Molly's Rock

It had been a long time since we had an outing so we decided to check out a piece of the Upstate - upper South Carolina.  And - we had never taken an overnight trip with our dog, Jake. He no longer drools and shivers in the car so we decided he was ready for a road trip.  Rain was in the forecast but we decided that also didn't matter.  At 7:00 am we were off!

It was foggy and misty but we were hopeful.  Jake wasn't happy in the back of the van but he wasn't really unhappy either.  Traffic was light and we were happy so all was good!  We drove for about 3 hours before we arrived at our breakfast destination.  Traveling with a dog is different.  You can't go to restaurants - especially in the summer months.

I had done my home work and found a place just about 5 miles off the interstate in Sumter National Forest.  The air was wet but when we arrived at Molly's Rock Picnic Area we didn't care.  What a special place it is!  It was only about 10:00 and it was wet and it was a weekday so we had the place to ourselves!

The only bad part was that I had forgotten the Bloody Mary Mix!  Darn!  Since it was so wet we didn't really even sit down for our breakfast of hard boiled eggs and left over chicken breasts.  (Breakfast of champions!  All protein!)  We wandered, watched Jake run and explore and just simply enjoyed the awesome quiet and sense of peace this place offered.

This picnic area was developed sometime between 1936 and 1942 by the Civilian Conservation Corps.  Click HERE for more information on the CCC.

The monuments at the entrance and the fireplace in the shelter along with the shelter floor are probably original.

There is a small trail through the area.