Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston, formally known as Charles-Town, is a charming port city. It is the oldest and second largest in South Carolina, founded in 1670 in honor of King Charles II. Charleston is known for its cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages, and antebellum architecture. This past Saturday, March 4th, my boyfriend, Austin, and I decided it was time to check one of his goals off from his bucket list: eating at Lewis Barbeque. 

Charleston City Marina : We arrived into town a little before opening time for Lewis Barbecue. To kill time before it opened Austin and I bought a 32 oz styrofoam cup filled with juicy hot boiled peanuts, and we took a pleasant, leisurely walk through Charleston City Marina, as we both have a love for everything sailing. We laughed at the multitude of different boat names, including "Fore Play" and "Isle Rider." One yacht's name was "Cecilia" so I, of course, sent a picture of it to my best friend, Cecilia. There was a range of different styled motor and sail yachts for sale through St. Barts Yachts, so if you're interested in buying a boat I would check out the marina or go to their website.

Lewis Barbeque : At Lewis Barbeque, an industrial-hip, Central Texas styled smokehouse, we ordered a pound of pulled pork and a pound of pork spare ribs. The pulled pork was very tender but rather tasteless; the pork spare ribs were also tender, and they fell off the bone effortlessly. Unlike the pulled pork, they were seasoned thoroughly and tasted superb. The contemporary atmosphere was neat, an unexpected vibe for a barbecue place, and there was plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Austin and I chose to sit outside at a long rectangular picnic table. There was also another charming section outside that had small square tables sitting amongst patio heaters. However, fair warning, the pound of pulled pork and pork spare ribs and our two drinks cost us $45... pricey, so make sure you come prepared. 

Waterfront Park : Waterfront Park was a perfect place for me and Austin to relax after shopping around in the hustle and bustle of downtown Charleston. This harbor side park is 12 acres with a pier extending into Cooper River consisting of the famous Pineapple Fountain, sheltered rocking benches, a floating dock, an open lawn landscape, and a dense canopy of oak trees with many benches. While me and Austin swung on the rocking benches located on the sheltered portion of the pier, we enjoyed the breathtaking views of the marvelous river, and listened to live music performed by a man raising money for children in Haiti. 

Belgian Gelato : Austin and I got a bit tired and we were both ready for a break, and so we decided to head into Belgian Gelato. It was a cute Belgian sweet shop serving gelato, waffles, coffee, and milkshakes. Austin ordered a coffee while I ordered a single scoop of coffee flavored gelato, together costing us an overpriced amount of approximately $11, but disregarding the price both purchases were very yummy. The gelato was so delicious I couldn't help but scoff it down.

Tips : 

• Bring plenty of money because most things aren't cheap downtown. Bring nickels, dimes, and quarters for meter parking. Have cash on hand just in case.
• Bring a small hairbrush with you. My hair was constantly blowing around and creating tangles.