Category: South Carolina

Hostels? Here in the U.S.? Yes indeed!

Hostels? Here in the U.S.? Yes indeed!

For those of us who mainly associate hostels with budget backpack trips in Europe, It’s good to remember we have some great hostels here at home to choose from, as I recently discovered on a weekend trip to Charleston.

Notso Hostel, Charleston
Notso Hostel, Charleston

A little internet research turned up good reviews for the Notso Hostel, about a 10 minute walk from Charleston’s King Street, and just a couple of blocks from world class shrimp and grits at the Hominy Grill. Sure, at $21 for a bunk in a dorm room, the price is definitely right! Especially when that includes breakfast, free parking and wi-fi.

But what really sets a hostel apart is the friendly camaraderie. A hostel is a great place to meet other travelers of varied ages and nationalities, exchange travel tips, and seek advice, and we found that the aptly named Notso Hostel more than lived up to its name. We asked another traveler, who told us he had been in Charleston for 3 weeks already, for a good breakfast spot. Along with his recommendation, he gave us his cell phone number in case we needed more info later in the day – and yes, we did call later with more questions! (Thanks Rod!) That’s the sort of friendliness that sets hostels apart…

Southern charm, in Charleston…

Southern charm, in Charleston…

Charleston, grand old houses and elegant porches.
Charleston: grand old houses and elegant porches.

In October, I took a quick trip to the East coast, and spent a weekend in Charleston. The pace of life definitely seemed slower, and people had more time to chat. Asking for directions to a restaurant produced a spirited discussion as to which restaurant to recommend. But it was in walking the streets of the oldest neighborhoods that the city started to share its secrets.

Charleston? Or Amsterdam?
Charleston? Or Amsterdam?

The architecture varied from old, ante-bellum style mansions, to very European looking townhouses, hinting at the city’s rich and varied history. Periodically attacked by the French and Spanish, and warding off raids by pirates, Charleston thrived from its founding in the mid-1600s, becoming the largest port city in the South, and signs of trade with the islands are still reflected in some of the architectural detail.

Detail of gatepost.
Detail of gatepost.

And did I mention the food? Shrimp and grits at the Hominy Grill, Southern fried Chicken and Green Eggs and Ham (by special request) at Virginia’s on King were all truly delicious, but required a lot of walking to mitigate their effects!

Green Eggs and Ham (really! With pesto...)
Green Eggs and Ham (really! With pesto...)
Chicken and collard greens - yum!!
Chicken and collard greens - yum!!