An Adventure to Coastal South Carolina
In search of warmer temps and good music, Isaac and I traveled to Charleston, South Carolina in mid-April for the High Water festival. It was our second time there, and our visit may become somewhat of an annual tradition as it falls just ahead of our anniversary. Held in Riverfront park overlooking the Cooper River, the festival featured a lineup including favorites like CAAMP and new-to-us favorites like Hey, Nothing and Trousdale. For this trip, we decided we wanted to stay at the beach, specifically Folly Beach away from the bustle of downtown and within walking distance to the water. No Tucker Adventure would be complete without a bit of exploring and we’re sharing all the spots with you.
About a half hour drive from the festival venue, we stayed at the charming “Folliday Inn,” a recently renovated boutique-style hotel on Folly island located just off the main causeway. The rooms bring the coastal vibes, decorated in soft blues and earthy tones, super clean and comfortable. Outside, we enjoyed relaxing under the palm trees by the pool. We loved that it was a block from the ocean and a block from all the restaurants, coffee and surf shops, aka very walkable. We made sure to visit the beach as much as we could, heading there each morning before the festival.
On island there is one spot for groceries and goods: Bert’s Market. But don’t be fooled, they take their one-stop-shop responsibilities seriously with a full-service deli, grill station, and coffee bar in addition to the expected groceries, and a slew of other local goods. Did I mention it’s open 24/7? A vacationer’s haven for everything from sunscreen to a made-to-order sandwich or hot dog for the beach, with gf bread options.
No surprise, our love for coffee and local cafes brought us to a few of Folly Cove’s most loved shops. We visited Center Street Coffee, twice- the drinks? Delicious! I tried the triple berry smoothie with oat milk and honey and Isaac ordered their hot vanilla latte. We loved that they used clean ingredients and their pride for the local community and landscape is evident. All of the artwork on their walls was created by local artists using found materials from nature, gathered along Folly Beach. 100% of proceeds from art sales go toward local charity. You’ll also find a fully stocked pastry case here with some gluten and dairy free options.
Next up- Dead Low Coffee Co with a line out the door in the mornings…definitely a locals’ favorite. They have a curated food menu with smoothies, bowls, breakfast, and grab and go options with plenty of gluten free and vegan choices. I had a delicious iced matcha latte with oat milk and honey. Everyone was super friendly and we especially loved that they have baskets outside to encourage visitors to collect trash from the beach.
For dinner Friday night, we walked to Catch 23. We were there for the seafood but the menu included southern classics like hush puppies, po’ boys, and boils- complete with potatoes, corn on the cob, and sausage. We ordered the steamed shrimp and crab legs, fries, and a California Roll- from their full sushi menu.
Food at the festival was a bit limited for gluten free attendees but we were happy to find a vender, Pizza Nova, that offered a gluten free crust- thin, crispy and delicious. We ordered their special with peach, goat cheese, basil and a garlic base the first day, and because you don’t mess with a good thing, we shared the pepperoni with vegan cheese on day two.
On our last day, we spent some time in downtown Charleston, starting with brunch at The Daily Cafe. I had the whipped feta toast on gluten free bread, featuring house-whipped feta, fermented honey, pepper, and scallions. It was so tasty I’ve been brainstorming incorporating it into our menu at the cafe.
After breakfast we ducked into Wynsum Antiques- a gorgeous antique store where I found a small print to bring home for the cafe walls. The struggle of antiquing far from home is that you are limited in what you can bring back on the plane! From there, we shopped and read for a bit at Blue Bicycle Books where I bought a copy of Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara. I suspect this will be making its way into our book club’s rotation!
We owe our trip to our shared love of experiencing live music… especially amongst a crowd of others who share the same affinity. There’s nothing quite like the energy and vibe of random people coming together through music, one of the reasons we love hosting concerts in the backyard of our cafe. It holds a power beyond words, to build community and create a safe and fun space where everyone is welcomed.
Until next year!