Five Things I Love About Charleston

Recently, The Huffington Post published an article titled “Nine Things We Love about Charleston”.  I just love it when people gush over my hometown.  They’re right when they say, “Few places outshine South Carolina’s romantic low country…”. Honestly, I could just as easily say “ditto” to their list rather than share my own.  I just can’t help myself!

1.  The People (Watching):

I don’t know if you know this about us, but Charlestonians are like, really nice and super pretty.  But even beyond the friendliness and the physical attractiveness that they boast, the people around these parts are just plain interesting.  I love heading down to the Farmer’s Market  on Saturday morning, grabbing an iced coffee and a crepe, and just… watching everyone.  Yeah, it sounds creepy. But with all the different tribes of people that call Charleston home (or even home away from home), there’s never a shortage of cool, interesting, curious, beautiful, stylish, strange sights to absorb.  We’re not all pinstripes and pearls down here, believe it or not.

2.  The Food:

I mean, helloooh! Charleston? Food? They go together like oysters and an urge to shuck.  Have you ever been to Husk?  How about Two Boroughs Larder?  Ever found yourself a little bit not sober at half past midnight, scarfing down some magic at The Butcher & Bee? Made the trek out to Lost Dog on Folly for their Sunday brunch?  No?  Whwh-What?!  You must go now! And if you need a personal consultant to tag along and suggest what to order, I’m your gal.  I’ll even let you pick up the tab!  Yes, it’s true – I’m a saint.

3.  The Creativity:

From vintage clothiers and jewelers to road doggin’ musicians, from keen-eyed photographers to ingenious fine artists, it’s really difficult to feel uninspired in this place (not to say it can’t be done, but allowing such a thing to happen is called being “jaded” and , uh…”dumb”).  Creativity abounds here, and my soul for one, appreciates the abundance of talented people choosing to live and work in Charleston. Here’s a tee-niny list of people worth checking out and supporting:  Candy Shop Vintage, Inherited Vintage, Steven Fiore, Shovels & Rope, Sully Sullivan, &  Nathan Durfee.

4.  The Beach:

Let me start off by revealing that I was blessed enough to attend kindergarden by the sea.  By the sea, y’all!  Good old Sullivans Island Elementary was where I learned to read, explore, and cry my way out of “corner time” after chucking a bucket of sand at the cutest boy in class.  Don’t worry — he’ll call.

Maybe it’s the nostalgia of the place, or the innate beauty of it, but my enchantment with this little island is a deeply set in the gut kind of thing.  At the end of the day, all I really want you to walk away with here is:  Sullivans > Isle of Palms. Got it?  Good.

5.  The Bike-ability:

If you live in downtown Charleston and don’t have a bike, get one.  If you’re visiting downtown Charleston and can’t bring your bike, rent one.  No excuses!  Leave no man wanting of wheels!  I’ll be moving back downtown this weekend (can I get an amen?), and I’m counting down the days until Chris and I can peddle down to Black Tap Coffee on Sunday mornings, and venture down to the Battery to catch the sunset.  My heart’s all a flutter at the mere thought of it.

Charleston will do that to you.  It’ll make your heart go pitter patter.  It can make even the most restless, luster of wander (we’re talking me, here) pretty satisfied to “just hang around town this weekend”.

So, I’d love to know: what are your favorite things about Charleston? If you’ve never had the chance to visit Charleston, what do you think are some of the very best things about your city?