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The Giant Balls of Twine TravelBlogue: Spots that make the trip memorable

Holy Balls of Twine

We recently visited Mepkin Abbey, and while it's not your typical tourist attraction, it is the sort of Giant Ball of Twine my family loves to visit while traveling. The monks welcome visitors, and the spot is historic, spectacularly beautiful and peaceful in the way a place soaked by prayer can be.

So, it's a holy ball of twine, so to speak.

I'm posting some photos so you'll see why you should stop by Moncks Corner, South Carolina, if you're in the neighborhood. (Yup, that's how they spell Moncks in Moncks Corner. But don't be confused, the town isn't named for the monks who happen to live nearby. It's named after a landowner in the early 1700s, Thomas Monck. His land, his town.)

Those who explore the grounds can view the cemetery of some of the plantation's earliest owners, including the Laurens family.

In another section is the burial plot of the

plantation's 20th century occupants,

Henry and Clare Boothe Luce. (photo left)

Henry Luce owned Time, Life and Forbes magazines.
He and his wife eventually donated the property
to the trappist monks who now live a life of prayer
on the grounds.

Wildlife is abundant, from legions of dragonflies to long-legged herons.

And for the tree huggers among us, Mepkin Abbey has some of the prettiest examples of Southern grace you can find, as my daughter Lauren demonstrates at the twisted trunk of this very old live oak tree.

Coming soon: Virginia observes the Civil War Sesquicentennial, and we observe Norfolk.

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The Giant Balls of Twine TravelBlogue: Spots that make the trip memorable