Nestled on Sol Legare Road and tucked along the shoreline sits what was once Backman Seafood – an institution that has fed the surrounding community for decades through their nets and boats. Now what remains of the physical pieces of this seafood empire is a hurricane-beached shrimping boat and a dock which now fuels the operations of an oyster farmer. The Backman family descends from the Mosquito Fleet fishermen who navigated slavery and Jim Crow to fish South Carolina’s coastline. At one time, Backman’s Seafood was the only Black-owned seafood company in the entire state. For this special excursion you’ll have the opportunity to hear the Backman story and celebrate their legacy with Mr. Sammy Backman and long-time family friend + James Beard Award-winning journalist Jamaal Lemon. Hear the stories from the waterways they once commercially fished as you close out a Charleston Wine + Food day with a sunset. This experience will end a seafood-forward feast paired with beer at the Bowens Island Restaurant Boat House – which is a quintessential venue considering the Backman’s had a hand-shake agreement with the Barber’s to be the sole provider of their seafood. Grab your seat, this is one for the history books. 

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.

Your Day Trip Itinerary: 

• You’ll start your day with a bite + sip as you board the shuttle departing from CHSWF Shuttle Hub to travel to the docks for your adventure to begin.
• Once you arrive, you will hit the water via boat to explore the creeks and rivers where generations of Backman’s fished. Stories will be told, drinks will be had, and memories will be made.
• The final stop will be hitting the dock at Bowens Island Restaurant for a seafood-forward meal with beer pairing with one of the most iconic backdrops in the Lowcountry.

Know Before You Go