Weather or not? Hot sun and ‘looks like rain’ bookended our morning and evening activities during our first 24 hours in Charleston. Enjoyed late morning paddle ( ~ 3 miles) around Bowens Island, followed by lunch at nearby Fish Camp dock style restaurant. Wine and cheese courtyard reception. I could get used to this daily late afternoon pre-gaming ritual. Followed by fabulous dinner at Poogan’s Porch. Excited to secure coveted upstairs porch seating everything seemed perfect; cocktails, she crab soup, warm breezes, great people watching vantage point until the skies darkened and a storm rolled in…..We made it through the first course when the skies opened up. Inside customers gave us a nice round of applause probably making wagers on how long we would last outside. Laughing we enjoyed complimentary drink and dessert to close out our meal. Secured my bike rental for the weekend. Making plans to explore the peninsula over the next 36 hours. Interesting to not be heading to the Jersey Shore this weekend, we’re catching our Carolina stride as we head into MDW proper. Wishing everyone back home fun plans for the extended weekend! Tomorrow we learn about the history of the South…… Friday 5/24/25 Bowens Island, SC
Plantations, Ghosts, Mussels & Absinthe Today we visited the Magnolia Plantation & Gardens. Spent the morning touring the house and grounds of this Southern plantation built along the Ashley River back in 1679. Midday stroll and lunch on popular King Street. Wonderful dinner at 39 Rue de Jean followed by local Ghost Tour of the French Quarter. Marie was in her glory reading plaques, asking questions and learning about the unique history of this coastal seaport town. Whereas my interest was piqued when our guide mentioned the oldest liquor store in Charleston/United States - Tavern at Rainbow Row (1686). Wonder if they do DoorDash? 5/25/24 Magnolia Plantations & Gardens #liveyourdash
Sunday Services (More than Wine & Wafers) Day #3 highlights: Beautiful morning cycle from Downtown CHS out to Sullivan’s Island (26 miles OAB). Lucky score, front table at 82 Queen Restaurant. Fun Sunday brunch sitting next to table of 8 women who were drinking Mimosas; rockin’ out to 60s Motown, Rock and R&B tunes! Quiet stroll down Philadelphia Alley (interesting backstory of support and cooperation) between Charleston & Philadelphia communities during early 1800s. More history: Guided tour of Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon. Followed by afternoon ferry ride and exploration to where the Civil War began at Fort Sumter. Our day concluded with dinner in the former Church of Christ the Redeemer built in 1916 at Church & Union. Original stained glass windows and prose from The Art of War ~ Sun Tzu inscribed on the ceiling. Religion and war. Interesting restaurant themes…..BTW - Meals down here have been fabulous! Each one arguably better than the next. Hey Marie - Can we stop for ice cream, please? Our evening concluded with a lovely stroll down cobblestone streets and small alley ways back to our Inn as the sky turned pink and purple. Love (seemingly) stopping time when you’re on vacation with loved ones. Tomorrow we make our last stand….. 5/26/24 Sullivan’s Island/Fort Sumter #liveyourdash
Life’s a Folly (Beach) Spent our last few SC hours here….Quick hang at the “Edge of America”. S&M NEVER pass up a beach within 20 miles of a travel destination. And this one was a quick 25 minute car ride away. Walked along the Strand (Center Street). Enjoyed lunch at Lost Dog Cafe. Local institution! Establishment honors lost doggies. Oh yeah, there’s good food, drink and peeps. Looking down at my crumbled piece of paper this morning (packing our suitcases), I see a lot of checked boxes on the travel itinerary. More importantly however are stories (and memories) we get to tell and retell to our friends back home in the Garden State. Aka more chapters for my forthcoming book, I am reminded. While it’s always fun to escape your immediate area code, it was extra special to be someplace “different” this Memorial Day Weekend. Grateful for the freedoms Marie and I have resulting from the greatest sacrifice of men and women in our armed forces. That said, we’re both ready to start our Summer of 2024 properly with our friends back home in Jersey. (Note: Brigantine looks like a safer bet than Wildwood this summer!) Thanks for the Southern hospitality, Charleston! Wishing all who read this…..countless moments along your personal journey of Not Yet! Keep exploring America……. S&M Folly Beach, SC 5/27/24 MDW 24 #liveyourdash
