I had the most amazing day today! I took the water taxi from Patriot’s Point in Mount Pleasant over to Charleston, and let me tell you, this is THE way to go – no traffic or parking hassles! And it was a great day for a boat ride! With the exception of lunch, I walked all over the historic district from about 9:30 until 2:00. I started at the Charleston Market and just wandered all over. I’ve done the city tours, so today my goal was to walk and find some of the back alleys and hidden gardens of Charleston. And that I did! Charleston is a very old and historic city, and the architecture is amazing! There are flowers and beautiful landscaping everywhere. A lot of the homes in the historic district don’t have yards, just small back gardens, but they really make use of the space.
At lunchtime I happened upon a restaurant called Blossom on East Bay Street. Their outdoor seating was in a quiet, peaceful garden setting – one of those hidden treasures! I had a cup of corn and shrimp chowder and the Crab Louie Salad. I had never had this salad before and had no idea what it was, but it sounded good! It was butter lettuce, avocado, asparagus, cherry tomatoes, hard boiled egg with Louie dressing, and I really enjoyed it.
When it was time to recharge the batteries (still fighting that cold . . .) I went back to the hotel to the pool for a bit and then went kayaking on Shem Creek. No photos because I didn’t want to take my camera or even my phone and have them end up in the creek, but it was really cool, paddling with a dolphin along side me for part of the time!
I became interested in this part of the country when I started reading Dorthea Benton Frank’s books. Her book Plantation was set in Charleston, and this was the first one I read. When I got to the Shem Creek book, I knew I wanted to come here!
Her book A Low Country Summer (Plantation Sequel) was also set in Charleston. I have read and enjoyed all of them!
Other Books include:
Crab Louie Salad
Artist Painting on the Battery
An “Alley Gallery”
A private home and garden whose gate happened to be open.
A private alley
A fountain in the waterfront park that looks like a pineapple.
Stately mansions line the Battery in Charleston.
The Carolina Lowcountry is known for their Sweet Grass baskets.
One of many window boxes in the Historic District.
Palms line the waterfront park.
These were really interesting trees, but I never found out what kind they are.
They still exist!
The Authur Ravenel Jr. Bridge connects Mount Pleasant and Charleston.