Hi friends,
My trip has officially launched! After getting my Highlander all packed up, putting a few more things in storage, and saying my “see ya laters” to my friends, it was finally time to hit the road.
I decided to shave off some driving time on Saturday and drive up to Jacksonville, FL, and stay the night on Friday evening. Really good decision! The next morning, I drove to Savannah where I went for a delicious brunch at Husk Savannah (thanks for the recco Carrie!) and to walk around for a bit. My big goal for this trip is to visit places I’ve never been before, but I made an exception for Savannah. It’s a stunning city and since I was driving right by it, I had to make a quick stop.
My first official stop was Charleston, SC. I’ve flown into Charleston for family visits but have never actually spent time in the city. The city is very old and rich in American history – and very rich monetarily as well, with both old and new money. The colonial buildings and cobblestone streets give the city such amazing character and the food scene is incredible. I stayed at a hostel in Charleston and while the building was old and just ok, my roommates, Sarah, Lily, and Jenn, were so sweet and I had a good time chatting with them on the old second-floor porch.
Two of my favorite places that I ate at were Chasing Sage and Poogan’s Porch (thanks for the recco Kim!). Next door to Chasing Sage was a really cool tap room called the Guilded Horn, where I met some nice people from New Jersey and Connecticut, all of whom worked in marketing, and a very cool bartender named Hannah. Meeting new people is by far my favorite thing about traveling. You hear other people’s stories, where they’re from, why they’re passing by, etc. and it just fascinates me. Good thing I’m not an introvert! Charleston was cool and I’m glad I made the visit — but decided I’m not Southern, civilized or rich enough for this town. LOL!
After my first weekend on the road in Charleston, I headed to stop number two, Wilmington, NC - but not before making a quick stop in Myrtle Beach, SC for lunch with my cousin Kyle! I’m so glad we got to reconnect and share a meal - thanks Cuz! :)
Wilmington wasn’t originally on my list of stops. But when I hear multiple people speak highly about a place, that’s a sign I need to go.
Wilmington was SUCH a cute town with a chill vibe without being too edgy or pretentious. Great restaurants, coffee shops, and bars— all very walkable. The riverfront area was also fantastic. My Airbnb host, Lindsey, was so awesome
On a work note, I even got to meet a new member of our ad agency team, Riley, who’s based in Wilmington. We had a great time going to a few spots she recommended.
Wilmington is such a great town and I really enjoyed my time there! Hope you will put it on your travel list someday. :)
Overall, the travels have gone pretty smoothly! My driving pace was a bit on the aggressive side (over 1,000 miles less than a week) and was a little tricky juggling work with check-out/drive times. But I’m making it work the best I can. All I can do is learn, give myself grace, and listen to my mind/body to know when I need a little extra rest.
Stop number three took me to Asheville, NC — and this place deserves a post of its own. Stay tuned!
Love and light,
MW
Great to catch up with you, too, Cuz! 💖
If going to Va may I suggest Williamsburg!!!Beautiful!!Amazing history!! And …Jamestown !!