If you’ve been following along, you got a peek at the beginning of our 3-day road trip adventure with Garden & Gun Magazine, where we taste-tested and toured around South Carolina…Greenville and Pawleys Island to be exact.  

For our final stop, we had one last city in our sights, but after talking to the owner at Pelican Inn on Pawleys, we planned for a quick impromptu stop at the Old Sheldon Church ruins.  It was here where we saw the hauntingly beautiful remains of a pre-Revolutionary church dating back to the 1700s, the same church which was also razed by Sherman during the Civil War. History buff or not, you can’t deny the beauty of these ruins tucked away amidst the Spanish moss, off a quiet road outside Beaufort. 

After we had time to explore the hallowed grounds, the crew piled back into the car and headed to our final destination: the charming city of Beaufort, South Carolina’s second oldest seaside town.  It’s safe to say that Beaufort immediately stole our hearts as we meandered through its sleepy streets covered in Spanish Moss and lined with the most stunning Antebellum homes.  Can we talk about that curb appeal?  Just a dream.  Add a few cruiser bicycle rentals and some sunshine on our backs, and you have four ladies as happy as clams. 

Upon checking in at the Beaufort Inn, we immediately knew we were in for the most pleasant night’s stay. Its peachy pink facade and cheerful green and white striped awning beckoned us into this B&B-meets-boutique hotel. We had a quintessential lowcountry experience, as the four of us enjoyed the entire Fisher House and ended our last stop with a glass (or two) of wine and chit chat on the porch until the wee hours of the night. 

The next morning we got an invitation from Frank and Amy Lesene, owners of Anchorage 1770 a newly-renovated historic inn, to pop in for a little Southern hospitality before we prepared for the long journey home.  Anchorage 1770 was opening merely days after our visit, but to our delight, we were able to see hints of the Lesesne’s finishing touches on the impressive 15-bedroom inn. And as Amy invited several of her girlfriends over, we joined them for cool cucumber sandwiches, homemade pimento cheese bites, and strawberry cupcakes from Sweet Vivis on the sweeping front porch.  One of the beautiful things about a road trip is the spontaneous additions to your itinerary, and whenever they happen, it’s always a reminder that you should live in the moment and allow a trip’s moments simply unfold.  

A big, big thank you to Garden & Gun Magazine, Discover South Carolina and Travel South USA for making this dream road trip a reality for us.  We absolutely adored sharing our adventure with all of you, and what fun having it featured in the October issue of G&G! Truly, MKR

 
On Sunday, you caught Day 1 of our 3-day road trip with Garden & Gun Magazine and the great state of South Carolina.  It was filled with some of Greenville’s tastiest of bites and a magical night’s stay at Hotel Domestique.  And while Day 1 was one for the books, as the sun rose in Traveler’s Rest we knew we had to keep movin’, so fueled by coffee and pancakes, the crew pressed onward. 

We took a quick pit-stop in Camden to do a little antiquing and after scoring a few favorite records and a trinket or two, we got back on the road and continued to the tranquil shores of Pawleys Island, America’s oldest seaside community. In true low country fashion, Pawleys’ sleepy marshes and cypress-sided cottages proved to be just as endearing as imagined, and we were eager to settle in for a relaxed evening at the Pelican Inn. 

Pelican Inn, just 7o miles north of Charleston, turned out to be the most charming beachfront bed & breakfast.  Being built in the 1840’s, it’s one of the several original houses remaining on the island and its relaxed charm was undeniable. Nestled behind the island’s highest dunes and tucked beside mossy sprawling oak trees, the Inn is one of those places that reminds its guests to turn your iphone on silent, slow down and simply unwind.  The idyllic porch hammocks, private dock stretching over the salt marsh, well-loved rocking chairs and eclectic antiques beckoned us into a world of endless summer. 

After touring our new digs, we hopped into the car to venture around Pawleys Island and grab a bite to eat.  A torrential rain shower had other plans, and we found ourselves running into Pawleys Island Tavern for frozen cocktails and oysters, because sometimes you just really need a good dive bar and a pina colada to round out a day on the road. 

The rain showed no sign of passing, so sweaters and sweatshirts came on and we staked out a covered gazebo with a hammock by the shore.   We brought the jams (Taylor Swift obviously), easy bites and of course wine, and in that moment it was like time stood still.  No one felt the need to check their phones or snap a picture for Instagram, we just lived in that space.  And long after the sun set, we snuck back to our rooms, cracked our windows and fell asleep to salty air and a sweet lullaby of crashing waves on the shore. Truly, MKR

P.S. With one day left in our #TakingCarolina road trip adventure, we eagerly looked forward to Beaufort in all its moss-draped, Antebellum glory. Tune in Friday to read more! xo