The whole trip could have gone very wrong if the first two hours were any indication. I was about an hour and a half from Richmond - Miss A in the co-pilot seat and the Sirius Yacht Rock station on heavy rotation- when I suddenly realized I'd forgotten to pack my swimsuits. F$%*! That's what I get for packing that morning. In my vacation euphoria I'd gone out the night before and was decidedly in no shape to pack till I hydrated and got some sleep. All I can say is thank god for Target.
Fast forward 5ish hours and Miss A and I pulled up to the cutest beach bungalow I've ever seen. If you'd like to check it out you can find more info
here. Circumstances changed a bit this year and I seized the opportunity to lobby for a switch from our normal beach spot to one I'd been wanting to try for a long time. To say that I loved Folly Beach is an understatement. It was just awesome sauce. It was crowded but not too crowded. Lively, yet with a small town feel. The main drag restaurants were great with live music and pet-friendly patios abound.
As we traversed the island, we saw what came to be familiar signs and posters that said, "Slow down, it's Folly Beach", a nod to both the speed limit, 35, and the feeling that the locals want to communicate. They live here too -in hidden tree houses that happen to be on the ground- and they'd like for you to enjoy the same lifestyle they do. It's Folly, slow down. Did I mention at night you can actually see the stars?
Several nights we ventured into Charleston, which was a mere 20ish minute drive away. I could spend a bunch of time putting together a list of restaurants to hit, but a fellow blogger, Julia Engel, has already done a fabulous job. A recent Charleston transplant, we used her
restaurant guide to point us in the right direction and they were all fabulous. My only addition is the
Hominy Grill if you're looking for southern cuisine. My chicken livers - yes, I like chicken livers- were amazing as was the fried chicken, sides, and numerous pies we sampled.
Finally, I think what I'll remember most about this trip was a small seed that was planted. I am very hopeful that it will grow. Till next year, Folly.
