Here I Am...On The Road Again...

Hi Friends:

Gosh, don't you just love that Bob Seger song? It's my favorite road trip song.

Alright, now back to business. As many of you know I recently returned from a whirlwind road trip through the South where I ate grits and biscuits (by the ton), visited with family and friends, and experienced some great sites and sounds from three of the South's best cities: Charleston, South Carolina; Asheville, North Carolina; and Nashville, Tennessee. Talk about some good times. Here is a snap shot of my trip (I'll do a post on each city) including not-to-miss places, friendly faces and lots of fun - Charleston-style.

The main purpose of my visit to Charleston was to witness the marriage of my brother-in-law to his beautiful bride. But while I was in town, I found time to enjoy the history of the city.

Here is my not-to-miss list:

A carriage ride through the city (I always research to find the one that takes the best care of their horses). Carriage ride operators will give you the history of the city as you travel down original cobblestone roads.

Visit the city's many famous landmarks (which you will learn about on the carriage ride). I loved St. Michael's Episcopal Church on Board Street. It's the oldest surviving religious structure in Charleston.

Be sure to go to an Oyster Roast. Restaurants around the area often offer all-you-can-eat roasts on Thursdays and Fridays. Not only are the oysters from the local waters, they are delicious and the roast is a great activity with friends. Just shuck, dip into your favorite condiment (I like horseradish), enjoy and repeat! Now, if only I could find a vintage shucking instrument...

Do you spy what I spy at the front of this bus? A vintage copper boiler! The bus driver and I had quite the spirited chat about this gem from the past - he uses his very differently than we use ours!

Gosh, there are so many great restaurants to visit while you are downtown. I loved Amen Street Fish and Raw Bar. Don't be shocked, but I had the shrimp and grits, which were delish. I also had hushpuppies and shrimp corndogs. We also tried Water's Edge in Mount Pleasant (just outside downtown Charleston) and loved the Herbed Grouper. The Seafood Pasta was also a hit at our table. And... we even saw dolphins during our meal!

I stayed with family while I was in town, but on previous trips, I've stayed at the Planter's Inn on Market Street and Hampton Inn on Meeting Street. Customer service at both hotels was impeccable.

Have you visited Charleston? Do you have recommendations on places to visit and places to eat? Let us know in the comments section!

I'll sign off for now. My next blog post will feature the best of Asheville, North Carolina (...well, from my perspective at least). Bye ya'll.