The Packing List: Charleston

The Packing List

Aug 15

You may know me as the Jetlag Hag who has turned her nose up at domestic travel in the past. Why stick around the States when you can bask in the glory of Europe for the same amount of money, if not less? A few more hours on the plane for a much bigger payoff IMHO.

And historically, I’ve specifically shat on the South. Hard. What can I say? We live in a divisive time, and I am not up for the job of unifier. Fuck the South, I’d say, and all the Trump voters in it! But politics aside, I’ve also mellowed out on where I wouldn’t mind visiting within the States — including pockets throughout the South.

New Orleans, Charleston, Austin, the Outerbanks — these are some of the places high on my list if I’m going to stay stateside and collect on my Southwest points. Arkansas and Alabama aren’t calling my name anytime soon. But last summer when we visited Nick and Lyndsey in Boston, we talked about meeting somewhere for our annual summer meetup, and earlier this year we landed on Charleston.

Charleston first piqued my interest through — you guessed it — food TV. An avid watcher of anything and everything involving successful chefs, I am not sure if I learned about Charleston chef Sean Brock through “The Mind of a Chef,” “Chef’s Table,” or “Parts Unknown.” But I knew that his restaurant Husk revived the Charleston food scene and it is now a premiere foodie destination. And since Jen won’t be with me on this trip, you KNOW I took up the mantle of making a restaurant spreadsheet.

In addition to being food city, Charleston overall sounds like a wonderful non-Florida foray into the South. Everyone who goes loves it there, there’s a beach in close proximity, and there’s tons to do. Since we’re going this month, I fully expect it to be super hot, so I am keeping that in mind for what I pack. I am also considering the need for comfy shoes and forgiving waist bands. Here’s what I’m bringing!