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Holy City Heaven...Charleston is my obsession.

Holy City Heaven...Charleston is my obsession.

Old Apr 21st, 2021, 02:47 PM
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Holy City Heaven...Charleston is my obsession.


My favorite thing in Charleston...the Pineapple fountain at Waterfront Park.This trip was supposed to be to Ireland for my husband’s 50th birthday. COVID-19 created other plans and we went to plan B – Charleston. We drove from Atlanta and arrived at about 9:30 at night. Our room was a courtyard suite which are relatively new rooms off the Peninsula Grill’s courtyard. It was fun to head down the brick walkway to the elevators for our room rather than entering through the main hotel entrance. At night, it’s just magical as the gas lanterns are flickering and the fairy lights in the trees are lit and it’s just beautiful. Planters Inn is a Relais and Chateau hotel at the corner of Meeting and Market. The location is pretty much perfect, as it is convenient to the restaurants on King Street, Queen Street, East Bay and waterfront park and more.

I don’t really love the market in Charleston, unfortunately, but it is right across the street.

The room was large with a sitting room upfront and a small table and chairs outside the door for coffee, room service meals, drinks, etc…the table overlooks the outdoor dining and courtyard. The sitting room had a full-size sofa (with pullout bed), TV and a small counter with a Keurig coffee machine and pretty large refrigerator (large enough for several bottles of wine and canned sodas). There was a second chair in the sitting room and bench In the center is a large bathroom with a roomy shower and overhead shower head and handheld shower head. The vanity is nice and there is a separate water closet but only one sink in the vanity. There are wide plank wood floors in the living spaces. The bedroom was also large with a 4 poster bed, 2 huge closets and TV and dresser. There was also a desk with chair, a couch at the foot of the bed and a bench along one wall.

The hotel also has a lovely library that serves coffee in the AM and tea and lemonade in the afternoon. Guests are also welcome to take cocktails from the bar to the library or out on the courtyard. The only downside to the hotel, is that the bar at Peninsula Grill is small with less capacity due to COVID. I don’t believe there is a parking an option other than valet (they are quick if you want your car). Peninsula Grill is open for breakfast and they do have room service for breakfast. The hotel doesn’t serve lunch but that’s not an issue for us at all. You can get their famous coconut cake delivered pretty much anytime.

The staff in all departments at Planter’s Inn is excellent.

We turned in pretty quickly as we were tired from the drive and wanted to get an early start the next day.

Thursday, April 15

We got up and Chaz had some coffee outside while I got ready for breakfast. Breakfast was great and we enjoyed the terrace. I had avocado toast with tomatoes and sunny side up eggs and grits. Chaz had some sort of breakfast sandwich with a fried egg and crispy potatoes.

Charleston is an excellent city for walking and exploring and we headed out for a walk before a work call for which I had to be present. Lots of azaleas in bloom and window boxes to admire. We spent a little time at waterfront park before Chaz headed to Miller’s All Day (more about Miller's later) for coffee and I logged on to Zoom.

Chaz actually had a coffee at Miller’s All Day and then headed to Harken on Queen St for another coffee and to kill some time while I finished up. Harken is a really cute place with outdoor seating and several nooks inside to hang out and sip coffee or tea.

Post call lunch was to be at Rodney Scott BBQ. I grew up in Memphis and love good BBQ. Rodney Scott was featured on Netflix Chefs Table: BBQ and is a James Beard award winner. We took a bike cab to his restaurant on King Street and were not disappointed. We got there just ahead of the crowd. We both got Rod's Original Whole Hog Pork Sandwich with crispy pork skins on the sandwich. The sauce is not too much and has just the right amount of spice and I know why it is on the Time Out top 25 sandwich list. Terrific.

We decided to explore a bit more and were intrigued by what looked like a little garden just off King St near Queen St. Charleston is full of courtyards and gardens tucked away so we headed in to check it out. The further we went in the garden the more interesting it became. We soon figured out that it was actually a graveyard. While it was in need of some attention it was still beautiful. Azaleas and camellias were blooming and the old trees were decked with lots of Spanish moss. The graves were very old and so many of the headstones had become so worn over the years it was hard to read them (some were impossible). We wandered through the graves for quite some time. Seeing the tiny head stones on some of the graves was sad and some of the children’s graves had stones decorated with lambs. I believe the cemetery is part of the Unitarian church there. It’s a nice place to roam just off busy King Street.

We worked our way back to Planter’s Inn to clean up for dinner. Doar Brothers is a cocktail spot just across Meeting Street from Planter’s Inn and we stopped in for a cocktail. I had the punch du jour….rum and some other stuff. Tasty but no clue what was in it. Chaz went with a Rye Old Fashioned and we also had some prosciutto and olives while we were hanging out to take the edge off. I mean we ate a ton that day, how could we have been hungry at all?

Our dinner reservation was at Hank’s Seafood on Hayne Street just a quick walk from Doar Brothers. It is billed as one of the best seafood restaurants in Charleston and I was kinda prepared to be disappointed. Nope. It really is one of the best seafood restaurants in town. I liked the look of the restaurant inside. Nice but not “fancy”. I started with She Crab soup and it was delicious. Chaz got oysters and the only thing missing was any explanation about the assortment from the server. We were both happy with our starters. Dinner for me was crab cakes and Chaz got a fried seafood platter. Again, we were both happy. The seafood was light and crispy. My crab cakes were perfect….no filler and only the slightest amount of panko on top to impart a crispy exterior. There were a few fresh corn kernels inside but the finely chopped basil in the crab cakes elevated this dish. Crab cake perfection.

We didn’t get dessert (again, you know what we ate and drank). It was a short walk back to the hotel and we had a nightcap in the Peninsula Grill bar…tiny space but a great selection of Champagnes and wines by the glass. This was a wonderful first day.
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Old Apr 22nd, 2021, 08:52 AM
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Thanks for this, denisea! 🎂 to your DH. If it couldn't be Ireland, Charleston is a sweet second. Sorry if I'm forgetting your possible past visit but I loved indoor tours of some of the gorgeous houses. Crab cake yums!
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Old Apr 22nd, 2021, 03:52 PM
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Friday, April 16

We woke to weather that was cool and breezy (and downright cold in the shade). Today’s choice for breakfast was Miller’s All Day on King Street. They have a good coffee bar and a great menu at Miller’s and it was tough to decide what to get. Let me remind you all that I am Southern and there are foods that I love (that I know I shouldn’t). Judge me for it, if you must.

I got a fried bologna (it’s called fried but it’s not deep fried but done on a flat top) and cheese biscuit and pimiento cheese grits. Chaz chose chicken (say that 3 times fast). Fried chicken biscuit with sorghum mustard to be exact with some crispy potatoes and a nitro cold brew coffee (ok and he also got a cinnamon roll which he can never turn down---if there is a cinnamon roll on the menu, he’s gonna get it). Both very good and for me, like a blast from the past before bologna was a bad food. The only thing I didn’t love was the grits because the cheese in the pimiento cheese grits just got lost and they seemed a little thin. They weren’t bad just not great. Truth be told, I didn’t need them because I ate every bite of the bologna and cheese biscuit. We walked over to Harken on Queen Street afterwards for another coffee for Chaz and I decided to run back to the hotel for a heavier jacket.

I always love Charleston but as a Southern girl always love being in the South as the people are so friendly. As I was headed back to the hotel, I came across a man on the street and as he looked up, I said hello. He smiled the biggest smile and then said “Aw, that mask” and then burst out laughing. It took me a second to realize that I had on a white mask with a big pink lips on them. This man was laughing so hard that I started laughing and we just had the most fun moment. It’s just good to laugh but we chatted for a moment and as I walked away I said “Have a good day” to which he replied, “well, I will now!” I suppose we made a COVID connection.

We walked over to Washington Square and met group of men working on the landscaping and we talked a bit about the huge Live Oaks in and around Charleston. I love the Spanish moss that hangs from them in the coastal communities. We found a plaque marking the spot of a time capsule to be opened in 40 more years –buried in 1961. I’d love to be around for that! What do ya think is inside?

We meandered down Queen and Church streets and we always love peeking into the courtyards. So many great spots for our Sparkling Saturday tradition. I love the window boxes, the fountains, brick pavers, jasmine and courtyards of the homes in this area. I never get tired of getting lost and exploring the gardens behind the wrought iron gates and enjoying the flickering gas lamps that flank the lacquered front doors. We walked all the way to The Battery before heading up East Bay Street to our lunch spot, Amen Street Oyster Bar. We had a table outside and by then it had warmed and so it was a nice spot. Chaz started with a half dozen oysters (and this time with the explanation and description of the oysters) and got a blacked fish sandwich (Grouper? Mahi-Mahi?) and I got a shrimp roll. All of it really good and fresh and with good service.

We wandered around a bit more and made our way up Market Street. I picked up a great little throw on dress for summer at one of the shops on Market near our hotel. I have to say one of the hardest things about walking up and down Market St (especially North Market St) is having to walk past “Sugar Station”…in short order a candy and ice cream shop where you can always smell the waffle cones being made, a Ben and Jerry’s and Market Street Sweets where you can always smell the butter and sugar of their delicious pralines. They are always offering samples but I already KNOW how good they are. My goal was not to be a dozen of them! We also ended up back on King St to get some sunglasses.

By late afternoon we had rested, cleaned up and couldn’t wait to get back out. While we don’t really stay out late, we don’t want to be on our room too much on vacation. So, we headed over to Bistro A Vin at Archdale & Market Street. This is a great little spot and we came by the night before but I forgot to mention it earlier in the report (maybe the punch du jour at Doar Brothers impacted me more than I realized). The first night we sat on the patio, this time we sat inside. They have a great selection of wines by the glass and beer, as well. Tonight we got a little cheese and charcuterie with our wine (Cotes de Provence and Sancerre). Cheese – P’tit Basque and St Angel triple cream with some Rosette de Lyon. The P’tit Basque was cut (scraped) with a girolle that really enhances the texture.

Apparently, I was entranced by the cheese and wine. Suddenly, I felt this intense heat. Out. Of. Nowhere. What is that? Uh, my sleeve is on fire. MY SLEEVE IS ON FIRE! I finally registered that my clothes were on fire and got it put out. The girl at the next table was stunned (and so was I). Apparently, my sleeve grazed the flame of the votive as I put my glass down. I guess the amazing thing (other than I escaped completely unharmed), is that I had on a dark jacket with frayed edges and you can’t tell it was ever ablaze.

And with that, we made our way to Le Farfalle for Italian. We had a terrific Rose from Puglia but I didn’t get a photo of the label. Octopus carpaccio to start—really unique. It was served with tomato and eggplant---really good but not my favorite octopus. I had fettuccine verde with Bolognese that was excellent and a welcome change from the seafood I’d been enjoying. Chaz had grilled lamb chops and cacio e pepe. Everything was good but the cacio e pepe wasn’t traditional at all. It had olive oil in it and the pepper didn’t seem fresh cracked—it was good but no one in Rome would be OK with calling it cacio e pepe. We skipped dessert. It was a great day and we were full and ready to turn in and let all that food digest!!
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Old Apr 23rd, 2021, 10:28 AM
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some photos


Fried Bologna and cheese biscuit at Miller's All Day

Cacio e pepe-Le Farfalle

Fettuccine verde - Le Farfalle

Octopus carpaccio - Le Farfalle

cheese/charcuterie at Bistro A Vin

Amen Street oysters

Amen Street Oyster bar

Love this garden

The time capsule in Washington Square Park

Fried chicken biscuit and nitro cold brew coffee at Miller's All Day

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Old Apr 23rd, 2021, 10:42 AM
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photos from the garden graveyard


sweet and sad

Spanish moss is just cool and pretty


another grave of a child...love the ferns

again, love the Spanish moss


Ahh, now this is our first clue that it's not just a garden

The walkway into the garden.....

Looks like a garden at first ....
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Old Apr 23rd, 2021, 02:10 PM
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Great TR and super shots!
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Old Apr 24th, 2021, 07:09 AM
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Thanks TD!
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Old Apr 24th, 2021, 10:33 AM
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Saturday April 17 2021 Charleston, SC

Saturday, April 17

As early risers it can be a bit of a bummer on the weekends. Apparently, people actually sleep late on the weekend. I haven’t slept past 7am in years and am usually awake long before that. That’s true for both of us, actually. The point is (and I do have one) is that the hotel doesn’t start serving breakfast until 8am on the weekend. Plan B meant we decided to stop on at Callie’s Hot Biscuit in the market for a quick brekkie. We were scheduled for a charter on a 27 foot catamaran at 10:30. I got my favorite Callie’s biscuit (bacon, roasted tomatoes, arugula and lemon basil mayo). Chaz went more traditional with sausage, egg and cheese. Always great stuff and so you know that we do make some sacrifices, we did not get the strawberry shortcake! We picked up a few sandwiches for the boat trip, iced down a bottle of Waris Hubert Champagne and took a bike taxi to the marina. Earlier in the week, the forecast was cold and rainy but the day turned out to be beautiful! No rain, sunny and a very comfortable temperature to be out on the water.

Our captain was Jenny and the cat was perfect for 2 passengers. We started out sailing and it was great to see the city from the water. Jenny was wonderful. A wealth of information but more in answering questions than narrating. Also, she was flexible about where we sailed and trying to check out dolphins or rays when we saw them. The spires of all the churches is striking from the water and seeing the Battery and Waterfront Park is incredible.

We saw a few dolphins. Apparently, there are about 300 bottlenose dolphins who make their home in Charleston Harbor. Chaz spotted a big group of rays and we tracked them for a little while. Pelicans are always around and Jenny talked about the older Pelicans who founded their own version of assisted living by hanging out around the restaurants on Shem Creek to get food easily (and Pelicans go gray like we do). Jenny also knows a lot about the shipping industry and the massive container ships you will see in Charleston Harbor. As we returned from a swing out to Fort Sumter, a container ship was coming in and another leaving the harbor. Can’t believe the size of those vessels and while they appear to be barely moving, the incoming ship caught up and passed us. We learned a bit about how the escort boats work to get boats in and out of the harbor, dredging operations to manage the depth of the harbor talked about the recent mess in the Suez Canal. Charleston Sailing Adventures has two boats and run several types of sailing charters throughout the day. One day, we’ll get on a sunset sail as I am sure that would be so pretty. We chartered our trip privately and added an hour to spend more time on the water. We had a great time and would definitely sail with them again.

An Uber back to the hotel to drop our stuff and change clothes and then we walked about a mile to Felix on Upper King Street for lunch (we never ate the sandwiches we took on the cat). We both went with the Raclette burger which was terrific…mine was a tad overdone and maybe had been cooked ahead and finished when we ordered. Not sure—it did taste great but I’d have liked it a bit juicier. Felix’s is a nice spot with a French theme/flair but I wouldn’t call it a French restaurant. We finished up and headed back down King and on to Planter’s Inn for some rest and a shower before dinner.

We had dinner reservations at Peninsula Grill and so we just stayed on property for cocktail hour. People observing is always interesting. Some observations from the bar at Peninsula Grill that surprise me but shouldn’t, I guess. The first is the number of people who will show up at a restaurant on a Saturday night without a reservation and then are incensed when they can’t be accommodated. We watched a woman get really snippy when told the restaurant was fully booked. At the time there were open tables because it was early but obviously not time to seat people and feed them in time to turn the table for the people who had reservations. It’s not a massive restaurant and if you are staying at the hotel they beg you to make a reservation when you confirm your hotel reservation. I know that the courtyard from the street is very alluring and I don’t blame anyone for trying to sneak in last minute. I can’t imagine asking to see a manager and THEN insist to be shown the reservations to prove they couldn’t accommodate them. Wow. This woman did just that and we heard her say they were staying at the hotel---so they should have taken the hotel’s advice and booked a table in advance. Ridiculous to me. Charleston is not a city to wing it, especially if you want to try some of the most popular restaurants. I don’t think there is a single restaurant that we went to for dinner that wasn’t fully booked.

The second observation is one that continues to bum me out about our American dining style. I can’t really see any circumstance in which I would wear a workout top and running shorts to dinner anywhere. Maybe Peninsula Grill sounds like a casual restaurant but I wouldn’t wear the aforementioned clothing to dinner anywhere. We saw someone arrive in that attire. They didn’t have a reservation and so didn’t stay but I just don’t understand the thought process there. We do dress up a bit more than others for dinner but when we dress more casually it’s nice jeans and a sweater or something. I know not everyone wants to dress up and sometimes just want to be comfortable but you can do it and still look nice. When did we decide to do everything in workout clothes?

Getting a drink at the bar also enabled to observe one of the dinner specials that night as the couple next to use were locals and had dinner at the bar. I ended up getting that for dinner once we got seated. I booked an outdoor table to enjoy the beautiful atmosphere of the beautiful courtyard. We had previously only been to Charleston in late Fall or Winter and no outdoor dining…so it was nice to finally dine outside here. It’s really a magical setting.

We chose a Champagne that we hadn’t tried before and then found out they were out of it. Grrrr. Plan B Champagne was good but not my favorite. Soft shell crab was in season and we shared a lightly fried softie with tomato, orange, watercress and a broth I can’t remember. Very light and delicious.

Our mains were a snapped served on a ribollita and a New York strip with peppercorn sauce. Both really good. Dessert was the famous coconut cake with strawberries and coconut anglaise and the banana pudding panna cotta…both wonderful. We had a great night at Peninsula Grill and it was great to just climb a flight of stairs to our room once we were done.



The spires of the Holy City from the harbor

Ravenel Bridge

Rainbow Row

Soft shell crab

snapper over ribollita

NY strip

Banana pudding panna cotta

Ultimate Coconut Cake

Chaz

Peninsula Grill Courtyard
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Old Apr 24th, 2021, 05:30 PM
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Denise, am really enjoying your TR to charming Charleston. So glad you were able to travel, although, sadly, Ireland will have to wait! Next time we're in Charleston we'll have to check out a cat cruise. Thanks for including so many tasty details in your journal!
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Old Apr 25th, 2021, 11:15 AM
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Tomarkot - always great to hear from you. The trip was really all about food so without all the tasty details, there wouldn't be much to report!
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Old Apr 25th, 2021, 11:56 AM
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Sunday, April 18, 2021

Sunday morning began with a trip over to Harken for Chaz to get coffee and something small to snack on before our brunch reservation at High Cotton. Harken really is a nice spot. There are a few outdoor tables and lots of nooks and crannies indoor. They sell all kinds of baked goods that are a bit unique. I'm not sure if they focus on more healthy items or if they just enjoy offering items that aren't the usual. We got a blackberry chia chai muffin and a crumb cake thing. They weren't bad but I did not love them. The muffin had a strange texture to me and the crumb cake was kind of heavy and had a cheesecake like swirl in it that was lemony but had avocado in it and maybe that accounts for the heaviness. Maybe there are other options that I'd like better. Chaz likes their coffee and I had to bring my own diet coke b/c they don't sell soda. It's a cute spot and we'd go back. It's certainly in a great area for exploring and we always love snooping around the homes in the area to spot secluded courtyards, fountains and gardens--so we did that for awhile before heading back to Planter's Inn to get dressed for our brunch.

We usually hit Hall's Chophouse for Sunday brunch because they have a gospel choir that performs and is fun to hear. This year we decided to visit their sister restaurant High Cotton....because we had dinner reservations at Hall's that night. High Cotton is a big restaurant and they also had live music during brunch. They also have a very different brunch menu than Hall's and it was hard to decide.

I did get a strawberry basil cocktail to start and we decided to split an order of beignets that were quite good. Smaller, lighter and with less powdered sugar atop them than the Cafe du Monde version they are quite good and are served with berries. Chaz got crab cake benedict and I get chicken and waffles served on top of a creamy gravy with a little kick to it. Everything was great - the only thing I would change is the dusting of powdered sugar over the chicken--it didn't need it. They also serve what I think they called brunch bread that tasted a bit like a blueberry muffin baked in a sheet pan. We enjoyed our brunch and explored waterfront park again and this time working our way on to my beloved Pineapple Fountain. (And with more understanding of the pineapple as a hospitality symbol in Charleston thanks to Jenny who explained that returning sailors displayed them not only as a hospitality symbol but as a "brag" on their sailing capability to return with pineapples that were still fit to eat and not rotten.

Chaz decided a nap was in order once we got back to Market Street. I decided to wander on over to Zero George to scout it as a future hotel possibility. It's a really pretty setting and a bit off the beaten path. The property is made up of a number buildings on the property ad it looks pretty tranquil and I believe gets great reviews...maybe we'll try it out someday. From there I sauntered up George Street and found a nice little park with a fountain and cafe tables a few blocks away. It would be a great spot to hang out in if you lived or worked in the area. As usual, the walk back to the hotel provided me with garden glimpses and window boxes with flowers tumbling out of them.

I'll post some photos and finish Sunday in a subsequent post.

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Old Apr 26th, 2021, 02:48 PM
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Sunday, part 2

After cleaning up and resting up, we decided to head to Eleve at the Grand Bohemian for a cocktail before Hall's Chophouse. It's a big space with indoor and outdoor seating and the weather was really nice. We ended up sitting inside at one of the bars for a glass of wine. As we were getting our check the bartender let us know that there was a group at Marion Square that wanted to protest on King Street but did not have a permit and had been turned away. We heard a few sirens while there, as well. We had expected that there might be protests as the Chauvin trial was ending as we got to Charleston. King Street saw some unrest during the summer and we decided that we would avoid Marion Square and take Wentworth toward King...see what the was going on and perhaps use St Philip St as a way to get closer to King St where Hall's is located.

As soon as we walked out onto Meeting Street the protesters were headed our way. We turned down Wentworth just before they arrived. When we got to King there were no protesters and quite a bit of police presence and we decided to walk down King and had absolutely no trouble at all. As far as I am aware, the protests remained peaceful and there were no issues. I want to be clear that I know most who protest are peaceful but unfortunately it only takes one person to create a situation where that peace is disrupted. I had to make a quick turn in Barcelona a few years ago as I inadvertently turned down a street that put me a block away from protesters there. My goal is always to be cautious and avoid situations that could become unsafe.

Hall's was packed and lively. We were happy to see Ruinart Rose on the wine list and that's what we got...it's a favorite of ours. I got a small wedge salad - steakhouse favorite of mine (blue cheese and bacon and I am in). Chaz got a beautiful soft shell crab over asparagus to start. Both delicious. It's a Chophouse so steak was the plan. I got a ribeye and Chaz a NY strip. We got onion straws and Brussels sprouts as our sides. Everything was really good and the service at Hall's is always great. It was a birthday trip so we went with a Salted caramel cake with bananas foster sauce for dessert. Quite good! No shock we were full and tired and happy to find a bike cab bright outside (love these in Charleston). Quick trip back to Planters for a good night's sleep before our kayaking trip the next day.
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Old Apr 26th, 2021, 05:47 PM
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I must say I love fried beef bologna and have not had it in years. We really need to go to Charleston. I have only been to the Air Force Base there for a flight. I love your trip reports. I am glad you went all out for his 50th birthday. He looked very good. I was really looking forward to that Ireland report but maybe next year.
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Old Apr 30th, 2021, 10:58 AM
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Thanks Macross. I need to finish this report and add more photos...work is getting in the way! Do find a way to get to Charleston! So much to offer from dining, historical interest, gardens, beaches, water....just try to go in July/August as it will be hot & humid!
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Old Apr 30th, 2021, 11:39 AM
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Monday, April 19, 2021

Back to our 7am breakfast in Peninsula Grill and our usual server who knows I need a diet coke. I got just standard 2 scrambled eggs with bacon (and a sausage patty that Chaz got) those creamy grits and a perfect biscuit. I think Chaz got Crab cake eggs benedict. I wanted to fill up for our kayaking trip at Bowen's Island and we finally drove somewhere for the first time on this trip. It's a pretty easy drive out and once you turn off the main road you are greeted with oaks and Spanish moss. At the end of the road, you will find Charleston Outdoor Adventures. We chose a two hour trip and got perfect weather for the birthday boy.

The saltwatercreeks and marshes in and around Charleston are my favorite! Kayaking them is a great way to explore. This area is loaded with oyster beds that are thriving. There is an abandoned shrimping boat along one of the creeks. It's an easy 2 hour paddle and they do have tandem kayaks if you want to pair up. We opted for our own kayaks but somehow kept getting separated by a couple in a tandem kayak. It's a great way to see dolphins and birds of all kinds...plus a few turtles. The oysters are literally everywhere. It was not easy to take photos and keep moving (and keep your phone dry). We learned a lot about the area and the wildlife from our guide, Alexa. It's a great way to see the area and I believe they offer tours leaving from several areas around Charleston. I also think they offer paddle boards...maybe next time.

On our way back, we stopped at Ellis Creek Fish Camp for lunch. It is right off the road but their deck overlooks the marsh and it's an excellent spot for a glass of wine or a beer and lunch. Last time for some fried seafood - shrimp for me and shrimp & grouper for him. All of it very tasty! A short drive and we were back at Planter's Inn. Showers, naps, pre-packing before we headed out one more time.

We sat outside at Charleston Place since it was so nice for our first round. We hung out there for quite awhile but decided to see if we could get in the bar at Husk ('cause we love it). Unfortunately, it was closed that night and so we made our way to Bin 152 at King and Queen Streets. They have a great selection by the glass. Really nice spot. We had an earlier dinner reservation at FIG. We sat at the bar and chatted with a couple next to use from Delaware. The food was good but maybe not our favorite meal. Listen, we ate a lot and it was time to go home and start working out again (although my body needed the break to let some nagging injuries heal a bit). We started with ricotta gnocchi that was heavenly. Next, a sauteed soft shell crab and I don't remember much about how it was prepared. Last, a culotte steak with grits- good but a bit tough. We shared everything and it was more than enough food. There wasn't a dessert that called to us and we decided to get another slice of the ultimate coconut cake back at the hotel. Good call---I do miss that cake so much. I got my best night of sleep that night---we walked a ton, ate a ton and drank.... a lot. It was a great trip and we had wonderful weather and a wonderful time.

Tuesday - April 20, 2021

One last breakfast....Chaz decided to go all out and we loved that the restaurant offered the coconut cake for breakfast. So, he ordered it as a parting gift to himself (and yes I had some). I got the avocado toast with sunny side up eggs one last time. Terrific! We loaded the car and headed home.

I promise to get more photos loaded soon and will make a list of our places & spaces.

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Old Apr 30th, 2021, 03:54 PM
  #16  
 
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Oh my golly, that banana panne cotta was a work of art! Loved the views from the cruise.

Where to next??
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Old May 4th, 2021, 01:18 PM
  #17  
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Oh goodness; we are tentatively scheduled for Ireland in September but I really don't know if that will happen---believe the State dept is still recommending not to travel to Ireland (I guess because of the UK variant of COVID). Still a lot of uncertainty and I know a lot of Europe will "re-open" in summer but that could lead to surges that shut things down in Fall. Next trip is a huge question mark??? At this point, we'd be so happy to hit a few spots in Canada if they will admit Americans. The destination could well be decided on where we can go!
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Old Mar 15th, 2022, 12:20 PM
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Thanks for posting this great trip report. We'll be there about a week later in April this year so this was very helpful.
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Old Mar 16th, 2022, 11:12 AM
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Have a great time. I think I have posted a few Charleston TRs in the past 2-3 years if additional info would be helpful. Really love the Charleston area and April is such a good time weather wise for Charleston. Enjoy your trip.
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Old Mar 20th, 2022, 07:10 PM
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Great trip report! I love the photos. And I think that is the perfect amount of overgrown-ness for the cemetery. Thanks for sharing.
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