
My husband and I recently took a trip to explore the low country where my daughter spent the week visiting a college campus, and taking part in a summer program they hosted. Over the course of a week, we were able to visit Hilton Head and Charleston, SC, as well as Savannah, GA. It was a wonderful experience, and I am excited to share this little southern summer vacation recap with you.
After dropping our daughter off, our first stop was in Hilton Head South Carolina. Well, we were located about 30 minutes away, but we did visit and explore the area. Hilton Head almost did not happen because I thought the resort I had chosen was within the actual city, but it was not, and this is a resort where they put everything you need on site, so you do not have to leave the property. Listen, if you ever have a chance to stay at the Montage Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton, do it. It is a five-star luxurious property on thousands of acres, and they go out of their way to make sure you do not have to lift a finger unless you want to.
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The hotel has about 70 rooms but there are cottages and homes you can choose to rent as well. There are restaurants, a coffee shop, and even an ice cream shop that offer all the options you need for meals during the day and into the evening. It is simply amazing, and we did not want to leave, but we absolutely ventured into Hilton Head, and I was able to set foot on my first beach of the trip. We spent an afternoon shopping and watching those beautiful waves before finishing our time at the resort.
Our next stop was to good old Charleston SC, which was about an hour away. This leg of the trip was exciting for me because I had food, history, and adventure on my mind. I chose the Wentworth Mansion as our accommodations for the couple of days we were there. It is an historic mansion over 150 years old, and just under 25,000 square feet. The service from our concierge Brian was phenomenal. Our room was vintage with a few modern touches for comfort, which I loved. There was a 360° rooftop view which was gorgeous, and the breakfast we were served each morning during our stay was delicious. The shrimp and grits in ham hock gravy was my favorite.
Speaking of food, we tried a couple of highly recommended and awarded soul food restaurants. They were OK, but nothing stood out for me until I had dinner on the Isle of Palms at a restaurant called Acme. Again, I tried their take on shrimp and grits and was pleased. My favorite dish was the she crab bisque. I love a good shrimp, crab, or lobster bisque! My heart was both happy and heavy to visit the International African American Museum and the Old Slave Mart Museum. While the stories told are gut wrenching, it is a history I am still proud to learn about, and I am grateful that such a history is being told in these places for all to see and learn.
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We finished our week up in Savannah GA. Let me start by saying this city is just pretty to look at with all the historic buildings, but that is also the reason I would only want to visit and not live there. We stayed at another top-rated bed and breakfast, but to my surprise, this was my least favorite of all the accommodations during the week, and probably my least favorite B&B we have stayed in to date. Now, it was not a horrible experience, it just did not stand out to me or provide the best experience that I have had as it relates to other bed and breakfasts I have stayed in. The redeeming quality was the breakfast. A delicious meal of grits, eggs, and biscuits was my favorite breakfast of the trip, so this was helpful.

We took the coolest bike tour of the city. Our tour guide Steve was an absolute joy and so full of information. We dined along the riverfront at the Shrimp Factory, had a taste of the town favorite Leopold’s ice cream, and set foot on my third beach in Tybee Island. There is plenty to see and do, so make sure you plan accordingly because some things require reservations that can be difficult to get, and I learned the hard way.
Overall, my trip to the low country was awesome. Now, there is one thing that tripped me up although I never came across one. Alligators. I saw plenty of signage warning against these things, but I am glad my trip was free of them. Aside from that, my husband and I cannot wait to go back and explore things and places that we were not able to get to at this time like a Gullah tour or dining at The Old Pink House. I would highly recommend adding this little adventure to your US summer vacation list soon.
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