It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything in the travel section of my blog and it’s not because of the lack of traveling. In fact, I’ve traveled several times since my last post, but at some point I decided to focus mainly on the fashion and lifestyle piece of Blessed and Chic Blog. However, this time around I HAD to do this post y’all! This past weekend I had such an amazing time visiting a small hidden gem called Charleston, South Carolina.
This past weekend my husband and I were honored to be guests at our friends’ wedding. So we packed our bags, filled our gas tank, and headed to Charleston, South Carolina on a road trip for a beautiful southern wedding and a Labor Day weekend vacation. Located near the coast of South Carolina, this city gave off a mixture of Miami Beach, a little bit of New Orleans’ vibe, and that good ol’ Southern feel of Savannah Georgia.
If someone would have told me that Charleston, South Carolina would be a city to vacation, I probably would have NEVER considered it. I mean let’s be real, when most people hear South Carolina, your first thought isn’t vacationing. However I was definitely excited to travel there to celebrate my friends as they get married and also spend time with my better half.
Four hours in, we finally arrived to Charleston! We made out way to our hotel, unloaded, and took a cat-nap before hitting the city. Our itinerary was quite simple…food and sightseeing. We were hungry! We started at the corner of Market Street where most of the locals and street vendors were populated. Our search for food began! While on our stroll, we saw so many intricate spots. First off, there is such a southern presence in this city. The locals were friendly. People greeted you as you walked on by. We even had a few people offer to take our pictures for us. Talk about southern hospitality! There were so many beautiful hidden buildings of businesses, retails, museums, and nooks throughout the city. The architectural view near the coastal parts felt a little like Savannah Georgia, due to its plantation styled homes.
We continued in our search for food. If you’re into seafood, Charleston is definitely the place to be! Naturally because of its location near the Ocean…you’ll find so many restaurants offering seafood items on their menus. Among the popular ones offered, was a plethora of Oyster combinations. However, if you’re not into seafood like I am, no worries, there are more options like your traditional southern-style-food joints.
After an hour of sightseeing and taking pictures, we finally dined at a local BBQ joint. Ordered a half a slab of ribs and pulled chicken tacos for the win! Once our bellies were full we had the energy to explore some more. Our journey continued…we found ourselves in the middle of market place where local merchants sold art pieces, souvenirs, and baskets & hats made out of palm straws.
Many tourists were strolling along. Some hitched a ride on the horse and carriage, while others ventured through the use of a trolly. As for us, well…we footed through this thing the entire time. With no makeup on and the humidity beating us up, we still continued venturing. Eventually, we found ourselves accidentally walking through someone’s wedding ceremony, and then made our way onward towards the ocean front pier. This is where I started to get the feel of Miami Beach with all the palm trees being everywhere.
Seven hours later…we walked, we shopped, we explored, and we were pooped! We ended our night heading back to our cozy hotel to rest as we prepare for tomorrow’s day of explorations and most importantly…for what brought us here to begin with…Andrew and Amber’s Southern Wedding.
The next day, after a few hours of exploring, we were dressed and headed to the wedding venue. With the sun shinning ever so brightly, we sat in this beautiful outdoor venue overlooking the waters and city, waiting patiently for the ceremony to begin. It was such a beautiful location with friends and loved ones of the bride and groom. The peaceful stillness and feeling of love was overwhelming. This indeed was a southern style traditional wedding with non-traditional elements. There were awes, oohs, amens, and tears. Everything about the wedding was beautifully executed!
We partied the night away. As we expected, our time in Charleston came to an end. It was time to head back home. As we drove back to Georgia, we reminisced about it all. All I can say is, I fell in love with this little gem called Charleston! Both my husband and I plan on returning back. I had a great time and really enjoyed the entire trip and enjoyed witnessing our friends enter into a new chapter of love and bliss!
