Charleston Had Us Reconsidering Our Travel Plans
Charleston, South Carolina has completely stolen our hearts. We have visited three times so far and stayed a little longer on each visit. Our first trip was before we bought Lucy girl. We flew into town for a quick 36-hour visit with Nick’s sister. On our second trip, Lucy joined her first caravan. The whole family drove down to visit for a couple of days before continuing to Florida. On this most recent visit to Charleston, we stayed for nearly two weeks and considered staying even longer.
Visiting as a Tourist
The first time we visited Charleston, we fell in love with the city itself. We spent the weekend walking around and checking out the tourist spots: White Point Garden, Rainbow Row, and Joe Riley Waterfront Park. We dined at popular restaurants, Nick and his sister ate their weight in oysters, and we stayed out all night bar hopping. It was a whirlwind of a visit, filled to the brim with fun! Despite the chaos, we left town knowing we had to go back.
Our second trip to Charleston was a bit slower-paced. The whole family was in tow, including a freshly walking one-year-old. We revisited some of the same hot spots and added some new favorites to the list. Folly Beach at sunset followed by the best vibes for dinner and drinks at Chico Feo. Window shopping on King Street and feasting at Fleet Landing. We even visited the aquarium! Getting to slow down a bit and see some of the less touristy spots in this city only added to the appeal of it all. We saw Charleston as more than just a tourist trap; more than just a fun weekend destination.
Experiencing Charleston as a Local
On our most recent visit, we never even went downtown. Days were spent working at the beach and nights were spent making new friends. The allure of Charleston reached a new level because we were integrating ourselves so seamlessly into the community Nick’s sister had built. We parked our van in her friend’s backyard for the week, joined in on a Friendsgiving movie night, and participated in a morning cold plunge with the guys who lived there. Everyone was so welcoming and generous. It became very easy to see what life here would look like.
Personally, having a girlfriend around to shoot the shit with was so refreshing. I didn’t realize how much I missed talking in circles about everything and nothing while folding laundry and picking out outfits. It was fun to imagine a life where we would walk our doggos together and go to yoga classes on Sundays while the boys were doing their own thing.
I could picture this version of us so clearly. Nick, Meeko, and I getting a little place near the beach, making friends, joining a community. It was easier to see it here than it ever was in Pittsburgh, despite the fact that we had a lot of the same things at our fingertips: friends, community, routine. I credit the Southern sunshine and ocean views for most of that.
But this was the first stop in our year of traveling! We had just gotten married all of a month ago, just gotten approved to work remotely for extended periods, and just planned a cross-country road trip! There was no way we were going to slam on the breaks when it felt like we had just reached cruising altitude. I am so glad that we continued onward and we have fallen in love ten times over with every place we visit. Truthfully though, nothing has hit quite like Charleston, SC.