Pirates on the Colonial Coast

The Golden Age of Piracy (approximately 1650 to 1730) saw pirates like Blackbeard (Edward Teach), Stede Bonnet, Anne Bonny, and William Kidd frequenting the waters off the coast of what is now Charleston, South Carolina. It is rumored that William Kidd buried his treasure on a secluded beach and that only brave and cunning travelers willing to dive deep into the history, folklore, and poetic riddles of Edgar Allen Poe could uncover its location.

Three generations of one family took on this challenge, spending six days and five nights following clues and piecing together an ancient map in and around charmingly historic Charleston. The experience began with the following letter being delivered to them upon arrival:

The family stayed in beachfront luxury homes, allowing for daily sunrise surfing sessions before a chef-prepared breakfast. Along with a cup of coffee or glass of fresh squeezed juice, each morning began with a new mysterious letter, laying out their itinerary and goals for the day. The first full day found the family setting sail on an adventure across Charleston Harbor to explore Fort Sumter and learn about the battle that began the Civil War. While at the Fort, the family also uncovered obscure information regarding the whereabouts of one of the lost pieces of a map; however, the piece could only be found during low tide at a beach with no name.

After a sandy search, the family unearthed an old bottle. In addition to a piece of the map, there was also a message leading them to the original settlement of Charles Towne Landing. Upon disembarking their sailboats at the Landing, the family was greeted with a colonial trading experience, reenacting the arrival of goods and services coming in from Barbados in the 1670s.

From that morning’s letter, the family knew they needed to find a way to be invited to dinner at the Admiral’s Mansion. To prove their mettle and show themselves worthy of such a royal invitation, they first had to earn enough gold at the Landing by making musket balls, throwing tomahawks, preparing land deeds, and mastering the art of using a sextant. An incredible dining experience culminated with a poetry reading by Edgar Allen Poe — and the Admiral was so taken with the family, he handed over the next piece of the treasure map!

The next day’s letter sent the family to the beautiful oak avenues of Boone Hall Plantation where they were able to connect with the Gullah culture. A picnic lunch was enjoyed under towering oak trees, as beautiful voices singing traditional Gullah songs inspired the family to dance and connect with the meaning of their visit. The caretaker for the grounds showed the family the way to an old building matching one described in the morning’s letter. Beneath the building, they uncovered hidden treasure that had been buried for centuries, including a piece of the treasure map.

Next on their route was historic downtown Charleston, where the family walked the streets under the guidance of a local historian. Among the highlights was the Old Charleston Jail, which housed criminals in the early 1800s. An inscription on the wall led the family to the location of the final piece of the map:

The following morning, the family awoke eager to put the pieces of the map together and claim their buried treasure. A quest through the inner coastal islands and beaches unfolded, with the family operating under the guise of famous pirates all seeking to claim their booty. After several detours, they ended up at Capers Island and the long-lost buried treasure was at last unearthed. To celebrate the long quest and all they’d learned along the way, the final evening ended with a Lowcountry boil and dinner hosted by the famous Rodney Scott, complete with the BBQ that South Carolina is so well known for.