Charleston Cottage Love

I absolutely adore Charleston.. it's one of the great Southern cities, and in recent years has earned national acclaim as a true culinary hot-spot. After 3 full days and nights of eating everything in sight at fabulous chef-driven restaurants, I concur. There's a great deal of the love in the food served in Charleston..so much so that you can feel it  (now I'm feeling it on my hips..yikes!). The downtown area is home to gorgeous, historic properties and hotels. I'm currently working on a Nashville Lifestyles article for our April 2013 edition including all of the places to shop, stay and savor/taste on a visit. 

The view from our back porch at The Cottages on Charleston Harbor included
 watching sailboats and barges pass as well as Fort Sumter. 

But, I simply can't keep to myself another second discovering hidden treasures well off of the beaten tourists' path. These are places just over the bridge that came highly recommended by local residents... and for good reason.

The cozy back porch, complete with dining space, comfy chairs and the ideal napping nook.

Perhaps the most important find was the retreat of The Cottages on Charleston Harbor. These adorable little houses all share the same floor plan, but each is distinctive. Spacious living areas, expansive screened-in porches overlooking the water and full kitchens are standard. Two casually elegant appointed bedrooms and three full baths are also part of the package. So, instead of being cramped into a single hotel room at an accelerated rate, you can book here, find a bit of peace and quiet while still being in close proximity to downtown dining and nightlife -- and for an amazingly low rate. I was so impressed by our cottage that I'm already looking for open dates so that I can take friends back for future trips. 

Two floors of furniture, accessories and fabric for the home can be found at Celadon.

Another reason to explore haunts away from Meeting or King Streets is the selection of reasonably priced home decor stores that service the savvy, stylish locals. I was completely obsessed with several of the Mt. Pleasant area stores, especially Celadon-- where I found the perfect outdoor coffee table and hand crafted desk. I'm now thinking of booking a trip back just to do a bit more housewares shopping-- it's really that good! Next time possibly with a U-haul truck (although they ship even the biggest items). 

That tag on the stone top outdoor coffee table reads SOLD-- bought it!

What's your favorite Charleston, SC story or haunt? Please share...I plan to visit this seaside city as often as possible!