As you know, long, dark winters in Michigan can be agonizing so we try to get away soon after the holidays and travel to a warmer part of the country. This year we wanted to experience Jekyll Island again, so in January we took off and headed south. Our first stop was an overnighter to rest. We picked a winner because in Williamsburg are the Cumberland Falls and they were beautiful! After a one-night stay in Williamsburg, KY (where we had time to quickly see Cumberland Falls) we continued our journey south to Charleston, SC.
The excellent weather made for an easy drive down. We stayed at a Marriott Residence Inn Boutique Hotel (rare) called Hotel Bella Grace. While it didn’t have the typical space or amenities we expect at a Residence Inn, it was charming, clean, and in a good location. We found the historic district of Charleston captivating. It was easy to imagine life 100 to 200 years ago as many of the homes, streets, and historic buildings have been well preserved. While exploring the city, we stopped for some wonderful cheese at a little place on Church Street.
We focused two of our three days in Charleston exploring the city mostly on foot. However, the other day was mostly spent on a 30-mile bicycle ride to Sullivan’s Island where we visited the beach and stopped for lunch at Poe’s Pub (named after Edgar Allen) to split a beer and burger before heading back to Charleston. We enjoyed the laid-back beach town vibe of Sullivan’s Island, which was a nice change from the city traffic. The entire ride was on a bike path or sidewalk, making for a safe journey.
On our last morning in Charleston, we took a tour of the McLeod Plantation, on our way out of town. The narration was from the perspective of a former slave who lived to be 97 and survived until the late 1960’s. Between her firsthand accounts and her children’s recounts, an accurate portrayal of the plantation’s history was captured. It was a well spent 90 minutes.
Overall, we really enjoyed our short stay in Charleston and put it near the top of our list for places to return.
Published by