Mini Honeymoon in Charleston (Where to Eat & Drink, DOLPHINS, Amtrak Sle...

I have to say we really needed this break, right after the wedding and opening my store in Baltimore, Maryland a week after. We had a drink on the beach at South Point the night before and ironed out some of the last details. Some of the planning involved trying to go somewhere close enough to drive together (we love road trips) and bring back some good memories. Last year when we drove all the way down the East Coast, one of our favorite cities was Charleston South Carolina. We always wanted to spend more time together there and had a great mini honeymoon there!



So we got a good deal on a rental car (Ford Flex), and started the drive! We crossed through D.C. on the way and stopped at this greasy spoon 'Silver Diner' that we used to go to when he picked me up from the bus station on my trips down to see him when we were dating long distance. In those days he was in College Park Maryland and I was in Manhattan, four hours away. I used to love coming to this restaurant and playing on the little booth jukebox. What a nice throwback. 'Hey Jude' by the Beatles was my favorite.  I had some chicken soup, and he had a burger.



A little further, we found ourselves in the Outer Banks of North Carolina along the beaches. There was a rest stop Mark looked up, where we could sleep under the stars in the back of the car. When we woke up, we got to sit and see the sunrise along the beach together. It was like we were the only people in the world.



One fast food joint I'd never tried before is Bojangles, but the crisp on everything was amazing! I'm so glad we stopped here for breakfast to try the cajun chicken filet biscuits! Most giant hash browns ever, as well. The ride was sweetened by some Seagrams pre-made cocktails from one of the many gas stations and stops we stopped at for snacks and the restroom.



The first place we stopped in Charleston was the Angel Oak Tree, oldest living organism on the East Coast and maybe the largest? It was so beautiful and grand.



The Vendue Hotel was really nice and gave us a happy honeymoon card, snacks and bottle of champagne. The concierge was really helpful and nice. Dropped off our rental car and started to explore the city. There were a lot of memories from our original trip that made us want to retrace our steps. Pineapple Fountain, a local boutique called Indigo, and walking by the water were first.



We ate all the food. Low country boil at an out of the way spot on the water. Incredible Fried Chicken at Magnolia's Restaurant, Callie's Hot Little Biscuit & a tea, drinks at SNOB - 'Front Porch Thyme' is really good, and gelato at Carmella's.



The trip back was enjoyable and relaxing on the Amtrak Sleeper commuter train car. It was another throwback nostalgic activity and a bucket list item for sure. Though small, we were comfortable in the twin bed compartment, and had a great breakfast for free in the dining car that morning.

Williamsburg, Virginia Beach, and Wilmington (DAY 1)

DAY 1

Let me just preface by saying that we planned this entire road trip for a long time! (for example, this entry from February). Lots of hand-scrawled notes and maps and google spreadsheet formats. Right on the cusp of our thirties, we really wanted to make the most of this trip and hope you enjoy the tips we found useful.

Woke up bright and early Wednesday morning before Memorial Weekend to visit Colonial Williamsburg VA, Virginia Beach VA, and Wilmington NC. This was the first leg on a road trip that would span all the way down the East Coast of the USA from Baltimore, MD.

Out of the many options out there- we went with National Car Rental Service. Got lucky with a Hyundai Tucson that had only 9 miles on it! Though it was picked up at the BWI Airport, the expectation was that it would only be driven one-way and dropped off at the NOLA Airport eventually. Armed with Starbucks Almond Chai Latte (no foam, no water) and Herbal Tea, we started heading down 95.



If you drink water and tea at the start of the trip, you'll start wanting to take a rest stop around Colonial Williamsburg appearing on the route. Having never been there before (but I had heard stories about the reenactments and history), we stopped by the Visitor Center and wandered through the Great Hopes Plantation for a bit. The weather was really nice, and there a lot of old examples of housing structures and a windmill.







VIRGINIA BEACH



This is the largest city in Virginia, known for it's naval installations and shoreline beaches. It wasn't long after leaving Williamsburg that we got to Cape Henry Lighthouse. I had no idea it was part of a military establishment! Fort Story is a beautiful area right on the water. Though we weren't expecting for our vehicle to be investigated before admission, it made the destination feel more hidden and special. There's a Memorial and beach outlook point across the street from the Lighthouse, that's nice to stop at. *One thing we found out the hard way is enter through Gate 8*.







I highly recommend printing out the VA Beach Public Art Scavenger Hunt map. It made it much easier to identify the art installations scattered along the Virginia Beach Boardwalk, and became a fun game. Our favorite were the Beach Balls and Birds in Flight.

We dipped our toes in the water, and ate froyo from Kohr's when it got hotter (Strawberry/Banana, and Chocolate/Peanut Butter).



We stopped at Commune for lunch, and were not disappointed. There was a healthy mix of families and young people. Everything was responsibly sourced and delicious. I had iced coffee (from local coffee company, PJ's) with burnt honey and a Ham & Jam Biscuit (both the Peach and Strawberry jams were great) for less than $10 total. The parking lot they share with Esoteric, a bar and restaurant is so beautiful, right?







This was our longest driving day, 550 miles, so to get something that would keep us alert and feeling our best went really, a long way.



WILMINGTON



Chris Dixon writes this in this New York Times article 'In Wilmington, N.C.', "a band of fortune seekers and opportunists braved the un-air-conditioned heat -- as well as the mosquitoes, alligators and bears along the banks of the Cape Fear River -- to create Wilmington, which in time became the northernmost hub of the Southern rice culture. Now it makes its living as a resort, a busy port and an aspiring movie capital. In 1983, Frank Capra Jr. found Wilmington a good place to shoot his film "Firestarter," and now his Wilmington studio, EUE/Screen Gems, says it is the largest film production facility east of California. Downtown this fall, you might find the cast of the WB network's "One Tree Hill" among the contented tourists in search of antiques, a night at the theater or a bowl of ground white hominy".



Dinner was at Front St. Brewery Taproom. I'd heard good things, and the person who checked us into our hotel also recommended this place. Best Pulled Chicken Burrito I've ever had, for around $10. The Mug of the Day beers are a great deal, where you can get their choice of beer that day for $1.99. (Normally it's $4.99 a beer.)



We wandered into KGB Lounge nearby for drinks, sipping a mule and dark & stormy. From there we kept walking down to the water a bit before getting some much needed rest.







In the morning- the heaviest rain we would get occurred.

Ate breakfast at Ezzell's Breakfast House, a local diner. The coffee was strong. Solid breakfast food. A little group of local older folks held court near the entrance.



Full and happy, we headed down to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.