3 cities in 7 days! Back in August, I took advantage of my unemployment (or should I say funemployment) status and explored a bit more of America before I had to start saving those precious PTO/vacation days again (ugh my life now). My sorority little lives in South Carolina and that coupled with the fact that our sorority national convention was in Myrtle Beach this year helped me decide to spend a week on the southern east coast of the U.S. Ever since visiting Savannah, Georgia 2 years ago, I’ve been craving for the same type of laid back Southern lifestyle so Charleston had been on my list for a while now. There is something about the South (maybe its that Southern charm that everyone talks about) that just calms me down and allows me to throughly enjoy the slower pace of life.

Greenville

When I first landed at the Greenville international airport, I was very confused as to why it was even called an international airport because it seemed like all the flights were either coming from Atlanta, Dallas, or Charlotte. Can someone please explain to me why these tiny airports that contain mainly domestic flights have misleading names? The Austin airport is another example! I didn’t have too much time in Greenville- just enough to pick up the car and begin driving to Myrtle Beach. But I did manage to squeeze in time to pick up a delicious honey latte from Barista Alley! I wish I had more time to sit and enjoy the cafe though because Barista Alley was a huge light filled space with comfy couches and tons of tables for working.

Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach Boardwalk

The Beach was a slight disappointment, mainly because it appeared to be similar to any other beach I had been to. There wasn’t anything special about it that made it seem like it was worth the trip. Harsh criticism I know! I guess with a name that included the word, Boardwalk, I was expecting something out of the 1900s where vintage looking stores would have their doors open welcoming customers and hot dog carts and cotton candy stands would be set up serving happy children. However, if I could use one word to describe Myrtle Beach it would be grungy. The beach itself is similar to what you would find at the dying Coney Island beach aka brown murky waters and minimal sand. The Boardwalk has some cheap stores selling the same souvenirs over and over again as well as the constant offerings for airbrush tattoos and hair braiding. Even the hotels lining the beach didn’t appear to be amazing destinations. Still, if your feet crave the soft touch of sand, take a walk along the waters and soak in the sun!

Broadway on the Beach

Where the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk lost at, Broadway at the Beach won at. After arriving here, I realized why the Boardwalk was so empty and why Broadway on the Beach was so popular. The attractions and environment just felt more clean and well maintained. There are tons of fun rides, tasty desserts, and interesting shops for the average tourist to wander around and explore. All of it surrounds a spacious lake where water activities are plentiful. I can’t forget to mention there is a Simpsons themed Krazy Mart at the entrance!

Croissants Bakery

I’m usually a poor receiver of slow service at a restaurant, but the French vibes and cute decor at Croissants really created a warm ambience that outshone the slower service. The Bakery also gets extra points for visual presentation of their delicious food. When my chicken and waffle dish came out (with the waffle on a stick!), I was definitely the envy of everyone who had ordered something else. Their waffles were exact replicas of the Belgian waffles I had in Brussels- eating them brought me back to my European adventure last May.

Chestnut Hill Restaurant

What Myrtle Beach lacked in activities, it definitely made up for in food options. Chestnut Hill was another great find- the food here was outstanding! From the starter biscuits and cornbread to the fried seafood platter piled high with crispy scallops and shrimp and crab cakes to the fruit cake parfait, I throughly enjoyed every single bite. The food was truly high quality and well made.

Charleston

Angel Oak Tree

Unfortunately the weather was so bad the day we drove to the Angel Oak tree and we were unable to enter into the site and take pictures amongst the tree’s giant branches. The best we were able to do was cleverly angle our phones between the barbed wire fence holes and snap a photo of the awe inspiring tree. However, I came back on my last day and managed to enter the mystical tree site! But, everyone else and their mother was also there so I reverted back to the serene photo I took on my rainy day trip there.

Magnolia Plantation

Magnolia is filled with educational opportunities about the Civil War, peaceful gardens, and yes tons of mosquitos. The Plantation is located on 65 acres of land and walking around the site is taxing and hot so be prepared with good walking shoes and mosquito repellant! Despite the influx of heat and bugs, the walk is worth it because the the gardens are beautiful. For me, they epitomized the Southern lifestyle.

Downtown Charleston

Downtown Charleston is filled with adorable colonial looking homes (that probably cost millions) and provide a nice walk through town if you’re trying to burn off those calories earned from eating all that Southern food. Rainbow Row is the famous street lined with colorful houses that are currently all over Instagram. I have to say though, Instagram definitely makes the Row look prettier than it is because I was underwhelmed by the glamour of it all. Charleston City Market was one of the highlights of the trip- come hungry for the delicious biscuits and be ready to drop some cash for cute paintings and souvenirs!

Charleston Tea Plantation

The only tea plantation in America is located in Charleston and as a addicted tea drinker, I knew I had to make a quick stop to see how tea is created. Did you know that black tea and green tea are actually created from the same tea leaves? The only difference is that one is dried for a longer period of time than the other. The leaves are harvested using the machine in the picture below and streamlines the process of making tea. The Plantation offers a free factory tour where visitors can glance through windows to see the well laid out procedures. For a 1 hour Plantation tour, you’ll have to shell out $14 and come at times the tours are available. I opted just to do the free tour since we were short on time and still loved it!

Food

The food in Charleston is unreal. I was impressed by every single thing I ate. Towards the end of my trip, however, I started feeling like maybe I had indulged too much and needed a serious detox upon heading home. Still, no regrets! I loved the bubble tea at Tapio (located in the middle of downtown Charleston) and the coffee at Broom Wagon (they serve waffles too!). Junction Kitchen is a little out of the way (unless you happen to be driving towards the airport like we were), but its an ideal spot for Southern brunch- I had the buzzed doughnut which was a tiny sandwich consisting of coffee flavored bacon, mocha dipped doughnut, hashbrowns, and an over easy egg. If you’re looking for solid Southern bbq, Swig & Swine in the West Ashley area is a can’t miss! I loved the giant rack of pork ribs and the cheesy mac and cheese- my mouth is watering just thinking about all the delicious food…