Hyperbaric Chamber Therapy in Charleston, SC
843-737-2597Oxygen - of all the things we put in our bodies, it is by far the most important. If it weren't for oxygen, we'd cease to exist. It's definitely a good thing, then, that we can find oxygen all around us. Oxygen fuels our cells and gives our bodies the basic building blocks we need to survive. It helps us heal, and when we're stressed, taking a few deep breaths can help us calm down. But did you know the oxygen you're breathing right now is only about 21% pure?
That begs the question: What if we could breathe air that has 100% pure oxygen? As it turns out, Better Life Carolinas provides exactly that with our hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). And while the name sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie, the technology and benefits are real.
What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
A wise person once said that oxygen under pressure equates to pure health. In some ways, that explains hyperbaric oxygen therapy in a nutshell. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) or hyperbaric chamber therapy is a revolutionary treatment where a patient relaxes in a comfortable chamber filled with 100% pure oxygen.
HBOT was initially used early in the 1900s and was later used in the U.S. to treat decompression sickness, which affects scuba divers. Today, hyperbaric chamber therapy is used by people from all walks of life, from businesspeople and athletes to blue-collar workers and stay-at-home moms.
During HBOT, the air pressure in the hyperbaric chamber is ramped up two or three times higher than typical air pressure. This increased pressure allows your body and lungs to absorb and gather higher amounts of pure oxygen - much more than you would be able to inhale, even if you were breathing pure oxygen.
How Does Hyperbaric Chamber Therapy Work?
If you're looking for an effective, efficient alternative to invasive procedures or heavy pharmaceutical medications, using a hyperbaric chamber in Charleston, SC is worth considering. Over the last few years, HBOT has exploded in popularity. More and more people are choosing to use hyperbaric chambers for certain conditions and ailments because they don't require surgery and have no serious side effects.
During hyperbaric therapy treatment, air pressure in the chamber is ramped up so that it is many times higher than ambient air. This increased pressure compresses the breathable oxygen inside the hyperbaric chamber, which you breathe into your body by way of your lungs and skin. The air is then circulated throughout your body via your own bloodstream.
When this pure oxygen is distributed in your body, it saturates your organs, tissues, blood, and spinal cord fluid. It even settles into areas of your body where circulation may be poor or blocked. Like powerful jumper cables, this potent oxygen jump-starts your body's cellular regeneration processes, significantly decreasing harmful inflammation.
This increase in pure oxygen and decrease in inflammation is used to treat many different types of conditions and illnesses, including:
- Sports Injuries and Recovery
- Strokes
- Anti-Aging
- Asthma
- Inflammation
- Allergies
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Plastic Surgery
- Benefits of Hyperbaric Chamber Treatment
- Diabetes
- COVID-19
- Stem Cell Generation
- Much More
What Conditions Does a Hyperbaric Chamber in Charleston, SC Treat?
Hyperbaric Chamber Therapy for Sports Injuries
When it comes to common uses for hyperbaric chambers, treatment for sports-related injuries is near the top of the list. Trusted by athletes of all persuasions across multiple sports, hyperbaric chamber therapy has helped countless men and women recover from common issues like fractures, sprains, and compartment syndrome. In fact, studies show that hyperbaric therapy for athletes may work just as effectively as traditional therapy when used as part of a recovery program to achieve the highest healing potential.
That's because competition, training, and recovery go hand in hand. To help with the rigors of high-level sports, HBOT oxygenates muscles, boosts immune systems, and speeds up recovery time for injuries. HBOT cuts down on recovery time by boosting your body's self-healing processes. That, in turn, promotes cell regeneration, which helps encourage tissues and muscles to mend organically, lessening scarring.
Hyperbaric Chamber Therapy for Stroke Victims
When a person has a stroke, blood flow to their brain is disrupted, most often by a major artery blockage. This causes a lack of blood flow, which manifests very quickly, and results in dead brain tissue or hypoxia. When untreated, the blocked artery causes a litany of damage which usually gets worse over time.
While it's impossible to say how much salvageable tissue is lost in the time after a stroke, hyperbaric chamber therapy may help boost cell reproduction and provide oxygen to tissue that died due to lack of blood flow. The non-functioning cells around the damaged tissue area cause much of a person's post-stroke issues. If HBOT can help bring life back to dead cells, the stroke victim could regain lost functionality.
Over the years, many studies have shown promising results when patients use hyperbaric chambers for stroke recovery. In fact, a study conducted in 2013 by Tel Aviv University's Dr. Shai Efrati showed without a doubt that high oxygen levels can awaken dormant neurons. After a two-month period of HBOT for two hours a day, five times a week, brain imaging showed a significant increase in neuronal activity in patients compared to periods of non-treatment.
Patients in this study reported better sensation, less paralysis, and more ability to speak.
Hyperbaric Chamber Therapy for Anti-Aging
Hyperbaric chamber therapy has been used for years by skincare clinicians to supplement common procedures. The results are often stunning and have been shown to help patients with the following:
- Rejuvenated skin
- Improved skin elasticity
- Skin texture repair
- Scar removal
- Fine line and wrinkle reduction
- Improved skin complexion
But how does a hyperbaric chamber in Charleston, SC kick-start skin rejuvenation? When oxygen levels in your body drop as you age, your body's healing ability slowly declines, resulting in less tissue function, damaged tissue, cracked skin, slow-healing wounds, and wrinkles.
The pressurized oxygen used in HBOT sessions can reach tissue at the cellular level to improve stem-cell growth, immune system defenses, and circulation while reducing inflammation. This process can have a powerful detoxification effect on your body. When toxins are removed, skin blemishes and discolorations are often removed, too, leaving your skin healthy and rejuvenated.
Hyperbaric Chamber Therapy After Plastic Surgery
They say that without pain, there is no gain, and that's typically true with plastic surgery and other cosmetic procedures. However, studies show that HBOT can help alleviate pain and boost recovery after plastic surgeries.
With normal levels of oxygen in the body, plastic surgery healing times can be lengthy and painful. Because hyperbaric chamber treatments expose your body to pure oxygen, recovery time is often reduced, and the healing process is accelerated - by as much as 75% in some instances.
The benefits of hyperbaric chamber therapy, when used for plastic surgery recovery, are numerous and include:
- Less need for post-procedure narcotic medications for pain
- Improved healing and recovery time
- Improved scar healing
- Less overall pain and downtime, allowing patients to return to normal day-to-day life sooner
A few plastic surgery procedures that HBOT can help with include facelifts, liposuction, mommy makeovers, breast augmentations, and even rhinoplasties.
Hyperbaric Chamber Therapy for Traumatic Brain Injuries
It's hard to fathom how much pain and PTSD a person goes through when they suffer from a traumatic brain injury. Serious head injuries don't just affect the recipient of the injury - they impact the patient's family, friends, and co-workers. Being able to treat people with serious concussions, TBIs, and other life-changing conditions like strokes is one of the main reasons we do what we do at Better Life Carolinas.
Mild TBIs usually require emergency care, medication, and extensive rest. But severe brain injuries require comprehensive medical interventions and post-care initiatives like speech therapy and physical therapy. The good news is that using a hyperbaric chamber in Charleston, SC as part of a comprehensive medical strategy may provide natural brain healing in TBI patients.
Hyperbaric chamber treatment's primary use in these cases is to hyper-oxygenate tissues, which helps dissolve oxygen in the plasma. This action triggers several healing processes without overwhelming the patient's antioxidant system. The working mechanism of oxygen under pressure can help improve cerebral blood flow through micro-vessels and target injured areas in order to decrease inflammation.
This promising anti-inflammatory effect is the primary advantage of HBOT for traumatic brain injury patients and clears the way for natural, non-invasive healing.
Hyperbaric chamber therapy has also been documented to help TBI sufferers in many other ways, including:
- Reducing neuroinflammation and cerebral edema
- Increasing the amount of oxygen saturation in the brain
- Increasing stem cell production in brain cells
- Repairing gray matter containing nerve cells
- Repairing white matter which connects cell bodies and carries messages between nerves
- Stimulation of immune system
- Provide oxygen to deficient areas of the brain, reactivating neurons
Hyperbaric Chamber Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction
As it turns out, using a hyperbaric chamber in Charleston, SC may have benefits in the bedroom, too. Studies show that men suffering from ED may now have an additional treatment option to reclaim their sex lives. The International Journal of Impotence Research published a study in 2018 to determine if HBOT was a viable, non-surgical treatment for erectile dysfunction.
The results were very positive and showed that erectile function improved by as much as 88% in patients. Subsequent MRI scans analyzing blood flow of the penis also showed dramatic improvement. The study concluded that, even after years of ED, men could experience benefits from using hyperbaric chambers in lieu of risky surgeries and ineffective ED meds.
The documented improvements were due to more angiogenesis or growth of blood vessels in the penis. When new blood vessels grow in the penis, they can carry more blood to the organ, which helps achieve more frequent, stronger erections.
FAQHyperbaric Chamber FAQs
Though hyperbaric chambers are getting more popular with everyone from athletes to office workers, some folks are still out of the loop. If you're interested in learning more about this exciting, non-invasive, natural treatment, we encourage you to contact Better Life Carolinas today. Until we hear from you, here are answers to some of the most common questions we get regarding hyperbaric chamber therapy.
I'm interested in hyperbaric chamber therapy. What does it feel like?
AWhen your session begins, oxygen will immediately circulate throughout the chamber, and pressure will gradually increase. At this point, most patients start feeling a fullness sensation in their ears, like they're ascending or descending in a plane. This feeling only lasts for 10-15 minutes. An experienced Better Life Carolinas hyperbaric technician will guide you on how to relieve any ear pressure, if necessary. Once the optimal pressure is reached, all you have to do is relax and breathe normally. As the session ends, your hyperbaric technician will gradually lower chamber pressure, which lasts about 10 minutes. During this stage, you may experience a light popping sensation in your ears. Once pressure is back to normal, you can exit the chamber and go about your day.
Should I be worried about any side effects from a hyperbaric chamber in Charleston, SC?
AIn general, you don't have to worry about serious side effects from HBOT. That's because it's an all-natural treatment - there are no incisions or addictive medications involved. However, some patients experience mild ear drum irritation. During your session, a Better Life Carolinas hyperbaric chamber expert will be by your side to help prevent this from happening.
How many hyperbaric chamber sessions will I need?
AWithout a proper evaluation of your unique needs, it's hard to say with certainty. At Better Life Carolinas, we know that every patient is different. As such, every recommended therapy will be different, including the number of hyperbaric therapy sessions you need. Generally speaking, patients usually require 30 to 40 sessions. HBOT has a cumulative effect on your body and, as such, provides the best results with regularly occurring sessions.
Is there anybody who should avoid hyperbaric chamber treatments?
AIf you have a form of air-trapping emphysema like COPD or have an untreated pneumothorax, HBOT isn't for you. At Better Life Carolinas, every one of our patients undergoes a full evaluation to ensure that hyperbaric oxygen therapy is safe for you and your body.
Unlock the "New You" with Hyperbaric Chamber Therapy from Better Life Carolinas
If you're looking for a hyperbaric chamber in Charleston, SC look no further than Better Life Carolinas. Whether you're a professional athlete looking to maximize recovery time or need a natural way to look and feel younger, our experts are here to help. Unlike some clinics that rely on major invasive procedures and addictive medications, our team focuses on natural, holistic ways to heal your body. If you're ready to optimize your health and reclaim your youth, contact us today to learn more about HBOT and our other natural therapies.
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Latest News in Charleston, SC
CHARLESTON 63, UNC WILMINGTON 58
Chronhttps://www.chron.com/sports/article/charleston-63-unc-wilmington-58-17825942.php
FG FT Reb UNC-WILMINGTON Min M-A M-A O-T A PF PTS Kelly 27 6-12 4-6 7-9 1 1 16 White 38 5-11 4-4 0-6 3 3 16 Harden-Hayes 26 3-4 0-0 2-4 0...
| FG | FT | Reb | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNC-WILMINGTON | Min | M-A | M-A | O-T | A | PF | PTS |
| Kelly | 27 | 6-12 | 4-6 | 7-9 | 1 | 1 | 16 |
| White | 38 | 5-11 | 4-4 | 0-6 | 3 | 3 | 16 |
| Harden-Hayes | 26 | 3-4 | 0-0 | 2-4 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| Newby | 36 | 3-12 | 0-0 | 0-3 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| Phillips | 31 | 2-8 | 3-4 | 0-3 | 0 | 3 | 7 |
| Farrar | 13 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Thomas | 13 | 2-3 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Ross | 12 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Harvey | 4 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Totals | 200 | 22-54 | 11-14 | 9-28 | 11 | 15 | 58 |
Percentages: FG .407, FT .786.
3-Point Goals: 3-14, .214 (White 2-4, Newby 1-4, Farrar 0-1, Harden-Hayes 0-1, Kelly 0-1, Phillips 0-1, Ross 0-2).
Team Rebounds: 7. Team Turnovers: 2.
Blocked Shots: 5 (Kelly 4, Farrar).
Turnovers: 15 (Farrar 3, Newby 3, White 3, Kelly 2, Phillips 2, Thomas 2).
Steals: 5 (Phillips 3, Kelly, Ross).
Technical Fouls: None.
| FG | FT | Reb | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COLL. OF CHARLESTON | Min | M-A | M-A | O-T | A | PF | PTS |
| Brzovic | 26 | 6-10 | 4-5 | 1-8 | 3 | 3 | 16 |
| Bolon | 23 | 0-6 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Larson | 34 | 9-16 | 1-2 | 3-3 | 1 | 2 | 23 |
| Scott | 29 | 2-2 | 0-0 | 3-6 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Smith | 31 | 1-6 | 4-4 | 0-3 | 0 | 3 | 7 |
| Burnham | 20 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Robinson | 15 | 2-8 | 2-5 | 1-2 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Faye | 11 | 0-0 | 4-4 | 0-1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Horton | 11 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Totals | 200 | 21-52 | 15-20 | 9-27 | 8 | 16 | 63 |
Percentages: FG .404, FT .750.
3-Point Goals: 6-26, .231 (Larson 4-9, Horton 1-3, Smith 1-5, Burnham 0-1, Brzovic 0-2, Bolon 0-3, Robinson 0-3).
Team Rebounds: 4. Team Turnovers: None.
Blocked Shots: 5 (Brzovic 2, Burnham, Faye, Scott).
Turnovers: 12 (Larson 3, Bolon 2, Brzovic 2, Faye 2, Scott 2, Robinson).
Steals: 10 (Larson 4, Bolon 3, Brzovic, Robinson, Smith).
Technical Fouls: None.
| UNC-Wilmington | 27 | 31 | — | 58 |
| Coll. of Charleston | 24 | 39 | — | 63 |
A_2,072 (4,200).
Charleston (SC) Vs UNC Wilmington Betting Lines
PlayPicks Staffhttps://www.playpicks.com/562715/charleston-sc-unc-wilmington-college-basketball-preview-prediction-3-7-2023/
Mike Okauru and the Charleston (SC) Cougars will clash when the UNC Wilmington Seahawks (24-9, 12-6 CAA) play the Cougars (30-3, 16-2 CAA) at Entertainment and Sports Arena on Tuesday, March 7 at 7:00 PM ET. The Cougars match up with the Seahawks in a game that Charleston (SC) is currently a solid favorite by 10 points. The game’s over/under is 141....
Mike Okauru and the Charleston (SC) Cougars will clash when the UNC Wilmington Seahawks (24-9, 12-6 CAA) play the Cougars (30-3, 16-2 CAA) at Entertainment and Sports Arena on Tuesday, March 7 at 7:00 PM ET. The Cougars match up with the Seahawks in a game that Charleston (SC) is currently a solid favorite by 10 points. The game’s over/under is 141.
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Charleston (SC) Vs UNC Wilmington Stat Rankings
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Charleston RiverDogs tickets on sale now
Sophie Bramshttps://www.counton2.com/sports/local-sports/charleston-riverdogs-tickets-on-sale-now/
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)- Just one month away from the first pitch of the 2023 season, the Charleston RiverDogs announced that single-game tickets are on sale to the public beginning March 7.The RiverDogs open the season against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans in Myrtle Beach, then return to Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park a few days later to take on the Columbia Fireflies in the home opener on April 11.“Coming off of back-to-back championships, I think there is a tangible excitement in the city for the start of our season,” Rive...
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)- Just one month away from the first pitch of the 2023 season, the Charleston RiverDogs announced that single-game tickets are on sale to the public beginning March 7.
The RiverDogs open the season against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans in Myrtle Beach, then return to Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park a few days later to take on the Columbia Fireflies in the home opener on April 11.
“Coming off of back-to-back championships, I think there is a tangible excitement in the city for the start of our season,” RiverDogs President and General Manager Dave Echols said. “We have announced our promotions for the season and our fans know what to expect from the Rays as far as the on-field product is concerned. We can’t wait to welcome fans back to the ballpark in a few weeks.”
Tickets for the 66-home game schedule will be delivered electronically for the third consecutive season, the team shared Tuesday.
To get fans excited for the upcoming season, the RiverDogs also released their 2023 promotions schedule. It all kicks off with three fan giveaways during the home-opening slate.
On April 11, the first 3,000 fans through the gates will receive a magnet containing the schedule. The following day, the first 1,000 fans will receive a back-to-back concert tour themed t-shirt. Then on April 15, the first 1,500 fans will get a replica championship ring.
Additional promotions throughout the season include Judgement Day on July 25 in which the first 1,000 fans will receive a bobblehead of Aaron Judge — one of the most recognizable players in RiverDogs history.
Fans can also check out King Charlie Coronation on May 6, Charlie’s Lottery on August 19, and Dad Bod Appreciation on August 17, among others.
Ticket prices begin as low as $8 and extend up to $20 for diamond-view seats. Fans can also purchase tickets for the Segra Club which grants access to an air-conditioned interior, food, alcoholic beverages, and sweeping views of the field for $115.
The RiverDogs finished the 2022 season with a franchise record of 88 wins and took home a consecutive Carolina League championship.
Click here to buy tickets.
Charleston is getting its own Monopoly board, and game designers want locals’ help
Kalyn Oyerhttps://www.postandcourier.com/charleston_scene/charleston-is-getting-its-own-monopoly-board-and-game-designers-want-locals-help/article_e97aa73a-b79a-11ed-9a6a-9f8daa5e17ef.html
Charleston is getting its own Monopoly board, and the game designers want the Lowcountry’s input to determine what iconic landmarks will be featured as spaces.From Rainbow Row to the Pineapple Fountain to the Angel Oak tree, Top Trumps — the company that partners with Hasbro to release these special editions — is looking for some of the most prominent highlights of Charleston to replace themed squares such as Boardwalk and Park Place.Monopoly fans and Charleston fans alike will have a chance to submit their su...
Charleston is getting its own Monopoly board, and the game designers want the Lowcountry’s input to determine what iconic landmarks will be featured as spaces.
From Rainbow Row to the Pineapple Fountain to the Angel Oak tree, Top Trumps — the company that partners with Hasbro to release these special editions — is looking for some of the most prominent highlights of Charleston to replace themed squares such as Boardwalk and Park Place.
Monopoly fans and Charleston fans alike will have a chance to submit their suggestions up until April 7 by emailing them to charleston@toptrumps.com.
“We’re excited to feature a new part of the country we haven’t been to yet,” said Katie Hubbard, Top Trumps sales executive. “And Charleston is so historical — so much history, culture, vibrancy and color.”
Fewer than 20 North American cities have been featured as part of these local editions, said Hubbard. Among those are Corpus Christi, Texas, Napa Valley, Calif., Cambridge, Mass., and Kansas City, Mo.
“We choose places we know have local pride,” said Hubbard. “People really get excited when Monopoly cements their favorite places into their favorite board game.”
Hubbard said some megafans have vowed to travel to all the cities featured on the boards and snag the souvenir as a memento from their vacation.
She also said, though some ideas are in place, no landmarks are officially locked in just yet; there are 22 squares to fill.
“We might potentially see things like the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, which is iconic to the city skyline,” she offered. “We’re looking for what’s part of everyday life.”
There will not be a voting system, but all suggestions will be taken into account, said Hubbard. There is a lot that goes into the planning of the board, which isn’t set to be released until mid-November.
“This is the only time we’re building a Charleston edition of Monopoly, so we want to feature places that are going to continue to be Charleston landmarks for the next 20, 30, 50 years down the line,” said Hubbard.
It’s also important to note the age range of players; “8-year-olds will be playing this game,” Hubbard said.
Everything will be customized to Charleston on the board except for the four corners and game tokens, which always remain the same. Hubbard said the company is also taking suggestions for community chest and chance cards that are themed to Charleston.
“Something like, ‘You built your building taller than the tallest church steeple, so you get penalized,’ ” Hubbard offered.
Monopoly first hit shelves in 1935 and is enjoyed by more than 1 billion players in 114 countries across the globe.
The Best Things To Do In Charleston, According To A Local
Betsy Cribbhttps://www.southernliving.com/editors-favorite-charleston-shops-restaurants-7096617
I don’t have to work hard to convince my fiancé to join me for a weekend trip to visit my parents in my South Carolina hometown. For starters (and this admittedly is a biased opinion), my mom and dad are a delight to be around—but they also live in Charleston, which Southern Living readers have named The South’s Best City seve...
I don’t have to work hard to convince my fiancé to join me for a weekend trip to visit my parents in my South Carolina hometown. For starters (and this admittedly is a biased opinion), my mom and dad are a delight to be around—but they also live in Charleston, which Southern Living readers have named The South’s Best City several years running. At this point, the Holy City requires no introduction or persuasive arguments in its favor: The booming food scene, colorful historic homes, and waterfront views make the case for themselves. It’s easy to fill a weekend itinerary there, and I’m never able to hit all my favorite spots in just one trip. Here are the places that land on my Charleston bucket list whenever I’m home, from the lauded, well-known destinations to the ones that fly a bit further under the radar.
Leon’s Fine Poultry & Oyster Shop
The worst kept secret in the city is hands-down my favorite restaurant to take visitors, especially first-timers. For me, no other place in town captures so well the relaxed ease that seems woven into Charleston’s very DNA. Housed in an old garage and outfitted with warm wooden tables and an art collection that feels like it was passed down from generation to generation until it landed here, Leon’s is the kind of place that feels like it’s always been part of the Charleston dining landscape—a triumph considering it’s a relative newcomer, opened in 2014. Fried chicken and oysters may be the main draws on the menu, but don’t miss the scalloped potatoes either.
Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge
The two-and-a-half mile cable-stayed crossing between downtown Charleston and the suburb of Mount Pleasant is a scenic place to break a sweat. Climb the hilly spans on the protected pedestrian path, and stop at the top to catch your breath and score a bird’s-eye view of the sparkling Cooper River and downtown Charleston, including the many steeples that earned my hometown its Holy City moniker.
Marina Variety Store & Restaurant
In a destination filled with Instagram-worthy diners and boutique-y brunch spots, this casual, teetering-on-unbothered, harborfront joint isn’t appearing in the curated pages of luxury travel magazines. But at breakfast time, its familiar siren call beckons locals in droves. Here, you can count on a well-poached egg, plenty of salt in your grits, and silver dollar pancakes that’ll please even the pickiest tiny eater.
Croghan’s Jewel Box
When there’s a special occasion to be celebrated in my family, our go-to spot for finding meaningful, heirloom-worthy gifts is this century-old shop on King Street that’s helmed by the third and fourth generations of the same family. Beyond curating an incredible assortment of new and estate jewelry and silver, they also carry the Goldbug Collection, a cheeky, more approachable line of pieces designed in-house and inspired by the city.
Cru Café
Just steps off the beaten path in an old Single House, this Charleston institution (it celebrated 20 years in 2022) serves up a thoughtful medley of flavors in homey surrounds. For a true Holy City experience, snag a table on the porch, and start with an order of the fried green tomatoes, which come topped with sheep’s milk feta, smoked tomato caramel, and pork belly croutons so good that my dad’s been known to order a side dish of just those.
Melton Peter Demetre Park
Only a few miles from downtown, James Island is largely residential without much draw for tourists. It’s where I grew up, and we spent many a low-tide afternoon hunting for sharks’ teeth on the little beach at a place we called Sunset Park. (I’ve since learned that many other locals refer to it as Sunrise Park. Tomato, to-mah-to, I suppose.) For a true locals-only experience, head to the city-owned waterfront spot, where you can picnic with panoramic views of downtown Charleston and Mount Pleasant or cast a line off the 190-foot fishing pier.
Sullivan’s Island
For a quintessential Lowcountry beach day, there’s no stretch of sand more alluring than the pristine shore of Sullivan’s Island, a small barrier island ten miles from downtown Charleston. There’s not a trace of touristy kitsch in this bitty beach town, where historic homes line oak-shaded streets and storybook cottages invite passersby to stop and smell rose-wrapped trellises.
Chez Nous
Tucked in an historic house on a hidden away street, you likely wouldn’t just happen upon this neighborhood eatery that feels like a mini escape to Europe, and that’s half the charm. The cozy surrounds are elevated but inviting, and the handwritten menu of seasonally driven dishes changes daily. It’s fortunate, too, that the menu is so tiny (two appetizers, two mains, two desserts), as it provides a good excuse to order one of each.
Bowens Island Restaurant
Even after nearly eight years in Birmingham, Alabama, there's one thing I still can't stomach: Gulf shrimp. I'll take South Carolina's small crustaceans any day over the rubbery monstrosities they've tried to talk me into eating here. So when I'm home, there's only one place to load up on the good stuff, and that's Bowens Island, a nearly 80-year-old family-owned restaurant perched in a few ramshackle structures on the river. Order a fried shrimp platter with hushpuppies and slaw, or go for the Frogmore Stew (for the uninitiated, that's a shrimp boil), a drool-worthy combination of boiled shrimp, potatoes, corn, and sausage.
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