Every now and then it does a soul good to get out of town, if only for 24 hours, and that’s exactly what Bill and I did this past weekend. We left Murrells Inlet at noon on Sunday and headed south to Charleston. Pat Conroy once said, “There’s no city on earth quite like Charleston,” and we certainly agree.
Our “home away from home” for the next day was The Nicholas, a bed and breakfast located right in the center of the College of Charleston. I’m not sure I would want to stay at The Nicholas when school was in session, but the campus was very quiet and tranquil. Built in 1798, The Nicholas is an example of a Federal Style Charleston Single House, meaning it is only one room wide which was done for ventilation through plenty of windows. Once the home of Charleston’s mayor in the early 1900’s, it was then converted into a boarding house for ship builders during World Was II. The Nicholas was closed during 2023 for renovations and restoration, resulting in a 5-star boutique hotel. Our room was on the second floor, accessible only by a spiral staircase, which explains why the gal who took our reservation kept asking if we were OK with the second floor! We were, indeed!
When we parked at the hotel we never moved the car for our entire stay which was wonderful – we walked everywhere (reminiscent of our recent Paris adventure!). King Street, center of the historic district and certainly the hub of shopping and eating, was only three blocks away, and our dinner reservations were at The Darling Oyster Bar, which was located right on King Street.
Speaking of our dinner – it was wonderful! We started with shrimp cocktail, followed by shrimp and grits for me and blue crab tagliatelle for Bill. Since moving to South Carolina I have tried shrimp and grits almost everywhere we dine, and I must say it was delicious with a twist at The Darling. Not only were the shrimp large and the grits cheesy, but included in the dish were crispy Brussels sprouts and country ham! We even splurged and had key lime pie for dessert, before walking to our next stop which was The Gaillard Center, a beautiful 1,800-seat theater completed in 2015.
Sitting in the second row, we were definitely up close and personal for this unique performance. Entitled “Live from Laurel Canyon,” six musicians took the audience through the stories and music generated in this rock and rock neighborhood during the 1960’s and 70’s. Similar to Greenwich Village and Haight Ashbury, artists flocked to this area in the Hollywood Hills to write music, smoke pot, and live an inexpensive life. The stories were amazing – did you know James Taylor was a serious addict and at one point broke both arms and both legs in an accident? – and the music was superb! American Folk Rock was developed by The Mamas and the Papas, the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Doors, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, and the Eagles, and we experienced tales and tunes from all of them! It was truly an enjoyable 90-minute show, and I know I’m not alone when I share that I knew the words to virtually all of the songs!
Monday morning, after checking out of The Nicholas, we ventured to Johns Island to experience the Angel Oak. What exactly is the Angel Oak?
It is the largest Southern live oak tree east of the Mississippi, thought to be between 400 and 500 years old and has grown up as well as out, producing over 17,000 square feet of shade. Admission to the tree is free and over 40,000 visitors a year stop to take in this massive wonder. As with most attractions, there is also a gift shop on the property along with the added element of several women on the porch creating the amazing sweetgrass baskets which are truly a Charleston treasure!
Isn’t it amazing what one can experience in a 24-hour period and without traveling too far from home? Be sure to make Charleston part of your upcoming travel plan! You certainly won’t regret it!
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