Boone Hall Historic plantation and gardens span the centuries and hear the stories of the families, planters, and the African Americans who lived and worked here. Ride the open air coach to tour the Plantation. Enjoy homemade southern treats from the kitchen. Watch for alligators, egrets and herons in the fresh water pond. Stroll through the gardens overflowing with seasonal bouquets. Visit www.boonehallplantation.com for more information. Drayton Hall Plantation Completed in 1742, the historic plantation house stands majestically on a 630-acre site and is one of the finest examples of Georgian-Palladian architecture in America. Through seven generations of Drayton family ownership, the plantation house has remained in nearly original condition and offers an opportunity to experience history, to imagine the people—white and black—who lived and worked in a far different time. Visit www.draytonhall.org for more information. Hampton Plantation Built by French Huguenots circa 1735 and visited by George Washington in 1791, Hampton Plantation was last home to Archibald Rutledge, author and state poet laureate. Rutledge left Hampton mansion and plantation to the state, knowing that his ancestral home would be meticulously maintained as Hampton Plantation State Park. Located 16 miles south of Georgetown on Hwy 17. Hopsewe Plantation An original rice plantation and the birth place of Thomas Lynch, Jr. Signer of The Declaration of Independence. This is a nature lover's delight. The grounds are graced with ancient moss-hung live oaks and serene wooded trails. Lowndes Grove Plantation Lowndes Grove Plantation is the only surviving plantation on the Charleston Peninsula. Charleston was based on merchant trading and commerce from agriculture. As part of this, Lowndes Grove played a key role in the development of Charleston. Middelton Plantation MIDDLETON PLACE is a National Historic Landmark and a carefully preserved 18th-century plantation that has survived revolution, Civil War, and earthquake. It was the home of four important generations of Middletons, beginning with Henry Middleton, President of the First Continental Congress; Arthur, a signer of the Declaration of Independence; Henry, Governor of South Carolina and an American Minister to Russia; and Williams, a signer of the Ordinance of Secession. Poplar Grove Plantation An 1850 Plantation 9 miles north of Wilmington, NC on Hwy 17 has costumed interpreters conducting tours, craft demonstrations, farm animals, and exhibits.