Just as frost was reaching Brooklyn, our plane bounced through the humid, Southern skies into Charleston for a quick weekend look at a city I've long wanted to see.
As we drove to our hotel Friday night,I'd already happily concluded this wasn't really a city. Charleston (pop: just over 125,000) felt more like a quaint small town.
The walk to dinner in the warm evening mist started to relax the Northern tenseness out of me--and the crispy cornbread did the rest.
Saturday morning brought one of my favorite parts of the trip: a culinary tour of Charleston, starting at the farmer's market. We selected bunches of produce here,
![Charleston2013-9343 Charleston2013-9343](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/c1ce87dbf69dcfa9119aebdb174e3077/Charleston2013-9343-900x900.jpg)
![Charleston2013-9340 Charleston2013-9340](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/56c3301d2f3b59de2b95952a27ecad28/Charleston2013-9340-900x900.jpg)
walked around the upper portion of the town (which feels much more up-and-coming and artsy as opposed to the lower more refined side).
![Charleston2013-9376 Charleston2013-9376](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/c3d1b9766441b21e72a0f7a4d029b1e2/Charleston2013-9376-900x900.jpg)
![Charleston2013-9395 Charleston2013-9395](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/64daae116f1f14b249290de41382f9b7/Charleston2013-9395-900x900.jpg)
Eating and texting while biking!
And then went into a not-yet-open restaurant for one of the most delicious meal of my life. Five courses made from what we'd selected at the market just 45 minutes before.
![Charleston2013-9386 Charleston2013-9386](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/b7fdd439b0247cb0f2172b78211299e2/Charleston2013-9386-900x900.jpg)
![Hom Trio Hom Trio](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/b2ec59488ae77bb1f66a8b5b42f78187/Hom-Trio-900x900.png)
![Charleston2013-9429 Charleston2013-9429](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/d2c44deda688d728e56772bce92262ec/Charleston2013-9429-900x900.jpg)
![Charleston2013-9423 Charleston2013-9423](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/6e191e160e370e9b737e9b88de3d9f53/Charleston2013-9423-900x900.jpg)
![Charleston2013-9499 Charleston2013-9499](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/6656dead8750a14514b31438a0baa3ec/Charleston2013-9499-900x900.jpg)
![Charleston2013-9475 Charleston2013-9475](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/6ebfc4ab045f594f78eb4afccff5a5a8/Charleston2013-9475-900x900.jpg)
We spent the afternoon walking among the outrageously beautiful homes (sans camera), taking a historical carriage ride, stopping in a local cafe, and generally admiring the gas lamps and colorful buildings.
![Charleston2013-9594 Charleston2013-9594](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/c26f351b914076d5cb8313bf5b3c06bf/Charleston2013-9594-900x900.jpg)
![Charleston2013-9591 Charleston2013-9591](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/3590349d6955bccd5dd41d843a10878c/Charleston2013-9591-900x900.jpg)
![Charleston2013-9542 Charleston2013-9542](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/de541f2343dc962941f4c2bf5acffc78/Charleston2013-9542-900x900.jpg)
The waterfront was lovely at sunset, and I completely sponged up the marsh air and seeing this guy relax.
![Charleston2013-9735 Charleston2013-9735](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/16494aefc44fcab5f200c1980905f69c/Charleston2013-9735-900x900.jpg)
![Charleston2013-9727 Charleston2013-9727](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/cc1bd0f6af72c1bca64d1c4d6475ae24/Charleston2013-9727-900x900.jpg)
The pier had huge swings that sat four people. Such a charming touch. And look who was there---just the best in-laws! (Thank you for the weekend away!)
![Charleston2013-9726 Charleston2013-9726](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/e3c7bb3b868406e7af6af4dcbcbed717/Charleston2013-9726-900x900.jpg)
The scale of the clean, beautifully restored, historic buildings is unmatched by any American city I've seen. Here's a look at the rest of the town. Amble slowly, quietly through.
![Charleston2013-9856 Charleston2013-9856](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/f9221dbd1cfeb5ac8e84ffae3d13f707/Charleston2013-9856-900x900.jpg)
![Charleston2013-9832 Charleston2013-9832](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/9ce597d8c3b7b765f03e5236159ea0d2/Charleston2013-9832-900x900.jpg)
![Charleston2013-9813 Charleston2013-9813](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/aae1e48e81a85990fbfcf7e82b06be0a/Charleston2013-9813-900x900.jpg)
![Charleston2013-9806 Charleston2013-9806](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/b4b1ad48adc3a8bdae565ce0b1ffab8d/Charleston2013-9806-900x900.jpg)
![Charleston2013-9756 Charleston2013-9756](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/19812836f30f3a1be0f477565d0bccb3/Charleston2013-9756-900x900.jpg)
![Charleston2013-9601 Charleston2013-9601](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/13ca106b3f99b662e1bff7d272b5c1f6/Charleston2013-9601-900x900.jpg)
![Charleston2013-9510 Charleston2013-9510](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/aab569a86e82131a7471a70ed21b6f61/Charleston2013-9510-900x900.jpg)
We had such a completely refreshing trip (we didn't drive the whole time, and came back so calm!), that I wanted to mention some of the things we loved most, in case you ever find yourself in Charleston.
Accommodations and Tours
French Quarter Inn: Complete with gracious amenities like free room service, a pillow menu, warm cider all day long, and afternoon cheese and wine.
![Charleston2013-9612 Charleston2013-9612](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/c315ef290225389368567f2025cdc0ce/Charleston2013-9612-900x900.jpg)
![Charleston2013-9607 Charleston2013-9607](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/eb770b9ce29e328067a6825cf16e5f8d/Charleston2013-9607-900x900.jpg)
Charleston Culinary Tours: Such a deal and astoundingly delicious food.
Restaurants
Husk: Mmmm, cornbread
Hom: The chef served us on the culinary tour. This is a gourmet burger joint with (brownie points!) a ping pong room!
FIG: Excellent service, and truly fresh, wonderful food (my fave restaurant on the trip)
Low Country Bistro: For famous chicken and waffles, and plenty of low country goodness
Magnolias: A refined, tall-windowed bistro--and very good shrimp 'n grits
I loved this city so much more than I expected, and can't wait to go back someday. It was truly a hospitable place.