Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Museum Free Day on September 25, 2010

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Every year the Smithsonian Magazine organizes a free museum day. This year Museum Day is on September 25, 2010. This is how it works. You have to visit the magazine’s website and fill out a short form and pick your museum. You can then print out your ticket The ticket is good for free admission on September 25, 2010 for TWO people.

We have added the list of participating museums below.

There are four things to keep in mind:

  • The card is good for you and a guest.
  • The offer is only valid for Saturday
  • The limit is one card per household
  • The card can only be used once

Here is the link to get the ticket.

Drayton Hall
3380 Ashley River Road
Charleston, SC 29414
843-769-2600
Museum Day Hours of Operation: 8:30am – 5:00pm
visit the website

Circa 1738, Drayton Hall has survived the centuries in near-original condition and is the oldest unrestored plantation house in America open to the public. Renowned for its architectural significance, Drayton Hall’s broad vistas and rare period features represent one of America’s most important, undisturbed historic landscapes.

Exhibits
The past is present here in the stories told, the exquisite public places, and quiet, sacred spaces. All-inclusive daily programs and activities include visitor-acclaimed House Tour, Connections Program: From Africa to America, interactive DVD Landscape tour, Nature Walks, African-American Cemetery, and Museum Shop.

Georgetown County Museum
632 Prince Street,
Georgetown, SC 29440
843 545-7020
Museum Day Hours of Operation: 10:00am – 3:00pm
visit the website

Muskets, marshland, and muslin, rice, rivers, and revolution. What do these seemingly unrelated subjects have in common? The Georgetown County Museum offers fascinating connections that intertwine these and many other facets of life that span almost 300 years of American history lived out in the daily lives of the citizens of Georgetown, South Carolina.

Horry County Museum
438 Main Street
Conway, SC 29526
843-915-5320
Museum Day Hours of Operation: 9:00am – 5:00pm

The Horry County Museum is home to artifacts, photographs, wildlife, and a large collection of objects relating to the history, prehistory and natural history of Horry County, South Carolina.
The L. W. Paul Living History Farm is now open for the public.

Exhibits
Coastal Plains Native Americans, Birds of Prey, Black Bear Exhibit, American Alligator, Turpentine & Timber Exhibit, Waccamaw River Exhibit, Influential Women of Conway Exhibit.
The Farm is a one horse family farm of the 1900-1955 era. Visit the family home, barn with live animals, packhouse, tobacco barn, field of crops, woodworking area, grits mill and more.

The Powder Magazine
79 Cumberland Street
Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 722-9350
Museum Day Hours of Operation: 10:00am – 4:00pm
visit website

South Carolina’s oldest public building, The Powder Magazine (circa 1713) served as an arsenal within the old walled city of Charleston. Interact with historians and see museum exhibits that relate to Charleston’s colonial and American Revolution history. PASSES HONORED ON SUNDAY AS WELL!

Exhibits
PASSES HONORED ON SATURDAY & SUNDAY! Eighteenth century artifacts on display and period dressed interpreters on location. Make plans to see our special live presentation of “The Gentleman Pirate” at 3:30pm.

FLORIDA
Amelia Island Museum of History
233 South 3rd Street
Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
(904) 261-7378
Museum Day Hours of Operation: 10:00am – 4:00pm
visit website

The Amelia Island Museum of History, a not-for-profit organization, fosters community and visitor appreciation of Nassau County’s unique history within the broader context of Florida, national, and world history.

Exhibits
Visitors to the Amelia Island Museum of History are invited to “Unlock the Past,” as they enter the renovated 1935 Nassau County Jail which houses historical objects and archaeological finds. Florida’s first spoken history museum highlights the history of the Island of Eight Flags.

Colonial Spanish Quarter
29 St. George Street
St. Augustine, FL 32084
(904)825-6830
Museum Day Hours of Operation: 9:00am – 5:30pm

At Colonial Spanish Quarter Museum, visit knowledgeable re-enactors, in costume, in an authentic colonial setting. Visit with a blacksmith, carpenter, leather worker and housewife about 1740s St. Augustine.

Exhibits
The Colonial Spanish Quarter offers you an experience of an 18th century St. Augustine in the Taberna del Gallo (Tavern of the Rooster). Drift back in time while enjoying a cider, cold sangria, or beer in this 18th century tavern setting. On Saturday, September 25, 2010, join in singing as the “Bilge Rats” perform old sea chanteys or Songs of the Sea.

Museum Mile Weekend – Charleston, SC

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Museum Mile in Charleston, South Carolina is an area in historic downtown with lots of museums and cultural sites. As you know, the city of Charleston is rich in history, so the museum density in downtown comes as no surprise. No matter where I go, I always seem to miss out on some of the museums – lack of time and entry fees for a family of four will do that. That’s why I think the Museum Mile Weekend in Charleston is one of the best deals around.

Charleston Museum MileJust buy a weekend pass and explore all 13 sites in the Meeting street area downtown during September 25 & 26, 2010.

To find out more, see what sites are participating, download a map or to get ticket information, visit our special events page for Museum Mile Weekend – Charleston, South Carolina

Fall Festival and Events in Charleston 2010

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Charleston, South Carolina , is the perfect place to visit for a weekend getaway. The beautiful city with its international flair and southern charm, makes it the perfect destination for a relaxing weekend. Charleston is also known for its many restaurant and renown chefs. The city even boosts to popular food festivals every year; BBT Wine & Food Festival in the spring and Taste of Charleston in the fall.

Take a horsedrawn carriage ride around the historic district, and let your guide tell you about the fascinating history of Charleston. When you have limited time to explore, a guided tour is well worth paying for. You’ll get a great overview and you’ll be able to easily figure out where you want to return to for more details. You might also want to stop by the visitor center downtown for maps, brochures and more details.

There’s always a lot happening in Charleston, but here is the list of the big annual events coming up this fall.

2010 MOJA Arts Festival
A Celebration of African-American and Caribbean Arts
September 23 – October 3, 2010

A Swahili word meaning “One,” MOJA is recognized for its ability to bring people together through a celebration of Western and world cultures. Highlighting African-American and Caribbean fine arts, MOJA will showcase everything from gospel, dance, poetry, storytelling, theatre, children’s activities, traditional crafts, ethnic food, and more. For more information, call (843) 724-7305 or visit www.mojafestival.com.

Charleston Museum MileMuseum Mile Weekend in Charleston
September 25 – 26, 2010
Charleston is rich in history and culture, and the city has several museums.  If this history is something you love, or you want to visit the museums, don’t forget about this special weekend. You can visit the museums at a reduce rate during this time. Read all about it on our page for Museum Mile Weekend.

34th Annual Fall Tours of Homes & Gardens
September 23 – October 24, 2010

This event is sponsored by the Preservation Society of Charleston. Visitors tour breathtaking gardens, private homes, churches and public buildings showcasing architecture from the early Georgian period to the 20th century. The tours explore Charleston’s neighborhoods which emanate with a culture that started in the Colonial area. For additional information, go to our special event page for Fall Tour of Homes and Gardens, Charleston please call (843) 722-4630 or visit www.preservationsociety.org.

Taste of Charleston
October 8 – 10, 2010

The Greater Charleston Restaurant Association hosts this three-day gastronomical extravaganza highlighting lowcountry cuisine. It features some of Charleston’s finest, nationally recognized chefs. In addition to opportunities to sample the chefs’ creations, the event features an Iron Chef Competition, wine and beer classes, an art walk and live music.

Please visit www.charlestonrestaurantassociation.com or call
(843) 577-4030 for more information or read more on our Taste of Charleston page

MOSH $5 Fridays now includes weekends – Jacksonville

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Five dollar Fridays at MOSH has become a great success in Jacksonville, Florida. Now the Museum of Science & History is introducing $5 Weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) starting on Saturday, August 6 through Sunday, October 17, 2010. So if you haven’t been to MOSH yet, here’s your chance.

The five dollar Fridays promotion, which launched in July, has resulted in a 288% increase in attendance as compared to Fridays in June. To accommodate crowds and busy family schedules, the museum will stay open until 8 p.m. on Fridays. MOSH is also extending $5 Fridays through the end of the year.

In addition to the eight core exhibits MOSH offers daily, patrons will be able to visit the featured summer exhibit The Chronicles of Narnia: The Exhibition, on display through September 12. And, on September 25, dinosaurs will invade MOSH with the opening of Prehistoric Predators.

People who visit before August 23 have one last opportunity to see a show in the museum’s vintage planetarium (for an additional $2 per person per show). The Alexander Brest Planetarium will be decommissioned August 23 at 11 a.m. The space science theater will then close, reopening October 23 after a complete renovation and the installation of the state-of-the-art Bryan Gooding Planetarium.

The Museum of Science & History (MOSH) is located at 1025 Museum Circle near Friendship Fountain Park. MOSH, first chartered in 1941 as the Jacksonville Children’s Museum, stimulates the joy of learning for visitors of all ages in science, astronomy and the history of the region. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Thursday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday. Museum admission is $11 for adults, $9.50 for military and senior citizens, $9 for children 3-12, and free for children 2 and under and members. Admission is $5 on Fridays through Friday, December 30 and Saturdays and Sundays through Sunday, October 17.

Things to do in South Carolina – August 2010

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August is the hot month, but even so most of us enjoy going to the beach, grilling out, and spending time outdoors. There is no shortage of


Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Myrtle Beach in August

live music event, festivals and happenings going on during the month of August.  Here are a few tips for fun things to do in August in South Carolina.

There’s a Tobacco Heritage Festival this month.  At this event you can experience the rural heritage of Horry County through demonstrations of traditional farming techniques such as hand stringing and tying tobacco. There are also children’s activities, live entertainment and more.

The Tobacco Festival takes place Horry County Museum’s Living History Farm in Conway, SC on August 7, 2010, from 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
Call 843-915-5320 for more information or visit the Museum’s website.

Folly Beach Fishing Pier

Southern Fried Reggae

Enjoy live reggae music in the Charleston area parks this summer. There are two reggae concerts in the Reggae Nights series taking place in the month of August. The first Reggae Nights concert takes place in Wannamaker Park where Mystic Vibrations is performing live on August 7, 2010. The second concert of the month is at James Island County Park where Jah Works performs on August 21. For more information, visit our special events page to find out more about Live Reggae Music in Charleston

Speaking of live music,  you can enjoy live music, the ocean breeze and the stars above while you  dance the night away on Folly Beach Fishing Pier on August 13.  Read more about this event here – Moonlight Mixers on Folly Beach Pier.

Sometimes the heat in August can be a bit much, and it’s nice to cool off inside in the a/c.

The Craftsmen's Classicâ„¢ Arts & Crafts Festival

Handmade & Unique

The Craftsmen’s Classicâ„¢ Arts & Crafts Festival in Myrtle Beach, SC, will allow you to do just that. This festival features work from hundreds of talented artists and craftspeople from across America.  You get an opportunity to close up see how it’s all done as many exhibitors demonstrate throughout the weekend.  This event takes place at Myrtle Beach Convention Center August 6-8, 2010. Visit the event website for more information.

(Click here to get a printable coupon for $1:00 off at the door!)

If you like to shop and find bargains, you have an opportunity to go bargain hunting indoors at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center during the Largest Garage Sale taking place on August 14, 2010.

LUNA by Richard Blake, Clay for Bronze
LUNA by Richard Blake, Clay for Bronze

Shop, Shag & Sculpture

If you’re serious about your shopping and finding the best deals, this event opens already at 7 a.m. in the morning.  Check out our special events page for The Largest Garage Sale in South Carolina for details.

Take your sweetheart by the arm and head out to  the pier in Mount Pleasant for a night of music and dancing. On August 28 Shem Creek Boogie Band is performing. Get more details on our special events page for Shaggin’ on the Cooper

Check out some of the incredible sculptures on exhibit at Brookgreen Gardens this month. The National Sculpture Society’s popular Annual Awards Exhibition opens on August 7, 2010, at Brookgreen Gardens. Here you can see every type of sculpture from traditional to out of this world.
Click here to read more about the Awards Exhibition at Brookgreen Gardens

In Hilton Head, don’t forget to check out HarbourFest, one of the most popular events in the area.  HarbourFest offers live entertainment every night of the week, and there’s even fireworks every Tuesday until August 10, so don’t miss out.  For the complete schedule, visit our special events page for HarbourFest Hilton Head Island, SC