Alligators, oysters and gallons of iced tea: new direct flights to Charleston mean it’s never been easier to enjoy the jewel of the American South
FOR 106 years of age, Grace seems in remarkably good shape. Taking to the thick, green slurpy waters of the May River in South Carolina each morning, she shows a regal disregard for the bottlenose dolphins, egrets and herons that occasionally make her acquaintance.
With a dark, Honduran-mahogany interior, the construction of Grace—a 60ft yacht— began at a time when William Taft was President, the USA only had 46 states and the Civil War, which raged along the banks of this now bucolically peaceful tidal estuary, was still well within living memory.
Today, she drifts elegantly past oyster beds, shimmering white-clapboard holiday homes, bulbous oaks and soaring pine trees, towards Palmetto Bluff—a 20,000-acre former plantation turned residential and recreational reserve.
Our captain, Ed—who takes guests out on the water each morning—waves gently in a manner perfectly befitting the quintessential Southern gentleman.
‘You won’t forget to eat now, will you?’ he suggests.
Captain Ed doesn’t need to worry. Here at Palmetto Bluff, the priorities of the day are the same as in the centre of Charleston, a two-hour drive away. Namely, food and which corners of the quite absurdly rich culinary delights of this region to put on the plate today.
Montage Palmetto Bluff—a charming array of rooms, suites and cottages—is undeniably pretty. There’s also a golf course, spa and firepits, where s’mores (the American campfire staple of marshmallows, crackers and Hershey chocolate) are served.
Denne historien er fra August 14, 2019-utgaven av Country Life UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra August 14, 2019-utgaven av Country Life UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Kitchen garden cook - Apples
'Sweet and crisp, apples are the epitome of autumn flavour'
The original Mr Rochester
Three classic houses in North Yorkshire have come to the market; the owner of one inspired Charlotte Brontë to write Jane Eyre
Get it write
Desks, once akin to instruments of torture for scribes, have become cherished repositories of memories and secrets. Matthew Dennison charts their evolution
'Sloes hath ben my food'
A possible paint for the Picts and a definite culprit in tea fraud, the cheek-suckingly sour sloe's spiritual home is indisputably in gin, says John Wright
Souvenirs of greatness
FOR many years, some large boxes have been stored and forgotten in the dark recesses of the garage. Unpacked last week, the contents turned out to be pots: some, perhaps, nearing a century old—dense terracotta, of interesting provenance.
Plants for plants' sake
The garden at Hergest Croft, Herefordshire The home of Edward Banks The Banks family is synonymous with an extraordinary collection of trees and shrubs, many of which are presents from distinguished friends, garnered over two centuries. Be prepared to be amazed, says Charles Quest-Ritson
Capturing the castle
Seventy years after Christian Dior’s last fashion show in Scotland, the brand returned under creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri for a celebratory event honouring local craftsmanship, the beauty of the land and the Auld Alliance, explains Kim Parker
Nature's own cathedral
Our tallest native tree 'most lovely of all', the stately beech creates a shaded environment that few plants can survive. John Lewis-Stempel ventures into the enchanted woods
All that money could buy
A new book explores the lost riches of London's grand houses. Its author, Steven Brindle, looks at the residences of plutocrats built by the nouveaux riches of the late-Victorian and Edwardian ages
In with the old
Diamonds are meant to sparkle in candlelight, but many now gather dust in jewellery boxes. To wear them today, we may need to reimagine them, as Hetty Lintell discovers with her grandmother's jewellery
