Tucked away three miles off U.S. 17 on the South Santee River is Hampton Plantation State Historic Site (1950 Rutledge Rd., 843/546-9361, www.southcarolinaparks.com, house hours Tues.–Sun. noon–4 p.m. Mar.–Oct., Thurs.–Sun. noon–4 p.m. Nov.–Feb., $4 ages 16 and over, $3 ages 6–15, under 6 free).

This Georgian gem, one of the grandest of antebellum Lowcountry homes, hosted George Washington in 1791. It was also the home of South Carolina poet laureate Archibald Rutledge, who sold it to the state in 1971. Because it’s now a state-run project, admission fees are significantly lower than for most of the private plantation homes in the area.

Hampton’s pedigree is a virtual who’s-who of great South Carolina family names. In addition to the aforementioned Rutledges, the Pinckneys and the Horries also called this home at one time or another.

The imposing antebellum main house, circa 1735, is magnificent both inside and out, with some of the rooms remaining unfurnished to better explain the architecture. The grounds are gorgeous as well, overflowing with live oaks, azaleas, and camellias.

If you want to skip the house tour, your visit is free (the grounds are open daily 9 a.m.–6 p.m.). A two-mile nature trail takes you around one of the original rice fields on Wambaw Creek.