2020 has been absolutely, positively exhausting – from desperately pleading with people to trust science and public health officials – to advocating for widespread reform to address racial injustice – to enduring another military deployment, a work trip to Madagascar, a new job in a new state, and moving to that new state – I am exhausted.
When I think of what life has thrown my way in the first 9 months of 2020, I give myself a very firm pat on the back for persevering, and YOU SHOULD TOO.
All that being said, I can imagine everyone is in search of a break.
Given the fact that we moved out of our North Carolina home in May (in the middle of a deployment nonetheless), and were unable to move into our next home in Massachusetts until September, (and that my job was entirely remote), we had some wiggle room with where we could spend our time. That being said, we did some *safe* travel and Airbnb hopping around the Southeast before moving up to New England!
We spent several days in Charleston, South Carolina, followed by several days in Savannah, Georgia.
Dogs in tow (hint hint, pet-friendly Airbnbs), we took a small Southeast road trip. While Hilton Head was not on this trip, I am going to include some Hilton Head recommendations, as it is nearby and another great stop you should make if you are in the area! There are honestly so many NC, SC, and GA locations I could have included, but to keep it a bit brief, I am stopping at those three for this post! Having lived in NC for 5 years, please write me with any NC / SC travel questions you might have, and be on the lookout for other blogs that touch on those locations! For example – you can find details on my two trips to the mountains of NC –> Cabin in Black Mountain, & Pilot Cove Cabin in Brevard!
Charleston, South Carolina
Breakfast at The Park Cafe
The Park Cafe was so good we came back the next morning for round two. Heirloom tomato toast with ricotta, fried egg sandwich, and buttermilk pancakes were included in the lineup seen below. This gem is located downtown, just a few minutes drive from our Airbnb. They had ample outdoor seating, so we brought our dogs along and they sat patiently under the table while we devoured our brunch.
Dinner at The Ordinary
A former bank turned trendy restaurant, The Ordinary treated us to blue crab fried rice, fish schnitzel, and oyster sliders. They also had individual hand sanitizers at each table, and took plenty of precautions during check in, and while dining. Located right on King Street, this restaurant is not to be missed for a date night out, but make a reservation!
Beach Trip to Sullivan’s Island Beach
Of course you cannot visit Charleston, SC in July and not visit the beach. While there are a ton of fantastic options along the coastline, we visited Sullivan’s Island Beach twice, once to give ourselves a nice little beach day, and the second time to bring the dogs. The beach is massive, and the expansiveness made us feel completely safe while visiting during the pandemic. Sullivan’s Island is stunning, so we spent awhile both walking and driving around after we left the beach, and you should too! While we did not eat here, the Obstinate Daughter on Sullivan’s Island came HIGHLY recommended!
Dogs are allowed off-leash on the beach 5-10 a.m. May 1 to Sept. 30 and from 5 a.m. to noon Oct. 1 to April 30.
Where to Stay in Charleston?
While there are countless phenomenal Airbnb’s, we needed one last minute, that was affordable, that was downtown, and that was pet-friendly. We found this adorable house and it was perfect for the trip. It is a one-bedroom, loft style house with a full kitchen, small living room space, and parking. Most importantly it is super dog friendly and is literally RIGHT downtown!
Tucker and Cooper approved!
A Few Other Charleston Tips
Walk and sight see! There is so much charm at your fingertips in Charleston, you just have to put in the legwork to explore. I highly recommend AGAINST horse-drawn carriages, but highly recommend exploring by foot! Be sure to support local businesses, take lots of photos, eat all the food, and visit a pub or two if you can! Ultimately, I have found while visiting that you cannot really go wrong when it comes to dining and shopping, so indulge! Other restaurants for dine in / take out include Butcher and Bee, Husk, and Edmund’s Oast!
Savannah, Georgia
Coffee and Breakfast at Mirabelle Cafe
Oh what I wouldn’t do for this oat milk latte right now. The Mirabelle was located right around the corner from our Airbnb, and right in downtown Savannah, so we visited at least 4 times while we were there. Sometimes just for coffee, but sometimes to pick up a delicious Liège waffle for the road. This small and locally owned business is free from the touristy chaos, and is a must visit when you are in town! My favorite waffle shared below 🙂
LEMON ZINGER
Lemon-Lavendar Curd Creme, Housemade Raspberry & Cardamom Jam, Whipped Cream
Lunch at Fox & Fig (Plant-Based) Cafe
On my (third?) trip to Savannah I discovered Fox & Fig, and have been obsessed since. I make it a point to eat here each trip because their entirely plant-based menu is to die for. Located right in the heart of Savannah, with both indoor and outdoor dining options, it is a must visit for either breakfast, lunch or dinner!
Some favorites include their soaked chia porridge and their tostadas verde!
Ice Cream at Leopold’s
We went in the dead heat of summer, so in true Carissa fashion, I was immediately searching for ice cream. Leopold’s is right downtown on E. Broughton St. and so while we did our usual shopping on Broughton we stopped in for a couple of scoops of the best ice cream in the area. I got the strawberry and coffee – yup, freaking delicious … at least before it melted everywhere. Leopold’s has been serving up ice cream since 1919, and let me tell you, they’ve got it right.
Where to Stay in Savannah?
Collier House, Collier House, Collier House –> This property management crew has a whole slew of fantastic Airbnb / lodging options in Savannah and I cannot recommend them enough. While we stayed at their “Liberty Garden” property, they have larger properties in the best locations within Savannah. Oh, and they also have suites located right above the Mirabelle Cafe that are absolutely stunning! Their wide away of properties to choose from takes the guesswork out of searching and reading reviews on Airbnb.
Below are a couple of photos of the ‘Liberty Garden’ Airbnb – beautiful Savannah architecture with a private back patio – oh, and again, PET FRIENDLY!
A Few Other Savannah Tips
There is so much to do in Savannah, and nearby, so I needed to throw in a bit more description here. Drive to Tybee Island for a beach getaway (I ran a 5k on Tybee a couple of years ago and it was beautiful, see below). Walk and shop on Broughton Street – my absolute favorite store is The Paris Market, so you MUST go, but be aware, they will take all of your money. Take a stroll down the River Walk and stop into a pub or two for a drink, a favorite of ours was Kevin Barry’s Irish Pub, but it closed in December 2019 after 40 years – have no fear, there is no shortage of Irish pubs to choose from. Cha Bella is a favorite farm-to-table dinner spot, at the end of Broughton St! Lastly, run Forsyth Park! Savannah is full of charm, so get walking / running and explore!
Hilton Head, South Carolina
We had the pleasure of visiting Hilton Head for the first time on an ‘Army marriage retreat’ – for my non-Army friends, these retreats are quite common in between deployments, and provide a unique opportunity for group setting couples counselling (of sorts), but they are also entirely paid for by the military and are typically a great deal of fun! Needless to say, that was what brought us to Hilton Head the first time, and we fell in love!
Breakfast at The French Bakery
While I do not have a photo of the impeccable quiche I had at The French Bakery, this is one of my favorite breakfast spots in Hilton Head. I cannot recommend it enough, and the area it is in is adorable as well. Right on the marsh, and you can dine inside or outside.
Beer at River Dog Brewing Company
With a large outdoor patio and bar, and located right on the marsh with beautiful scenery, this is a perfect pit stop for a beer or two. River Dog Brewing Company has a handful of nationally awarded and hand-crafted brews!
Visit Harbour Town
We had some time to kill one morning and decided to drive the entirety of Hilton Head and see where we ended up. We ended up at the entrance of the Sea Pines community, where a friendly man was there ready to charge us $9.00 to enter. Purely curious about what laid beyond the entrance gates, we paid our $9 and ended up in Harbour Town. The Harbour Town Lighthouse is a well-known Hilton Head landmark, and while we didn’t go to the top (an additional $4.50 per person to do so), we admired from below. We spent a short time walking around the area, and jumped in our car and left Sea Pines / Harbour Town. I would say if you aren’t going to golf, kayak, eat, etc. out here it probably isn’t worth the $9 to enter.
Beer at The Salty Dog Cafe
On our way out of Harbour Town we stopped for a couple of beers at The Salty Dog Cafe. Another great spot for an outdoor beverage on the marsh. We didn’t eat here, but were pleased with the beer selection and ambiance!
Where to Stay in Hilton Head
We have only stayed at the Westin Resort, but it is quite beautiful and on the beach, with several outdoor pools to choose from and a great restaurant / bar inside.
A Blonde Escapes 
This was a great read!
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