One of my all time favorite places to go is Charleston, South Carolina.  It is beautiful and the water sports are wonderful.  You can tour the town, stop in to little shops, have lunch on the water, etc.  or you can do my favorite thing and go to the beach.  You have your choice of Isle of Palms which has Wild Dunes Spa Resort or rent a house or you can go to the southern side of the beach to Kiawah and stay at one of the resorts.  Either way you are going to have a wonderful time!  There is parasaling, wake boarding, surfing, beach lounging, boat lounging, a private island, etc.

https://www.destinationhotels.com/wild-dunes 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another destination I just love in South Carolina is Myrtle Beach.  Ocean 22 by Hilton – great location on beach, with all the Hilton benefits.  You can also stay at the Marriott Resort at Grande Dunes, on the beach with wonderful spa treatements.

For dinner you must try the Pier House Restaurant.   Make an early reservation for a window seat or on the patio and watch the sunset.  There is an open air bar that is great for just relaxing.   Very limited menu which I like (you can’t do everything great)!  Try the Deviled Crab, it is packed full of crab and has the best flavors.  Shrimp and Grits are made correctly!  Seafood Pasta is fresh!  Also tries these treats:

• Café Amalfi – amazing view on beach, great staff, try the deviled eggs w/ smoked salmon and the Crispy Duck!   Best fresh seafood.  Warning this restaurant is inside a hotel, which I don’t usually eat and which could change chefs.
• Toscana Italian Bistro – great ambiance once you get inside (located in strip mall on highway). Small space owned by true Italian mother and son.  The  food is absolutely wonderful.   Try the Italian Cake!
• Aspen Grille – good food…kind of like Capital Grill with the same prices.  Strip mall on Highway, but inside is nice enough.

Entertainment:

Don’t expect to get much of the local flavor on the beach, it is full of tourist.  But I enjoy the sunset, people watching, breeze, water sports and the sand.

Check out Barefoot Landing – great shops, eating, siting by the water, music, very relaxing.  Lots of chain restaurants, but some good local ones too.  Check out the Alligator Adventure.

If you want more of local heritage try the Carriage Tour by Charleston Adventures (large horse drawn carriage that takes you back through history);  do the lowland rice plantation tour;  visit the Colored School Museum; or tour Hobcaw Barony (while there visit their tea house).

Don’t bother:

Go to the Civil War Museum, Hall of Fame, Rice Museum, battleship tour (unless you are passionate about it) because they are boring.  The boardwalk itself can be loud, overcrowded and a little wild.