October 27, 2004 -- In between two charming Southern municipalities famous for their architecture and cuisine, sits the tiny, low country beach town of Edisto, a barrier island named for the Edistow tribe from whom it was purchased in 1674. Located less than an hour's drive south from historic Charleston, South Carolina and an hour north of coastal Savannah, Georgia, Edisto is the quietest and quaintest of South Carolina's beachfront communities replete with little breakfast places, warm water and great big stretches of hard-sanded waterfront property perfect for watching the sun rise over the east bay or set over the west bay.With inexpensive rental properties and good deals on hotels, this small southern oasis is ideally situated for a little rest and relaxation for any traveler who wants to hit three destinations in a short span. US Highway 17 stretches through Savannah to Edisto to Charleston and offers lots in scenery for the inquisitive traveler.
Starting your trip in small but attractive Savannah is one option. Flights to Savannah from Chicago cost around $212 (before air taxes) on Delta (tel. 800/221-1212; www.delta.com) if booked at least two weeks in advance. If you want to escape the impending cold, roundtrip flights from Pittsburgh to Savannah on Continental (tel. 800/525-0280; www.continental.com) start from $207. Once in Savannah, drop your bag in your room head straight to Mrs. Wilkes' Boarding House, a family style eatery in historic Savannah across the street from a popular park. The food at Mrs. Wilkes' (tel. 912/232-5997; 107 W. Jones St.; www.mrswilkes.com) just keeps coming. Heaps of collard greens, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese and fried chicken appear before your eyes every time you blink.
Travelocity currently offers a spur of the moment "Gastronomic Gold Near Gorgeous Greens" deal to Savannah starting at $340 per person that include roundtrip air and hotels located very close to the historic district. Other sites to see in the Savannah area include the beautiful marshlands, a literary tour that takes you to the cemetery where they took the "Midnight in the Garden of Evil" photograph.
Renting a car from Savannah for a three-day stretch costs $64 for an economy class from Thrifty (www.thrifty.com). If you want to rent a car and drop it off in Charleston after your mini-road trip to Edisto, costs come to $96 with Budget (www.budget.com). Heading north on Highway 17, the flat and plush marshlands get greener after you exit and head east to the beaches of Edisto on 174 East. That's where the low-country comes alive. Small white chapels drenched in Spanish moss give way to juke joints that sell cold beer for no more than a buck-fifty. Wisteria hangs from the braches and smiling, bouncy children sell lemonade on the side of the road. If you're not from there, it's like nothing you've scene before.
Edisto itself is a no-frills beach town with quiet, friendly renters and year-rounders. Visit the Edisto Chamber of Commerce (www.edistochamber.com) to get the lay of the land. They can hook you up with weekly rentals with ongoing seasonal and off-season deals. Even one-night stays are available, but weekly rentals offer better rates. Mid-season rentals from August 8 to December 31 and March through April cost $700 at the Retreat, a nice, clean rental property just off the beach (available through the Atwood Agency, tel. 800/476-0126; www.atwoodagency.com). Fine dining in Edisto means home cooking. Small breakfast shops and seafood restaurants are spread along the beach through the town. Don't pass up the Edisto Beach Café and Grill (tel. 843/869-4001) on Jungle Road for the best crabcakes.
After relaxing in Edisto, Charleston offers plenty of things to choose from before heading home. Charleston's French Quarter isn't as wild as New Orlean's but the architecture and gentility matches the Big Easy. Old stately homes overlooking Charleston Bay reek of Civil War history. The Best Western King Charles Inn (tel. 866/546-4700; www.kingcharlesinn.com) offers rooms for $119 smack in the middle of old town Charleston. Rooms are spacious and the price-location index can't be beat for proximity to bars and restaurants and sites. Charleston is so respected in the food department, the eating is up to you. Start at Elliots on the Square (tel. 843/724-8888) for fine dining Southern style and check out Magnolia's (tel. 843/577-7771) where locals go for good grubbing.
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