Things to know before you go
• The exhibit is very thorough. There are several dozen human and animal mummies from different regions of the world, spanning thosands of years. You learn about naturally and intentionally mummification processes. You are immersed in a variety of cultures, myths, medicinal rituals, and human diseases, family stories and tragedies. Here’s a preview from the exhibit official website.

• The most interesting mummy is the “Detmold Child”, an infant from Peru found in an incredibly well preserved state and believed to be the oldest mummy ever discovered. It is dated to 4504 – 4457 B.C., more than 3,000 years before King Tut’s birth!

• Did you know people (especially royalty in Europe) used to eat “mummy powder” not too long ago? Crushed up bones and skin from Egyptian mummies was sold as a magical cure to a series of illnesses from coughs to impotence…

• Line up 10-15 minutes before your entry time. Skip the photo opp to get in faster. The audio tour is an extra $5.

• Photography is not allowed inside the exhibit.

• After a short video introduction you are free to tour the exhibit on your own. Each mummy is encased in Plexiglas and has a detailed description.

• There are interactive computer stations where you can learn more about the artifact, the mummification technique and scientific tests performed. We enjoyed checking out the CT scans, DNA tests and X-rays to understand what clues each method revealed about the mummy.

More fun things for kids at Discovery Place

Design your own challenge course for the little robot. With the assistance of Discovery Place staff kids can use simple software to remotely control the robot and making it turn, spin and to follow a specific path.

Strike a thermal pose! Act silly and see yourself through the eyes of an alien…

The “Cool Stuff” gallery is filled with hands-on stations that explain in a very playful way the fundamental laws of physics, mechanics, electromagnetics, aerodynamics, and more.

All kids, but girls in particular, go crazy in the crafts section (conveniently located at the exit to the mummies exhibit). Make your own masterpiece using scraps of fancy fabric, leather, aluminum foil, colorful duct-tape (oh my!), and hot glue. Beware this place is loud and crowded…yet super fun.

If is cool science then is Discovery Place!

The self guided trail showcases the Thunderbolt, Corsair and Super Sabre war aircraft, a nose art display, the Wall of Service, the Valor Memorial Garden and many interpretive signs.

In 1942, in response to the looming threat of World War II the United States Army Air Corps opened the Myrtle Beach Bombing and Gunnery Training Range. A wooden city emerged to meet the urgent needs of combat air crew training, nicknamed “Splinter City” by locals. In 1943, some of the facilities were used to house German POWs.

In 1943, the Myrtle Beach Air Force became the home to the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing, one of the most honored wings in United States Air Force Base history. The wing saw action in every major conflict in which the United States was involved, except for the Korean War. In 1993 the Myrtle Beach Air Force base closed and the unit moved to Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska.

War aircraft used at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base
The first A-10 Thunderbolt II planes were delivered to the base on March 9, 1973 and the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing, became the first operational A-10 wing in the United States Air Force.

A successor the famous P-47 Thunderbolt, the A-10 was a rugged, highly maneuverable and survivable aircraft, ideally suited for close combat operations.

Given its fierce 30mm Gatling gun power and the enormous bomb carrying capacity the A-10 was affectionately known as the “Warthog”.

The F-100 A/D Super Sabre was assigned to the 354th Fighter Day Wing in 1957. The wing squadrons were sent to Vietnam with the F-100s. After the war the aircraft was transferred to the National Air Guard.

Named after a type of pirate vessel the Corsair was the United States Navy’s famed F-4U fighter aircraft of WWII.

The A-7D became Corsair II and its mission was close air support.

In September 1970, the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing was the first to receive the A-7D.

Equipped with an automated electronic navigation and weapon delivery system the aircraft was outstanding attacking ground targets while deployed in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War.

Spend some time reading about the many accomplishments achieved by the 354th Fighter Wing during World War II:

The 354th flew 18,334 sorties, produced 67 aces, shot down 701 enemy aircraft, and destroyed 255 airplanes on the ground, 150 armored vehicles, 584 locomotives, 55 bridges, 834 bridges and 9 airdromes.

Lt. Col. Glenn Eagleston was the leading ace managing to shot down 18 German Luftwaffe planes.

The wing received two Distinguished Unit Citations, the French Croix de Guerre Palm and a Medal of Honor was awarded to Major James J. Howard.

Admire a fine example of nose art, an American military tradition dating back to World War II.

During wartime nose art increased morale and provided pride and comfort to the men and women flying and servicing the aircraft.

The folk art included a nickname for the place, pilot and the company’s names and various images, most popular being that of women, music, sports, comic strip characters, alma maters, good luck symbols, the grim reaper etc.

When most of the old planes get scraped the nose art is only remaining artifact to tell the story of the aircraft and the people who used it.

Love the outdoors? Go kayaking in the marshes at Cherry Grove Beach for a chance to spot the majestic bald eagle! If nothing else you will surely see herons, egrets, cormorants, and brown pelicans. Early morning you may be rewarded with a synchronized jumping show courtesy to the playful bottle-nosed dolphins that swim freely by the pier.

Here is a complete list of fun and affordable family friendly activities you can do in and around Myrtle Beach.

Admission is $5 adults, $3.25 SC seniors, $3 children age 6-15 and free for children 5 and younger.

Check the website for directions, maps, details on cabin rental, camping, pet policies and for programs and events.

Interesting facts
Myrtle Beach was the first South Carolina State Park (opened in 1936).

The park’s maritime forest has been declared a Heritage Trust Site. Its unique wildlife includes nesting loggerhead sea turtles, bald eagles, least terns and various tropical migrant birds.

Things to do at Myrtle Beach State Park

Walk through the maritime forest. There are two easygoing and well marked trails, Sculpted Oak and Yaupon, each less then a mile round trip. Interpretative signs point out different oak varieties, yaupon holly, red cedar, wax myrtle etc.

Lookout for wildlife. Here are some tracks I ran into…although no sightings of any big mammal.

Most likely encounters are by the Pond where you may see wooden ducks and migratory birds, small reptiles and amphibians. When I visited the pond was completely dry. I wonder where did the alligators go?…

Learn about the maritime forest eco-system at the Nature Center, open Tuesday to Saturday, 2-4PM. Inside there are saltwater aquariums, live reptiles and interactive natural history displays to help visitors understand the significance of the park.

Enjoy the outdoor wildlife habitat outside the Nature Center complete with bird feeder, bird houses, butterfly garden, bird baths and nature sculptures.

Relax at the beach. Swim, surf, collect shells, watch for bottle-nosed dolphins or fish from the shore.

The fishing pier is currently closed for renovations.

Here is the video…Christmas came early this year!

At Cherry Grove Beach outdoor enthusiasts can walk through the pristine Heritage Shore Nature Preserve, fish or paddle through the inlet leading to the Atlantic Ocean.

Enjoy and protect nature in beautiful South Carolina!

This post has highlights from our recent 2 hours kayaking trip on Lake Juniper. We parked our car at the parking lot near the park, office, boat rental and playground. There are restrooms, maps, drinks and snacks for your convenience. We used the flat beach area to let in our inflatable kayak.

If you go left you will follow the boardwalk and after a short paddle you will reach the dam and must turn around. We decided to go right towards the mysterious cypress wetlands.

The water was extremely calm throughout our trip (11AM - 2PM), which made it a lot easier to paddle. Once inside the cypress “forest” it got pretty shallow, yet our kayak handle it very well. We met few fellow paddlers along the way…

The scenery was superb, truly picture perfect. My only disappointment was that we didn’t see any birds up close (except for a little wood duck). Here is a unidentified bird nest.

All in all, there is plenty of free, fun family things to do at Cheraw State Park. If nothing else enjoy the 18-hole championship golf course, a Golf Digest’s “Super Value”.

We let in at a small beach area off of River Road near the bridge. Of course you can drive all the way inside the park and enjoy all of its amenities (park entrance fee is $2).

Right from the start were greeted by a great blue heron in search of an easy meal by the bridge. For the duration of the trip we followed each other around…at one point he hissed and quacked at us quite angrily.

Paddling is much easier along the shores. Take any of the side pathways for a rewarding and peaceful stroll.

Once inside the inlet get your camera and binoculars ready. You may see herons, ducks, hawks and ospreys. Sometimes you may even spot a majestic bald eagle.

We were surprised to see a lone white swan in the middle of the lake. We joked that he might have escaped from the Sumter Iris Garden and Swan Lake…

The trip back was more challenging, requiring both of us to paddle vigorously to beat the high winds and the waves on the open waters. The whole experience was invigorating even though we were quite tired at the end.

More fun things to do at Lake Wateree State Park: fishing, camping, boating, biking, swimming, geo-caching and hiking. The park provides restrooms, a tackle, fishing supplies and snacks shop and a well equipped playground. See the park website for a full list of activities.

Interested in kayaking at the beach? Check out my recent trip to North Myrtle Beach, along the peaceful Cherry Grove Inlet all the way to the Atlantic Ocean.

Get out and enjoy our beautiful state parks!

You could spend hours admiring the myriad of displays and listening to enthusiastic guides, eager to share the story accompanying each precious artifact. Due to time and space constraints I’ve selected a few of my favorite items. (Historical and technical content is from the museum exhibits)

Rifles and muskets

Original Enfield model artifacts

• Model 1853 Enfield rifle with Barnett contract markings and the Confederate States Inspector’s Proof Mark. This means this rifle was blockade run and saw service in Confederate hands for the entire war (at the end of 1861 the Federal Government stole the Barnett contract and from then on all Barnett rifles went to the North). It has all original accessories including the leather swing, bayonet and scabbard.

• Model 1855 cartridge box, found completely intact, including the ties.

• English “ice cream cone” cap packet with Enfield rifle caps, fully intact. This style cap was manufactured solely for the Confederate States Government.

• Belt with snake buckle and adjuster buckle

• English model 1850 staff officer sword and scabbard

• Piece of wood with an Enfield bullet embedded from the Bentonville NC battlefield.

The Whitworth sharpshooter rifle was considered the most accurate weapon in the Confederate arsenal with an effective range of 2,000 yards. Manufactured in England and then smuggled through the Union blockade, one Whitworth rifle was more expensive than a dozen muskets. Also on display are original Whitworth bullets and cartridges dug out near Atlanta and sharpshooter amber glasses with their original tin case.

• 1864 Henry Rifle was a .44 caliber rim fire, 15 shot repeater. “That damn Yankee rifle you load on Sunday and shoot all week” sold privately for $40.

• Samuel Sutherland rifle. “The Armorer of the South” shop located on Main Street in Richmond was raided by the Union when the city fell. The firearms in the shop were destroyed. This example was recovered and repaired to its original condition.

• M-1864 musket was the last of the U.S. military muzzle loading weapons.

• M-1863 Lindsay double rifle musket, .58 caliber, had two charges in a single barrel, one on top of the other, that fired separately.

Weapons produced by the Palmetto Armory Columbia SC

• Rare Palmetto musket, .69 caliber riffled barrel with long range rear sight

• Model 1842 smooth bore musket with Palmetto Armory lock

• M-1840 heavy Cavalry Sabre made by William Glaze & Company at the Palmetto Armory in Columbia SC. Around 3,000 have been made.

• M-1842 S.C. Bayonet – William Glaze contract of 1851 required him to provide a bayonet with each musket. This example is marked S.C. over U.S. and is shown in its original scabbard with German silver mounts. Thought to be an N.C.O. accoutrement.

Carbines

Invented by George W. Morse, the carbine was manufactured by the State Military Works, in Greenville, SC on machinery captured by General “Stonewall” Jackson at Harpers Ferry in 1861.
The carbine’s .50 caliber single shot design was a great advancement for the time. They were about 1,000 carbines produced.

Additional artifacts include a Harpers Ferry musket lock, first model Morse carbine with modified breech lock, 2nd and 3rd models Morse carbine, a Morse cartridge, a two cavity brass bullet mold, and of course an original Morse telegraph.

• Smith carbine, .50 caliber, rubber cartridge case
• 1863 Maynard carbine, .50 caliber, rimmed brass case
• Burnside carbine, .54 caliber, tapered brass case
• Gallager carbine, .50 caliber, straight brass case
• 1864 Joslyn carbine, .52 caliber, self contained rim fire cartridge

Torpedoes, bomb shells and cannon balls

“Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.” Union Navy Admiral Farragut

The torpedoes were constructed from available wooden barrels, then filled with gun powder and fitted with a contact detonator. Streamlines ends were added to lessen the effects of tides and currents.

They were then anchored in the Charleston Harbor and the mouth of the Mississippi River to keep out Union ships. The Union Navy lost more than 40 ships to these torpedoes.

The Schenkl bomb was invented by John P Schenkl of Boston. More than 400,000 were produced by the Boston foundry.

The sabot fitted to the back portion of the shell was constructed of papier-mâché.

When fired the sabot compressed in length and expanded in diameter to engage the riffling of the cannon barrel. Captured Schenkl shells were fitted with Palmetto wood sabots by the Charleston Arsenal.

This particular shell was recovered from James Island and it weighed 126 pounds!

1790 British Naval cannon 6 pounds solid shot – Designed for use against wooden sailing ships. It was so popular it was still in use worldwide 100 years later. Both sides used during the Civil War.

Pistols and revolvers

The museum features a large collection of small firearms used by the Confederate Army, Navy and Cavalry officers. Below you can see classics such as Colt, Smith and Weston,and Remington pistols

…and a .38 caliber Savage revolver. The museum also has an original Henry Derringer pistol like the one used by John Wilkes Booth to assassinate President Lincoln on April 14, 1865.

Swords

There are dozens of swords, sabers, knives and bayonets. Here is a collection of popular swords used by the Confederate troops.

Uniforms

An 1859 Cavalry Jacket – Early in the war Confederate troops were frequently seen in blue uniforms. General “Stonewall” Jackson wore his blue uniform for months until another officer could stand it no longer to see his commander in an Union like jacket and had a proper Confederate gray uniform tailored for him.

Here is a typical Confederate Navy uniform and weapons

More free things to do and historic sites to see in Greenville

• Visit the romantic Kilgore-Lewis House and Garden

• Uplift your spirit at the Greenville Museum or Art

• Stroll along the Reedy River and relax by the beautiful waterfall

• Do the kids favorite “Mice on Main” scavenger hunt for 9 little bronze statues scattered along Main Street.

The ride lasts about 12 minutes and circles you 5 times. Tickets are $12 adults and $10 children 3-11 (seniors and military get a $2 off discount). You can use a $2 off coupon when you ride before 5PM.

SkyWheel is every day from 11AM till midnight (weather permitting).

The view is spectacular anytime of the day. Early afternoon you enjoy a beautiful ocean vista and a chance to spot dolphins swimming freely. Later on you get the best seat in town for amazing sunset images. And at night millions of LED lights put on a vibrant colors show.

We decided to go at night. When we got there (around 8PM) we had a very short wait to board our gondola.

This feels cozy…I’m so excited to go way up in the air!

Check out all the pretty lights downtown

Bird’s eye view of the park and the promenade area

Here’s a taste of how it feels inside. I admit the video doesn’t do the ride enough justice, it’s much better in real life.

SkyWheel is now officially the coolest “kid” in town. I can’t wait to go back at sunset. Stay tuned.

Here is a list with a variety of free and affordable fun family activities in and around Myrtle Beach.

Lifestyle exhibit highlights

The tallest men to serve in the Confederate Army - Henry Clay Thruston was born in 1930 in Greenville, SC. At 7 feet 7 ½ inches, Henry was the tallest of five brothers, the family “runt” measuring just 6 feet 6 inches tall.

At that time most men reached about 5 feet 6 inches in height…“Long Henry” was very proud of his height, always staying erect and sometimes wearing hat to look even taller!

Henry served as a flag bearer in the Missouri Morgan County Rangers. One time the commander spotted Henry’s head far above all other soldiers and shouted:

“Hey, you damn fool! Get down off that stomp!” Henry replied: “I ain’t no fool an’ I ain’t on no stomp.”

For the rest of the war the shout followed Long Henry.

He would put up with it for a while then tramp off in the darkness swearing he would find the jokers and put an end to their fooling. Needless to say he would never found them.

After Civil War, Henry joined the P.T. Barnum Circus as “the tallest man on Earth”, earning $300 a month.

He married in 1853 and raised two sons, Bryan and Edward.

In 1864, he settled in Titus County, Texas where he purchased 160 acres of land.

He always drove a buggy with a custom built seat and pulled by two Shetland ponies. Upon his death in 1909, a special casket was built for his large frame.

Table, chairs and silverware from the home of Christopher G. Memminger, Confederate Secretary of the Treasury. The house was located in Flat Rock, NC and is currently referred to as Carl Sandburg home.

My favorite artifact was the romantic candle. In the 1860s, when a young man came to visit his sweetheart, the parents would let them spend time together until the candlelight ran out. Maybe this is where “candlelight dinner date” came from…

This toy cannon is similar to the one Jefferson Davis’ son used to play with. People say the boy used the cannon to attack his toy soldiers, and occasionally, a stray chicken. Unlike the toys of today, the cannon fired real gunpowder!

One of the first illustrated children books, actually written for children, an instant hit with young readers at the time.

When was time to go potty and was too cold to visit the outhouse…

Some of the ways people used to pass time during Civil War: playing the mandolin and sewing.

Speaking of clothing, here are some samples of the dresses and coats women wore in South Carolina during the War between the States.

Children and ladies leather boots

Ladies watch was presented to General George Pickett’s widow by his soldiers at the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg reunion on July 3rd 1913.

More fun, free things to do in Greenville

• Relax with the kids and the dog at Falls Park on Reedy River , home to the eclectic Liberty Bridge and a breathtaking waterfall.

• Visit one of the most historic homes in Greenville, the Kilgore-Lewis House and Garden

• Be inspired at Greenville Museum or Art

Animal Highlights

The cute red panda enjoys a nap in the afternoon

Orangutans only live on few islands in Southeast Asia and face extinction due to massive deforestation. The world’s largest arboreal animals that can reach up to 5 feet high and weigh as much as 200 pounds. Their muscular arms are one and a half longer than their legs and can span up to 7 feet.
Orangutans are master tree dwellers but can also walk upright for short distances, and even swim occasionally.

Unlike other great apes orangutans are solitary by nature; experts believe this is because they must eat large amounts of fruits which are dispersed throughout the forest.

Mothers give birth every 7 years and spend up to 5 years raising their young on their own. Similar to humans baby orangutans cry, whimper and smile at their mothers. They learn all survival and social skills by closely observing their mother. In captivity orangutans can live up to 60 years.

The elusive Amur leopard is considered a threatened specie

The world’s tallest mammals are quite nimble on their feet.

One of the two females elephant enjoys a well deserved snack

The Colobus, are of the smartest monkeys around. Here’s Adanna the newest addition to the colony.

The king and queen of the American swamp, the mighty alligator and the snapping turtle

The Lion King, a perennial favorite with visitors of all ages

There are three different playgrounds and several picnic areas able to accommodate large parties year around.

Have a wild fun time at the Greenville Zoo!