Southwest Headed to the Southeast

Finally! A low fare carrier is coming to the Palmetto State. Southwest Airlines announced this week that they are coming to South Carolina in a big way beginning March 13th, 2011. Featuring seven weekday departures from Greenville/Spartanburg (GSP) and Charleston (CHS), it's about time that someone recognized the value of travel to and from SC. Whether for business, pleasure, or a little of both, the Palmetto State has it all.

And so does Southwest Airlines. From low fares to full-sized jets to all bags flying free (that's right....FREE!) to the wonderful people, South Carolina is going to fall in love with Southwest.

Husk Restaurant Set to Open in Charleston

Local Charleston culinary rock star and James Beard award-winning Chef Sean Brock is putting the finishing touches on his newest brainchild, Husk Restaurant, set to open November 1st. Celebrating Southern ingredients and the bounty of the Lowcountry, Husk will feature ingredient-driven cuisine in an open, collaborative environment, where the chefs will interact with the diners and exchange culinary thoughts and ideas. Whether it's a benne seed and honey lacquered duck, sassafras glazed pork ribs, acorn griddle cakes, or pickled blueberries and chanterelles, the restaurant, located at 76 Queen St., will be an explosion of creative lowcountry ingredients featuring locally harvested produce which will help redefine Charleston cuisine. Open for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch.

Charleston Voted Tops by Conde Nast Traveler

Travel afficionados have spoken. For the eighteenth consecutive year, readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine selected Charleston as a "Top 10" travel destination in the US, coming in at # 2, just behind San Francisco. And to top that off, two Charleston inns were ranked in the "Top 40 Small Hotels in the US". Part of the Charming Inns group, John Rutledge House and Wentworth Mansion took honors in the annual Readers Choice Awards. These accolades continue to maintain Charleston's spot as the No. 1 East Coast destination. No wonder it's called the Holy City.

North Carolina a Winner for Wine

Childress Vineyards, NASCAR team owner Richard Childress' winery located in Lexington, North Carolina, took home the acclaimed NC Winegrowers Cup and Best of Show honors for its Barrel Select Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 at the 11th Annual NC State Fair Wine Competition, held earlier this month in Raleigh. There were 454 wines submitted by 55 North Carolina wineries and this is the third year in a row, and fourth overall, for Childress Vineyards winning the Best of Show award.

Nothing Could be Finer than Oysters in Carolina

Not sure how to celebrate the arrival of fall in the coastal Carolinas? How about paying homage to the mighty mollusk--the oyster--at the 30th Annual North Carolina Oyster Festival?  Head to Ocean Isle Beach this weekend, October 16th and 17th and enjoy live entertainment featuring beach music legends Band of Oz, the Coastline Band, and the Imitations, arts and crafts vendors, tasty festival food, a road race, the kid's area, the infamous North Carolina Oyster Shucking Championships and an Oyster Stew Cook-off. Not to mention bushels and bushels of the tasty bivalves (served roasted by the bucket with crackers and cocktail sauce). Find out for yourself why the oyster is so treasured and oyster roasts are so revered in the coastal Carolinas. 

A Celebration of Lowcountry Cuisine

In our mind, Lowcountry cuisine and Charleston, SC are synonymous.  And, this weekend, all things Lowcountry cuisine will be celebrated at the 30th annual Taste of Charleston, a three day foodie-lovers featst hosted by the Charleston Restaurant Association. Named one of the "Top 20 events in the Southeast" by the Southeast Tourism Society, Taste of Charleston will bring together dozens of local chefs, culinary treats from more than 45 of Charleston's favorite restaurants, craft and specialty brews and beers, live music, Iron-Chef competitions, lowcountry art, and the legendary Waiter's Wine Race.

The Spa at Fearrington Grand Opening

Fearrington is an idyllic community on an historic farm near Chapel Hill, North Carolina featuring romantic lodging, gourmet dining, great shopping, a planned residential community, and glorious gardens. The only thing missing at Farrington was a world-class spa.  But all that's about to change with the opening of The Spa at Fearrington on October 12th.  The Spa at Fearrington offers relaxation and rejuvenation through proven wellness techniques, natural ingredients grown in their own Apothecary Garden, and the finest skincare products available by Elemis, a leading British luxry spa and skincare brand.  We can't wait to see what Fearrington Village has in store.

Asheville #1 Fall Foliage Destination

TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel site, today announced the top ten fall folliage destinations in the US.  Asheville, NC was #1 on their list.  According to TripAdvisor, Ashveille is a spectacular location for leaf peeping due to their unique location in the foothills region of North Carolina.  And, to top that off, biologists and naturalists are predicting the most colorful leaf season in years due to the seasonal weather patterns we've seen so far.  So pack up the car, grab your bikes, or strap on your hiking boots and head to Asheville.  It's going to be a beautiful time of year to help the Blue Ridge Parkway celebrate it's 75th anniversary.

Palmetto Bluff's Music to Your Mouth

Food festivals are not all created equal. Sure...they all have delicious foods, rock star celebrity chefs, artisan beer, wine and spirits, and plenty of like-minded foodies and oneophiles. But what sets Music to Your Mouth apart is the destination.

The Inn at Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton, SC is the perfect table setting for a weekend of food and fun.
Just 15 miles east of Hilton Head, SC, The Inn at Palmetto Bluff is discreetly tucked near the town of Bluffton. From the gatehouse, you meander down a 5-mile drive through part of Palmetto Bluff’s 20,000 acres of pristine wilderness and untamed beauty and arrive at the Village Square and the Inn. Overlooking the May River, the inn offers sophisticated amenities, classic style, and signature service, all in a setting of unspoiled beauty and unequaled serenity.