For our family trip this year we killed a bunch of birds with one trip. So to speak.
Josh was having his annual AMIN summer conference in Savannah GA. A town I have been wanting to visit for quite awhile now. So with the kids heading off to camp, family visiting and my other (ahem) trips planned, we decided to make this our Summer Family Vacation 2k15.
We started in Savannah, where we arrived a few days early to The Brice Hotel. A really great hotel in the main downtown area near the river. Very cool and boutiquey. The conference was held here.
Savannah was a great spot for hanging out, walking, riding bikes, strolling through their 24 squares, doing a trolley tour and getting in a couple great meals. The Grey, one of our only meals together (not in conference), was awesome. A renovated Greyhound station and manned (womanned) by Mashama Bailey. Mose and Josh waiting patiently for their food.
We loved the ease of this town and it’s beauty was very special. Here we are at Chippewa Square.
We thought about the Ghost Tour, but in the end, no time. The hearse tour tho was the way to go, no doubt.
A famous ice cream stop was Leopold’s. We partook.
Peanut Butter chippy my favorite.
But really, the coolest thing about Savannah is SCAD (South Carolina School of Art and Design) I called it SCAD city, because it takes up most of the main area of Savannah. Most of SCAD buildings are scattered around the town. We took a tour, since Mathilda is interested in their Performing Arts program.
We went to check out the Equestrian facilities at SCAD one afternoon (Mathilda is also interested in SCAD’s Equestrian studies program) and she almost died right on the spot. An unbelievable place for riders and horses. We chatted with this student hacking a horse in one of the most beautiful rings I have ever seen. WOW!
But the SCAD museum and ShopSCAD are the best. The museum is smallish and the architecture of the new building is fab. The exhibits were really impressive. With a very nice modern touch.
Some of the exhibits are by famous artists and some by SCAD alumni which I think is quite nice.
The building has won some awards for the design centered around the old railroad freight warehouse. It’s a great mix of the old masonry ruins and a magnificent concrete structure. The past and the future. MJ in front of a video by Xu bing.
We went to the big conference outing at Fort Jackson where there was a band and bar be que. They fired the cannons and everything.
MJ hanging out by the river.
As with most towns I visit I love the churches. Savannah had many lovely ones to choose from.
And this house was unreal.
We took a day to drive to Tybee Island nearby and spent the night at the Tybee Island Inn. Interestingly kitschy and weird.
The beach at Tybee was very relaxing and MJ got in a little surfing.
My beach comber Mose kept up the search. $$
We headed through Beaufort the next day with a stop at Hunting Island beach. The beach was quiet and very nice and wide. We loved Beaufort a lot. Even drove by The Big Chill house. Wish we could have stayed longer- but onward.
Next up was Charleston. We rented an VRBO house near downtown and College of Charleston. The courtyard of our sweet 2 bedroom 2 bath carriage house. Just lovely.
The kitchen with Orange Le Cruset. Charleston loves Le Cruset.
We took a tour of The College of Charleston. And visited the Art gallery there which had a very impressive small show.
We ate at a ton of great places while in Charleston. The Ordinary is a Southern seafood hall and oyster bar located in an old bank. Very nice place. Big. We loved Two Boroughs Larder as well. Very farm to table and felt like an old grocery store with a hipster vibe. And Josh and I snuck away to FIG to wait (for quite awhile) and sit (finally) at the bar for an amazing dinner there. Very fresh, creative and yes, sustainable menu. But our favorite, or well my favorite, was Leon’s Poultry and Oyster bar. Totally wicked and just a fun atmosphere for lunch.
My fav here, the fried chicken. Best. Ever. Super crispy and juicy and salty inside.
Charleston has a lot to offer. Beautiful, charming city. Great shopping and a condensed college right in the center of everything AND the beaches are only 20 minutes away!!! We were there during an early June heat wave so we made our way over to Isle of Palms beach for an afternoon to cool off. Lots of sweaty people had the same idea so we had to squeeze into a spot.
The pier was lovely and we had a nice time just hanging out and reading.
The end came quickly, but we really enjoyed both cities with an added bonus of Beaufort and 3 beach visits. I would totally recommend this trip. Fun, fun time.
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