I spent five days this past week in Charleston, three of which were devoted to a good friend’s bachelorette weekend, and somehow since my last visit in 2009, I’d forgotten just how much I love this deeply Southern city.
I must say that while there are many U.S. cities with which I am smitten—Savannah, New Orleans, Austin, Nashville (naturally)—I’m not sure any of them can hold a candle to Charleston’s unbridled beauty.
We were extremely lucky in that a friend of my San Francisco friend Kim offered up his house to us for the time we were there. For free. In this setting. (I know, right? Thank you, Steve!)
He hand-built this architectural marvel out in Awendaw just beyond Mount Pleasant and let the five of us inhabit it for the weekend.
With this view from the living room:
And the marsh at our fingertips.
On the final day, before we parted ways, Layne, Jabeen and I went on a little scavenger hunt for clues Ryan Gosling had left behind.
Yes, indeed, this was the very spot—just two houses down from our temporary digs—where they shot scenes from The Notebook.
Look familiar?
We didn’t hop onto the rope swing (tempting were it not for the alligators that swim through these waters), but we might have reenacted some scenes nonetheless…
I’m already plotting a return trip in the spring, this time with SVV and Ella in tow. Because it just seems cruel to keep all of this from them.
The photos are so beautiful! I love the trees. They’re so romantic and southern!
The trees in Charleston (and Savannah) are unreal. Even us fellow Southerners are blown away by them every time we visit!
Are thes picture with some kind of filter? or natural. Coz the pics are so beautiful. I would love to visit this place and no have started reading more about this place.
I’ve not been to Charleston, but it’s on my list of places to visit before I die. π Love your photos and that house you stayed at, incredible! What a perfect setting to relax or have fun with the girls. And those moss covered trees are exactly what I imagine when I think of the deep south.
How about your list of places to go in the next one to three years? =) It really is a phenomenal place to visit, and if you haven’t spent much time in the Deep South, there’s not a better place for a crash course!
That green in insane!! Oh my goodness, so gorgeous!
So, I’m curious, do marshes like that have a ton-a-million bugs?
xox
Uh, yeah. Heard of palmettos? If not, DON’T Google it…
….not googling…I want to, but I can’t.
I CAVED! EWW ewww EWW ewww!!! *dryheaves
At least they don’t bite, though, right? (I image searched “palmetto bite” right after “Palmetto bug” and there was nothing terribly nasty…so, I suppose there’s that?) Blech.
xox
Oh, how gorgeous. Can’t wait to visit.
And Charleston is eagerly awaiting your arrival, young miss.
Those trees are exactly what I imagine when I think of the southern U.S. – so incredibly beautiful! I’ve been reading a lot lately about Charleston and Savannah – I think it’s a sign that I should be planning a visit!
If you came to Nashville, you’d be disappointed as we have nothing that matches the Spanish moss of Charleston and Savannah! Though we do have a lot of beautiful things here in Tennessee, too =)
Gorgeous photos and gorgeous location! I love Charleston so, so much.
We have family in Charleston and have been there often. In fact, I think we’ve sat on that same dock! It is a gorgeous town – I know it’s actually a city, but just feels like a quaint little town to me. Love your pics.
Small world! It does feel tiny to me, too. Everyone is related to everyone else there.
Gorgeous!
The greenery and the natural beauty in the pictures are very tempting!! Its good that you had such a lovely time, thanks for the photographs π
I’ve only been to Charleston once in my life and that was for Hurricane Hugo disaster relief when I was but a wee traveler. Your pictures make me want to plan a visit this fall!
You’ve got Erica and Jen there now, and you’re pretty close! Weekend getaway with the beau?
This is it, I’m definitely sold on Charleston. Simply, breathtakingly beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
Wow! These photos are beautiful. I’ve always wanted to visit South Carolina again (I haven’t been there since I was a very little girl) and this definitely gave me the kick I needed. How lovely! Were these all the raw photos or did you add a little PS magic?
It looks like “The Notebook”
wow so beautiful- and i didn’t realize they filmed the Notebook there. I must be living under a rock.
I hear the restaurants are great for foodie too
Nah, I wouldn’t have known either had the homeowner not told us!
Wow! Your photos momentarily transported me away from my awkward-posture-inducing couch and into a magical Southern wonderland. So beautiful!
Ha, why thank you! It really is a magnificent place.
Beyond gorgeous photos! From all the places I’ve visited in the States, Charleston has been the most memorable one for me! So beautiful!
There are few places in the continental US that can match it!
How incredible that you got to stay in such a beautiful place! I’m glad you love Chaz as much as you do. The three years I went to Uni there were completely unforgettable.
Most beautiful city in the US, bar none.
Those pictures are absolutely beautiful, I want to go just to see those trees!
A dreamland for everyone. This is a perfect place away from this busy world. The calm and relaxing atmosphere is what everyone is looking for nowadays. It is truly magnificent and beautiful place. Oh i just never get tired of looking at the photos. Thank you for this post.
I used to live in Charleston. These photos take me back! Although the view from our house wasn’t quite like this π What an awesome house!
We’re headed there for a wedding next month. It is such a beautiful town, and it looks like you might have found the best spot there. Now you’ve got me searching for somewhere half as cool to stay while we’re there!
Wow! Nature at its best. Lovely photos you’ve got. I love seeing all those green elements. The trees are so lovely. Looks like in the movie “The Notebook”. With good food, friendly people, history, and beautiful beaches, there’s no wonder why Charleston is a consistent hit with the travelers. It is the #1 wedding destination city and voted as the #1 tourist city in U.S. over the last two years by Conde Naste travel magazine.
Some areas to look into are Daniel Island, Folly Beach, Kiawah, Seabrook, and James Island. When it comes to investing in properties for sale in Charleston or nearby areas, Mount pleasant sc condos and Mt Pleasant townhouses are at the top of the list.
Those trees are beautiful. I haven’t been there, but I’m sure they are symbolic of that region in a way. Whenever I see the twisting branches of oak trees here in Northern California, I always think of home.
humid!
love the lighting
hiiii
Magnificent landscape!
These are the most fresh creative pictures and the execution is just perfect ,I have ever seen. you have a great imagination setting these pictures!
OMG, the view from living room is totally nostalgic.
I loved Charleston. We did a trip a couple years ago to Savannah, Bluffton and Charleston that we name our “southern swing” trip. We had the most amazing meal at Charleston Place and loved looking at all the beautful houses.
Hey I was wondering what rental this was as I am trying to book a place in Charleston for my sisters bachelorette weekend and saw this
It isn’t a rental, sorry =( A friend just let us take over his home for the weekend.
The area is Wando Farms if you can find anything for rent there. But it’s a good 20 minutes outside of downtown Charleston.
Thanks I’ll look into it π
any chance your friend would rent out his house for my bachelorette party??
I’ve actually never met him, and he doesn’t rent out his houseβit was just a favor for a mutual friend! Good luck finding a place!
Gorgeous photos! Gorgeous setting! I haven’t been to Charleston in 20 years. I used to spend a week in the summer on the Isle of Palms with a friend. Beautiful place! Now I have to go back….
Oooh, we spent an afternoon on IOP. So fun. Love how accessible all the beaches are there!