Beautiful Charleston, South Carolina

Have you ever been to Charleston, SC?  I hadn't, and I was excited to go.  Not only would I finally get the chance to see this amazing city, but my sister-in-law and brother-in-law live there with their four girls, and our nephew is a Sous Chef at "Slightly North Of Broad" -- a restaurant in the city.  I was really looking forward to seeing all of them, as well as looking forward to sharing a great meal together -- and I wasn't disappointed.

My sweet hubby and I @ Waterfront Park Pier.  The Ravenel Bridge in the background.

Before going, I poked around a little on-line and found a lovely video about Charleston HERE.  There's lots of great information at this site, and you can even ride along on part of a carriage tour of the city!

We enjoyed one of those awesome CARRIAGE RIDES around the city, and saw so many beautiful old homes -- as well as homes that were built to look old.  Of course there are certain building standards in a historical city like Charleston.  They don't care what you do to the inside of your home, but the outside must blend in with the other historical homes and buildings.

A "new" home

We walked the length of The Charleston City Market, and saw all kinds of interesting booths.  There were many sweet grass basket makers.  I heard one man say his family had been making these baskets for 40+ years.  You see these sweet grass basket stands everywhere in Charleston -- in the city, and at the side of 4-lane highways!

We ate a delicious gourmet meal at SLIGHTLY NORTH OF BROAD (or S.N.O.B.).  Prior to our meal, we enjoyed a fruit plate and a cheese plate.  I ordered the Maverick Beef Tenderloin (perfection!) with Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, served with Bernaise and Green Peppercorn Sauce.  Dessert was lemon sorbet with blueberries (with a birthday candle!)  I also tasted my niece's Peach Cobbler, and it was to die for!  Every single thing I tried was delicious!!!  You can view their menu HERE.  They have a gluten-free menu as well.  If you're in Charleston, I recommend you stop in!  Reservations are suggested, but I understand that you might be able to catch a table without one if your timing is right (meaning come when they're not busy.  Good luck with that!)  The atmosphere is relaxed and low-light -- a nice break from walking up and down the streets of the city.

Charleston was awesome!

-- and fifty is feeling pretty great so far!