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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Two weeks into our Charleston assimilation, the Oyster Roast became our next mission. With all the wonder of Jane Goodall, we studied the locals as they devoured oysters by the beer bucket full displaying amazing swiftness and speed. The giant vats of rolling water and steam piqued our interest as we passed by many an establishment offering up all you can eat oysters on our nightly strolls. Finally this past Saturday, inspired by observing an Oyster Shucking Contest on James Island, we decided to put our studies to the test.

Our “1000 Places to See Before You Die” book directed us to trust our oyster expedition to a local favorite – Bowens Island Restaurant. Located at the end of a marshy road, we arrived just in time to take in panoramic sunset views and snag our place in line to order. Armed with $2 “Mystery Beers” (Spoiler alert: they were Hamm’s) and our green, laminated ticket good for one bucket of oysters we proceeded downstairs to the roasting hall. We were told that in non-COVID times this space is filled shoulder to shoulder of friends and strangers shucking a never ending supply of the marvelous mollusks dumped into the middle of long community tables. In this modified world, the space was emptier and the tables separated but you could still sense the welcoming and jovial environment.

Once acquiring our overflowing oyster bucket, we still required a bit of tutorial. The art of prying open each shell to reach the meaty middle took some practice. It was slow going, messy work but after a little fine tuning of our techniques we both tasted our first oyster. The consensus: squishy, salty and better than expected! With triumph, we worked our way through the rest of the bucket enjoying the atmosphere and feeling a little more Charlestonian with each bite.

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In an effort to get to know the historical side of the city a bit more, we took the opportunity to do a Guided Historic Walking Tour of downtown Charleston. We lucked out with getting the tour guide all to ourselves and were able to cover quite a bit of ground in two hours. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed soaking in both the sunshine and new knowledge as we traipsed around cobblestone streets gawking at stunning historical churches and homes.

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On Saturday we hosted our first visitor! Al’s brother Andrew was able to drive down from Virginia and we enjoyed a weekend of history, great food, and a Packers win (Go Pack Go!). The Fort Sumter tour included a thirty minute ferry ride to and from the Fort which allowed us to take in some great scenery and scan for Ocean life. Once inside the Fort, we were able to spend an hour discovering the space where the first shots of the Civil War rang out.

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What do you call it when your first days of exploration in a new city coincide with some of the best food scenes South Carolina has to offer? Pure Bliss. Add in some killer deals and waterfront views and you’ve got yourself a decidingly fabulous and delicious way to get acquainted with new territory.

Our first night in town we stumbled upon the realization that January 7-17th is Winter Restaurant Week in Charleston. A collection of restaurants throughout the city showcase their culinary best with 3-5 course meals for deep discounts allowing patrons to try a variety of local cuisine and dining options.

Walking shoes tied and stretchy pants on, we dove right into this opportunity to experience Charleston one highly acclaimed eatery to the next. Over the course of this week we have eaten more shrimp and grits than is probably recommended and tested our tastebuds on other lowcountry classics such as buttermilk pie and fried green tomatoes. With southern comforts as our guide, we have scratched the surface on a charming exploration of Charleston. Full hearts. Full bellies. Cant lose.

Al’s Top Pick: Fried Oyster Mac and Cheese (82 Queen, Downtown Charleston)

Future Pass: Shrimp & Grits (delicious, but may need a break after eating them every day for a week)

Mike’s Top Pick: Hush puppies (good everywhere but stuffed with seafood and especially great at Fleets Landing, Charleston Waterfront)

Future Pass: She Crab Soup (Allegedly award winning at every location but this creamy soup made with crab eggs missed the blue ribbon in his book.)

Bonus Menu:

• Saw our first dolphins – pure magic!
• Enjoying exploring the city by foot
• 60 degrees and sunshine – soak it up!

January 11, 2021

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Alizabeth is starting her travel nursing adventure with a 12 week contract at Bon Secours St Francis Hospital in Charleston, South Carolina. She will be working in the NICU caring for premature and sick newborns that need a little extra love and attention before heading home with their families.

Praying to be a blessing during this time to all the of the little patients and their families as well as the rest of the healthcare team at St Francis!

Jan 8th

Eighteen hours and 1200 miles from home we saw our first indications that our winter oasis was near. Palm trees began to speckle along the highway and we could not have been more delighted! We arrived at our Airbnb at around three in the afternoon and quickly set about exploring our new neighborhood. For the first six weeks we will be living in an area of town called “Park Circle” which is in an “up and coming” (think breweries and hipsters) area north of downtown Charleston. Our house has a large back porch and private fenced in yard which Daisy may find difficult to leave when we move to a townhome for our final six weeks. The Park Circle area has a lovely little downtown stretch that we have enjoyed being able to walk to and explore. A favorite location so far has been Commonhouse Alehouse – a dog friendly brewery with tons of outdoor space. There, we have enjoyed live music, observing our first oyster roast (it looks complicated and messy but we’re intrigued) and playing with a plethora of new pups. Big fans. The city of Charleston is larger and more spread out than anticipated with many unique districts. We have started compiling a list of recommendations from locals and are looking forward to having three months here to discover and explore!

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January 5-7, 2021

We decided to make the most of our road trip to Lowcountry with a few stops along the way.

Up first: St Louis, Missouri. Daisy marveled at the worlds tallest arch in the United State’s smallest National Park and especially enjoyed getting to frolic around in the lush, green grass only 7 hours from the tundra we left in Wisconsin. Mike and Al took in the views from the top of the Gateway Arch after riding a tram that bore a striking resemblance to something out of the Hunger Games. The views were worth it.

Driving day two brought us five hours of the Dolly Parton’s America podcast special as we drove towards her Tennessee mountain home. We made a pit stop in Nashville for lunch and a leg stretch before arriving at our cabin in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

On Thursday, we took a break from driving to explore the smokies and the kitchy little tourist towns that surround them. We explored Smokey Mountain National Park by foot on the one trail that was dog friendly and by car to see sweeping views at the Tennessee/North Carolina state line summit.

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January 5, 2021

After months of planning, the travel nursing adventure is beginning with our first contract in Charleston, South Carolina! Our Hudson house is packed up and rented, Al’s car is stored (thanks, Beth!) truck is loaded and we are on our way! A huge thank you to everyone that helped us move, store our things, get our rentals ready and all around shower us with support as we embark on this exciting little adventure. We are so thankful for all of the friend and family time that we were able to squeeze in these last few weeks and are so looking forward to hosting visitors in sunny (-er than wisco) South Carolina!

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