If you, by chance, find yourself falling for someone from South Carolina there may be a few things you should know. I think being prepared is better than not. Therefore, I have compiled a list of 10 things that you might want to know if you're dating someone from South Carolina.
1. You must be smart. We may talk slow, but we don't think that way.
It all started when my girls begged me to go to the beach. I am more of a mountain person myself, but when it came time to plan a trip, we decided to give it a shot and plan some time at the beach as well. Being from landlocked Tennessee we don’t see the ocean much anymore, I lived near the water my whole life until recently but you do start to miss hearing the gentle calm of the ocean tide. So, to make my daughter's wildest wishes come true, we made the drive out to Mount Pleasant in South Carolina.
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Our original plan was to go to Charleston, but a campground was open in Mount Pleasant, so we decided that was close enough. I really didn’t know what to expect as we left the mountains behind and found ourselves in the flatland once again. As we got closer, the sun was setting, and we witnessed the tall marshland grass gently swaying in the breeze, illuminated in a golden hue from the setting sun. We rolled down our windows, and the familiar scent of the salty air came wafting as we drove. It felt like a lovely change of pace from the mountains to the sea once again.
Truth be told, we loved Mount Pleasant and found that it lived up to its name quite nicely, although there was not a mount to be seen. We stayed at the Mount Pleasant / Charleston KOA, and the scenery was breathtaking. I woke up early and just sat watching the calm water but what struck me the most were the trees. The live oak trees were everywhere, with twisting branches and hanging Spanish moss. I used to live in Florida, and it brought me right back to those fond memories I have of the Sunshine State.
Oak tree swith Spanish moss in South Carolina
It was good to feel the warm sun again, and once everyone was awake, it was time to start exploring. The city felt like the perfect size, and the upscale neighborhoods were fun to drive around. We found the whole place incredibly charming and there were many activities nearby to partake in. We took a quick drive to Isle of Palms, and I have to say, I may have found my favorite beach ever.
Sunrise in Mt Pleasant South Carolina with row of Palmetto palm trees against a early morning sky with clouds and color
Dogs are allowed on the beach, and we have an adventure dog, so he goes everywhere with us. He has hiked mountains, dug sandcastles with the girls at the ocean, you name it, and he has done it. He was living his best doggie life, taking a nap in the shade in the soft white sand. We had the greatest time splashing in the water with him and soaking up the sun.
After spending some time in this amazing little city, we can’t wait to go back. It was one of the highlights of our trips, and as the sun set, closing out the day, we knew that this place was special. I would highly suggest starting your day at Joey Bag of Donuts. These huge, delicious donuts really hit the spot, and they have tons of outlandish flavors that you might not think will work but really do.
It was a pleasure spending some time in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, and it is a place I can’t wait to go back and visit again. With lots to see and do, it makes this upscale suburb the up-and-coming city it is.
If you are also looking to take advantage of Charleston I asked a local what would be the number one thing she would recommend and she told me to take a historic carriage ride.
If you've ever noticed that in the Lowcountry of South Carolina (as well as Georgia, parts of Florida, and North Carolina) there are homes with porch ceilings painted a light blue with a hint of green, there is actually a reason for the hue. The color is known as haint blue. Traditionally, there are many pale shades of blue-green that qualify as haint blue, but there's only one place you'll likely find it -- on the ceilings of the porches of some Lowcountry homes. If you've ever seen blue porch ceilings in South Carolina and wondered "Why are porch ceilings painted blue?" -- read on!
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Perhaps you recall seeing it and thinking it was an odd but beautiful choice for a porch ceiling. (This image shows it on the ceiling of the main porch at Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant.) But do you know the real reason why people put haint blue on the ceiling over the entrance to their home?
The African Americans that make up the Gullah and Geechee populations here developed their own Creole-based language and brought along some cultural traditions, as well. Many are steeped in superstition and some even in voodoo.
And those haint blue ceilings of porches in South Carolina are no different. The Gullah and Geechee believe that malevolent, restless ghosts, called "haints" sneak into your home and cause all sorts of trouble.
The haints see the blue, think it's water, and won't set foot on the porch, much less cross it to enter the front door. Placing the color on the ceiling serves to further confuse the haints and possibly even trick them into thinking they are upside down.
The next time you encounter a porch with a haint blue ceiling, you'll know the answer to why ceilings of porches in South Carolina are blue and that haints are simply not welcome.
Did you know about the reason behind the tradition of haint blue porch ceilings in South Carolina? Want to learn about another Gullah Geechee cultural belief? Read all about the creepy boo hags that sit on your chest when you're asleep, suck the air out of your body, and then slip into your skin and use your body for their nefarious deeds all night long.
