Postcards from Charleston

My husband and I went to college in Charleston, SC, were engaged, and spent our first year as a married couple there. In a lot of ways, we grew up in the Holy City together, and going back to visit feels like returning home. At the same time, everything has changed… even in the past two years since our last visit. There’s a new hotel on every corner. Our favorite restaurants closed or changed hands. Abercrombie & Fitch is back but in a different storefront. It was so much fun to explore the city and venture out on some new-to-us adventures. We had the most gorgeous weather you could imagine (minus a bit of flash flooding one morning). It was cool enough in the mornings and evenings to wear a sweatshirt and the sun and ocean breeze did wonders for my skin and sinuses!

Michelle Martin

recently shared a link in her Friday Footnotes to this article about how to craft a joyful daily routine. When we returned from our vacation, I took some time to reflect on what makes me feel so at ease in Charleston. Of course, leaving our kids at home had a lot to do with it but I think for me it’s the amount of time we spend outdoors. The fresh air and living somewhere walkable (I hit 16,655 steps one day) greatly improved my overall mood. It’s hard not to be happy in the Lowcountry. I’ll be thinking about how I can incorporate more daily walks and time outdoors this Spring in a suburban setting.

I also enjoyed reading this essay from

Aliza Sir

about going on vacation with her partner and leaving her son behind for the first time. This trip with my husband was our first solo vacation since my oldest was born over 5 years ago. It meant a lot to be able to sneak away, relax, do things that felt like me, and most importantly, hear my own thoughts for a few days.

Issue #50: Leaving my kid — but not my parenthood — at home

If you’ve never been to Charleston, SC, there’s a reason it’s at the top of every travel guide’s must-visit list. It’s a bustling urban port on the Atlantic coast that retains its Southern charm. The architecture is a beautifully preserved snapshot of the 1800s. Steeples break up the skyline and church bells echo through the streets to mark every passing hour. The atmosphere is relaxed, casual, and laid-back. Native Charlestonians are proud of their lineage, can appreciate a good meal, and hospitality is their specialty.

I love a good travel recap so I’m sharing what we got up to on our early anniversary trip with you! This is a long, photo-heavy journal so if you’re viewing this in your email, consider this your heads-up that it might appear truncated.

The Obstinate Daughter | Sullivan’s Island

softshell crab toast special + weird fishes pizza

It’s softshell crab season so I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to try this pan-fried rendition of the famous dish.

Malika | Mt. Pleasant

dahi puri + masala fries + queen’s road thali (chicken tikka masala + lahori cholay) + mango lassi

Fleet Landing | Downtown Charleston

stuffed hushpuppies + seafood tower with NC & VA raw oysters, crab dip, ceviche, lobster tail, shrimp cocktail, crab claws, and assorted crackers + dressed oysters with creme fraiche, caviar, and chives

My very FIRST oysters, if you can believe it!

Circe’s Grotto | Downtown Charleston

California BLT + Thanksgiving sandwich + chips

Bin152 | Downtown Charleston

saint angel triple creme + comte + prosciutto di parma + baguette

her wines:
A.J. Adam Dhroner Hofberg Riesling Kabinett
Chateau d’Epire Savennieres Chenin Blanc
Bénédicte et Stéphane Tissot Crémant du Jura

and his:
Luigi Ferrando Erbaluce Di Caluso "la Torrazza"
Los Bermejos Malvasia

goat. sheep. cow. | Downtown Charleston

triple creme brie + barricato al pepe + prosciutto di parma + baguette

wine: Montenidoli Canaiuolo Toscana Rosato

Charleston Farmers Market | Downtown Charleston

Charleston Crepe Company : banana and Nutella crepe
Roti Rolls : thurman murman + wakey bakey
Lowcountry Lemonade : mint green tea lemonade

Watch the early morning surfers on Isle of Palms then grab lunch and do some shopping in Mt. Pleasant. Walk along the Pitt Street Bridge and take a drive through the Old Village before taking another stroll along Shem Creek. Scope out the Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse. Do a bit of birding and inhale the marshy pluff mud. Peruse the city market and meander along the cobblestone streets in the French Quarter, making your way past Rainbow Row and down to The Battery. Sneak into a campus building or two at the College of Charleston, making sure to browse the Halsey Gallery. Treat yourself to a seafood dinner with a view of the Ravenel Bridge. Listen to street buskers and performers at the Charleston Farmer’s Market while picking out some fresh stone fruit for the week’s pie. Catch a show at the Charleston Music Hall or the Music Farm. Stay up late and sleep in. Slow down and enjoy the scenery.

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See you out there!

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