Thankful to Call Charleston Home

As we head into Thanksgiving, I can’t help but think about the many reasons I’m grateful to live in Charleston. This city has a way of wrapping its charm around you—whether it’s the salty air off the harbor, the sounds of church bells echoing through downtown, or the gentle sway of palm trees against a Carolina blue sky.

I’m thankful for Sullivan’s Island, where mornings start with a walk on the sand and the ocean feels like an old friend. There’s something about that stretch of beach—the calm, the history, the sea oats bending in the breeze—that never gets old.

For Page’s Okra Grill, where Southern comfort food still means something. If you haven’t tried the chicken livers, you’re missing out on one of life’s underrated joys. It’s a local classic that tastes like home, no matter where you grew up.

For the cobblestone streets downtown, uneven and storied, where every step feels connected to centuries of life that came before us. Those streets remind me to slow down and notice the details—the wrought iron gates, the pastel facades, the flicker of gas lanterns at dusk.

For tennis all year long, because in Charleston, there’s no off-season for being outside. Whether it’s a crisp winter morning match or a humid summer rally under live oaks, I love that the game—and the community that comes with it—never has to pause.

For the sunset views from I-526 heading into West Ashley, when the marsh glows gold and pink and the sky looks painted by hand. No matter how many times I’ve driven that stretch, it always makes me grateful to live in a place where the natural beauty sneaks up on you in the most ordinary moments.

For the Ravenel Bridge, strong and graceful, arching across the Cooper River like a modern work of art. Crossing it never fails to give me that “wow, I live here” feeling.

For King Street, where history meets modern life in the best possible way. I’m thankful for the local boutiques, the window displays at the holidays, the energy of people out and about enjoying the day.

And for Shem Creek, where shrimp boats line the docks, paddle boarders weave through the water, and dolphins surface just feet away—where happy hour feels more like a celebration of community than a routine, and where you might even spot a member of the Outer Banks cast grabbing a bite between takes.

Charleston is many things—historic and evolving, sophisticated and unpretentious, peaceful and full of life. But more than anything, it’s home. And this Thanksgiving, that’s something I’m deeply thankful for.

From my family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving from Charleston.