Charleston in the Spring

We have never taken a full family trip during spring break because John's spring breaks have never lined up with the Fayette County spring breaks. But this spring because John wasn't teaching it was easier to get away and we just made it happen.

The girls were thrilled to get out of Lexington and Callie just wanted to make sure we could go to the beach and get some sun. It didn't really matter what beach. We just wanted to make sure we could drive there. After doing a bit of last minute research we found a good deal at a hotel in Charleston, South Carolina. The hotel had a couple of pools and we could see the ocean from our room so it hit all the right marks. 

Sarah was the only one who had been to Charleston before, so for the most part it was a new experience for all of us. A great feature of our hotel was a free shuttle to and from downtown so we could get there easily. On our first full day we took a horse drawn carriage tour through the heart of downtown and learned some history. We could have done without some of our fellow tourists who clearly had different ideas about the Civil than John, but these things happen. 

The city is beautiful and has a lot of character in its older houses and structures. With the girls being 13 and 16 we somehow also found the high end shopping area that made them like the city a little more than they expected. We also had a great meal one night and the bill highlighted that the girls are not eating off the kids menu anymore. Traveling as a family these days is more and more enjoyable on a number of levels.

The timing of our trip also coincided with Easter, which meant Sarah was prepared to ensure the girls were spoiled and had another themed basket to remember the day. The balcony of our room provided the perfect setting and when the girls found out that the theme was beauty and skin care they were over the moon, or sunrise, based on the time of day.

Once we had properly enjoyed our Easter morning we took advantage of another benefit at our hotel. We got bikes and headed out for a day of sunshine and fun. We started by riding to Vicious Biscuits, a place recommended to us that did not disappoint. Once we were properly fueled we headed to downtown Charleston, which meant we rode over the Cooper River Bridge, which is 2.5 miles long. Sarah was confident we could do it, John was doubtful, and Reese wanted an e-bike. 

Well we made it without too much hardship or whining by John, and then got to spend the day exploring different parts of the city. We went to the aquarium, which allowed us to get the picture to the right. Our aquarium snobbery got the best of us here and so we didn't spend too much time here. But it was a good stop on the way into the heart of the city.

We rode along the park near the Battery area on the bay and found our way to what is called Rainbow Row, which is an area where the townhouses are all in rainbow and pastel colors. These houses were originally built three hundred years ago and over time have served as homes, warehouses, and shops. Local preservationists saved them from destruction over one hundred years ago. It was a fun spot to see and we were not the only out of towners looking to get a picture or two in the area. 

The ride back over the bridge to our hotel was actually a bit easier than the ride there, but we were certainly ready for a reward once we parked the bikes. Luckily the Easter Bunny was there to help us with some smiles and popsicles. One of the fun features of the hotel was that they had afternoon ice cream treats which delighted all of us whether we were at the pool or coming home from a bike ride.

That next day we secured our visit to the ocean to make the trip complete. Just a short drive from Charleston is Folly Beach and while the weather wasn't perfect, the sun was out and those who wanted to try and get a little color could give it a go. It certainly wasn't warm enough to get in the water but we were able to get some sun and dip our toes in the Atlantic Ocean. Sometimes that is all you need.

On the drive home we made a stop in Tennessee to meet up with one of Callie's friends and her dad. Callie went off with them for a couple of days while Reese traveled home with us to make sure she got to her soccer practice. It was rainy and overcast but we didn't think too much of it until we pulled off the highway in Lexington and started to see trees down on our drive back to the house. And as it turns out we came back to a house without power and a canceled soccer practice. Such a fun way to end our spring break trip. But we carried on and were only out of power for a couple of days. Life is never dull.