Charleston

This is our second trip to Charleston. We were actually here at the same time last year, and enjoyed it so much that we decided to return. Our hotel is in the town of Mount Pleasant, just across the Cooper River from downtown Charleston. Mount Pleasant is a charming, relaxed suburb which still holds tightly to its own identity and sense of community. I suppose you could say we fell in love with the town last year. It is certainly a place we could live in, though I have no idea how we'd be able to afford a home.

About five minutes from our hotel is Sullivan's Island, which we hit after coming into town. The public beaches there are nice because they are commercially undeveloped. No hotels, no bars, no shops. It's simply a nice, wide beach. The island does have a few shoppes and restaurants, but they've kept the beach unspoiled.

One of my favorite things to do on vacation is to eat at local restaurants, experiencing the flavors unique to the area. Charleston is certainly one of the best places for dining. For example, last night we ate at the Charleston Crab House. We learned about the place from the TV show Flip This House, in which a real estate company (with close ties to the place) renovated the restaurant. The restaurant sits along Wappoo Creek, and offers docks for boaters to sail up to. Excellent seafood.

In the historic downtown, in a three story Charleston shotgun house built in 1897, is The Hominy Grill. This traditional neighborhood restaurant is home to delicious, made-from-scratch traditional Southern dishes. I'd heard about one of their signature dishes, and knew I had to eat there. The dish is called The Big Nasty. It's a fried chicken breast, served on a light, flaky biscuit. That is smothered in shredded cheese and sausage gravy. Believe me, it is a wonderful thing. Very good eats...

On the agenda for the rest of the trip... a visit to the USS Yorktown, a WWII aircraft carrier; historic downtown Charleston; and more great eating!