Defining the Lowcountry
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"I was born and raised on a Carolina Sea Island and I carried the sunshine of the Lowcountry, inked in dark gold, on my back and shoulders."
- Pat Conroy, The Prince of Tides
The Lowcountry of South Carolina is a coastal plain that runs from Pawley's Island just south of Myrtle Beach down to the Savannah River, which forms the border with Georgia. The overwhelming geographic characteristic of the Lowcountry is it's abundance of water. There are hundreds of thousands of acres of salt marsh laced with winding rivers, creeks and bays. The landscape here is dotted with ancient Live Oaks, draped in Spanish moss and the Palmetto tree after which our state was named.
Charleston is the unofficial capital of the Lowcountry, and a true gem. There are few cities in the world that have the same combination of small town hospitality and big city culture. While it may be a mixture of our sub-tropical climate, historical architecture, or world-class dining that brings people here; it's our way of life that keeps them here.
Founded in 1670 by the eight Lord Proprietors on behalf of King Charles II of England, our fair city was originally dubbed Charles Towne. While the port was the deciding factor as to Charleston's location, it was the cultivation of rice and indigo that made it's planters among the wealthiest men in the New World. This wealth is evident today in the remarkably well preserved homes on the peninsula. It is this preservation that makes Charleston unique among the other centers of the Colonial era. Charleston has withstood multiple wars, fire, earthquake, pirates and hurricanes, and through each challenge, she emerges a slightly changed but still glorious reminder of a time gone by.
One of the most enjoyable benefits of our diverse mix of cultures is the resulting cuisine. The lowcountry has developed a very distinct style of cooking with European, African and West Indian influences. Largely based on the bounty of our tidal plain such as crab, shrimp and oysters, dishes such as She Crab Soup, Shrimp and Grits and Frogmore Stew are the centerpieces to our social gatherings. Today, there is no shortage of world class restaurants in Charleston, many of which offer a fusion of contemporary cuisine and traditional lowcountry favorites.
