Plus: Historic seaside inns and classic coastal dishes

Downtown Beaufort, South Carolina.

Earlier this summer, I made the easy drive from Charleston down to Beaufort, South Carolina—my first time in what everyone else already knew was a special coastal town. Over the few days I spent there from my base at the historic Rhett House Inn, I walked the beautiful Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, went into just about every shop on Bay Street (and especially loved M Home and Garden), snacked on butterscotch pudding at Old Bull Tavern, and explored the maritime forest where parts of Forrest Gump were filmed at Hunting Island State Park. If you, too, enjoy a mix of strolling, eating, and soaking up nature, read my weekend guide to Beaufort.

—Lindsey Liles, digital reporter

THE NATURE CONSERVANCY

The Nature Conservancy at work at Ohio’s Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge.

NATURE’S KIDNEYS: WHY WETLANDS MATTER MORE THAN YOU THINK. Wetlands and forests do more for humans than provide places to fish and hunt—they’re natural water filters. Nicknamed “nature’s kidneys,” wetlands trap pollutants in the soil and deploy friendly bacteria to detoxify the slow-moving water. That’s just one reason The Nature Conservancy has partnered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Mississippi Headwaters to help private landowners restore wetlands. And in South Africa it launched the Greater Cape Town Water Fund to return billions of liters of clean water to the people, partly by removing invasive trees that consume massive amounts of it. At home and abroad, The Nature Conservancy is working behind the scenes to ensure that the water that sustains us all stays clean, clear, and flowing for generations to come. Learn how you can help protect clean water.

Charlotte. I went to college at Winthrop University, not far from the Queen City in Rock Hill, South Carolina, but most weekends my friends and I would make the drive up to Charlotte to experience everything a larger city had to offer. I recently went back to reunite with one of my best friends from college, and I was surprised by how much the city had evolved.

Car factory turned creative hub. A few minutes north of Charlotte’s center is Camp North End, a seventy-six-acre mixed-use development that, in 1924, was home to a Ford automotive factory. Over a century later, it’s now a vibrant area filled with restaurants, retail, a weekday farmers’ market, and more than fifty murals and sculptures. Feed your inner plant parent at Grow, a woman-owned shop born from the owner’s love of unique tropical plants. Walk over to Hardy Boys Records to thumb through an extensive vinyl collection and find that perfect addition to your shelves. And after exploring it all, stop by La Caseta, a Latin American street food concept, for a late lunch (don’t skip the tacos al pastor).
A natural haven. When you’re seeking a slower pace from the city, Daniel Stowe Conservancy—just thirty minutes outside the center of Charlotte—is my favorite way to enjoy the beauty of nature.The property spans 380 acres, with eight miles of walking trails. The gardens alone make up 90 acres and include a dedicated conservatory primarily for orchids.
Listening bar experience. Located in Hotel Refuge, Lorem Ipsum is a listening bar that pairs a curated cocktail program with music that’s just as intentional. From sets by local and international DJs to album listening parties and more, this intimate experience brings the concept of the listening bar (which originated in Japan in the 1950s) to Charlotte in a cozy and vibrant way.