The Local Palate

24 Places to Eat & Drink Along the South Carolina Coast

Posted on October 22, 2026October 22, 2026 by TLP Editors

The South Carolina coast is filled with mouthwatering restaurants worthy of a stop during your travels. From Bluffton, Charleston, Myrtle Beach, and other cities with a view, these 24 places to grab a bite and a cold drink are sure to have just what you’re looking for.

Chicest Vibe

The Darling, Charleston

The Darling has it all: a top-notch seafood program from raw bar to shrimp and grits and blue crab tagliatelle, a welcoming and expert staff, and a gorgeous dining and bar space that’ll make you want to show up in your favorite outfit and order one of their elegant cocktails, like the Oyster Bar negroni or the Khaleesi with pisco, dragon fruit, Lillet, and lime.

Best Duo

Felix and La Cave, Charleston

First, Félix gave us a taste of Parisian sophistication in Charleston (all hail the raclette burger). Then, they expanded with La Cave, inspired by Provence with exceptional petit plats, cocktails, and wines. Culinary director Alex Eaton has taken the already-delicious dishes to the next level, and we expect great things to continue.

Best Seasonal Menu

Farm, Bluffton

Pushing the boundaries of Bluffton’s food scene, FARM provides a high-level, seasonal-small-plates experience in a cozy, casual space. But you don’t have to take our word for it. Bona fide local and chef BJ Dennis says it’s one of his favorites for “seasonal ingredients done right.”

Best Dinner Series

Costa, Charleston

Southern Italy is the focus here with seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. Under the direction of chef de cuisine Malcolm McMillan, the offerings have expanded to include a series of monthly Passport Wine Dinners paired by sommelier Mark McNeely, each focused on the individual cuisines and wines of a dozen regions throughout all of Italy.

Best Surprise

Chez Nous, Charleston

Chef Jill Mathias writes the menu by hand each day, keeping to a structure of two appetizers, two entrées, and two desserts (served for both lunch and dinner), and is heavily influenced by southern France, northern Italy, northern Spain, and Charleston-local ingredients. While Chez Nous is known to post their daily offerings on their social channels, we recommend arriving with a clean slate, eagerly prepared for a culinary journey.

Best Wine Bar

Stems & Skins, North Charleston

This Charleston wine bar helped pioneer the tinned fish, natural wine, and vinyl movements before they were cool. The name refers to the natural winemaking process, and the menu reflects this with an extensive selection of natural wines and vermouths, all of which go well with their small but fresh menu that includes salads, pasta, and charcuterie in addition to conservas. Go Thursdays for vinyl night, when they’ll play your personal records on their system.

Best Old School Southern Food

Hannibal’s Soul Kitchen, Charleston

This casual Black-owned Charleston institution has been in operation since the 1970s and is now run by Sani and Felicity Huger, daughters of previous owner L. J. Huger. Pull up a chair and go for the whole fried flounder and seafood rice, collard plate, okra soup, or turkey wings.

Best Seafood Boil

Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks, Hilton Head Island

This historic property often has lines out the door, so go early. If you choose to sit outdoors on the dock, there are waterfront views and shaded canopies, but inside shows off the original structure’s charm. Wherever you are, don’t miss their Lowcountry boil with steamed local shell-on shrimp, smoked sausage, corn, potatoes, and Old Bay.

Best Noodles

King BBQ, North Charleston

The most recent brick-and-mortar from Top Chef finalist Shuai Wang excels with its menu of Chinese barbecue-inspired dishes—we always order the noodles with five-spice rotisserie chicken and the chili crisp corn pudding.

Best Happy Hour

Xo Brasserie, Charleston

You can’t beat $10 cocktails and $10 dumplings at this fine-dining Sichuan and Cantonese restaurant with options like the Xo manhattan with a house vermouth blend and Chinese five spice, or the Huajioa negroni with Sichuan peppercorn-infused gin, Cocchi Americano, and Suze. Go Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday from 5 to 6 p.m. for Dumpling Hour, and stay for a full dinner of green salad with Sichuan vinaigrette and five spice honey roast duck.

Best Sandwiches

The P ass, Charleston, Mount Pleasant

This superior sandwich shop now has a location in Mount Pleasant where you can order classics like Such a Nice Italian Boy or seasonal specials like The Bear with roast beef, melted provolone, and balsamic peperonata. Or make a reservation downtown for 12-seat The Italian Boy tasting menu, which includes sandwiches.

Best Beach Vibes

The Co-Op, Sullivan’s Island

Sullivan’s is their flagship, but with five locations in the Charleston area, The Co-Op has your frosé needs covered. If you can’t choose, enjoy a flight of flavors like blood orange and Aperol spritz while dining in, or a wine bottle full to-go—don’t drink it on the beach, but do pair it with one of their super-fresh sandwiches or salads.

Most Worth the Drive

Rivertown Bistro, Conway

2025 South Carolina Chef Ambassador Darren Smith left Charleston 30 years ago to open Rivertown Bistro and never looked back. His upscale bar and grill menu is full of familiar favorites with a Southern, cheffed-up spin, like Lowcountry spring rolls with tasso ham and a buttery duck confit sandwich with bacon, mustard, and soy aïoli.

Best Distillery Experience

Twelve 33 Distillery, Little River

Step back in time with a VIP tour to meet stills named Bonnie and Clyde and see a speakeasy designed to be “as 1933 as we can,” according to owner Kevin Osborn. Enjoy the best of South Carolina in the 3 Peppers Vodka infused with locally grown Carolina Reaper peppers, plus a range of spirits from bourbon to gin all named for and rooted in the history of Prohibition.

Best Lunch

Bareo, Charleston

The latest concept from chef Nikko Cagalanan and Paula Kramer, Bareo offers a streamlined menu for lunch (and dinner) in the petite space formerly occupied by Kultura, with dishes inspired by the foodways of the Philippines and Japan like onigiri (rice balls), hand-folded dumplings, bento boxes, noodle soup, and kakigōri. Diners can also enjoy beer, wine, sake cocktails, and a tea service inspired by Chinese Gong Fu traditions.

Best Biscuits

Oak Prime Kitchen & Bar, Myrtle Beach

Cheffed by Myrtle Beach native Jerrett King, Oak Prime was recognized by MICHELIN in 2025 for its steaks characterized by a Pittsburgh-style charred crust. We love the whole French/Southern-leaning menu, though: smoked gouda gratin dauphinoise, crab-stuffed lobster, charred peach and burrata salad, and most of all, housemade biscuits with gouda, jalapeño, and piquillo pepper, served with blueberry lavender jam.

Best Marsh-Side Meal

Linnette’s at the Dunlin, Auberge Collection, John’s Island

Melvin's BBQ Jonathan Boncek — Melvin’s Barbecue

Since opening in 2024, Linnette’s is hitting its stride with a menu that combines Lowcountry classics with creative flair. Get an upstairs patio seat overlooking the marsh along the Kiawah River and order the tuna crudo and whatever seasonal appetizers are available (the heirloom tomato salad with Clemson blue cheese and the melon with Benton’s ham and pickled banana peppers were outstanding summer favorites), and the grilled whole fish. You can’t go wrong with their bourben pecan sticky bun either.

Best Barbecue Sauce

Melvins BBQ, Charleston, Mount Pleasant

The recipe for Melvin’s Golden Sauce dates back to 1939 and is undeniably part of the lore surrounding South Carolina’s mustard-based barbecue tradition. It tastes great on everything, but we especially love it on the Big Joe chopped pork sandwich and the pork spareribs, available as a plate with hushpuppies, hash and rice, and other old-school sides.

Most Delicious Education

Okàn, Bluffton

Chef Bernard Bennett brings together influences of the African diaspora, charting the route of the transatlantic slave trade with his ingredients. Dig into pumpkin seed dip, duck and oyster gumbo, curried oxtails, or beef mafe, and don’t miss his selection of hearth- baked breads.

Best Seafood and Sustainability Combo

Hook & Barrel, Myrtle Beach

This spot is owned by chef Heidi Vukov, a 2018 South Carolina Chef Ambassador and one of the area’s first chefs to offer simpler seafood preparations where the protein shares the spotlight with the seasonal produce. Fish, meat, and vegetables are sourced thoughtfully, coming from regional purveyors as available or, if from afar, commercial suppliers with sustainable certifications.

Best Place to Order it All

Palmira, Charleston

Everything on the menu from pitmaster Hector Garate is a delicious indulgence, from juicy beef cheeks and smoky pulled pork to rich barbacoa and flavorful house sausage to carefully crafted sides like sofrito-laced hash and rice and mustard slaw.

Best Homegrown Sides

Rustic Table, Pawley’s Island

Chef Adam Kirby wanted access to fresh produce and honey so much, he now owns his own farm and apiary, where he sources a significant portion of the ingredients for his restaurants. Rustic Table focuses on expertly prepared comfort sides—don’t miss the sweet tea collards, served with fried chicken and pimento cheese grits. And always get the butter beans and the summer squash when in season.

Best Hotel Bar(s)

The Independent and Elizas, Georgetown

If you’re feeling glam, sit at The Independent’s elegant bar and order the Low Tide for peel-and-eat shrimp, oysters, and crab salad with a glass of bubbly, followed by the scallops with morel mushrooms and key lime pie with torched meringue. Or sit outside by the water at Eliza’s for a more casual vibe for blackened shrimp tacos and crab fingers with house remoulade.

Most Infamous Seafood

Rockefellers Raw Bar, North Myrtle Beach

Rockefellers is “infamous” for their steam kettles, a creative take on the seafood boil with flavor combos like Old Bay and beer, wine and garlic herb butter, or the Fra Diabolo. (Be prepared—it’s super spicy!) You can also venture away from the southern Atlantic with a whole Maine lobster pot, a deep-fried po’boy, or fish-n-chips.

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Spend 48 Hours in Downtown Lynchburg, Virginia

Posted on October 21, 2026October 21, 2026 by TLP's Partners

If you want to feel like a local without changing your address, consider visiting Lynchburg, Virginia. Between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the James River, this historic city offers Southern small-town charm with impeccably restored historic buildings, award-worthy restaurants, thoughtful museums, top universities, and outdoor adventures. Visit for the range of experiences: spend the morning exploring the 19th-century downtown, lunch at a craft brewery, stroll beside the river, and finish the day with dinner and a cocktail overlooking the city. The combination is what makes Lynchburg worth a weekend, not just a stop along the way.

Friday

For downtown walkability, stay at The Virginian, a gorgeous Beaux-Arts hotel with a storied lineage. Built in 1913, it offered Lynchburg visitors a glamorous stay and a destination for grand parties and weddings. The hotel closed in 1972, but reopened in 2018 after a complete restoration. Now guests can walk through the ballroom and marvel at classic details like the sweeping staircase and intricate columns.

The Bluffwalk is one of Lynchburg’s most distinct features. It’s part scenic overlook, part urban park, and part restaurant promenade. Independent eateries, bars, and shops surround the area, creating one of downtown’s most concentrated dining and entertainment districts. Take in views of the James River and the unique architecture, and be sure to check out Art Alley for Instagram-worthy backdrops.

Lynchburg has always been shaped by its relationship with the James River. What began as a ferry crossing became a vital commercial artery for trade, tobacco, and transportation, and, today, a centerpiece of the city’s outdoor life.

Relax on night one with a casual dinner at The Water Dog near Riverfront Park. With expansive outdoor seating, many locals bring their pets. Start the evening with lightly fried Virginia oysters and one of the many local craft beers on draft. From there, move into a burger or a spicy fried chicken sandwich.

The Bluffwalk takes on another character at night with twinkling lights leading the way and music from nearby bars in the air, so consider another stroll.

Saturday

The next morning, walk to Cafe Monte Bello for an espresso drink and a croissant. Lynchburg Community Market is a Saturday morning staple and is one of the oldest public markets in the country, with a legacy going back to 1783. There, you’ll find vendors like Great Day Gardens with local produce or Barb’s Dream Hut serving biscuits and sausage gravy.

After picking up a few souvenirs, continue on Main Street to explore the antique shops, art galleries, and clothing boutiques. For a sweeping view of downtown, climb the 132 steps to Monument Terrace, a memorial honoring local fallen soldiers.

For lunch, visit Lynchburg legend Texas Inn, also known as “The T Room.” Founded in 1935, this quirky diner specializes in heaping bowls of chili, hot dogs, and burgers. Ask about the secret menu, which features items like a triple-decker sandwich with ham, bacon, and bologna.

Explore the RiverWalk, which connects historic downtown to nature. Along the trail, you’ll discover Percival’s Island, a former railroad corridor, which now offers walking and cycling among native plants and wildlife.

Book a table at Skyline around sunset to watch pink and orange hues take over the downtown scenery. The rooftop restaurant serves upscale American fare with a focus on seafood. Diners can choose from dishes such as blackened mahi-mahi, seared scallops with risotto, or a grilled New York strip with herby mushrooms, green beans, and roasted potatoes.

You can stay at the Skyline for an after-dinner drink or hop over to No7 Rooftop Bar for more views of the sparkling cityscape with a cocktail in hand.

Sunday

For a hearty brunch, try My Dog Duke’s Diner. The menu is expansive with choices ranging from poutine to huevo rancheros to crab cake Benedict.

Afterward, dive into local lore with a visit to one of the town’s many museums, galleries, or historic sites. Visit the Lynchburg Museum to learn about the town’s past and present. Explore Lynchburg’s Black history and culture at the Legacy Museum of African American History, then continue on Historic Fifth Street, once the commercial and cultural center of Lynchburg’s Black community. From there, explore more of downtown and see public art and murals along Fifth Street and beyond, including Main Street, Commerce Street, and Jefferson Street. For even more art, stop by RiverViews Art Space to experience contemporary works.

Before leaving town, grab a final bite at Depot Grill, which is located in a former train station along the James River. The menu covers a wide range of cuisine, with choices from sandwiches, salads, soups, flatbreads, pastas, and more. You’ll be ending your trip in a space where Lynchburg’s railroad and river transportation systems converged — an important vestige of the city’s history.

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3 Charlotte Restaurants Telling Stories Through Flavor

Posted on October 20, 2026October 20, 2026 by Asha Ellison

There is something deeply heartwarming about watching Charlotte’s restaurant scene evolve in real time. As the city grows, so does the collection of people who call it home. They arrive from New York and California, from Mexico and Colombia, from cities and countries all over the world, bringing with them the foods they grew up eating, the traditions they inherited, and the flavors that remind them of home.

And, if we are lucky, they open restaurants.

That matters because a city’s food scene should be more than a collection of familiar favorites. It should tell us something about the people who live here. It should give us a reason to wander outside our usual routines and, every once in a while, order something we cannot pronounce, have never tasted, or do not quite understand.

I know familiarity has its place, and there is comfort in the tried and true. We return to restaurants because we know exactly what we will get and, sometimes, that is precisely what we need.

But I hope Charlotte diners will make room for curiosity, too, because some of the most exciting restaurants arriving in this city are not simply serving “Mexican food” or “Colombian food.” They are telling more specific stories and bringing the flavors of Jalisco, Oaxaca, and Cartagena to our tables. These restaurants are asking us to taste a place we may never have visited.

Three restaurants in particular have caught my attention.

Muraya

Muraya brings the flavors of Colombia to Charlotte with a particular adoration for Cartagena. The restaurant’s menu draws from Colombian ingredients and recipes, while giving them a contemporary treatment, with dishes such as pulpo Cartagenero, whole fried red snapper with house-made hogao, encocado de mariscos, and arepas. I had brunch there with a friend earlier this year, and what made the experience especially memorable was that a social club focused on speaking and learning Spanish was also meeting there. Brunch became more than a meal; it felt like a truly immersive cultural phenomenon happening right in front of my eyes. That is the kind of restaurant experience I hope continues to find its way to the Queen City.

Mal Pan

Mal Pan reminds me that even a cuisine as familiar to Charlotte as Mexican food can still surprise us. At its SouthPark location, Mal Pan draws inspiration from Baja to Yucatán, bringing together modern and classic Mexican cooking while making its corn tortillas from scratch through nixtamalization -– the traditional process of soaking and cooking corn in a lime-based solution before washing and grinding it into masa. The restaurant’s story is particularly rooted in Yucatán through the family heritage of owner Andre Lomeli, whose grandmother made the journey from Los Angeles and carried her connection to her homeland with her. That sense of place shows up in the food, from the tortillas to the sauces, salsas, and marinades made in-house.

Raíces

Raices Exterio couresty of Made Outside jpg — Raices Exterio, image courtesy of Made Outside

Raíces may be one of the clearest examples of what I hope for in Charlotte’s evolving food scene.

Husband-and-wife restaurateurs Alfonso Bravo and Amalia Macias built the restaurant around their family roots in Jalisco and the culinary traditions of Oaxaca, with chef TJ Steele bringing experience from Oaxaca to the kitchen. Handmade tortillas, mole, pozole, open-fire cooking, seafood, and seasonal ingredients make a menu designed to move beyond the familiar idea of what Mexican food “should” be.

And then there is the dining room itself: dark, dramatic and decidedly modern, with an almost sculptural metallic wall instead of the grass walls that have become so ubiquitous in restaurant design. It felt like a fitting visual metaphor for the food: traditional, yet progressive.

What stayed with me most from an evening dining at Raíces before it opened publicly were conversations about whether Charlotte diners would appreciate – and embrace – food that asked them to consider something different. Some skepticism is understandable. Warranted, even. Would people in the neighborhood want these culinary interpretations? Would diners be receptive to flavors and dishes that feel a bit outside their expectations? I hope some folks will.

It would be a shame if familiarity became the ceiling of Charlotte’s culinary imagination.

So, let’s get curious about what comes next.

This is the part of Charlotte’s growth that excites me most. It isn’t that more restaurants are opening, but that more people are bringing pieces of themselves with them. A plate can tell us where someone came from, what their family valued, what ingredients grew in their backyard, or what flavors they remember from childhood. It can transport us to South America without a plane ticket. It can take us from Charlotte to Oaxaca in a few bites. It can introduce us to a Mexican culinary tradition that we have somehow never encountered–like delicious Mexican coffee served with fresh conchas (I’m looking at you again, Mal Pan), despite thinking we already know nearly everything about the dish.

I understand that Charlotte is still learning who it is. Our restaurants should reflect that evolution, too. I hope they have staying power. I also want them to succeed, but because they desire it, too.

Restaurateurs invest heavily to come into this market by putting their names, their stories, their savings, and an extraordinary amount of work in behind the scenes. Anyone who has paid attention to the restaurant industry knows how difficult it is to carry the weight of overhead, staffing, sourcing quality ingredients, and all the countless expenses that exist long before the first guest takes a seat.

So try a dish you have never heard of. Ask where it comes from. Learn what makes that version different. Let someone else’s heritage meet you where you are. To me, that’s how a city finds its flavor.

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5 Places to Celebrate Hispanic Food Around Georgia

Posted on October 20, 2026 by Lia Picard

Hispanic Heritage Month, which ran September 15 through October 15, offers everyone a chance to celebrate the many ways Hispanic food and culture have shaped Georgia. It may be over now, but it’s never too late to delight in the delicious offerings from these cuisines. From Cuban sandwiches in Blue Ridge to Colombian bites in Savannah, there are plenty of dishes to seek out across the state. Here are five to put on your list.

Rum Cake Lady

Located near downtown Blue Ridge, Rum Cake Lady began as a way for owner Liz Correa to make money while her son was a baby. She didn’t have childcare, but she did have her mother’s rum cake recipe — and there was plenty of demand. The business grew into a brick-and-mortar shop where she sells the famed rum cakes in a variety of flavors, including limoncello. The space also has a café that sells Cuban sandwiches, empanadas, pastelitos, and more. Don’t forget a café con leche for the road.

Casa Coya

Peruvian cuisine is less common in Atlanta, and Casa Coya stands out with its high-end approach. Owned by Peruvian brothers chef Paul Rosales and Joseph Rosales, Casa Coya sits in the Madison Yards complex in Reynoldstown. The space feels upscale, with wood accents and stunning Peruvian-inspired artwork. However, the dishes are what really make the experience feel special, with standouts like the ceviche mixto, made with fresh fish, octopus, and crispy calamari; lomo saltado; and grilled octopus served with Peruvian corn.

Buena Gente

What began as a food truck that drew long lines at events around town has since evolved into a petite bakery in Decatur. Buena Gente sells killer Cuban treats, including sandwiches like the Cuban and medianoche, the latter made with mojo pork, ham, Swiss cheese, and pickles on sweet Cuban bread. The real stars, however, are the Cuban pastries made on-site, like the guava-and-queso pastelito, empanadas with fillings like beef and chicken, and ham croquetas. The iced café con leche delivers a nice caffeine jolt, while milkshakes made with tropical fruits like mango and mamey are there when you’re in the mood for something sweet.

La Carreta

La Carreta, located in Marietta, is part restaurant, part market. The spacious dining room draws guests in with its warm atmosphere and plenty of natural light, while the Mexican and Colombian cuisine gives diners reasons to come back. Standouts on the menu include the tostones served with guacamole — the thinly smashed savory plantains are ideal scooping vessels — and tacos with proteins like carnitas and grilled steak. The cazuela de frijoles, a Colombian dish with beans, plantains, avocado, pork belly, sausage, and a fried egg, is a hearty offering that warms you from the inside out as fall weather approaches.

Antojo Latino

Antojo Latino sits off Savannah’s usual tourist path, by the Oglethorpe Mall, and serves up comforting Colombian fare and other Latin dishes. The casual spot’s standout items include empanadas prepared with Colombian corn dough with fillings like beef and chicken. The bandeja paisa is another staple, with a mountain of rice and red beans, Colombian sausage, pork belly, and a fried egg. Arepas, tostones, mofongo, and soups like ajiaco round out the menu, so there’s plenty to explore beyond the Colombian classics.

courtesy of buena gente — Buena Gente, Image courtesy of Buena Gente

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In the Fridge with Christina Tosi

Posted on October 19, 2026October 19, 2026 by Tate Jacaruso

“There’s something about the spirit of Nashville that is still so very sticky and creative and humble and burgeoning,” says Christina Tosi, James Beard Award-winning chef and founder of Milk Bar. In 2024 she moved from New York to her new home in Music City with her husband, restaurateur Will Guidara, kids, and extended family.

“All weekend we spend just eating at our house, hosting, going to visit other people in the neighborhood, jumping in someone’s swimming pool, sliding down someone’s blow-up house, smoking a brisket overnight,” says Tosi. Her kids, 3 and 5, eat the way she and her husband do, as opposed to vice versa. “It’s fun to think about it in the way of like, oh, what we actually keep in the fridge is also developing and defining their palates as well.”

The chef, always experimenting in the kitchen, snacks on pickle juice chocolate chip cookies while discussing her and her husband’s latest projects: Guidara recently published Unreasonable Hospitality: The Field Guide (Optimism Press), and Tosi has launched a line of Milk Bar baking mixes available on milkbarstore.com.

“I love a good grocery store walk. I can go and spend two or three hours just walking up and down the aisles.” —Christina Tosi

5 Things Inside Christina Tosi’s Fridge

Butter and Eggs

“For baker reasons, but also for breakfast reasons.”

Milk

“Because we have kids.”

Cheese

“Usually some mozzarella string cheese, because it’s portable and easy, but I will say the new little snacky squares of parmesan cheese—that’s like the newest innovation, that’s my go-to.”

Pickles

“I eat a lot of dessert because I’m always working on new desserts, and cheese and pickles are really good salty palate cleansers.”

Bubbly Water

“Club soda, sparkling water, anything like that. It does the same thing; it clears the palate. It’s kind of fun to drink.”

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A Family Getaway to the Remote Northern Outer Banks Beaches

Posted on October 19, 2026 by TLP's Partners

Travel north along North Carolina’s Outer Banks and the pace begins to change. In Corolla and Carova, the northernmost beaches of The Northern Outer Banks offer families a different kind of coastal vacation—one defined by wide beaches, spacious vacation homes, natural surroundings, and more time together.

Corolla offers the comforts of a classic beach community without the feel of larger, busier resort towns. Here, families can settle into a vacation home just steps from the Atlantic, spend long days swimming and searching for shells, kayak the Currituck Sound, explore Historic Corolla Village, or climb the Currituck Beach Lighthouse. Restaurants, markets, boutiques, and local attractions are nearby, yet the destination maintains the relaxed atmosphere that makes getting away feel like actually getting away.

Continue north through Corolla and the pavement eventually disappears. Here, the 4×4 beaches lead toward Carova, where the beach becomes the road and vacation homes sit among dunes and open coastal landscapes. It’s also where the legendary Corolla Wild Horses roam freely. Descendants of Colonial Spanish mustangs, these horses have lived here for centuries, and seeing them from a safe distance is an unforgettable part of a family vacation.

Whether staying in Corolla or on the 4×4 beaches, some of the best moments happen right at your vacation home. Start the morning with coffee overlooking the ocean, spend the afternoon on the beach, then gather everyone around the table for a memorable coastal meal.

An Outer Banks-style seafood boil can bring shrimp, corn, potatoes, sausage, and other favorites right to your rental home. Or arrange for a personal chef to prepare dinner while your family relaxes, turning an evening at the house into a special part of the vacation.

Corolla also offers plenty of opportunities to venture out for fresh seafood, barbecue, casual family dining, coffee, ice cream, and local markets where you can pick up ingredients for a meal back at the house.

In Corolla and Carova, a family getaway can be as full—or as wonderfully unplanned—as you want it to be. Here, the real luxury is space to slow down, reconnect, and enjoy the beach together.

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A Seasonal Spin on the Classic Sidecar

Posted on October 18, 2026October 18, 2026 by Tate Jacaruso

Impress fall guests with this seasonal spin on a sidecar.

Little Betty Steak Bar in Birmingham, Alabama, is shaking up the sidecar this fall. “Just as seasons change, we change ingredients and change around cocktails,” says bar lead Colin McGhee. The classic sidecar is sweet and citrusy, not unlike a whiskey sour, using cognac or brandy, orange liqueur, and lemon juice. Little Betty’s Cidercar adds autumn spice.

“The biggest difference is the spirits that you’re using,” says McGhee. “Pierre Ferrand cognac specifically has a lot of orchard fruit and different apple flavors.” Instead of a simple syrup, the bar uses a spiced apple cider concentrate. “Normally it’s a just basic sugar rim [on a sidecar], and ours is a 50/50 blend of cinnamon and sugar,” says McGhee, who mentions the cocktail is “shaken, not stirred.”

McGhee recommends enjoying the Cidercar before your meal or after, alongside something sweet like cheesecake or apple pie “because it’s sweet and tart, or sweet and acidic, so it goes great with dessert.”

The Cidercar

Collin McGhee shares his recipe for the Cidercar that adds autumn spice with cozy apple cider and bright citrus. The biggest difference comes from the use of Pierre Ferrand cognac, which has notes of orchard fruit and different apple flavors.

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Get Outside and Glamp in Travelers Rest

Posted on October 17, 2026 by TLP Editors

Field Trip is an Instagram-ready camping playground. The Travelers Rest getaway features a variety of lodging options: canvas cabins (a hybrid between a wooden cabin and a canvas tent), geodomes (a half-sphere for a bit more room for pets), A-frames (like a birdhouse for humans), and bell tents (a luxury take on the classic tent). Each spot comes with a private firepit, heat and air-conditioning, comfortable bedding, a cooler, and a coffee maker. It’s all the creature comforts of home among the creatures (mostly birds and crickets).

Tall trees tower over the campsite, and twinkling lights hang overhead. The space is very quiet despite being only a few miles from South Carolina Highway 11. If you forget something, Field Trip has a camp shop with self-checkout. It offers bug spray, snacks, souvenirs, wine openers, cold drinks, and $5 firewood. There’s an overwhelming sense of calm that comes from knowing you can unplug outdoors without having to be hyper vigilant about preparing to sleep in the woods.

The lodge offers indoor bathrooms with showers, a seating area with board games, a television, and Wi-Fi (but you really should put your phone away while you’re out here). For even more relaxation, Field Trip offers a sauna and a cold plunge, and some units come with wood-fired hot tubs.

It’s basically grown-up summer camp. You can come with friends or bring the kids—everyone loves roasting marshmallows over a fire they helped build. And, yes, Field Trip sells s’more kits in the store, in case you forgot to pick up the ingredients. fieldtripglamping.com

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4 Southern Cities Worth Visiting During Fall

Posted on October 16, 2026October 16, 2026 by Emilee Calametti

You don’t have to travel up North to experience changing leaves, cooler weather, and seasonal dishes. The South may take a bit longer to cool off, but once it does, cities come alive with color. Fall in the South offers a wide variety of scenery, from mountain ranges in Alabama to coastal breezes in Georgia. Dropping temperatures are a great reason to start planning your next road trip, so visit one of these Southern cities if you’re craving ultimate fall vibes.

Greenville, South Carolina

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains is Greenville, South Carolina. This Southern city transforms during fall, creating a perfect scenic getaway for outdoor activity lovers with no shortage of trails, rivers, and waterfalls. Whether visiting or passing through, you’ll find the city engulfed in fall colors, especially along Main Street. There is no shortage of fall-themed activities to fill your trip with, including apple-picking, family-friendly festivals, pumpkin patches, and corn mazes.

If you’re looking for a place to stay that offers a natural mountain feel, check into the Grand Bohemian Lodge on the Reedy River and enjoy the forest-green interior under exposed wooden beams. After admiring all the nature this Upstate city has to offer, stop by one of the many restaurants in town, like Sum Bar and Scoundrel. End the visit at People’s Tap, a taproom where guests choose their favorite drinks. You can even get food delivered from Papi’s Tacos. Who doesn’t love a beer and taco combination?

Birmingham, Alabama

birmingham in the fall nish gupta unsplash — Birmingham, Image courtesy of Nish Gupta, Unsplash

Just south of Huntsville sits Birmingham, Alabama, known for its mountainous landscape that comes to life in the fall. Avid hikers can journey to Ruffner Mountain for local trails and a stunning city overlook full of color. If you’re looking for fall activities, find your way to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens for their fall plant sale and community harvest.

Birmingham’s culinary scene continues to grow. Book a room at the Elyton Hotel for your stay and enjoy beautiful city views from the rooftop bar Moonshine. Take a three-minute walk to Helen for dinner reservations downtown, less than a block away from your hotel. This contemporary Southern grill cooks over hardwood coals and is led by husband-and-wife duo chef Rob and Emily McDaniel.

Asheville, North Carolina

Terrace in at Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville features views of the Blue Ridge Mountains — Asheville

Asheville, North Carolina, sits just north of Greenville, in the Blue Ridge Mountains. This trendy city is home to mountainous views that show off autumnal colors like none other. While the city is a great fall destination, it has also made a name for itself as a top Southern destination for award-winning chefs. To immerse yourself in the foliage, hike the Blue Ridge Parkway for stunning waterfalls and hidden swimming holes.

Let the place you stay be just as much in nature as you’ll be with a room at the Chetola Resort. This 78-acre oasis offers hiking trails, archery, guided fly-fishing, and more for your fall getaway. But before you make the 2-hour drive up to Chetola, spend time in downtown Asheville for delicious food at Luminosa, where you’ll find a blend of Appalachian ingredients with Italian dishes.

Savannah, Georgia

Image of restaurants in Savannah — Savannah

Fall in the South wouldn’t be complete without coastal views. Sightsee in the Hostess City filled with historic homes, churches, and museums as you enjoy the cooler weather. Each street is lined with enormous live oaks, adding that little something extra to make it feel more like fall.

Stroll the cobbled stone streets and settle into a room at the Bellwether House. Located just two blocks from Forsyth Park, enjoy a cozy, intimate stay before making your way outdoors to the Saturday farmers market. After enjoying the fall weather, stop by Origin Coffee Bar for a seasonal drink like their blueberry cobbler flat white or a pumpkin spice latte. End the evening at The Grey, a Greyhound Bus terminal turned restaurant with a rotating menu depending on what’s in season.

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