Friendliness abounds in the Carolinas
In April I visited the southeast section of our country — North and South Carolina — a section I have not seen and always wanted to visit.
My journey started and ended in Charleston with a stay in Myrtle Beach and a trip to view Kitty Hawk and Roanoke. For the most part, weather was warm and not too humid although the last few days gave way to rain. Thank goodness the several inches of rain didn’t reach where I was staying during my North Carolina side trip so I could view some historic sights.
Friendliness was the order of the day no matter where I was. Of course, when I said I was from California invariably someone would say “And you’re way over here?” It reminded me of when my dad and I traveled the south in 1952. At that time, people were over-awed by us just saying the name “California.” Then they would say, “Oh, I hope to go there some day.” Now that sentiment doesn’t always come forth with people quite satisfied with their present living arrangements.
The Holiday Inn Express — Charleston Airport was my first stop. I mention it because they had a shuttle that did double duty — not just to and from the airport but to restaurants nearby. When I arrived at about 7 p.m. I said, “Well, it looks like I’ll have to settle for the McDonald’s down the street.
“Oh no,” said the receptionist, “our shuttle will take you within five miles.” This is quite unusual.
The people I met from the shuttle drivers and front desk personnel to car rental agents were all from the northeast — mainly New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Michigan. If you wonder why southern voting patterns are changing, remember northeast residents all seem to be moving south.
My destination for the week was Myrtle Beach, a typical eastern tourist beach and still busy with spring break. I traveled Highway 17 along the coast for about 100 miles, stopping often to view the sights.
Georgetown, S.C., was fascinating. The town has preserved its history, welcoming tourists with a colorful downtown on the Intracoastal Waterway. English settlers established a trading post on the Black River in 1710. In 1729 the town was founded and in 1732 became an official port of entry. To that point only Charleston was the official port.
Major crops of the region were indigo and rice. With export of these crops, Georgetown became the third oldest city in South Carolina. By the 1840s almost half the rice consumed in the U. S. was grown in this region — and 85 percent of the population were slaves. After the Civil War, rice cultivation declined due to competition, lack of a stable labor force, and hurricanes.
Lumber was the next product, with Georgetown having the largest lumber producing plant on the East Coast in 1914. When the depression arrived so did hard times for the town. Then the International Paper Company built a plant in 1936 which still is in operation today.
The downtown area had historic buildings with placards to explain their significance, then a river walk in back to explore the river side. Throughout the town are many homes of historic significance, many with tours. I was there on a Wednesday and the town was full of tourists enjoying the ambiance of a time gone by.
Entering the Myrtle Beach area I viewed golf resorts and camping parks along the beach area. The area encompasses several square miles with shopping and restaurants mile after mile. Most of the time it was hard to tell when I had left one town and started into another. When I turned to Ocean Boulevard and the beach, towering buildings housed more hotels. My destination was a glass-walled building towering 20 stories high. My room on the 10th floor had a view of both beach and “main drag.”
Included in my view was a huge Ferris wheel and carnival rides, one of two amusement parks. Eastern beaches are quite different from western ones. Have you seen pictures with sea oats growing along low fences? That was this beach and it went for miles. The “main drag” was Coney Island style tackiness — again typical of the East I’ve seen.
Families, spring breakers, couples were along the beach having a good time. I went swimming and seemed to walk out forever without a drop off. Waves were gentle, nothing for body surfing — and the water was warm — 72 degrees. The Pacific Ocean only gets that warm in the middle of the summer.
The next week the crowds left and the beach was beautifully calm. It is an experience I’m glad I had.
Next column — the side trip to North Carolina.