I started my last morning in Charleston with a notification that my flight home had been delayed by a few hours (thank you, snow). And the usual admonition to get to the airport on time in case anything changes. I decided to follow the advice, which meant I had just a few hours to get in some more steps around Charleston before heading to the airport.
Rain, rain, go away… such was the story of the day in Charleston today. But, fear not! I made the best of the day despite the weather.
I’ve been to Charleston, South Carolina many times in the past. The South Carolina Lowcountry has long been one of my favorite vacation destinations, and though I left here just two weeks ago after a visit to Hilton Head Island, I couldn’t resist the temptation to return for a long weekend.
New Year’s Day found me doing a lot of walking, relaxing, and carb-eating in the relative warmth of the south before heading back to the cold of New England tomorrow.
If you told me this morning that I would be eating dinner outside today in my winter coat, I wouldn’t have believed you. I surprised even myself with that one. I won’t be ringing in the New Year at midnight, but I did enjoy both sunrise and sunset along with some adventures in the Sea Pines Plantation today.
I made the 5-hour drive to Hilton Head, South Carolina yesterday afternoon after spending five days in Florida visiting my family and playing hide-and-seek and “phones” with my 2-year old niece. Hilton Head Island has been my favorite vacation destination for the last 20+ years and crossing the bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway feels like coming home.
Music and food. Two things that don’t require sunny skies and thus a recipe for a perfect overcast day in Charleston. There was actually a little sun first thing this morning before the clouds won out. I took advantage of the clear skies and went for a long walk before brunch. Speaking of brunch… Poogan’s Porch is a true southern experience, set in an 1880s Victorian home with porches overlooking Queen Street. While the porch was tempting, it was much too humid to dine al fresco today. I had a table on the first floor of the main house where I feasted on a homemade biscuit with honey butter, pulled pork eggs Benedict, and a mimosa. Another A+ meal!
First things first: I love Charleston. As in, if I didn’t love New England so much I would move here in a heartbeat. Also, it’s hot here. And not just regular old hot (it was actually hotter temperature-wise at home yesterday), but “walk out the door and you’re already drenched in sweat” hot. So I suppose humid is the better word for it.
I first fell in love with Charleston, South Carolina about 16 years ago when I took a road trip to visit my family at their new home in Florida. I spent a couple of days in Charleston on the way home, and it immediately captured my heart. The laid-back lifestyle, the quaint Charleston single homes with gas lamps beside the front door, and the genuine southern charm have brought me back several times since that first visit. It has been about 5 or 6 years since I was last here, and as soon as I stepped off the plane I wondered why I didn’t make it back sooner. It’s hard to believe that just a short 2 hour flight can transport you to such a completely different part of the country.
Where can you find miles of white sand beaches, world-class golf courses, and a National Wildlife Refuge, all within a matter of minutes from one another? If you answered Hilton Head Island, give yourself a pat on the back! Hilton Head has long been known for its laid-back, relaxed atmosphere and seemingly endless sun-filled days. But Hilton Head is more than just golf courses and beaches. Read on to find out more about this island of sunshine and seashells…
Traveling with Laura 