Just an hour outside of downtown Charleston sits Edisto Island. Named after the Edistow tribe who inhabited the island in the 1500s, this 68-square-mile island is dense with history and culture. The island was colonized by English settlers in the late 1600s who brought enslaved peoples from West Africa who had the knowledge and expertise to grow and harvest the cash crops would turn South Carolina into the Gold Coast. After the Civil War, Edisto became a refuge for escaped slaves resulting in a rich Gullah culture on the island.

Spend the day with us as we journey from downtown Charleston with long-time resident of Edisto Island, Gretchen Smith, who will weave together the history and traditions of the island through storytelling and food. We will visit Marsh Hen Mill for a hands-on milling experience with heirloom grains. Next stop is Flowers Seafood Co., a family-owned seafood market that has been serving fresh, local seafood for four generations. Here we will learn what seafood is native to the Edisto Island waterways and sample a few of their signature dishes. Our final stop on the island will be the Hutchinson House, one of the oldest freedman's houses still standing, built by freedman Henry Hutchinson in 1885. You will be able to tour the home and learn more about its historical significance before gathering around the table to enjoy a home cooked meal by the hands of the Meggett family featuring the grains and seafood you learned about earlier in the day.

This excursion provides an immersive travel experience that cannot be easily secured by most individuals. Being welcomed onto Edisto Island by one of its most beloved residents is, in and of itself, special. Add in the guided learning, a home cooked meal prepared by the Meggett family, and the built-in pause from the outside world, and you’ve got a winning recipe for learning, experiencing, and growing.

One of our most sought-after experiences, Excursions transport guests to the sacred nooks + crannies of the Lowcountry and allow for the invaluable opportunity for guests to be guided through an insightful + educational experience that incorporates the charm of Charleston with impeccable cuisine.