While you may think we joke around about donuts – we do not.  Our travels thru North Carolina were timed around the limited (in spring time) Friday – Sunday opening of Britt’s Donuts in Carolina Beach.  Soooo delicious & they must be eaten while hot out of the oil!  Bonus points for burning your mouth!  Britt’s Donuts are consistently rated as one of the top 5 best donuts in the U.S.  Celebrating their 80th year in business – we had to be there!

We also enjoyed a fun night out with good cruiser friends Jim & Laurie.  We first meet in Rock Sound, Eleuthera, Bahamas while they were cruising on their sailing catamaran & have since met up many times including at their cabin in Maine as well as their “new” (100 year old)  house in Wilmington, NC.  The Surf House Oyster Bar in Carolina Beach was outstanding.  This was a lovely complementary app called the Red Neck Picnic.  We enjoyed catching up & much laughter!

Charleston, without a doubt, is our favorite city to visit.  We learn a little more of it’s history with every visit.  This time we toured the 1771 Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon.  Originally built as a Custom House & as a testament to the city’s growing trade, the Exchange in 1788 hosted South Carolina leaders as they debated and approved the U. S. Constitution. Today, the Old Exchange Building is one of only four structures remaining where the nation’s founding document was originally ratified.  In 1791, city leaders wined, dined & entertained President George Washington.  Back during the American Revolution, British forces converted the bottom floor of the Exchange into a military prison known as the Provost or “dungeon.” American prisoners of war, British soldiers, private citizens, and enslaved people all endured its harsh confines.

Enough history – we came to eat!  Lori enjoyed her oyster pie at a new restaurant named Hooked.

We celebrated our wedding anniversary with brunch at High Cotton.  Fantastic fried oysters & shrimp cocktail.  You (we) have to love any restaurant which serves donut holes as an appetizer!  Really, really, tasty with a bacon, cinnamon glaze.

One of Charleston’s newest restaurant’s is also one of the smallest.  167 Raw is very small – only 2 tables plus some seats at the bar.  Lori’s gourmet salmon salad & my oyster Po’ Boy  were outstanding!  Preceded by a sample platter of oysters, clams & shrimp, it was well worth the wait!  Even on a late Monday morning, there was a bit of a wait outside the restaurant.  At times, there is a several hour wait.