Take the Taste of the Charleston Lowcountry Home

The secret to why the Charleston area offers so many fine dining experiences is because much of the produce srve in local restaurants is grown locally. Even a number of marvelously flavorful heirloom vegetables—those old, open-pollinated varieties that have stood the test of time—harvested from local farms and gardens show up in the kitchens of Charleston's finest restaurants.

The tastes of Charleston are easily available to residents and visitors, alike, through a number of public venues. Perhaps the most popular is the Charleston Farmer's Market. The park at Marion Square in downtown Charleston is the perfect setting for the Farmer's Market. Nestled beneath beautiful trees with plenty of room for families to gather and children to play, the event comes to life each Saturday morning, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., offering an abundance of the freshest local produce, as well as plants, herbs and cut flowers. While strolling through the Farmer's Market, you can enjoy a delicious breakfast, brunch or lunch and listen to a variety of live entertainment. The Farmer's Market also offers an amazing assortment of juried arts and crafts, providing the best selection and most talented local artisans. The celebrated Charleston Farmer's Market is produced by the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs.

Just across the Cooper River, the Mount Pleasant Farmer's Market offers another perfect opportunity to buy fresh, locally grown produce while enjoying the afternoon with your loved ones. Open on Tuesday evening beginning at 4 p.m., this family-friendly event showcases the area's treasure trove of fruits, vegetables, flowers, preserves, dips, breads, pies, and numerous other delectable treats. Savor a fresh meal prepared by one of our irresistible food vendors while enjoying live music. Also available for your assistance are the Clemson Extension Master Gardeners. This event is sponsored by the Town of Mount Pleasant.

While in Mount Pleasant, you may want to stop by Boone Hall, one of America's oldest working plantations, which has continously grown crops for over 320 years. Once known for cotton and pecans, the plantation still actively produces peaches, strawberries, tomatoes, and pumpkins, as well as many other fruits and vegetables for visitors to buy. Boone Hall's U-Pick fields are open in season, and operate two produce stnads on both sides of Highway 17, just north of Mount Pleasant.

Another plantation where you will find tastes to take home is the Charleston Tea Plantation, America's only tea garden. The plantation is located on Wadmalaw Island — nestled far from the fast pace of downtown. Educational tours, trolley rides thru the scenic tea fields and a visit to the Plantaion gift shop for American Classic Teas is an experience unique to the lowcountry. Learn more about the tea plantations.

Also convenient to Johns, Seabrook and Kiawah Islands is Freshfields Village. Fresh produce, butcher-cut meats, convenient location for sundries, books, or for a quick cup of coffee. Freshfields Village has the down home friendliness of Mayberry and Main Street. As they say at Freshfields Village, come shop at the crossroads of uptown and down home!

The Audubon Gallery Not just a gallery, but a Charleston destination since 1987. Located in the heart of the antique district The Audubon Gallery is the only local gallery to specialize in the finest Natural History and Sporting Art from the 17th - 20th centuries. A sportsmans paradise with a fantastic selection of paintings, etchings, limited edition fine art prints, antique wildfowl decoys and wood carvings by local artisans. Audubon's "Birds of America", Natural History Art by Besler, Redouté, Clark, Benson and many others. Contact Joel Oppenheimer Inc., The Natural History Art Gallery.

McCrady's Inventive cuisine. Fresh from the farm. Named one of the Top Ten Restaurants in North America by Opinionated About Dining. McCrady's Restaurant, located in an historic 1778 Georgian public house, offers an award-winning dining experience with the best of new Southern cuisine. Chef Sean Brock was awarded the 2010 James Beard Best Chef Southeast for his talented mix of modern skills and classic antebellum recipes. Sensationally presented dishes one of Charleston's most extensive wine lists. Private dining available in the spectacular Long Room, Gallery, Chef's Room or Cypress Room.

Bernie Horton Gallery A native of rural North Carolina now living at the edge of the marsh, Bernie Horton paints fine art originals reflecting the beauty of his surroundings --- most recognized for his light-filled lowcountry landscapes, marshes, beaches and people. Bernie captures the moods and emotions of all the different seasons and times of day. Each painting is approached from an impressionistic standpoint, yet to the eye, they have a realistic quality because of his concentration on perspective, proportion and attention to detail. Visit or find Bernie Horton Gallery on Facebook.