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

A few months ago, we packed up our bags and hit the road on a three-day road trip as part of a collaboration with our friends at Garden & Gun.  Bags were packed and the car was filled to the brim as Kat, Kathryn and Jenn and I piled into the car for the ultimate adventure and girls trip to the great state of South Carolina. 

First stop: Greenville.  Being so close to Atlanta, I’ve always heard great things about the city, and it did not disappoint. In true WOM fashion, we toasted to our first day on the road with a bottle of rosé at the wonderful French-inspired Passerelle Bistro. Located on The Liberty Bridge and overlooking Falls Park in downtown Greenville, Passerelle was a casual, yet refined spot perfect for lunch with the girls. An order of Baked Goat Cheese to start, followed by our flavorful, fresh salads and mouth-watering burgers hit just the spot. With satisfied bellies, we then meandered through Falls Park to enjoy the abundant bushes of the bluest hydrangeas, rushing waterfalls, and discover the park’s beautifully-manicured greenery. 

After lunch we made our way to the exceptional Hotel Domestique in Traveler’s Rest, about 30 minutes outside of Greenville. The hotel itself resembles that of one of Europe’s most inviting chateaux, as it’s nestled in the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains and crafted in rustic hardwoods, exposed stone walls and artisanal ironwork. On the grounds, you can see an old vineyard that saw its last grapes years ago, but its beauty remains and makes for the loveliest view in the distance.  Upon our arrival, we were greeted with champagne in the hotel‘s lobby, as we sat in its welcoming, contemporary space that exuded relaxed elegance at its finest.  We took a quick dip in the salt water pool before pulling ourself together for dinner at The Lazy Goat.  A few weeks prior, we had the privilege of meeting Chef Krystal, The Lazy Goat‘s sweet and very talented pastry chef, one evening as part of Atlanta Food & Wine Festival, and we made sure to dine at this star of Greenville’s foodie scene. In Tapas-style, the group ordered a dozen divine “graze and nibble” dishes, and we settled in with our wine and bites to savor the lovely night on the outdoor patio overlooking the river. 

As we drove back to Domestique the storms began to roll in, but we relished the coziness of Hotel Domestique‘s shelter, climbing into our pajamas, opening the windows and chatting on the pristinely trimmed beds with the cracks of thunder enveloping us before we finally turned in for the night. There’s no question how Traveler’s Rest gets its name; it was truly the most renewing place as Hotel Domestique makes for a lovely getaway when you visit South Carolina.  Truly, MKR

P.S. Check out scenes from our adventure in the Garden & Gun currently on stands now! We’ll be sharing Day 2 and 3 of our adventure this week here on the blog, so don’t miss the scoop on where to eat and stay in Pawley’s Island and Beaufort. xo