Annapolis voted #12

justdoit19

justdoit19

Proud parent of an ANG, USNA X2, and a MidSib
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Charleston #1? When I lived there as a teenager (at least where I was), it always smelled like sulfur, my two friends and I got mugged walking back from a school football game (in my AF Jr ROTC uniform, no less), it was hot and humid, and the schooling was terrible.

But then again, I almost never went downtown, where I guess the travel and leisure crowd are focusing.
 
This is a big part of why DS chose The Citadel. Great school in a great city. So much to do. Great climate (OK, probably too hot in summer), water access, history, tradition, etc. Many service academies and SMCs are in very rural areas, which is not bad in and of itself. However, Charleston gives students access not only to great leisure/recreation but also educational opportunities by being located in a relatively populated area with a vibrant economy. I know as parents, we are much more enthusiastic about frequent trips to Charleston than we might be to other destinations...
 
Even though I'm a Virginian by birth, I spent the majority of my early youth in Hawaii and Southern California, so that pretty much established my likings. Definitely a beach kid. Definitely a laid back and fun mentality

Way too many southern cities on the list. :bleh2:
 
Ah, Charleston.

Grits with cheese.

Sweet grass baskets as a memory item.

Fried chicken and biscuits.

Low Country cuisine.

Search the Food Network for featured restaurants, especially Diners, Drive Ins & Dives.

I grew up 80 miles south of Savannah in a barrier island, and family vacations to that lovely old city, Beaufort, Hilton Head when it had only 1 hotel, Charleston and other coastal locations between the Outer Banks and Amelia Island…sweet memories.
 
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(Googling benne wafers)

UPDATE: NOT what I was expecting! Will give them a try!
 
justdoit19 said:
(Googling benne wafers)

UPDATE: NOT what I was expecting! Will give them a try!
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Love me some benne wafers. My mom always bought the red tin. These are my current favorite:

And, any place you can get yourself some cheese wafers. Never had them better than coastal SC and GA. Rolled log of savory cheddar shortbread-like dough, with some cayenne enough to feel a tingle, sliced thin and baked into crisp cheesy wafers. You can find these throughout the country, but I swear they show up at every party, festive family occasion (a platter at every table the last wedding we went to in Charleston), funeral meal, church bake sale and holiday gift-giving.

And, pecan pralines.

We do a long weekend every other year or so in Charleston. We always fit in one of these:
charlestonculinarytours.com

Charleston Food Tours | Charleston Culinary Tours

Book a Charleston food tour! Discover Upper King Street, the farmers' market, and downtown Charleston restaurants. Eat, drink, meet the chefs of South Carolina.
charlestonculinarytours.com

Apologies - I have no idea what thread or forum I am in, but I realize I grabbed the thread and went bungee-jumping into favorite foods.
 
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IronmanDaremo said:
Charleston #1? When I lived there as a teenager (at least where I was), it always smelled like sulfur, my two friends and I got mugged walking back from a school football game (in my AF Jr ROTC uniform, no less), it was hot and humid, and the schooling was terrible.

But then again, I almost never went downtown, where I guess the travel and leisure crowd are focusing.
Click to expand...
I was stationed there and one night called my uncle who lived there. We chatted for a few minutes and he asked where I was. Told him a bar on Spruill. He said, Don’t move, don’t go outside. I’m coming to get you.

I found a different crowd and we went to the more upscale bars like Stonehenge and some rock bar in North Charleston. Took my family there in later years and did the tourist thing, stayed at the Navy Lodge, crossed the rickety old Cooper River bridge and checked out the beaches.
 
Devil Doc said:
I was stationed there and one night called my uncle who lived there. We chatted for a few minutes and he asked where I was. Told him a bar on Spruill. He said, Don’t move, don’t go outside
Click to expand...
Did part of my Youngster cruise in Charleston -- Destroyer Tender for a couple weeks (welded to the pier), then sailed Navy yawls from Charleston to Fort Lauderdale and back to Annapolis. One of my classmates was from Charleston, and we were strongly advised not to walk out the gates (back in the early 80's the area outside of a lot of bases wasn't really safe). We did find some nicer places and had a good time in Charleston.

I've been to most on the list -- I'm not a big city fan, so can pass on big cities like Chicago, NYC , and even Honolulu (so many better places on Kauai)
 
Old Navy BGO said:
Did part of my Youngster cruise in Charleston -- Destroyer Tender for a couple weeks (welded to the pier), then sailed Navy yawls from Charleston to Fort Lauderdale and back to Annapolis. One of my classmates was from Charleston, and we were strongly advised not to walk out the gates (back in the early 80's the area outside of a lot of bases wasn't really safe). We did find some nicer places and had a good time in Charleston.

I've been to most on the list -- I'm not a big city fan, so can pass on big cities like Chicago, NYC , and even Honolulu (so many better places on Kauai)
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Did a tiger cruise from Pearl to Kauai. Huge difference in the two islands. Fewer people of course and it just seemed more laid back. So beautiful they call it the Garden Isle.
 
I 100 pct agree wit you @Old Navy BGO about the big cities. Lived in Chicago, visited NYC, and Honolulu. Not a fan. Give me small town any day. Could be bc of my roots.

We honeymooned in Kaui. Itching to go back. It’s stunning. And remote. We hiked back into remote trails and waterfalls and almost died but that’s a whole story.
 
justdoit19 said:
(Googling benne wafers)

UPDATE: NOT what I was expecting! Will give them a try!
Click to expand...
They have redone a portion of the market in downtown Charleston and it's now enclosed with AC. Lots of little booths in there. Very nice. You will be able to find benne wafers and also candied pecans at the market. Saffron Bakery on East Bay Street has cheese wafers. There is a restaurant across from the market called Church and Union that is excellent. It is an old deconsecrated church with beautiful stained glass and decor. For grits you need to travel over the Ravenel bridge towards Mount Pleasant to Grace and Grits for some truly awesome grits. They also have the Grit Counter which is open for lunch. If you're into barbecue - Lewis' Barbeque hands down best brisket.
 
justdoit19 said:
I 100 pct agree wit you @Old Navy BGO about the big cities. Lived in Chicago, visited NYC, and Honolulu. Not a fan. Give me small town any day. Could be bc of my roots.

We honeymooned in Kaui. Itching to go back. It’s stunning. And remote. We hiked back into remote trails and waterfalls and almost died but that’s a whole story.
Click to expand...
Surely you saw the Fantasy Island waterfalls.
 
Also honeymooned in Kaui for 2 weeks with current wifey. It was awesome.

Lived in Honolulu as a little. Don't remember much other than I loved it. Kid just got back from his 2/C SWO cruise there. He loved it as well.
 
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