Charleston Babymoon

London was our last big hurrah before baby #3...until we realized we could squeeze in one more getaway before our domestic commitments multiply this summer. So we hopped on SWA's cheap, direct flights for a long weekend in Charleston. And really--looking at these pictures--who needs an excuse anyway?

Like with any romanticized city, it takes me a little while to see past the cracked sidewalks and "citiness" of the place, but as you can see, I found Charleston's charm lurking "south of Broad:" 5ft-wide garden alleys, colorful 18th-c colonials, greco-roman churches, hedges of honeysuckle, grassy swamps... It all gave the historic district a distinctive flavor -- one that reminded me of New Orleans (without the sense of humor).

As with any good babymoon, our trip involved lots of good food for this pregnant momma. Insider tips from Josh's parents led us to Jestine's Kitchen (a cozy meat & 3 with a line down the block), The Wreck of the Richard & Charlene (hidden in a neighborhood with barely a front door but awesome food & views of the harbor), and Hominy Grill (chic Southern comfort).

Yes, we ate all of this and then some. Best scallops and friend green tomatoes (Wreck), shrimp & grits and mashed sweet potatoes (Hominy), and cornbread and coca-cola cake (Jestine's) I've ever had. Though I must admit, I was grateful for cereal each morning and craving a simple salad by the time we left (a craving which sadly didn't last very long - hello big-bellied sweet tooth!).

Between meals, we visited the 24,000-sq-ft Calhoun mansion for a tour. They don't allow interior pictures anymore, so I grabbed a few off Google -- all of which are a few years old for good reason. The current owners are "collectors" (read "hoarders") and have filled every square inch of the house (where they somehow manage to live when strangers aren't touring their bedrooms) with Victorian stuff of every shape and size. It's ornate, impressive, gaudy, overwhelming, and worth a large fortune, I'm sure. Josh and I both came away thankful to live in our house.

Our new house! Just kidding. But seriously, we saw this unique design all over the peninsula so I grabbed a few examples with my camera. Big porches that run the length of the side of the house? A front door that opens onto a porch? They're beautiful but in their own, odd, Lemony-Snickety way.

As you may have guessed, we left our picky little eaters behind to play with their friend Jack and his momma. But don't feel sorry for them. They'd take Chick-fil-a over Charleston's best fare any day. It was definitely a win-win weekend.