Ah, my favorite topic! I'm in HHI currently. (Hey nanny2a, want to meet for coffee or something?) My first recommendation is to pick up the Restaurant guide located outside of most stores & supermarkets. It doesn't list every restaurant but it does have sample menus & details, which is helpful. Also pick up the Where To Go guide because that will list some additional places. I've never been to Reilly's so I don't have any advice about that but I can confirm Charlie's is worthwhile. My favorite place is Michael Anthony's on New Orleans Road. I prefer to dine later but they have a great early dining special if you like those. My sister really likes the early bird deal at Alexander's on Queen's Folly Rd in Palmetto Dunes. Sunset Grille is in an odd place, an RV park, but the food is wonderful. They are not in the restaurant guide but you could probably get some info on them from trip advisor or a site like that. If you're football & bar people, Wild Wings has football bingo on Monday nights. I hate football but it's still fun, the food is good bar food, and you can win prizes (free wings, bucket of beer, key chains). Other places I've been to & wouldn't hesitate to return: Red Fish - Sea Grass Grille - Ruan Thai - It's Greek to Me -Jump & Phil's - Signe's for breakfast or lunch I've only had a drink there but I liked the craft beers & the atmosphere of the Bomboras Grille in Coligny. The Salty Dog in Sea Pines is very popular, it's okay but I only go there if I'm with some friends that like it. If you're here Oct 16-23, the Bluffton Seafood Festival is great. In addition to stands with seafood, there's a juried fine art & craft show and music. Bluffton Seafood Festival If I haven't gone on long enough, you can also email me & I can go on and on and on. Enjoy your trip, Jean

Deee- I like the idea of combining both the harbor ride and Ft. Sumter. I’ll have to see if the one I was looking at stops by the fort. Golf is not in my blood but DH plays charity tournaments (after which he inevitably says he’s so terrible he’ll never play again but does). I did take a peek at the Ryder Cup bar and it looks amazing. I agree the lunch menu is reasonable and the more I hear about Kiawah Island the more I think it’ll be added to our itinerary. Savannah is only on my list because I thought it was a must-see city. I’ll be in Statesboro for a wedding and figured I would stop by on my way to Charleston or HHI. Between your comment and Tina’s I think I might skip it. Bumble - A couple of “low key” days are exactly what we’re looking for on this trip. As for the plantations, I can only imagine my husband will be patient enough for one. I’ve seen Magnolia Manor recommended, as well as Middleton. I guess I’ll have to investigate just how long the tours are because I don’t want to spend an entire day there. I certainly won’t visit Drayton Hall - I heard it’s not decorated. Isn’t that part of the fun? April101 - Wow, the French Quarter Inn looks luxurious. I bet your DD had a great birthday there. I would love to stay there but unfortunately it’s out of my price range. And, yes, I agree that TripAdvisor has been a great resource. I don’t know how I ever traveled without it. And thanks for the Venue Inn tip. For some reason it’s just fun to eat or drink at a rooftop restaurant. Pammyfay - Thanks for such a great list! I’ve heard of the Hominy Grill and had planned to stop by there. I expect to enjoy my food and not worry about calories but I still don’t think I could order from a place called the Larder. oh, oops, I just realized a larder is a cellar! I was thinking of lard. I’ve saved this list as my grumbling tummy reference. Tina, I’m so glad you popped in. When I searched GW for Charleston advice you seemed to be the resident expert. Thanks for the tip about Shem Creek. We’ll be eating our share of fresh seafood so it’s nice to go to a reputable area. Last time I was in FL, one of the seafood restaurants I went to was admittedly serving frozen or flown in seafood. Ft. Moultrie and Patriots Point? Now I have too many choices - I think I’ll let DH decide on this one but I suspect my ex-squid will pick Patriots Point. It looks like Harbor Island is near Beaufort, which was a recommended stop for us. I’ll have to check it out and see if that’s more up our alley vs HHI because neither of us are that into golf and I wonder if hotel prices are higher due to that amenity. Hhireno - Oh, true Outlets?! So tempting. I like to shop but I’ve already blown my budget on this trip. That may not stop me, though. I like to purchase a sweatshirt when I’m in a beachy location. I don it whenever it starts to snow here in KS. Hmm, so you highly recommend HHI? Where to go on the GA/SC coast has turned out more complicated than I thought. It all sounds great. Thanks for the feedback on your lovely island. Legomom - Sounds like you’ve put in the 2nd vote for staying on one of the islands and driving into Charleston. I must admit it’s nice to wake up to the ocean vs. city life. It wouldn’t bother me a bit to have my morning coffee ocean side and drive into Charleston later. And some of my favorite places have been dives so the Wreck sounds like fun to me. Thanks so much to everyone. Now I need to find a good book, Jennifer

I live in the SE, and have been to all the places you listed! The Two Meeting Street Inn is my favorite place to stay in Charleston, as it is right on the Battery there in the residential district. I am a runner, so those early morning jogs down those exquisite residential streets were heavenly to me.There are too many amazing restaurants to list...see if your concierge is a true local and find out where THEY eat! :) If you don't mind a little drive, it is easy to get from NOLA to Natchez...and there is a scenic Hwy. I LOVE Natchez...we stayed in this amazing place called Monmouth Plantation...oh, it was lovely and such a complete Southern experience. We stayed at the Windsor Court hotel in NOLA, which is in the Buiness District, but just a short walk to the French Quarter. It was the best of both worlds to me, you could enjoy the craziness of Bourbon St, but then walk back to a wonderful, quiet hotel! And so close to the Cafe du Monde for your breakfast beignets! I am jealous of your trip! You will have an amazing time in these places! Oh, and the Biltmore Inn makes you feel like you are truly a guest of the Vanderbilts...Inn guests get lots of special perks while on the property. We just went in June for our anniversary. :)

3katz, i think the house looks solid even though there are things that could certainly be changed to fit your personal style. Paint, light fixtures, those curlicues in the kitchen and most of the drapery. I could go on but those would be at the top of my list. It has many great features and being on an acre would be nice. As to living in the south, I’m a native, so probably not the one to ask, but many have likely experienced different treatment, depending on where you settled. I have been embarassed by the way some in the south act. I think Mtn wrapped it up best by saying “…the South is not an easy social choice unless it is clearly a retirement community or a major city.” There is some truth to that I believe. A truly small town can be brutal, or quite nice. Our medium sized city (we live rurally nearby actually) is and for many years has been, very diverse with the influx of many military and scientists who have settled here. We’ve had several periods of growth, the most recent being the past 5-10 years and with the transfer recently of jobs from the DC area of over 4000 jobs with more to come. It has brought many here for employment and has stressed housing, roads and services. Things are beginning to catch up but we’re not there yet. I find many ’transplants’ are often unwilling to try to acclimate sometimes. I witnessed this at work before i retired. People are either one way or the other. Some jump right in, join the Newcomer’s club, seek out opportunities to meet their neighbors or others, or they sit back and complain about how awful everyone treats them.