhouse. There was also a silly ostrich nest. 
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Continuing our drive south, we arrived at the The Kimpton Brice Hotel. This might have been my first experience with valet parking. I was not comfortable with this concept initially but after staying there a couple of nights, I found it less unusual.
After checking in, Norma and I found that our room's air conditioner did not work. We called the front desk and they sent someone to check on it. They said they'd give us a different room. Eventually they did but it took quite awhile and only after I inquired about the delay. This was an expensive hotel...much more than Norma and I would pay for ourselves. But we wanted our mom's last nights together to be special. The main reason for the high cost was the location...it resides in the exclusive North Historic District. One thing that stood out about this place was their level of dog-friendliness. I don't think I've ever seen a hotel with so many dog-owners. Another thing I remember was the hotel art. |
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For dinner, we went to the Pirates' House. I don't remember the meal so it must not have been particularly good or bad. But what I do remember is the building. Norma loves a restaurant with a story and I have also grown to have such an appreciation.
Seven blocks west from where General Oglethorpe landed in 1733, our history begins. Savannah’s World Famous Pirates House is located on one of the most historic spots in Georgia. It was first opened in 1753 as an inn for seafarers, and fast became a meeting point for pirates and sailors from the Seven Seas. Since then, The Pirates House has been entertaining visitors with a bounty of delicious food, drink, and rousing good times! For more information, see The History of The Pirates' House. After dinner, one of the staff gave us a personalized tour of the building. |
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We decided to visit the Savannah City Market. Norma would drive her mom while my mom, Steve, and Daphne would walk and explore some of the older parts of town. This included a stoll on Factors Walk.
A burgeoning business scene is still there. But, it's much different today than it was in the 19th century, when it got its name, "Factors Walk." In these buildings, men used to bale, factor and sell cotton. In the top level of the four- or five-story cotton warehouses, brokers worked with exporters and managed sales. Factors determined the amount of cotton that'd be sold to the merchants. - from Savannah.com - Savannah Secrets in Plain Sight: Factors Walk According to Google AI: To "factor" cotton, specifically in the 19th-century American South, meant using a cotton factor (a specialized broker) to sell, finance, and ship a planter's cotton. These middlemen operated in port cities, acting as agents who negotiated sales, managed logistics, and supplied goods to rural planters. Strolling behind the East River Street buildings, we had a nice view of the structures, iron railing, and stoneworks down below. We then climbed down the stairs to get a better look and found the Cluskey Vaults. In 1840, the City hired architect Charles B. Cluskey to build part of a much-needed retaining wall along the north side of Bay Street, east of the City Exchange Building (where City Hall now stands). Cluskey used brick for his embankment wall. The contract called for the wall to be built along the slope adjacent to "the Strand," or park lying along the north side of Bay Street. The space between the wall and the slope was to be filled with sand. Instead, Cluskey saw an opportunity to design arched, vaulted storage rooms in that embankment. City aldermen agreed to this change...Instead of pay, Cluskey was to "...control and receive the rents of the premises" for 20 years. - from sign titled "A Storeroom by Any Other Name" Continuing our walk, we had a nice view of the City Hall. 
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Eventually, we arrived at the Savannah City Market where we met up with Norma and Hazel.
I purchased Daphne a treat at Woof Gang Bakery. Steve, Mom, and I visited the Savannah Pirates and Treasure Museum which was better than I expected. 
We had some light rain. Except for the drive down, I think this was the only precipitation we had. |
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The five of us did a trolley tour on Old Town Trolley while Daphne waited in the car. Our guide was from England and I sometimes found him difficult to understand, though nowhere near as difficult as the fellow with the Gullah accent.
We saw a few of the same places we saw on our last tour, but that wasn't a problem. Hearing some things a second time helped make the information stick. In addition to seeing historic buildings, we saw some beautiful live oak trees draped in Spanish moss. 
Norma and I really liked the historic squares that dotted the town and ensured there was always some greenery nearby. Daphne especially liked the squares because it gave her a nice place to pee/poop. |
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We strolled along the Savannah Riverwalk, passing the Cracked Earth "A World Apart" monument. This is a bronze and copper sculpture split in half to represent the world divided during World War II.
Hazel really enjoyed having an up-close view of a container ship heading upstream on the Savannah River. This is our only all-inclusive group photo during our trip. 
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We had dinner at the hotel. I ordered the pepperoni pizza which was good comfort food. I do enjoy sampling cuisine that is special to the area but having something familiar is also nice.
In a common area at the hotel, we played Quirkle and then Triolet. I lost badly at both. 
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The six of us ate breakfast at the hotel and then left Savannah, driving north to the River District in west Charlotte, North Carolina. This was our final outing with my mom and Steve. It consisted of a short walk to see Big Pete with the Big Feet, a 65-foot-tall recycled wood troll sculpture by artist Thomas Dambo.
The following is titled "Big Pete" by Thomas Dambo. Can you think of any words that rhyme with "Pete" that he didn't use in his poem? This story, one I once was told, is about a troll named Pete, and since he was just three years old, he walked on two big feet. He leaped across the river deep and up the mountain steep, but without something bittersweet, this story's incomplete. Pete, he was in love with everything around his feet the flowers in the peat moss, roses, daisies, and the weeds. But every time he moved his feet, his heart would skip a beat, 'cause every step he took he crushed the flowers underneath. So Pete, he stopped to wonder at a heap of blooming buckwheat, and wished his feet were more petite - he grieved them so gigantic. He wondered, should he take a seat and slowly fall asleep, or should he keep walking, in the hope to spread their seed? 
On this sunny day, we heard lots of wood frogs in the nearby drainage pond. After seeing Pete, Steve and Mom drove to the Charlotte airport for their return flight to Sacramento. Again, they did not sleep, which made for a very long trip. |
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Norma, Hazel, Daphne, and I drove to Mount Airy, North Carolina. Along the way, we stopped at a gas station where I saw a concrete planter with things that looked like chives.
That night, we checked in at a Quality Inn. Compared to our lodging in Savannah, this place could not compare. But at a fraction of the cost, it was well worth it, at least in my opinion. Norma, Daphne, and I had been to Mount Airy before back on August 10, 2019. But this was Hazel's first time. We ate at a restaurant bearing my name, Saki Sushi and Grill. But after tasting their food, I can't say I endorse them. Daphne got a much needed light (not thorough) bath that evening. |
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After eating breakfast at the motel, the four of us did a short walk on Granite City Greenway, starting from Riverside Park.
It was the nicest day of our trip...sunny and warm enough for me to wear a t-shirt. 
We saw an oil beetle, a genus of blister beetles. When threatened, they release oily droplets of hemolymph from their joints. This fluid is bright orange and contains cantharidin, a poisonous chemical compound. Wiping the chemical on skin can cause blistering and painful swelling of the skin. 
This 8-mile-long greenway runs along the Ararat River. In it, I spotted a large boulder resembling a manatee. 
Norma, Daphne, and I made our way down to the water where Daphne did some wind sprints. 
The sewer ran along the river. In some places, it was beautified. 
Hazel brought her walker. The great thing about this is you always have someplace to sit if you get tired. 
She wasn't the only one that was tired. I took a nap at the turnaround before we headed back. |
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The tourist section of Mount Airy pays homage to Mayberry, the fictional town where "The Andy Griffith Show" takes place. If you know the show, then many things in the town will spark fond memories.
Main Street
Courthouse
Mayberry Hotel
Squad car tour
Andy Griffith Museum
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It took about five and a half hours to get home. Traffic wasn't bad.
Our trip was a memorable one. I hope we can do similar trips with both our mothers in the future. Everyone seemed to get along just fine and I think playing games in the evening was a good use of time. |
