The decision to move to Charleston was not an easy one. It’s actually one that took place over the course of five years with Tyler slowly chipping away at my reservations to move to a new city even further away from family than we already were while living in Virginia. I could go through our thought process and what it took me to get here, but that’s a whole other blog post. And now that we’re here, I can tell you it was one of the best decisions we could have made for our family in terms of lifestyle.

Waking up yesterday and realizing it was the first day of summer got me thinking about our first full season living in Charleston and how much fun we’ve already had. We’ve discovered new restaurants, found our favorite beach, taken Hudson out to so many fun activities and basically have fallen in love with this city. It sparked an idea for a new blog series that I was so excited about that I pawned Hudson off on Tyler (who luckily wasn’t working) and I went right up to the office and got to work.

So welcome to my new (what will be for now) quarterly series called, “Hello Charleston,” in which I’ll recap some of our highlights and favorite places from the season. This spring has taught us that the beach is always a good idea, thinking your are going to lose any weight while living in Charleston is pretty much impossible without a will power that we just don’t quite possess, and you really can’t be bored here. I hope you’ll enjoy following along on some of our family adventures and it will give you some great ideas about what to do here in Charleston should you ever visit the Holy City.

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One of the first beaches we discovered thanks to my bestie Allison was the beach next to Fort Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island. With views of the Ravenel Bridge, easy access to the beach, and a less crowded and quieter setting than some of the other local beaches, this has become our go-to spot. It’s perfect for little kids, and it’s also right next to historic Fort Moultrie, so even if it’s a day you can’t go swimming on, it still offers plenty of activity to wear even the most energetic of two-year-olds out. Stop by Beardcats Sweet Shop on the way home for the most delicious olive oil and sea salt ice cream you ever did taste.

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Lucky for me my sister Laura ended up moving in to an apartment in downtown Charleston, a few months after we moved here, so not only did I get the Dion to my Cher back in the same zip code, but it also meant I got my favorite shopping partner back, which is exactly what we’ve done on a few weekends.Cannonborough Collective was a shop I discovered on instagram, and it’s the CUTEST balloon and gift shop. The cool part about all their products is that they are local Charleston brands, so you know you’re supporting small business owners in the community. Side note: I also wore my tassel earrings by The Tiny Tassel to wine book club the other night and got compliments on them alllll night long.

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Mac & Murphy is another local shop that had me at hello from the moment I saw this sign out front. Having been disappointed at a few other card shops in the area, this is the store I had been looking for. The best wrapping paper, the best cards, and the owner Liz exuded southern hospitality, chatting with us as we browsed, and oohed and aahed over her perfectly curated shop.

Bonus: stop by Sugar Bake Shop for a post shopping treat.

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Have kids and need a rainy (or sunny) day activity? The Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry kept my little guy entertained for hours. With a water room, a pirate ship, a play market, and a huge outdoor area among others, this is 100% a place we’ll be going back to time and time again to ensure a looooong afternoon nap.

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Finally, one of the first tourist weekends we had was with our friend Emily visiting Middleton Place Plantation. The sprawling garden grounds combined with a horse drawn carriage tour made for a lovely afternoon for the adults… and seeing the sheep and pigs at the stables was obviously the highlight for my “baaaaah” obsessed son.

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And while I’m not big into taking pictures of my food (I’m too busy eating it people), here are some of the places that have had us working out five days a week to combat the insane cuisine here.

Le Farfalle: Best italian meal I have had in a long time, possibly ever. Cannon Green: Go for the brunch and beats Sunday, and the atmosphere just cannot be more beautiful. Little Jack’s Tavern: Voted best burger in Charleston during the food & wine festival this year, and I can’t argue with that. Lewis BBQ: Just prepare yourself by not being able to move for a few hours afterward due to the amount of food you’ll consume. Poe’s Tavern: Best beach atmosphere. Mex 1: Tacos are just as good as the margs. 167 Raw: This is the first place I ever tried an oyster and was NOT disappointed. Stella’s: This place makes up for missing Lebanese Taverna back in DC. Butcher & Bee: Whipped feta and fried olives. Enough said.

All in all, I’d say the Low Country has done right by the Dye family so far. And we’re just getting started…