Visiting Savannah & Charleston

Savannah and Charleston are both the oldest cities in their respective States which offered deep history, beautiful antebellum architecture and a friendly southern charm that encouraged us to stay a bit longer than expected (not to mention being able to visit with family in Charleston)!

Savannah, GA

Go Camping at Red Gate Campground - We fell in love with this family run campground/functioning farm/event location. Originally, we tried to reserve a spot at Skidaway (beautiful state park southeast of town) but were unable to link up with their availability which luckily led us to Red Gate! The park was much closer to town than Skidway and cheaper! We spent early mornings and evenings walking the property, checking out their chickens, goats, horses and peacocks. One morning a property manager offered us fresh eggs (some of the best we ever had). We opted to stay off grid (no hook ups) which was the way to go. The actual campground (with full hookups) is pretty wide open, not much privacy.

A pretty wedding ceremony option on property

Spend time downtown - Our first stop was a small farmer's market in Forsyth Park, (runs every Saturday from 9am-1pm). We brought lunch and enjoyed watching a few games of ultimate frisbee from the sidelines. Savannah is known for their 22 parklike squares which run throughout the historic downtown blocks. Forsyth Park is the largest of those parks and a great starting point for a day of exploration. We strolled through Monterey, Madison, Chippewa, Wright and Johnson squares before making our way to River Street, a cobblestoned street full of shops, bars and restaurants. We grabbed dinner at Treylor Park, a quaint and quality over quantity kind of place with fun twists on southern staples. We made a quick stop at Southbound Brewery before heading home. Southbound is a bit out of downtown but worth a stop. For $15 you get a tour, 36oz of beer and your choice of six pack to go! The next day we spent time in Bonaventure Cemetery (meaning good fortune in French) which was a beautiful and peaceful property on the Wilmington River.

:) Sign outside of Treylor Park Restautant

Do Yoga - Revolution Yoga, one of my favs so far on this trip. It was a sweet and pristine little yoga studio. They offer $8 community classes throughout the week and a candlelight restorative flow on Sunday evenings.

Visit the Majestic Oak - our friend from Red Gate told us about this spectacular old oak tree we could visit in the Majestic Oaks Neighborhood. It can be tricky to find, map here. The tree is estimated to be between 300 and 500 years old and is definitely worth a visit.

Charleston, SC

I have three wonderful Aunts and Uncles in Charleston! They made figuring out where to stay and what to do a breeze! A few highlights included:

Yoga with Muni - This experience had such a profound impact on me. I would highly recommend yoga or meditation with Muni to anyone who spends even a day in Charleston. Muni was a monk for 37 years living in monasteries in Hawaii and San Francisco. Prior to entering the monastery, Muni was a professional Jazz Musician which he now incorporates into his yoga, meditation classes and workshops. He runs most of his workshops out of the small studio behind his home on Daniel Island. Trust me, you will emerge balanced and energized from Muni's rhythmic practice.

Downtown Charleston - walking through downtown was a blend of US History and French and West African culture. We walked past The Battery, The City Market, Rainbow Row and through The College of Charleston which was founded in the 1700s.

A lady displaying her SweetGrass Baskets, one of the oldest handcrafts of African origin in the US

Pineapple Fountain in Charleston's Waterfront Park

Kiawah Island - We spent an afternoon exploring Kiawah Island, known for their Ocean Golf Course which ranks among the top 25 best courses in the US. My Aunt and Uncle treated us to a delicious lunch at the Ryder Cup Bar on the 18th green!