This past weekend we had the honor of hosting Mike’s sister, Beth, for her first Charleston visit. Following a week of lovely mid-60s days, Beth flew in on Friday along with some Midwestern temps. Weekend highlights included kayaking at Shem creek, exploring downtown, and scoping out the warmest propane heaters on each patio we visited. Frozen toes aside, it was a relaxing and fun-filled weekend. Thankfully for those of us staying south, the mercury rose to a comfortable 71 degrees right about the time Beth landed safely back in Wisconsin on Monday. Fingers crossed for better weather next time, Beth!

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Work responsibilities have ramped up a bit for both Mike and Al these past few weeks so with a Sunday off we decided to choose a low key activity close to home. The Aiken Rhett and Nathaniel Russell Homes are both located about ten minutes from our current Airbnb and have self guided tours composed by the Charleston Historic Society. We began at the Aiken Rhett House where we learned about life in the 1800s through the eyes of the Governor and Mrs. William Aiken Rhett Jr and the enslaved people who lived and worked on the estate. This home is maintained using a “preserved as found” preservation method meaning that the home is left in the same state that it was in after being sold to the Charleston Museum after 142 years of Aiken-Rhett family use. It was interesting to see a magnificent home in sort of a stage of disarray with tattered furniture and pealing wall paper. We enjoyed getting to use our imagination to wonder at the grandeur that must have been while also finding it to be an intimate experience to view the home in its current state.

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Next up we drove a few minutes into downtown to tour the Nathaniel Russel House. A midafternoon rainstorm had driven a crowd inside and we were lucky to get a spot in line before the museum docents flipped the “at capacity” sign on. This home is preserved using a restoration approach that shows the home in the height of its 1808 splendor. Featuring a three story spiral staircase and lavish wood finishes, this house accomplishes the previous owner’s desire to impress.

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Our first month in Charleston has flown by! In reflection, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite things and simple delights that have shaped our first 30 days:

• Sunsets at Shem Creek
• Dolphin sightings
• Midafternoon walks turned into multi hour explorations of an old naval base
• Spectacularly sunshiney Saturdays
• Finding Busch Light in the grocery store for the first time
• Lewis BBQ (solid recommendation, Nate)
• Beach runs
• Rainy nights spent playing cards on our porch
• Mini Cows
• Historic homes
• Daisy’s first Ocean swim
• Channeling our inner Guy Fieri with our very first Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives experience (Tattooed Moose, Johns Island)
• Live oaks
• Snail mail (Thanks, Mom)
• Packers Bar and -dare we say- quite possibly the best cheesecurds we’ve had this side of the Mississippi
• Ascension Podcast (Shoutout to Father Mike Schmitz)
• Facetime
• A weekend of fun and family time in Savannah, GA
• Perfect Sand Dollars
• Unlimited possibilities for fun, food, and adventure

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With plans to spend our weekend venturing outside of the heart of Charleston, we kicked off Saturday morning with a scenic jaunt to Wadamalaw Island. Our first destination was the Charleston Tea Garden which holds the title for being the only tea grower in North America. There, we looked out across 127 acres of pristine tea plants and enjoyed sipping on a variety of flavors while learning about the production process. Sunshine and friendliness abounding, it was a lovely (and free) way to begin our weekend.

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Sunday crested with a soft sunrise and clear skies which prompted us to prematurely rejoice in not having the chilly/rainy day that had been predicted. About an hour into our drive to Columbia we learned to trust the weatherman as dark clouds and torrential rains moved in. Mass at the Basilica of St Peter with breakfast to follow helped our slightly dampened spirits and we were geared up and Congaree National Park bound as the rain continued. Inside the park, this spectacularly soggy Sunday delighted us in bringing the swampy ecosystem to life. Moss glistened, streams swelled, and the plucky plip plip plip of rain drops serenaded us inside the depths of the woods. Six miles of boardwalk and waterside trails gave us our first wild boar sighting (so neat!) and a renewed sense of thankfulness for the great outdoors – and dry socks.

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