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Travel Course 2018
The Carolina's & Georgia in a Week
In Spring 2018, Dr. Ole Sleipness and Tanya Rice led 25 students on a week-long study trip to North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. With deep family roots and having lived in the area for several years, Ole was especially excited to show students some of his favorite places and design projects in Charleston, Savannah, Greenville, and Asheville and the transect of biophysical and cultural landscapes from the Coastal Plain, Piedmont, and Blue Ridge Mountains.
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On the trip’s first day, they made a scheduled stop at South Carolina’s Congaree National Park. While walking on a boardwalk pathway, Ole was bitten by a juvenile Copperhead snake. Copperheads—which are venomous—are rarely encountered in the South except in natural areas, neighborhood parks, suburban backyard patios, Lowes garden centers, and your motherin-law’s front porch. After an exhilarating ambulance ride, a day in one of Columbia’s most exciting ERs, and 6 vials of antiven in, Ole spent the night in ICU, while LAEP rock star Tanya Rice continued the trek with students to Charleston. From their hotel in historic downtown Charleston, students visited Rainbow Row, Angel Oak, new urbanist development I’on, historic Middleton Place, and Spring Island.
Hidden in the below picture is the copperhead snake that bit Professor Ole Sleipness.
Meanwhile, following his escape from the hospital, Ole recuperated with family in Greenville, where he was forced to elevate his leg, and watch Tales from the Tour Bus, which he thoroughly enjoyed. With Ole called off the battlefield, LAEP sent Prof. Phil Waite as reinforcement for Tanya.
Travel Trip Leaders: Phil Waite, Tanya Rice, & Ole Sleipness
In Savannah, they toured the city’s historic squares, resting in the humidity under the shade of huge oaks, planted 300 years before. During their subsequent trek to Greenville, S.C. an air conditioning malfunction on the tour bus created a situation—which was reported by some as an experience they called “Hell on Wheels.” Students’ and faculty’s perseverance and steadfastness was rewarded when they arrived in Greenville, where they stayed at a cool new downtown hotel complete with rooftop swimming pool at One City Plaza— designed by LAEP alumnus Mark Johnson’s firm Civitas—and within walking distance of Falls Park on the Reedy River, an amazing variety of restaurants, and the city’s annual Artisphere art festival.
Following a bike tour on the city’s Swamp Rabbit Trail, students met with Senator Tim Scott’s Regional Director, Danielle Gibbs, who provided insights into the political, financial, and design leadership that enabled Greenville’s dramatic transformation into a vibrant pedestrian-friendly downtown.
Students stand under Angels Oak on Johns Island outside of Charleston, SC. It’s thought to be over 400 years old and the canopy extends 2,000 sf.
By this time, Ole had reunited with the group, and they traveled to Asheville, N.C., stopping at Clemson University, the South Carolina Botanical Garden, and Whitewater Falls.
In Asheville, students spent a day at the Biltmore Estate, an amazing place designed by someone named Olmsted. The Carolinas offer a wealth of educational opportunities and design precedents for LAEP’s students and faculty.
Ole appreciated the opportunity to share the area with such a great group of students and supportive colleagues.
Students gathered outside Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC
Department of Landscape Architecture & Environmental Planning | InSites 2018
