Charleston - Part 2

The Verdict: Charleston is WAY cooler when you’re 40 and traveling there with your husband (who spoils you rotten) than when you’re a 10-year-old girl scout just passing through.  


Not that I didn’t like that trip; I did.  But I LOVED this trip!

For one, my hair was much better.  Even on the “bad-hair-days”.  

Second, we flew this time, and got down there in just over an hour, rather than driving for a full day.  We also stayed for three times as long.

And finally, we were the ones in control of the non-existent itinerary, and could do whatever we wanted.  Which included getting dessert before dinner on the very first night we arrived.  This gelato…  🤤



But I’m getting ahead of myself.  One of the very first things we noticed, while walking around the French Quarter waiting for our check in time, was that female visitors to Charleston all seem to be required to wear summer-y dresses and large, floppy sun hats.  I had brought plenty of dresses, but…

Some quick shopping was in order.



Next we headed to the guest house.  Instead of staying on the Yorktown we stayed at 20 S. Battery in the historic Stevens-Lather House, which was positively loaded with history and charm.  Their breakfasts - provided by “Callie’s Hot Little Biscuits” downtown - were amazing.   The rooms were clean, the staff was great, and the only thing between us and the bay was a beautiful park, which made our morning runs really enjoyable. 



And, though we didn’t go in, we did drive by Patriots Point and saw the Yorktown.  It looked smaller than I remembered from 30 years and 2 months ago.  😂



We spent plenty of time at the ocean, which I loved.  



And we did end up kayaking the estuaries and seeing dolphins (though this dolphin pic is from the bay during a jog) along with so many cool birds and crabs.


 


We ate SO MUCH good food while we were there.  


Yak-burger from “Big Billy’s Burgers”


Shrimp and Swordfish from “Slightly North Of Broad”


Fried Flounder Sandwich from “Pier 101” on Folly Beach Pier


Shrimp and Grits and Key West Pancakes from “Another Broken Egg Cafe”



I did devour a bucket (or bowl) of crab.  It was delicious. 



My favorite dish, however, came from a restaurant on Sullivan’s Island called “The Longboard.”  It was my favorite food venue that we visited; a locally owned place with a casual but classy atmosphere and the best fish I have ever eaten in my life (and I’ve eaten a lot of fish).  I got the “Dayboat fish” (seared red drum, in this case) and it was as close to life-changing as food can get.  



Other highlights included the Folly Beach Pier - 


 


Beautiful architecture, cobblestone streets, palm trees and miles of white sand -



And the tidal planes we explored on our last evening -  



It was exactly the trip that we needed.  Every day started with a run and ended with ice cream, and was packed with all of my favorite things with my favorite person on earth.  Would I recommend a trip to Charleston?  Yes.  Yes I would.  💙

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