Duty stations: Charleston, South Carolina

I haven't ever done a spider web log shipping service on the places we've lived, but I lead maintain been wanting to write ane almost Charleston, South Carolina. I've felt that most of the places we've lived were pretty directly forward. Charleston is a rattling unique metropolis in addition to it was an experience to larn the chance to alive there.

From the get-go, nosotros heard how lucky nosotros were to larn stationed inwards Charleston. Everyone told us how beautiful the metropolis was, how much the loved it, how it is their favorite place. We were excited to motion there. As people who sweat to brand the most of wherever the Navy brings us, nosotros felt nosotros had a leg upward moving somewhere everyone loves. And hence nosotros got in that location in addition to it was nothing like I expected.

I've done a lot of thinking almost Charleston. I've fifty-fifty written a spider web log shipping service almost it is not my favorite duty station. I struggled for awhile when nosotros lived there. I didn't lead maintain that "I belong here" feeling. Eventually I was able to buck upward in addition to brand the most of it-- I mean, nosotros exclusively lived in that location for 1.5 years. However, component subdivision of what helped me was to allow become of my expectations. Here is what nosotros heard almost Charleston in addition to our experience amongst living inwards Charleston every bit a immature identify unit of measurement of 6.


1. "The metropolis is beautiful."

Yes, Charleston is absolutely beautiful. But when nosotros commencement moved to Charleston, my grandmother broke her hip in addition to recovered at our solid for months. Then I got meaning amongst infant #4 in addition to it was impossible to larn or hence downtown amongst our brood. Our twins were 2-years former at the time-- also immature to live running out of the stroller in addition to me chasing them (while pregnant)-- in addition to the cobblestone sidewalks were also narrow for fifty-fifty my fabulous double stroller. This left me amongst the alternative to either walk inwards the route downtown amongst iii children (a 5-year former in addition to 2-year former twins? No, give thank you lot you) or somehow deal wandering downtown amongst no stroller in addition to iii children (a 5-year former in addition to 2-year former twins spell pregnant? No, give thank you lot you). My married adult man doesn't relish meandering similar I do-- peculiarly inwards a crowd amongst immature children-- in addition to hence it wasn't something I liked pushing on him, though I did insist on a few meandering Charleston walks. As individual who loves getting out amongst the kids in addition to exploring, I constitute this to live a hard metropolis to navigate past times myself amongst immature children. Even if nosotros could become dorsum now, amongst a 6-year old, 4-year former twins, in addition to a baby, I experience similar I could navigate the metropolis a flake amend than I could when our twins were 2-years old.

2. "There is hence much history in addition to the plantations are a must-see."

Again, the metropolis is absolutely beautiful in addition to in that location is hence much history there. It was also so expensive. It cost our identify unit of measurement over $100 to exercise a railroad vehicle tour downtown. Admission to the plantations ran me almost $35 at to the lowest degree (and oft non including parking) merely to brand it the door-- in addition to that was past times myself amongst the children, every bit the exclusively adult. Some of them ran fifty-fifty to a greater extent than than that. When I started adding upward the prices for all the dissimilar plantations, it was staggering. Then in that location are the annual passes that you lot tin purchase to tour the plantations, which all add together upward because in that location isn't one pass that volition larn you lot inwards all the plantations. On top of this, nosotros had a membership to the Children's Museum of the Lowcountry and the Charleston County Gold Pass Membership. I considered getting us an aquarium membership, which I thought nosotros would run to a greater extent than than a plantation pass, but it was all starting to live a flake much since I genuinely couldn't flick myself hitting those places upward that often. When the summertime came, I was excited to start going to the Charleston County Parks Whirlin' Waters Waterpark because nosotros had bought the Gold Pass and-- estimate what!-- you lot demand a separate membership to larn into that! Hitting upward these places every bit a identify unit of measurement of vi without memberships starts getting genuinely expensive in addition to into the territory of nosotros pass nearly every bit much on admission for ane twenty-four hr catamenia every bit nosotros would for an annual pass. In the end, I went on null plantation tours (though nosotros did exercise Thanksgiving at Middleton Place amongst all the kids in addition to it was fabulous) in addition to I merely made the most out of the memberships that nosotros had (highly recommend the Charleston County Gold Pass Membership!!!).


3. "The nutrient is amazing!"

No denying it, Charleston has some amazing restaurants. We had hence many restaurants that nosotros wanted to consume at or that were recommended to us. Tell people you lot are moving to Charleston in addition to you lot volition at in ane lawsuit start hearing, "Oh! You lead maintain to become consume at..." or "I saw this identify on Food Network..." or "Omigosh, my favorite eating theatre is there! You must go..." Every alley you lot plough downward inwards Charleston has yet some other amazing eating theatre tucked inwards it. But nosotros had a 5-year former in addition to 2-year former twins when nosotros moved there; a 6-year old, 3-year former twins, in addition to an infant when nosotros moved away. There is no means nosotros were going to Halls Chophouse and shout for for 2 highchairs or waiting on the street for a tabular array for 6 with 4 children at Hymans. H5N1 lot of the restaurants in that location exercise non lead maintain reservations in addition to are exclusively opened upward during mealtimes (opens at lunch, closes betwixt dejeuner in addition to dinner, hence opens for dinner), making it rattling hard to hitting those places at off-peak times. We loved Monza Pizza downtown, but the exclusively tabular array that could seat us was the community tabular array that had barstools. Yes, nosotros sat at barstools amongst 2-year former twins... that was an adventure.

This was ane of those times that I genuinely noticed a departure betwixt having a smaller publish of kids in addition to a larger publish of kids. We had a eating theatre recommended to us past times a identify unit of measurement of 3, but when nosotros showed upward at this tiny local dive, they had no clue when they could trace together a tabular array for 6, "Maybe 45 minutes? Or an hour? Could you lot guys hold off outside?" (It was non exclusively raining, but also inwards the middle of winter.) Also, a repast that would lead maintain been fairly pricey for merely my hubby in addition to I to become to was extremely expensive taking all of our children, non to shout non ever enjoyable because they had to larn upward to become potty, they didn't desire to consume that, when are nosotros going home, he took my crayon... on in addition to on.

It took awhile, but nosotros lastly constitute a publish of restaurants that worked for us. We similar going to places where nosotros don't experience nosotros dominate the entire eating theatre (places that are super pocket-size tend to live less friendly toward us in addition to tend to rush us along). We also similar places to live reasonably priced; nosotros don't take away heed spending to a greater extent than for proficient food, but nosotros also lead maintain to a relaxation what cost is worth taking our entire identify unit of measurement out. While many places inwards Charleston piece of occupation on a no-reservations policy, nosotros demand places that nosotros tin comfortably hold off at. Sitting on a narrow sidewalk downtown for 45 minutes is a no become for us. Most of all, nosotros similar proficient nutrient in addition to a proficient vibe. Here are the places that were our identify unit of measurement favorites:
  • Page's Okra Grill
    This is our absolute identify unit of measurement favorite; nosotros dear eating here. This identify is perfect to lead out of town guests to every bit good because it gives a gustation of Charleston spell even hence beingness exceptionally identify unit of measurement friendly.
  • Red's Ice House
    This was a genuinely slowly identify to become to amongst our family. It is opened upward all twenty-four hr catamenia hence nosotros could hitting it at off peak times. It is also ideal if you lot innovation on lingering for awhile since you lot tin become to the dock on the dorsum in addition to picket dolphins fountain past times the paddle boarders inwards Shem Creek.
  • Charleston Café
    Delicious brunch spot! This identify is inwards a strip mall, but they exercise lead maintain a comfortable sitting expanse out front. The business moves along quickly. They were curt on high chairs, though they had decent chairs that worked fine for our 2-year olds. The staff was prissy in addition to attentive to our family, fifty-fifty though it is a pretty busy place.
  • Liberty Tap Room
    This identify nosotros constitute genuinely belatedly inwards the game, when nosotros were getting create to move. I was pretty disappointed nosotros constitute it hence belatedly since my hubby in addition to I dear beer in addition to identify unit of measurement friendly. Delicious food, dandy beer, in addition to genuinely fun for all of us.
  • Poe's Tavern
    This is at Sullivan's Island. We sat exterior on their large picnic tables in addition to had an absolutely wonderful time. The boys loved people watching. My hubby in addition to I loved hanging out all together. After nosotros had our delicious burgers, nosotros took a walk on the beach where nosotros genuinely saw a shark inwards the surf-- no joke. This was quite perchance the most exciting beach trip for our boys.
Of course of educational activity nosotros ate at to a greater extent than restaurants than merely this list. One of the pocket-size places downtown that nosotros loved was Queology, a super pocket-size BBQ identify that was non stroller friendly, though the nutrient was dandy in addition to the staff was hence prissy in addition to accommodating. So in that location were other places nosotros liked than this list, but these were the places nosotros could count on when nosotros wanted to become out to consume every bit a family-- that would lead maintain high chairs, that would lead maintain a decent wait, that would lead maintain a tabular array that could topographic point us, that nosotros wouldn't pay a fortune to consume at. My favorite meals were from S.N.O.B. We fifty-fifty took all of our kids in that location for dejeuner ane twenty-four hr catamenia in addition to I tin tell you, that identify is borderline when it comes to eating out amongst children. The staff was beyond amazing in addition to friendly in addition to warm, though I could tell that some of the patrons questioned why nosotros were in that location amongst all our kids.


4. "There is hence much to exercise there. The beaches are amazing!"

I admit, I pictured us moving somewhere similar to Hawaii where the beaches were almost at our dorsum door. It was a trivial dissimilar than that. It took us almost 35-40 minutes to larn to the beach. We had a common transcend in addition to went to Isle of Palms beach as oft every bit nosotros could. I took us over to exercise beach walks, allow the kids run, in addition to for all twenty-four hr catamenia beach trips. I fifty-fifty loved going inwards the evenings inwards the summer, since it was unremarkably much cooler in addition to far less crowded. Even though it wasn't every bit quick of a drive every bit living inwards Hawaii, I loved Isle of Palms. This was a dandy beach for us because the parking lot is correct on the beach; you lot never lead maintain to cross a route to larn to the beach, perfect for managing a beach twenty-four hr catamenia amongst children. There are bathrooms. During the summer, in that location is a concession stand upward in addition to a beach stand upward selling the basic necessities, similar sunscreen in addition to hats in addition to shovels. There are vending machines in addition to drinking fountains. The beach itself is mild plenty for children in addition to has a shelf, creating tide pools when the tide changes. We hunted for starfish on this beach. On the means to the beach, I would drive through Raising Cane's off Hwy 17 for sugariness tea in addition to chicken fingers. It was all perfect for taking 4 children to the beach (or iii children spell beingness pregnant). Because of the convenience of Isle of Palms, the exclusively other beach nosotros went to was Sullivan's Island amongst my hubby that ane time. The other beaches were also much of a drive, didn't lead maintain bathrooms, had to cross the road... also many challenges for me to desire to caput over in that location amongst all the immature children. In my defense, nosotros were at Isle of Palms all the fourth dimension though. (The ane beach matter was also rattling dissimilar than Hawaii-- in that location are hence many to lead from there!)

The Charleston County Park Gold Pass is a must have. It includes costless beach parking, free admission to James Island Festival of Lights, and costless admission to Wannamaker Park. Living inwards Goose Creek amongst immature children, Wannamaker Park was our go-to identify on whatsoever given weekday. During the summertime nosotros would fourth dimension our Wannamaker Park trips hence nosotros could hitting upward Sonic's Happy Hour, which has one-half priced drinks. I would larn all the boys pocket-size slushes subsequently playing at the park. Wannamaker is hence much fun because it has a dandy playground for all dissimilar aged kids, including woods (a favorite for our boys) in addition to a hill, summation it has a splash pad, a pond, walking/bike trails, in addition to a perfect picnic area. It was large plenty to offering dissimilar activities each fourth dimension nosotros went in addition to unopen plenty to become all the time.

But in that location were a lot of other places that I merely didn't larn to. I never took the boys antiquing in addition to spell nosotros did lead maintain them to the fountains downtown, it was stressful amongst the trivial boys having them running past times the road. So I felt similar nosotros genuinely had to seek out what worked best for us there, spell I felt similar it worked a lot amend for some of our friends amongst less children or no children. We unremarkably got out exploring when my hubby was off piece of occupation or when identify unit of measurement came to town in addition to nosotros had extra hands. Otherwise, it was merely also much amongst the littles in addition to me.


5. "Charleston is my favorite city."

I mentioned inwards my previous spider web log post how nosotros made the alternative to alive unopen to ability schoolhouse in addition to paradigm past times living on base of operations instead of out inwards town. Everyone nosotros spoke to recommended nosotros alive inwards Mt. Pleasant or West Ashley. We fifty-fifty had people tell Summerville was nice. We took their input into consideration in addition to decided that because nosotros were living in that location for such a curt fourth dimension (it ended upward beingness a yr in addition to a half) in addition to because nosotros were planning on having some other infant in that location (we had infant #4 inwards Charleston) that nosotros definitely wanted to alive unopen to base. After living inwards Goose Creek for a yr in addition to a half, hither are the 2 thoughts I lead maintain on Goose Creek:
  1. If nosotros larn stationed inwards Charleston in ane lawsuit again for a "real" tour (instead of going through the officeholder pipeline every bit a student), nosotros volition alive out inwards town.
  2. I'm glad nosotros lived inwards Goose Creek spell going through the officeholder pipeline because nosotros were hence unopen to ability schoolhouse in addition to prototype.
I had a hard fourth dimension adjusting to Goose Creek subsequently living inwards North Carolina where everything nosotros wanted/needed was inside v miles of our house. In Goose Creek nosotros had...base. And that was it. It took me xv minutes merely to larn off base. Everywhere I went was a 30-40 infinitesimal drive. Harris Teeter was a thirty infinitesimal drive inwards ane management in addition to Costco a thirty infinitesimal drive inwards the other direction. I did hence much online grocery shopping inwards North Carolina in addition to it was genuinely frustrating at nowadays non exclusively shopping inwards store amongst 4 children, but also having an hr circular trip for those outings. We did lead maintain a commissary unopen past times in addition to I loved that. We went in that location a lot, but the hours sometimes made it difficult. We also had our children's events on the calendar, similar homeschool co-ops in addition to sports classes. It was frustrating driving 30-40 minutes for a 30-40 infinitesimal soccer shape or pianoforte lesson exclusively to drive the 30-40 minutes dorsum home. It was a large alter inwards our routine in addition to whatsoever nurture amongst a 2-year former knows what an hr circular trip tin exercise to a nap schedule.

What was dandy almost where nosotros lived was the housing was beautiful. I loved our solid in addition to I loved our lay out. The solid suited us good in addition to was the nicest identify we've lived hence far inwards my hubby's Navy career. I also loved how unopen nosotros were to his schools. He came dwelling solid often, peculiarly inwards ability schoolhouse when he merely wanted a interruption from studying. One twenty-four hr catamenia when he was at paradigm I came downward amongst a horrible migraine. I called him in addition to told him I genuinely needed him dwelling solid (he was inwards studying, non on watch) in addition to he was dwelling solid 10 minutes subsequently I called, including walking out of the schoolhouse to the parking lot in addition to riding his cycle home. I loved the parks inwards our neighborhood in addition to in that location was a dandy sense of community amongst our neighbors. In that regard, I exercise recall that at that betoken inwards our lives, choosing the housing inwards Goose Creek was the correct alternative for us. Overall though, the location did skew my perspective towards Charleston in addition to I exercise recall I would uncovering greater enjoyment living somewhere similar Mt Pleasant that was to a greater extent than centrally located to the activities our identify unit of measurement enjoys doing.

Since nosotros lead maintain moved away from Charleston, I uncovering myself missing a lot of things almost the place. I loved the warm, mild weather. I loved our evenings spent on our driveway spell the kids played. I loved Isle of Palms in addition to Raising Cane's (the 2 volition ever become manus inwards manus for me! haha!). I loved the pineapple fountain downtown. I loved how oft my hubby would lead maintain us downtown for H2O ice cream at Kilwin's; it was ane of our favorite treats. While Charleston was rattling dissimilar than I expected in addition to had many challenges for our large family, in that location was a lot of proficient in that location too.

So that is my shipping service on Charleston, South Carolina. Have you lot been stationed inwards Charleston? Did you lot relish it? Where did you lot alive in addition to what things did you lot similar doing amongst your family? If you lot lead maintain a large family, what were some of your favorite "big family" hang outs?

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