Well, Labor Day is in the rear view mirror. That means peak season is officially over for our luxury vacation rentals.
That being said, post-peak is a wonderful time to come to the Lowcountry. Temperatures are getting more moderate by the day. As the humidity drops, so do the rates on our rental homes.
Roads and beaches are less crowded. Not only will you have more breathing room, but you‘ll also have more choices from among our portfolio of elegant places to stay.
As the calendar flips to fall, a surprising number of events start to fill the calendar. Keep an eye peeled on Exclusive Properties’ Events section as we add more and more to the roster of what’s happening in these parts and in the coming season.
When the weather gets cooler, it’s an ideal time to get outside for a run or a walk. The Lowcountry is blessed with a plethora of places to get your steps in.
Sure enough, in the next couple months there are three terrific running or walking events - two crossing over bridges and one right on the beach.
Run or walk to your heart’s content
The biggie - the Cooper River Bridge Run - is one of the top 10Ks in the country. It traditionally takes place in late March or early April, but due to COVID it was rescheduled to happen on September 25th. Some years there have been almost 40,000 folks participating. This year’s crowd will definitely be smaller, but it’s still a huge event.
Here’s your chance to run or walk over a true Lowcountry landmark, the stately Ravenel Bridge, along with some of the most elite runners in the world. And yes, the Kenyans usually leave all the rest of us far behind in the dust. If you do take part or just watch, be sure to check out some of the zany costumes people wear, along with the live bands playing along the race route.
If you’d like to try something a little less crowded, you might consider the Isle of Palms Connector Run and Walk for the Child, taking place the first Saturday in October. It’s a popular 5K/10K event that raises money to help prevent child abuse. Runners or walkers travel over the scenic IOP Connector from the island to Mount Pleasant and back, taking in the sweeping vistas of the marshes and the Atlantic Ocean as they go.
Then the following Saturday, it’s the super-fun sunset Turtle Trek 5K, happening right on the beach here on the Isle of Palms. It’s sponsored by the good folks at the SC Aquarium to help raise money for endangered sea turtles and their medical care.
Perhaps it goes without saying, but all these races also have great after parties for those who participate and those who cheer them on.
Charleston Restaurant Week: Fall Edition
Post-peak September also means it’s time for the fall incarnation of Charleston Restaurant Week.
Sponsored by the Greater Charleston Restaurant Association, it’s become a very popular event that happens each January and September. It’s a perfect way to sample some of the fabulous cuisine Charleston is famous for, whether you’re a visitor or a local.
Generally restaurants offer their own chef-designed multi-course prix fixe menus, at prices lower than ordering a la carte. Most offer dinner, although there are lunch and brunch options as well.
The number of restaurants participating varies, with some years having almost 150. At last check it’s about 50 or so that are taking part this time around, which is pretty great considering all the challenges of the last year or so. Participating restaurants include Hall’s Chophouse and 82 Queen - two of the top 25 restaurants in America, according to Tripadvisor (which I covered in this blog) .
Other notables include Butcher & Bee, Amen Street Fish & Raw Bar, High Cotton, Eleve at the Grand Bohemian Hotel, Grace & Grit, Handcraft Kitchen & Cocktails, Delaney Oyster House, three locations of Mex 1 Coastal Cantina, Hyman’s Seafood, Rutledge Cab Company, Slightly North of Broad, and Stars Rooftop Bar & Grill.
Check out Charleston Restaurant Week’s official webpage for the whole scoop. You can find participating restaurants in these areas:
- Downtown Charleston
- Isle of Palms/Wild Dunes
- Sullivan’s Island
- Mount Pleasant
- Daniel Island
- James Island/Folly Beach
- Johns Island/Kiawah
- North Charleston
- Nexton
- Summerville
- West Ashley
Just filter by location or search all the restaurants at once. There are links to their menus, official restaurant websites, and sites where you can book a table, if possible.
NOTE: it’s highly recommended to make a reservation. Seats for CRW fill up notoriously FAST. Restaurant Week starts Thursday, September 9th and lasts through Sunday the 19th.
None of these locations is too far away from the Isle of Palms. Even Kiawah, the furthest away, is a scenic and quite pleasant drive from the IOP. Word to the wise: plan a stop along the way to see a true Lowcountry treasure in person - Angel Oak. It’s one of the oldest, and grandest, living things you’ll ever meet.
All best,
Lowcountry Lisa
your Isle of Palms vacation blogger