Island Time

IMG_7664

I spent the weekend at Pawleys Island—my favorite place on earth. I’ve been lucky enough to grow up spending summers and weekends there. And I get a lot of questions from people considering a visit. My answer is always: Yes, go there. Now. Now that that’s settled, here are some answers to other questions:

Where to eat: Chive Blossom is my favorite spot. It’s cozy and intimate, but beachy and lively. The She Crab Soup is the best I’ve ever had anywhere (and I’ve tried more than a few). If the weather is nice, sit outside under the string lights. And if you like fried oysters, order these and thank me later. Frank’s Outback is a similar spot both price and cuisine wise. I love sharing a bunch of small plates at this restaurant (get the ahi tuna nachos) and it’s hidden garden is especially nice on a cooler night. For a casual lunch, grab a bite a BisQit. The little burger joint tucked back in the historic Hammock Shops has become one of our favorite spots for a midday venture off the beach.

What to do: Honestly, I spend about 60 percent of my time in the hammock on our back porch with a book, 10 percent walking on the beach, 10 percent swimming, 10 percent sitting in the sun, and 5 percent crabbing. That’s the kind of laid back stuff Pawleys is made for. But a few other fun things to do include renting bikes to ride around the island and mainland, riding said bikes over to the the All Saints cemetery to see the old graves including the famed Alice, buying fudge and walking around the Hammock Shops, going early in the morning to Georgetown’s harbor for shrimp fresh off the boat, and taking kayaks out in the marsh. I’ve done other stuff—golf, plantation tours, Brookgreen Gardens, Atalaya castle—but for the most part those just get in the way of hammock time.

Weekend in Palmetto Bluff/Heaven

img_5127

I traveled to Palmetto Bluff this weekend. And it was glorious. This was my second time at this charming resort, which is set on 20,000 acres in the South Carolina Lowcountry, and I’m a little in love with it. Every part of the setting is perfect—from the hundreds of live oaks dripping with Spanish moss to the bright white egrets that perch along the shores of its waterways.

And the resort only enhances the setting. White cottages, tin roofs, and gas-lit paths make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time—but into an incredibly luxurious version of history, complete with endless recreational options, inventive cocktails, and high thread count sheets. Oh, and in case this didn’t already sound like heaven, there are extra-extravagant touches like puppies running around as “canine ambassadors” and a “S’mores Cart” that pulls in so you can roast your own variation of the gooey treat in the riverside firepit every evening (you can’t make this stuff up).

I went with my friend Katie and we had the best time. Highlights included an afternoon kayaking trip, a long morning bike ride, a PB&J cocktail made with peanut-infused bourbon, a fireside pizza-and-wine dinner, and those aforementioned s’mores. Returning to the real world wasn’t easy. Here’s a peek from our trip: