2014 ended on a high note with a trip down South to Charleston, Savannah and Atlanta. Brian wanted to try all the delicious food in Charleston, I wanted to learn about the history of Savannah and we were delighted to visit our friends Mike and Dayna in Atlanta to ring in the new year. Here’s a little bit about what we ate, explored and learned on the first part of our trip in South Carolina, the Palmetto State…
Accommodations
Francis Marion Hotel: A historic hotel centrally located on King Street- which is essentially the main drag of Charleston. Quite honestly I got a great deal on the price and it served its purpose- a jumping off point to see all the sights. It felt old but they were going through some renovations. http://www.francismarionhotel.com/
Food
Husk: A highlight of the trip and one of the main reasons we traveled to Charleston. Brian
My delicious Amberjack entree at Husk
went a little heavy on the pork but between my clam appetizer and amberjack main course, it was one of the best meals I had all year. The service was exemplary and the restaurant was beautiful. If you go to Charleston, this meal is a must and book it in advance! http://www.huskrestaurant.com/home/
Pearlz Oyster Bar: We wanted local seafood and local seafood we got. After walking all morning, we walked into Pearlz when the doors opened at 2pm and enjoyed large oysters from the Lowcountry. Hit the spot! http://www.pearlzoysterbar.com/
Pearlz Oyster Bar
Hominy Grill
F.I.G. (Food Is Good): A truly delicious meal that was perfectly cooked. I’ll quote Brian when he said that it was “the best gnocchi [he’s] ever had!” Lots of farm to table options that satiated our appetite from start to finish such as a chicken liver pate that knocked my socks off! http://eatatfig.com/
Hominy Grill: We walked completely off the beaten path and then waited 45 minutes for this southern brunch gem. From Brian’s Charleston Nasty Biscuit to my gluten free pancakes, this was the meal we were craving all trip long. While you wait, you can order hot and cold drinks from a take out window which is a nice treat. http://hominygrill.com/
The Macintosh: The burgers were rated some of the best in the city and we were glad to
Even this sometimes picky eater devoured it!
travel to upper King Street so that Brian could proclaim the best burger for $15 that he’s ever eaten (there were a lot of superlatives on the trip). We decided to be adventurous in our appetizer choice and went with an inventive charcuterie plate that included a grouper bologna. Jeni’s ice cream is right next door and, if you can stay up later than me, head upstairs to the bar, The Cocktail Club. http://themacintoshcharleston.com/
What to Do
Two Sisters Walking Tour: Mary Helen was amazing and walked us in and out of the historic streets of the Holy City. The city got its nickname because of the prominence of church steeples that rise above the low skyline. We learned about the beginning of the settlement, originally Charles Town, and its devastation after 587 days of attack during the Civil War. In the wake of, what the locals call, the War Between the States, Charleston rebuilt and they put strict architectural preservation laws in place. The informative and interesting tour took about 2 hours and we got to see Rainbow Row, the Battery and important sights like St. Michael’s Church. http://www.twosisterstours.com/
Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim: We went on a nice tour of America’s oldest continuously used synagogue. Established as a Sephardic Orthodox congregation in 1749, the Reform movement took root in 1843 and despite wars and hurricanes, the congregation survives
Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim
and grows to this day. It was nice for us to go to a Jewish house of worship of such historical significance. http://www.kkbe.org/
Fort Sumter: Make sure to buy tickets ahead of time for the ferry to Fort Sumter, birthplace of the Civil War. Round-trip it’ll take you about 2 hours and 15 minutes and that includes an hour on the actual fort. The ferry includes an audio recording of the history of the fort and highlights how about 100 Union soldiers on April 12, 1861 did their best to hold the fort in the Charleston harbor but ultimately surrendered to the Confederates, starting the Civil War. It’s a significant and unique part of our country’s history and the ferry ride back with the sunset and dolphins was the cherry on top! http://www.nps.gov/fosu/index.htm
Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter
Magnolia Plantation: Just 25 minutes north of Charleston is the historic Magnolia Plantation. Unfortunately we had a rainy day to visit the Plantation so we didn’t get to view the renowned gardens. The house tour was good and helped us better understand the Draytons, the family that owns the land, and if we had had a nicer day we would have 
spent more time in the gardens and exploring the slave quarters to learn more about the less discussed side of plantations. Make sure to check the website before you go to print out coupons for the various tours. http://www.magnoliaplantation.com/
What we didn’t get to see includes the Nathaniel Russell House and Halsey Institute. It also would be fun to take a trip out to the nearby islands to enjoy the beaches and outdoor adventures like kayaking and swamp boating at Cypress Gardens among the alligators. I would suggest skipping the City Market which is really just a crowded, overpriced flea market.
Ferry to Fort Sumter
Add Charleston to your list of must visit cities for many reasons but let me stress how wonderful the food was, how beautiful the city is and how much we enjoyed learning about the history of the Holy City. We’re so glad to have spent 3 days in Charleston and next time when we visit it’ll be in the warmer months to take advantage of all the Lowcountry has to offer. Part two takes us to Georgia, where we walked among the Spanish Moss of Savannah and drove around the urban sprawl of Atlanta to ring in the New Year!
The Primary Source 