The Carolina Lowcountry: Southern Charm Beyond Charleston

Charleston gets all the attention — and deservedly so — but the Lowcountry stretching south from its historic streets hides some of the most beautiful and atmospheric landscapes on the entire East Coast. Spanish moss hangs from ancient live oaks, tidal creeks wind through golden marshes, and the air carries a warmth that has nothing to do with the temperature.

Beaufort, often called Charleston’s quieter little sister, offers antebellum mansions lining a waterfront promenade where shrimp boats dock every morning with the day’s catch. A short drive away, Hunting Island State Park features a lighthouse surrounded by a maritime forest and miles of undeveloped beach where loggerhead turtles nest each summer. Cross the bridge to Daufuskie Island — accessible only by boat — where Gullah culture is still alive in the cooking, the craftsmanship, and the stories passed down through generations who have called this place home for centuries.

For dinner, forget the fine dining scene and find a roadside seafood shack serving Frogmore stew — a one-pot boil of shrimp, corn, sausage, and potatoes that tastes like the Lowcountry in a single bite. This is a part of America that moves at its own pace, and a waterfront villa with a dock and a sunset view is the best way to fall into its rhythm.