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Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Travel Log: Charleston S.C.

trees, road
Okay, I know, this is not a travel blog. But sometimes when you go somewhere completely wonderful, you just need a place to share (a fraction) of the beautiful pictures you took.

Here's how the story went. On Thursday (May 18th) the movers showed up to pack up all our stuff (well, all the stuff we hadn't already packed ourselves). On Friday the moving truck rolled out taking the vast majority of our possessions to a lonely storage unit. And on Saturday Miss Lily and I boarded a plane (her first time!) to Charleston S.C., bidding farewell to our boys for a week, and to Houston forever.

This trip to Charleston was a fun girls trip with my mother-in-law and three sister-in-laws to celebrate my mother-in-law's significant birthday this year (out of deference to her, the specific number of this significant birthday will remain unnamed). I can't remember who picked this location (Evy?) but I will say that before this trip, I was only vaguely aware that Charleston even existed, and had completely zero life plans to ever visit. But oh, my, goodness! Am I ever glad I got the chance! I had no idea that any city with this level of charm existed outside of Europe. Basically, the entire city is one picturesque photo opportunity. There was just not an ugly place to aim my camera. So, ready for a few pictures? Here they come!


Angel Oak, live oak
I got in pretty late Saturday night. Sunday morning we went to church, went back to our rental for lunch and naps, and then headed out late in the afternoon to see the famous Angel Oak. But guess what we didn't know? The gates close at 5 PM, and we rolled up just after that. Did you know that a tree could close? Dumb. So anyway, we only got to peek at this ginormous, gorgeous, 500+ year-old live oak through the chain link fence, and trust me, this photo doesn't do it justice (although it does feature an adorable baby in her equally adorable Aunt Evy's arms). Live oaks are just seriously cool trees, and this one is definitely the coolest I've ever seen. If you're ever in the Charleston area, check it out, because it's amazing.

Church
Monday morning we headed downtown for a walking tour of the old city of Charleston. And I basically spent the entire day with my jaw hanging open at just how incredibly beautiful this little city is. At a fairly early point, I had to peel off from the tour group to find a park bench and feed my baby, and rather than try to catch up after she was done, I just took my own sweet time wandering down streets and taking pictures. I'd like to title this next series of pictures "Doors of Charleston"

Red Door

Pretty Door

Porch Door

Pretty Door

Garden Door, Pretty Door, Open Door

Garden Gate

And now for another series I've titled: "Windows of Charleston"

Pretty Window

Pretty Window

Pretty Window

Pretty Window

Pretty Window

Pretty Window, Window Boxes

Pretty Window, Shutters, Window Boxes

Pretty Windows, Flower Boxes, Shutters, Rainbow Row

Pretty Window
Are you getting a sense for just how charming this place is? I mean, it's just oozing with it.

I call this next series: "Ode to the Live Oak"

Live Oaks

Live Oaks

Live Oaks

Live Oaks
Houston has it's fair share of live oaks, and I've loved these trees ever since we moved there (it's one of the few natural beauties of that swampy place). But Charleston kind of takes it to a whole new level. This city knows how to do live oaks.

Okay, and now for a few random pictures of just cool buildings.

Church

Loved the name of this store (company? law firm?).


Cobblestone
Cobblestone streets! So cute! So hard on the stroller!

Library, Private Library
This is a private library! I think this is the first time I've ever seen a private library that wasn't associated with a university.

The next day (Tuesday) we decided to hit up the beach. Charleston has some super lovely beaches, but unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate a whole lot for us. We only got a couple hours of beach time before it started raining hard, but it was long enough for me to snap this adorable picture of my offspring's first visit to the ocean.

Beach Baby
I know you're thinking it, so I'll just say it for you. What a chunk! Those thighs! Those rolls! And that is purely on Mama's milk (so proud!). Cutest little beach babe ever.

Wednesday we made it out to Boone Hall, one of the oldest, still working plantations in the south.

Boone Hall Plantation

There were lots of cool things to see on this plantation. We saw a Gullah presentation and learned a bunch about the slaves and went on a tour of the house, but my favorite part was definitely the gardens.

Flowers

Gardens, Flowers

There was a butterfly pavilion on the grounds that was probably a close second.

Butterfly

Butterfly

Butterfly

Oh, wait you guys. I forgot. The real favorite was the Avenue of Oaks that led up the main drive to the house.

Avenue of Oaks
These were planted by the original owner's son, back in the early 1700s. And it was stunning, so amazing to drive under the canopy created by these trees. Live oaks forever!

Cotton Gin
This is the old cotton gin building, which I think they're in the process of restoring, but it looks kind of cool as is, no?

Horses, Live Oaks
Horses!

Spanish Moss, Live Oaks

After seeing the plantation, we found some lunch and then headed to the airport, where Lily and I took a long and frustratingly delayed flight to Utah. I spent another four days there, hanging out with my brother and sister-in-law, seeing some old favorite places, and attending a friend's wedding. But I've burdened you with enough pictures for today, so I'll spare you details of that half of the trip (besides, I already posted the most pertinent one here). I flew "home" to my in-law's house in Kansas City, where I met up with my husband and two boys. While I was flying about the country, he made the two-day road trip with the boys in the van (and you better believe I scheduled this trip on purpose to miss out on that road trip), and now we're here hanging out until we can close on our own house.

Girls' Trip

But this trip to Charleston was so fun. I really married into the best family, and I'm so grateful they consider me one of the "girls". We had so much fun being tourists together, watching movies at night, staying up too late talking and laughing, and eating copious amounts of birthday cake. It was the best kind of vacation! (There are three other granddaughters, but Lily was the only one to get invited along this girls' trip because everybody loves a baby. And because she had to eat.)

If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend a trip to Charleston (and if you've been, what was your favorite part?). Believe me when I tell you there were hundreds of other pictures I could've included in this post. It was such a charming, picturesque, photogenic little town, with a lot of interesting history.

6 comments:

  1. Man, Charleston--who knew? Of course, I know almost nothing about what the South is really like, having gone there only like once in my life (and being maybe 8 at the time). Looks like I'll have to give it another shot! These pictures were so fun :)

    P.S. I love your polka dot shirt. I don't normally care enough to ask bloggers where they got their clothes, but...where'd you get that shirt? :)

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    1. Thanks, and this is the first time ever anyone's asked me about my clothes, so that's flattering. And it's funny you should ask about that shirt, because it is the only piece of clothing I own that is J. Crew (everything else is Target). I got it a few months ago, and I don't see it on their site anymore, but it is a gem of T-shirt, probably my favorite that I own.

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  2. Oh it was just so fun! Thanks for all your beautiful pics! And there was still so much more to see and do. I love how we coordinated colors on the last day without meaning to!

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    1. And again, thank you for doing all the planning and driving and everything! And actually, I feel like I missed out on the color scheme in that photo, when I had a pair of coral shorts I could've worn!

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  3. Okay you've convinced me! I want to plan a trip there. The problem is I don't think I could convince my mother-in-law or my mother to do it. :-(

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    1. If anyone deserves a girl's trip every once in a while, it ought to be you! If your mom/MIL wouldn't go, what about sisters/SILs? Or friends (I'd go back, just sayin)? But honestly, Charleston would make a great little romantic getaway too. It's definitely worth the trip.

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