Want a great get-away for your girls? Look no further than Charleston, South Carolina, the Holy City in the Palmetto state. Charleston has a little bit of everything for you and all your girlfriends to enjoy. Let's check the Three Friends and a Fork girls' get-away checklist to see how Charleston stacks up.
Shopping? ✔️
Yes! Head to King Street for some of the best bargains around. There was a cute little hat shop where Julie and Alli found perfect toppers. We made a mad haul at Shoes on King and they even shipped some of our shoes home for us so we didn't have to fit them in our already overpacked car. The Old Whaling Company on Broad Street had all kinds of yummy smelling creams and soaps and candles.There is a city ordinance for mask wearing, so don't forget your masks!
Dining? ✔️
Yes, yes, yes! There were so many amazing options, it was hard to choose. We finally settled on
MILLER'S ALL DAY (Try the pink unicorn grits, the sea salt chocolate chip cookie sprinkled with benne seeds, the brown coconut pie and, definitely get your picture made in the photo booth!),
CAPTAIN WOODY'S in Old Town Bluffton (This was the perfect, laid-back spot for dinner after our tour of Daufuskie.),
THE GLASS ONION (Owned and cheffed by an Auburn graduate!)
CALLIES HOT LITTLE BISCUIT (Watch the centers of your cinnamon stickies folks! Some people cannot be trusted!)
They were all amazing, but we were really partial to our breakfast/brunch at Eli's Table where the low country Benedict, yogurt and berries and avocado egg sandwich were big hits,
and our dinner at The Glass Onion. Try the fried chicken, shrimp and grits and most definitely the French fries!
History? ✔️
Absolutely! Charleston was founded in 1670, so it is older than the country itself.
The oldest house in Charleston is a cute little Bermudian limestone building built between 1694 and 1712. We didn't actually get a photo of the oldest pink house, we did, however, find another, absolutely perfect little pink house on Tradd St.
The 13 houses on Rainbow's Row formed the commercial center of the town during the Colonial period.
Slaves brought to America from the Rice Coast and known as Gullah, not only taught the colonists about rice cultivation, they also taught planter, George Lucas's 16 year old daughter, Eliza Pinkney, how to raise and use indigo for dyeing. Eliza, in turn, started a whole new commercial venture that completely changed agriculture in South Carolina.
The old Slave Mart, where enslaved people were bought and sold is now a museum and the City Market, where the people of Charleston still ply their wares, including traditional pine straw baskets woven on site by the Gullahs of Charleston, and stately old homes along the Battery are from Charleston's antebellum period.
On April 12, 1861, Citadel cadets opened fire on the USS Star of the West as it entered Charleston harbor and the American Civil War began.
Scenery? ✔️
Without a doubt! Charleston is full of beautiful architecture surrounded by palmettos, southern magnolias, ancient live oaks and southern lady ferns. Around every corner there is a beautiful building, home, church, street art or a lush garden tucked away in a courtyard. The horse drawn carriages only add to the ambiance.
Literature? ✔️
Many of our favorite writers set their books in Charleston and the surrounding low country. Mary Alice Monroe, Nancy Thayer, Kristin Hannah, Kristy Woodson Harvey, and Dorothea Benton Frank, just to name a few. But the one that drew us to take an extra little side trip was the low country's Prince of Scribes, Pat Conroy. This group of former teachers wanted to visit the island and school where Pat Conroy taught. It was, without a doubt, the highlight of our trip.
Not only did we see the school, we saw original Gullah homes, often painted haint blue to keep bad spirits away,
and the First Union African Baptist Church, the oldest building on the island, built in 1881 for use by freed slaves.
Side Trips? ✔️
Our trip to Daufuskie Island was so much more than we bargained for. With only 400+ residents, the island is incredibly back to nature. But, oh, those residents! What they lack in numbers, they more than make up for in amazing stories.There is Lancy Burns, the owner and creator of Silver Dew Pottery, who has sailed around the world five times. Lancy's grandfather was the assistant lightkeeper at the Bloody Point Lighthouse (literally a house with a light). He didn't drink, but for some reason decided to start making wine and Silver Dew Winery was born.
Then there is Chase Allen, who creates works of art out of iron scraps at his Iron Fish Art workshop. He operates his business on an honor system. Drop your check in his jar or if you forgot your check, just leave a note. He'll call you later for your credit card number. He sold a $900 mermaid while we wandered around his yard watching him work and admiring his art.
We also took a side trip to John's Island to see the amazing Angel Oak which is estimated to be between 400 and 500 years old. It is massive and absolutely beautiful.
Sullivan's Island was another little detour from Charleston we could not resist. We had all read Dorothea Benton Frank's, Sullivan's Island, so, of course we had to see it in person. It is truly lovely, with many gorgeous homes and beautiful trees dripping with Spanish moss.
Something Unexpected? ✔️
Everywhere you look there are surprises to be found!
We had drinks and rested from all the shopping at a cute little pub, called The Blind Tiger and all the candy you want could be found at Savannah's Candy Kitchen near the old city market.
We caught our water taxi to Daufuskie in Old Town Bluffton. What a cute place! We want to go back and see all the shops we missed. The water taxi, itself, was a ton of fun, as was the golf cart ride around Daufuskie.
There you go. Trip planned! What are you waiting for? You know you are already going to Carolina in you mind!
No comments:
Post a Comment