You can find Southern classics like fried chicken and fried green tomatoes all over the American South, but Charleston does certain Southern staples the best. Find out what they are here! 1. Shrimp and grits Ok, you knew this would be Charleston’s #1. Although it is popular all over the Read more…
In the 17th and 18th centuries, Charleston was a hangout for pirates such as Stede Bonnet, Anne Bonney, and most infamously, Blackbeard. The ransom he demanded from the city will surprise you! Edward Teach, or Blackbeard, the enigmatic 18th-century British pirate, was an intimidating figure. His build was tall and Read more…
Looking for things to do in Savannah that don’t require admission or that allow you to soak in its natural beauty? Let this list launch your Savannah sightseeing adventures! 1. Count the city squares 22 of Savannah’s original 24 squares remain today, and strolling them is a great way to Read more…
Dare to learn about Savannah’s centuries-old ghosts and more on your own trip to Savannah! As you can see, there is so much to explore in this Southern jewel!
Instead, I am discussing a Southern drink I have found to be extremely crisp and refreshing in the hot summer months – shrub! Strange name, I know, but it comes from the Arabic sharab – “to drink” (“Sherbet” and “syrup” also come from this Arabic root). Shrubs are concentrated fruit-infused Read more…
Maybe you do not like the look of Spanish moss, but I love it. I love how gracefully it hangs from its perch in the trees and how its blueish-gray garlands gently flutter in the breeze like elegant jewelry. I love it because when I see it, it means I Read more…
Did you know Florida has whitewater rapids? Neither did I until I visited Big Shoals State Park, which contains the largest whitewater rapids in the state! These rapids, or shoals, are on the Suwannee River, which was made famous by composer Stephen C. Foster’s song “The Swanee River” of 1851. Read more…
As much as I enjoy exploring the history and nature around me in these stay-at-home days, I can’t stop dreaming. And right now, I am dreaming of Sorrento, Italy. Sorrento is my favorite vacation spot in the world. Whenever I need just a few days of utter relaxation, this is Read more…
Smugglers, pirates, slave traders. Maybe not the first people we think of when picturing quaint Fernandina Beach, Florida, but these were the seedy characters who thrived in this Amelia Island settlement in the 1800s. Fernandina is so much more, too, so read on! Fernandina Beach is the only city in Read more…
If you ask natives of my hometown of Jacksonville, Florida, to identify their local food specialty, they will puff up with pride and reply, “Mayport shrimp.” Cooked any way you like it – boiled, fried, sauced with butter (my favorite way) – we do Mayport shrimp well. But we can’t Read more…