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By Alyssa, September 6, 2010 9:05 pm

I love my boys.  I love spending time with them.  This last weekend, however, I loved that they were with their grandparents.  I dropped them off last week so that Haus and I could spend a weekend away.  We’ve had an overnight or two in the last seven years, but we haven’t traveled by ourselves since 2003.

We spent Friday through Sunday in Charleston, South Carolina.  Why Charleston?  I have another course to attend for the next two weeks in Columbia and we had a free flight for Haus.  After barely making our 6:00 a.m. Friday flight from Denver (Haus commented it’s the first time he’s heard his name over the loud speaker… mispronounced of course), we rented a car in Columbia and made the two hour drive to the coast.

We stayed in the breathtaking historic district of Charleston and felt like we’d entered the 17th century.  I’ve been to all of the really crappy parts of the South.  You know, Fort Jackson, Fort Benning, Fort Rucker. Imagine my surprise to find myself in an elegant, clean, and lavish southern city.

Here’s a taste…

One of the oldest firehouses in the US

Oldest church in the city

A tiny cemetery wedged behind the church

A single family home Haus considered buying... right!

When we weren’t drooling over the lush gardens, four story estates, and cobbled streets, we savored southern cooking.  First night, melt-in-your-mouth seafood, second night, low country cuisine, and before we left, understated beach entrees.  The.food.rocked!

Hank's Seafood date

Shrimp and Grits... YUM!

Haus' first taste of sweet tea

A MUST in Charleston, the Hominy Grill

Thanks to an awesome concierge (see this link, the dude was amazing!), we also took a trip out to the Morris Island lighthouse.  As one of only a few people on the beach, the experience was incredible.

Morris Island lighthouse near Folly Beach

The lean-back-stretched-arm shot

After a weekend of savory food, incredible sites, and gorgeous weather, it was hard to drive west to Columbia and say goodbye.  I told Haus I’m putting away a few bucks every day to ensure we can take a “mom and dad ONLY” trip every year.  We may not fly across the country necessarily, but it will be without the kiddos. Haus is my best friend and, I’m realizing, the more time we cherish together, the better parents we are for our boys.

Best friends on the Charleston waterfront

So the countdown begins… 11 days till I’m home with my boys and 365 days till I’m off on another adventure with my best friend!  Hope you had a fabulous Labor Day weekend!

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By Alyssa, June 27, 2010 7:43 am

Columbia State House and Strom Thurmond statue in the background

Bored at the Adjutant General (AG) Captains Career Course, I found myself alone in the hotel researching South Carolina’s historic areas.  I’m not on the east coast very often and wanted to see what the state had to offer.  I decided to use this information to coordinate a State House scavenger hunt for class physical training.  With over 30 memorials on the state house grounds, I enjoyed the tour as many of the clues including statues dating into the 1800s. I think my classmates enjoyed it also, despite the early morning humidity.

CLUES

Complete in order.

Clue 1- Find the monument dedicated to South Carolina’s fallen Law Enforcement Officers and complete 20 elevated push-ups using the ledge of the monument.

Fill in the blank quoting the inscription on this monument.  “Lest    ____    ____________”

Clue 2- Find the symbols that mark the locations the State House was hit by artillery on February 19^th, 1865 during the Civil War.

What is this symbol?    ____________________

Clue 3- Find the “Palm Tree” monument and complete lunges in a circle around the entire structure.

This monument honors what regiment that fought during the Mexican War? ____________

Clue 4- Find the tallest statue on the State House grounds and conduct 25 flutter-kicks at its base.

The monument was unveiled on what day? ________________________

Clue 5- Find the man carrying a rifle and complete 25 over-head claps in front of him.

What test did the South Carolina troops volunteer for according to the monument?  _____________

Clue 6-Find the monument with the broken cane and take a picture of each team member next to it.

Name the president holding the broken cane.  ___________________________

Clue 7-Complete 20 push-ups in front of the African-American monument.

According to the monument, slaves were transported from what four areas in Africa?  _____________________________________________________________________

Clue 8- Find the General on his horse and complete 25 crunches next to the monument.

What is the General’s name?   _________________

Clue 9… FINAL CLUE- To find the last clue, unscramble the letters below to name the Army officer and first person in United States history to win a major election by write-in ballot.  (Hint: A street on Fort Jackson is named after him.)

MSRTO MNTRDHUO                       ___________      ___________________

Once every member of your team touches this monument, you’re done!

Stars marking the cannon strikes during the Civil War

George Washington and his broken cane

My almost-thirty member class split into teams of three and completed the scavenger hunt in about 30 minutes.  We ran a couple flights of the State House stairs to finish off our physical training (PT).

Cut out the PT parts of the clues and I think anyone could complete this hunt.  The clue answers are located at the bottom of this post.  Check out the Columbia’s State House website for an interactive state house map and additional historic information.

Happy Hunting!

Clue 1:  ”Lest We Forget”
Clue 2:  Star
Clue 3:  Palmetto
Clue 4:  May 13, 1879
Clue 5:  Yellow Fever
Clue 6:  George Washington
Clue 7:  The Congo, Ghana, Senegal, Sierra Leone
Clue 8:  Wade Hampton
Clue 9:  Strom Thurmond