Thanksgiving is my favorite American holiday. With an emphasis on sharing quality time with family and friends, the holiday is an opportunity to relax and be grateful for all the good things in our lives. This year I traveled with my husband to Charleston, South Carolina to spend Thanksgiving with my in-laws. The experience was delightful.

Naturally, any trip must involve visiting at least a few historical landmarks. As a site of conflict in both the revolutionary war and the civil war, Charleston offers a fascinating history.

For those with an interest in steampunk, the world’s first successful combat submarine stands out as a riveted icon of Victorian martial technology.  In February 1864, the H. L. Hunley became the first submarine to successfully sink an enemy warship. She sank the Union steamer USS Housatonic off the coast of Charleston harbor, then disappeared in mysterious circumstances. She was found in 2000 on the ocean floor. Speculation as to the cause of her sinking is ongoing. Some experts suggest that she was caught in the blast from her own torpedo.

Other sights to see include the USS Yorktown, the Charleston Naval Shipyard, the Circular Church on Meeting Street, the old Exchange Building, Boone Hall and the Charleston Tea Plantation.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!