I have recently returned from a visit to the Holy City.

No, I am not talking about Mecca (my hometown of Richmond, Virginia)-I am talking about Charleston, South Carolina.  The city is so named due to the plethora of church steeples dotting the skyline.  This hospitable and picturesque town also has a well-earned reputation from its earliest days for religious tolerance.

Charleston was just named the top tourist destination in the U.S. for the third consecutive year by Conde Nast Traveler magazine.  My dear friend Caroline Fitzgerald, a native Charlestonian, was kind enough to invite me and three other lovely Des Moines divas-Amanda Reynal, Jenny Ferrari and Kellie Hockmuth-home with her for a long weekend.  Caroline was the quintessential Southern hostess, escorting us all over the city to see the sights.  We also ate at fabulous local restaurants like F.I.G., Rarebit and McIntosh.  Caroline’s delightful parents, Alfred and Julianna Pinckney put us up in their wonderful carriage house, and entertained us royally at their lovely and historic home.

Julianna showed me the most interesting article from the Charleston Post and Courier during our stay.  Apparently 150 years ago to the day of our visit, Jefferson Davis, Winnie’s father, also visited the Holy City.  On November 2, 1865, the Confederate President arrived in Charleston via train and spoke from the portico of City Hall about Charleston’s contributions to the founding of the U.S. and their role in the secession movement.  Unlike our Des Moines group though, Jefferson was surrounded by some of his worst political and personal enemies during this visit.  Apparently, he did not enjoy the famous Charleston hospitality that we did!

The highlight of the trip for me was the amazing walking tour we took of the Historic District.  The excursion was led by Caroline’s  old friend Tommy Dew.  (Tommy also happens to be a high school friend of mine from Richmond!)  Both Southern Living  magazine and Darius Rucker of the famous Hootie and Blowfish band have deemed Tommy’s tour the BEST in Charleston!  Check his tours out at www.onthemarkettours.com  We all learned so much from him about this amazing town and its history from its founding, to the Civil War, and also about what Tommy called the city’s “hundred year sleep” after the War until the construction of major highways resulting in an increased tourist industry woke Charleston up in the late 60s and early 70s.

Tommy’s tours meet at the Confederate Museum on the corner of Market and Meeting streets. The Museum is owned and operated by the Charleston Chapter #4 of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.  Since Winnie is known as “THE Daughter of the Confederacy,” I had to check that out!  Not much about Winnie there though aside from one portrait-the small space is filled with Confederate military artifacts.  If you are into that sort of thing they do have a fabulous collection, and the building itself is gorgeous (built in 1841 pre-war) and known as “Market Hall.”

Confederate Museum or Market Hall

I was also able to visit the Edmondston-Alston House on East Battery Street.  My daughter is named Anne Alston after the Alston branch of our family, so this was a must see for me!  the docents there are so knowledgeable, and the house is full of antiques and art.  The Alstons were rice planters and apparently big time shoppers and art collectors.  Hmm, now I know where I got that DNA from!  Check the house out at www.edmondstonalston.com

Edmondston-Alston House

Speaking of SHOPPING, Caroline also took us to King Street where all the good boutiques reside.  Make sure you bring your credit cards!  I got these camo smoking slippers as a souvenir.  Even though they are from NYC store C. Wonder, (recently opened on King Street,) I find them SO Garden & Gun!  My husband Chris who loves to tease me about my shopping habits told me they looked like something Uncle Si would wear on Duck Dynasty-but I am just not listening to him on that one!

Garden & Gun Style from King Street

We wrapped up our delightful trip Saturday night with a fabulous cocktail party on the rooftop of a gorgeous home on the Battery.  (Pictured in photo at top of this post).  It was surreal to enjoy wine at sunset looking across Charleston Harbor to Fort Sumter.  The first battle of the Civil War was fought there on April 12, 1861.  Confederate forces bombarded the Union-held Fort, forcing the Union commander to surrender and evacuate the next day.

I do not have a record of Winnie visiting Charleston, though it is likely she may have.  She would have fit right in with our group, and she would have enjoyed the sunset on the Battery and the local history as much as I did.  However, I don’t think she would have approved of my new camo shoes!

HHL

Ps. Credit is due to my friend Lavan Green, who reminded me where the True Mecca lies!