Explore and unwind at The Cottages of Charleston.

Article Wesley Smith

The Cottages on Charleston Harbor are the place to go if you want to relax and enjoy yourself.  Their luxury cottages have two to three bathrooms to ensure that guests are comfortable; and for those traveling with furry friends, there are pet-friendly cottages available. If dining in is preferred, private chef services are available. For guests who enjoy cooking, each cottage is outfitted with its own kitchen, including a refrigerator, dishwasher and range. Guests can even kick back and enjoy the view of the beautiful Charleston Harbor from their private porch. Every cottage is also stocked with a Bose stereo, three HD flat screen TVs and high-speed wireless internet. 

When staying at The Cottages, rest assured there is plenty to do both within and outside the resort. From sailing tours and spas to nearby restaurants and museums, there is something for everyone to enjoy in the lovely town of Charleston. Check out a few of our recommendations below. 

Explore with Om Sailing Charters

After waking up and enjoying a delicious continental breakfast at The Cottages, head out to Om Sailing Charters for a harbor cruise on the fastest Charter Yacht the Harbor has to offer. Sometimes the during the breathtaking 3-6-hour private tour the tour captain will take his guests out to the Atlantic Ocean. If you’re lucky, he may even show you how to steer the catamaran.

Relax at Estuary Spa

After enjoying a day out and about, head to the Estuary Spa for a relaxing evening. The spa offers individual and couple massages given by their expert staff. From Swedish Massages and facials to body wraps and body scrubs, the Estuary Spa offers a wide variety of treatments that will put anyone’s mind at ease.

Indulge at Burton’s Grill and Bar

Before heading back to the comfy cottage, be sure to stop by Burton’s Grill and Bar for drinks on the patio, dinner or both. Burton’s is proud to offer gluten sensitive, vegetarian and paleo options. Online reservations are an option for those that are on the go and want to avoid a line.

Dive into History at Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum

On day two at The Cottages, venture out to Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum to learn about history. Tickets offer unlimited access to:

•  USS Yorktown
• USS Laffey
• USS Clamagore
• The Vietnam Experience Exhibit
• Cold War Memorial
• Medal of Honor Museum

View the Town with Palmetto Carriage Works

Choose from private and public tours with Palmetto Carriage Works, the oldest carriage tour company in Charleston. See mansions, gardens and learn about the town’s history and architecture. The Public Carriage Tour is the most popular tour and lasts for one hour. The Evening Tour of the Commercial District lasts for 35 minutes and is offered at 5:45 p.m. and 6 p.m. 

Replenish at Harbor Breeze at Bridgeside

After a busy day on the town, enjoy food and drinks from one of Charleston’s finest local businesses. They are applauded for their fish and chips, blue crab mac & cheese and island chicken sandwich. Enjoy Happy Hour with experienced bartenders and a full bar is from Thursday through Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m.

Unwind at Mount Pleasant Pier

At sunset, go visit Mount Pleasant’s majestic 1,250-foot-long pier. The pier offers fishing, delicious grub from the River Watch Cafe and Gift Shop, swings and rocking chairs. 

Whether strolling along the pier, going for a relaxing carriage ride, enjoying the Charleston nightlife, sailing the Charleston Harbor or a little bit of all of the above, there are many pleasant ways revel in the good old southern charm of Charleston while staying at The Cottages. Their luxury rentals provide a quintessential escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and offer an unparalleled Charleston experience, surely placing the town and The Cottages at the top of your list of favorite vacation destinations. 

Escape to the Coastal Hub with Your Ladies

Article Wesley Brown

When you imagine getting away with your girls, one destination comes to mind: the beach. Add to that culture, nightlife, and one of the best food scenes in the country, and you get the best lady getaway around: Charleston.

Charleston’s draw has long been multi-faceted. Picturesque scenery, including sweeping beaches and streets dotted with structured palmettos, sets a romantic scene for manicured gardens, like the Magnolia Plantation, and neighborhoods like Rainbow Row, where iconic, pastel-hued row houses have long garnered tourist’s attention. 

With a rise in the popularity of girl’s trips, Chucktown’s destination qualifications leveled up. The city has everything you and your ladies could possibly want: beachside getaways with striped umbrellas ready for lounging, boundless boutique shopping with locally-crafted goodies and high-fashion essentials alike, and of course, a food scene that spans craft cocktails and crudités to down-home seafood. 

Rally the tribe and plan your girlfriend getaway to the low country. 

STAY

The Cottages on Charleston Harbor

16 Patriots Point Road, Mt Pleasant | (843) 849-2300 | TheCottagesOnCharlestonHarbor.com

With the Ultimate Girlfriend’s Getaway, you and your ladies will be greeted with champagne before you head to your cottage—complete with a hammock. Get pampered in the Woodhouse Day Spa or swim in the pool overlooking the Charleston Harbor.

DO

Coastal Expeditions

514 Mill St, Mt Pleasant | (843) 884-7684 | CoastalExpeditions.com

Hop on one of The Cottages beach cruisers and bike down to history-filled Patriots Point. If you’re in the mood for something more adventurous, check out Coastal Expeditions for a host of watery exploits, like kayaking, paddleboarding and boating.

SHOP

King Street

King Street, Charleston

Imagine the stories these 300-year-old walls could tell! Today they tell a tale of shopping. Explore dozens of boutiques, galleries and markets, like Bluemercury for innovative beauty products, Copper Penny for cosmopolitan style, and Lily Charleston for vintage jewelry.

EAT

167 Raw

289 E. Bay Street, Charleston | (843) 579-4997 | 167Raw.com/Charleston

It wouldn’t be a true Charleston trip without top-notch seafood. You ladies will love the modern, chic-meets-industrial look, but you’ll love the fresh takes on seafood even more, including faves like oysters, po’ boys, and ahi poke.

This May—as in every May for more than 35 years—tens of thousands of guests will flock to Florida’s shores, not just for the warm press of early summer sun or the cool wash of ocean waves, but for the pinnacle of golf tournaments: The Players Championship.

Since Jack Nicklaus’ historic victory over J.C. Snead in the tournament’s first year, The Players Championship has remained one of the most coveted titles on the golf circuit. In 1982, the Championship found its final home at TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course—a site for the only tournament owned by the players of the PGA tour and a vision of Commissioner Deane Beman that defied the odds. 

The high stakes of today’s Players Championship are best enjoyed via The Players Club Experience, which offers VIP access to the tournament at an incomparable level. The Players Club Package includes tickets to selected round, multi-day or all week access to the tournament, as well as private access to The Players Club within the TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse and entrance into private suites overlooking the 18th Green and 17th Tee.  These viewing areas afford an even closer look at the players, who join you to watch the Championship unfold in these suites. 

Enjoy gourmet hors d’oeuvres and an open bar as you watch the pros swing and stroll across the greens. Soon, you foodies will feel like you’ve reached paradise with the delightful barage of gourmet meals. The Championship’s own mixologists even shake and twist their way to new, inventive cocktails designed just for you. 

It’s not an experience you’ll ever forget, but you’ll still want something to remember it by. Good thing you’ll have private access to the Players Club Golf Shop with unique memorabilia only available once a year. If you want to share the experience with friends, the all week access package can be shared, allowing you to alternate days with another couple. 

A trip to the The Players Championship isn’t just a golf tournament, it’s a destination vacation. Ponte Vedra Beach is home to TPC Sawgrass, but it’s also home, of course, to beaches, including 40-foot sand dunes that drip into white sand and quiet coves shaded by twisted oaks and wild palmettos. Off the water you’ll find luxury shopping—like the ladylike Mon Amie Boutique (MonAmie.Boutique) and Cutter & Cutter Fine Art Gallery (CutterandCutter.com)—and gourmet restaurants like Restaurant Medure (RestaurantMedure.com).

Naturally, you’ll have to sleep, and for that (as well as relaxing and lounging), there’s the Marriott Sawgrass Spa & Resort 
(Marriott.com). A stay at this elegant resort during the Championship includes first class access to the course. You’ll want to book an extra day to truly enjoy all the Marriott Sawgrass offers, including lavish spa treatments and the on-site, award-winning restaurant, Vernon’s. 

Lest we forget golf is the focus of this trip south, we’d also recommend spending a day at the Performance Center (TourPerformanceCenter.com). Here you can get a complete analysis and custom club fitting using the best and latest technology. The team at the Performance Center can help take your golf game to the next level, and soon you’ll be swinging like the pros you came to see.

Article Wesley Brown | Photography Augusta Conventions & Visitors Bureau and The Partridge Inn

There’s just something romantic about historical Southern architecture. Palatial estates flanked by tall, white columns bring to mind sunny afternoons spent lounging in sunshine, mint julep and croquet mallet in hand. 

It’s this nostalgic and luxurious history that’s brought to mind, and to reality, at Augusta’s The Partridge Inn, Curio Collection by Hilton. Known as “The Grand Hotel of the Classic South,” the sprawling property, just minutes from downtown Augusta, has long been a favorite of political and business leaders and celebrities alike (including Bob Dylan, Reba McIntyre and James Brown). The original house, built in 1836 and opened as a boutique hotel by Morris W. Partridge in 1910, remains intact within the larger, more modern structure, offering a glimpse into the Augusta of yesteryear. 

Its foundation may be aged, but the accommodations certainly are not; a recent multi-million-dollar renovation turned this classic into a must-visit. Traditional high ceilings and timeless decor blend seamlessly with modern amenities like 42-inch TVs and personalized, ergonomic work stations. Wide windows offer glorious views of the Augusta skyline and the property’s own stately magnolias. 

The hotel’s award-winning P.I. Bar & Grill serves up Southern staples in eclectic packages, favorites like Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Shrimp and Grits. Begin your evening with a classic cocktail on the verandah of the adjacent lounge, stuff yourself with homey plates, then dance the night away with live music back at the lounge. 

And when the night ends, climb the grand winding staircase back up to your room, kick off your heels and fall into the luxurious bed like the Southern belle you’ve always wanted to be. 

It’s a love story. Boy meets girl, they fall in love, start a business and a family.

But it’s another kind of love story, too. A love for wine, and for the mountains of North Carolina.

It was in those mountains that Steve and Sally Tatum met and married almost 40 years ago. The duo opened furniture and interior design business Tatum Galleries in Banner Elk and planted their own seeds of community in the town. Years later, in 2003, they planted a new kind of seed on a large parcel of property behind their home: vineyards.

Steve’s interest in wine inspired the idea, and the vines took root on their sprawling, mountainous lands. What began as a hobby for the family soon turned into a viable business opportunity. Son Dylan pursued winemaking at Surry Community College (the only program in Enology in the state), and equipped with a bevy of winemaking knowledge, the family decided to open Grandfather Vineyards. Within a few years it became not only the first producing winery in Watauga County pressing world-class wines, but also a destination for locals and tourists alike to relax and unwind with a glass of their favorite vino.

The name hails from the sight that defines their property. Situated along the Watauga River with spectacular views of Grandfather Mountain, the vineyard and its tasting room sit in the shadow of one of the state’s most beloved landmarks.

The wines that come from the rich mountain soil of Grandfather Vineyards are multifarious in varietal and flavor, from dry whites and reds to semi-sweets and dessert wines, including perennially popular favorites Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. All of the grapes are crushed, pressed, fermented and bottled on property, and poured by knowledgeable staff whose passion is also for the grape-made nectar.

The tasting room, as one might expect, offers tasting flights, as well as wines by the glass and bottle, perfect for a relaxing afternoon amongst the grapes. The winery also hosts live music every Sunday from 1 to 4 pm from May through October, a boisterous shindig that draws visitors from around the county and even as far as our own Charlotte (see the schedule for August on page 27!).

The love story continues at Grandfather Vineyards. Dylan and Tasting Room Manager Nicole married this summer, bringing a new generation to the tale. And love for the wine continues too, seeping into the local community and the new wine country of our mountains.

Article Emily Glaser
Photography Lucky Clays Farm

Take the winding backroads and blacktops east of Charlotte, following them through sprawling, vibrantly green fields and humble downtowns, over one lane bridges and a few dozen miles, and you’ll arrive at Lucky Clays Farm.

Like nature’s greatest beauties, it’s difficult to articulate the organic scope and allure of Lucky Clays Farm. Situated on 505 acres, lush with second-growth forests and open fields, Lucky Clays Farm combines conference and leisure facilities for the perfect corporate getaway.

At the heart of the enterprise is a sport that fits perfectly into this idyllic landscape: sporting clays. Judy Carpenter—the founder behind the extensive property—was an award-winning trap shooter. Uniting her passion for the sport with her passion for preservation, she purchased the property, located in Norwood, NC, in 2009.

That vision quickly grew as her team began to carve out the property. It began with a luxurious log cabin and a state-of-the-art 5-stand. When visitors exclaimed at the unparalleled standards already present in the 5-stand—including retractable storm shutters, a top-of-the-line outdoor kitchen, a 160-inch projector and microphone and enough picnic tables to seat 40—Carpenter began to consider opening Lucky Clays Farm to more than her personal guests.

Today it’s an event center seemingly hand-crafted for corporate retreats. Clay target shooting is still a popular option at Lucky Clays, but the Farm also offers trap, FITASC, flurry and 5-stand shooting, as well as archery and slingshot. The facilities at Lucky Clays Farm are easily adapted depending on how a client wishes to organize his or her visit. The two-story conference center for instance can accommodate up to 70 people, classroom style, per floor. Complete with wireless internet, a 123- inch projector screen with computer display capabilities, 90-inch and 70-inch TV screens with computer display capabilities, a sound system with Blu-ray player, and wireless microphones, 
it combines the latest technology with a strong environmental ethos. Constructed with reclaimed 19th-century bricks and maple floors, the rustic-chic aesthetic makes it the perfect backdrop for a corporate holiday party or executive retreat.

Lucky Clays Farm’s commitment to modernity extends into all their practices. With extensive solar panel systems around the property, sustainable construction, high-efficiency building materials, indigenous plants and a rainwater harvesting system, they’re recognized as the state’s largest residential renewable energy system.

Like the plants that cover its acreage, Lucky Clays Farm just keeps growing. New for 2017 is the Wellness Center, which offers two tennis courts, a workout room, and two additional meeting rooms designed specifically for smaller groups. With six new energy-efficient cottages being built to complement the existing three, the farm will be able to accommodate 25 overnight guests.

Perhaps Lucky Clays Farm’s greatest amenity isn’t really an amenity at all: exclusivity. The property is an intentional departure from the daily grind and a return to nature. It’s an escape, and it feels like one. The property isn’t open to the public, so whether you’re looking for a destination for your corporate retreat or your big day, you don’t have to worry about sharing those pristine 505 acres with anyone.

Article Wesley Brown

They call it “The Big Day” for a reason. There’s boundless stress leading up to the event: guest lists to refine, deposits to pay, linens and flowers and cake flavors to choose, and one very important white dress to find. That stress can take it’s toll on a bride’s body and mind (and a groom’s). As your day approaches and your back and mind coil with tension, the most important thing you can do isn’t double-check the checklist, it’s relax.

Whether you want to invest in regular spa treatments as part of your pre-wedding regiment or want a full spa-ah day pre-ritual, it’s a good idea to take more than a little “me” time before your wedding day. If you’re heading to the mountains for your big day, the Poseidon Spa at the Grand Bohemian is the best place to really relax.

“The most important thing about spa treatments is the need to take time for yourself,” says Christina Merrill, Spa Director at the Poseidon Spa at the Grand Bohemian. We don’t need to detail the effects stress can ravage on your health, but regular spa treatments can help alleviate the stresses of wedding planning.

That might seem like the least of your worries as you prepare for the big day, but the realities of stressful planning can show up quickly—fine lines, crinkled brows, even hair loss—and be evident on your wedding day. Regular monthly treatments can help prevent those visible symptoms and get you that wedding day glow of which you dream.

Merrill points out that the more regular your appointments are, the more comfortable you are in the situation and the more quickly you can relax, allowing your parasympathetic nervous system the break it needs to function healthfully. The benefits of those regular sessions build upon themselves over time. And if you can’t schedule monthly massages, at least spring for the longer one before the big day, she says. “If you’re not getting a massage regularly, you need a little more time to reach that place.”

Other pre-wedding benefits of massage? Improving sleep and eliminating insomnia—two symptoms of pre-wedding jitters that plague every bride; boosting immunity, because it’s everyone’s worst nightmare to be sick on the big day; and easing muscle pain and tension, which are part of that big stress package, along with persistent headaches and migraines—more symptoms that can be alleviated through massage.

Article Chloe Watson | Photography Deatric Smith

You’ll often see author and travel expert Tamela Rich on the morning news shows. She merrily chats with her hosts about the varieties of cornbread she sampled at the National Cornbread Festival in Tennessee, recommends car games to parents that will help them keep their kids occupied on long road trips, and gives two thumbs up to women thinking of traveling the country as she does—solo.

Unknown is her backstory: how a failed business brought her to a moment of truth at the medicine cabinet, and how learning to ride her black BMW motorcycle from coast to coast gave her a new lease on life.

Rich got her passion for road tripping as a child. Every summer her family would travel from Ohio to California. Some of her favorite childhood memories took place in her parents’ Vista Cruiser station wagon.  After her business failed, she wanted to begin traveling again to regain her sense of self.

Three months after getting her license, Rich took her first motorcycle trip to Oregon where she visited 19 states, traveled over 7,200 miles and learned many lessons about life. She has been traveling three times each year on her bike ever since.

Rich uses her story and “lessons from the road” to inspire and motivate people through speaking engagements, books and blog posts. She is in the process of finishing her second book titled, “Steady On: Staying Centered in the Face of Fear.” It is expected to release in the first quarter of 2017. The book is about fear and inspired by the question she is always asked, “Are you afraid?” She isn’t.

She has made some of her favorite memories on the road by taking risks and meeting new people like the Conga Riders in Wyoming who were raising money for breast cancer and the Zoo Keeper from Buffalo who was going blind.

Rich’s motto for traveling is to “Pack Light. Travel Slow. Connect Deep.” “Traveling has taught me that more isn’t better, fast shouldn’t be an unquestioned objective, and that superficiality is best left to social media,” says Rich.

Her passion for traveling is unmatched and she encourages everyone to travel. “Just start going somewhere. Don’t wait until you have the time and money. Traveling doesn’t have to be time consuming or expensive,” says Rich.

Her next stop is Italy where she will be joining other female motorcycle riders on a 9-day excursion.

There are people who love to vacation in big, bustling cities or spend time in ancient historical destinations.  Then, there are those that have an inner explorer, and are waiting to head somewhere far away and be part of a breathtaking experience in a remote corner of the world.

Expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctica are voyages that go beyond the realm of other cruise lines. They create experiences that follow in the footsteps of the world’s great explorers charting unknown territories at the turn of the last century.

No matter where you have traveled and seen before…a visit to the Arctic or Antarctica will be different than anything you have ever experienced.  They are two of the most remote…and most unique destinations…in the world.

Antarctica is its own continent, made up almost completely of ice and located at the southernmost point of the globe. It’s the only continent on Earth that’s never been permanently inhabited, and thus, exploring the stunning landscapes provides almost exactly the same experience as it has since humans first started to venture across it. On a cruise to Antarctica, you’ll see almost entirely sea-dwelling creatures, including whales, seals and, of course, penguins.

The Arctic, on the other hand, refers to an ocean – not a land mass. The islands you’ll visit during cruise vacations to the Arctic are likely to be northern parts of Iceland, Greenland and Norway, all of which have been inhabited for a long time and offer interesting and exciting histories, along with their picturesque sights. You will never find penguins in the Arctic, but polar bears, reindeers, and foxes are frequently sighted.

Though both the Arctic and Antarctica offer stunning landscapes, they are markedly different. The Arctic offers breathtaking views of fjords, mountains and glaciers, with more green areas and vegetation than you may expect. Antarctica, which is almost totally covered in ice, has icebergs and glaciers of incredible height. You’ll find yourself surrounded by rocks and ice in amazing formations like you’ve never seen before.

Mann Travels has connections to the top expedition companies  in the world and can match the right traveler with the right experience. Summon your inner explorer and call a vacation specialist today to learn about fabulous opportunities still available for 2016 and 2017.

Article Roni Fishkin

Hey, South Charlotte!  Thanks for coming back to check out this month’s featured vacation option.  If you’re looking for something that’s great fun and education for the entire family, the Galapagos Islands are a great place to start!

A trip to the Galapagos Islands, off the coast of Ecuador, offers  a fascinating experience in what might be the most famous wildlife-watching destination across the globe.  This legendary place (thanks to Darwin and his Theory of Evolution) offers a magical, up-close glimpse of wildlife at every turn. Visitors can snorkel with sea lions, mingle with giant tortoise and observe penguins, boobies and prehistoric-looking iguanas.  This excitement, combined with the archipelago of lava formations, cactus forests, turquoise water and tropical beaches makes it an unforgettable vacation for young and old.

A trip to the remote Galapagos, made up of about 19 islands, is truly a bucket list destination. Small, expedition cruising is one of the more popular ways to experience the area and makes planning and preparing for the trip much easier. As an example, one supplier, Celebrity Cruises. offers travellers 5 star accomodations in Quito to begin a ten-day journey, privately chartered air transfers to the ship, expertly guided tours and two excursions each day to places like Kicker Rock,  Darwin’s Research Center or Bartolome Island.  In fact, Celebrity Cruises includes all the gear you will need to enjoy the area, such as snorkeling equipment, wetsuits, binoculars, etc.  No additional charges apply so new costs  never surprise you on vacation!

Mann Travels is a preferred supplier of Galapagos itineraries for every budget. The region is truly a unique experience that will offer many once-in-a-lifetime experiences.