There’s a place tucked into the thickets of Murrells Inlet — north of the bustle in Mount Pleasant and south of the Grand Strand’s endless party — where history, nature and art thrive together. It is a conservatory, an enormous 9,127 acres boasting a collection of figurative sculpture, a 250-acre botanical garden and a zoo full of animals indigenous to the area. It is a place … [Read more...]
Get Out and Golf: East Cooper is the Perfect Place
South Carolina boasts more than 300 golf courses, with roughly half of them along the state’s Eastern coast. But for challenging play amidst a setting steeped in history, Mount Pleasant in central Charleston County is hard to beat. From its northern tip along the Wando River to the edge of Charleston Harbor, the area is replete with coastal scenery, inland marshes and … [Read more...]
Celebrate Our Maritime Heritage: The 35th Blessing of the Fleet and Seafood Festival
The Blessing of the Fleet tradition originated centuries ago in southern Europe to ensure a safe and bountiful fishing season. On Sunday, April 24, Mount Pleasant will celebrate sending out its hallowed ships for the 35th time. The annual Blessing of the Fleet and Seafood Festival, presented by East Cooper Medical Center and Harris Teeter, will be jam-packed with family fun … [Read more...]
The Lowcountry Highrollers are Ready to Play
Roller derby dates back to the 1930s, but the sport had its heyday in the 1950s and 60s as one of the most-watched events on television. At its origins, roller derby for men and women resembled a marathon more than a tournament. It was solely for entertainment and a spectacle, with much of the interaction between skaters reportedly staged. The sport lost its novelty in the … [Read more...]
Charleston Wine + Food and SEWE set to return in 2022
Two of Charleston’s most popular annual events, the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition (SEWE) and the Charleston Wine + Food festival (CHSWF), are back after a year hiatus. Mount Pleasant Magazine spoke with SEWE’s Executive Director John Powell and Charleston Wine + Food Marketing and Communications Director Alyssa Smith about the return to in-person gatherings and what to … [Read more...]
Fall Tours and the Preservation Society of Charleston: This Is Our City
Whether you’re new to this area or a lifelong resident, it’s easy to forget what’s in your own backyard, or in this case, 10 minutes over the bridge. While there’s plenty of history in Mount Pleasant to appreciate, a visit to the Holy City helps us keep our own in perspective. This October, some of Charleston’s finest architecture, garden spaces and heritage will be on full … [Read more...]
Oktoberfest 2021: Celebrate with These Local Brews
While we really don’t need a reason to celebrate beer along the coast any time of the year, this German tradition — festivities inspired by a Bavarian royal marriage in the early 1800s — has been adopted the world over. The Charleston area happens to be home to many local breweries who take their craft very seriously. Here is a selection of home-grown brews to try this fall, … [Read more...]
Skip the Crowds and Explore Civil War-Era Fort Palmetto: A Stroll Through History
Most Mount Pleasant residents know about Palmetto Islands County Park, but for those looking to avoid the throngs, Fort Palmetto Park, with its picturesque marsh views and interesting history, provides a less crowded and free recreational alternative. Located off Six Mile Road at 2213 North Palmetto Fort Drive, Fort Palmetto flies under the radar as a cultural site, so … [Read more...]
Parasailing over the Lowcountry: Up, Up and Away….
My Monday mornings are usually packed with getting the kids ready for school, hurrying them out the door, getting a little cleaning done and then plopping myself down at my laptop for some emails as I prepare for the weekly Monday morning Zoom call. But not on May 24. On that Monday, something different was taking place — I was getting ready for a parasailing trip with … [Read more...]
Spoleto Festival USA’s Nigel Redden Talks About This Year’s Return
Imagine getting a sneak-preview of your life at the age of 14. That’s when Nigel Redden first traveled to Spoleto, Italy during a school trip and happened upon a series of sculptures by the likes of Alexander Calder and David Smith, commissioned for the 1962 Festival dei due Mondi (Festival of the Two Worlds). “The juxtaposition of art to setting was fascinating. You saw the … [Read more...]