NAPLES, FLORIDA Itinerary

A "Short Row" Weekend in Naples, Florida


Florida means the “House of Mouse” to lots of folks, but I’ve actually spent more time on the west coast of Florida--the Gulf side for those of you directionally impaired--in Naples, to be exact. Dally for a few days from November to May, and you’ll wonder why anyone bothers to live where snow shovels are needed. (August might leave you pining for Michigan, though, so it evens out.) Ordinary people might not think knitting and beaches go together, but those of us with fiber fever know knitting goes with everything. In fact, if I’m sitting on a beach, odds are pretty good I’m knitting. Then again, if I’m sitting anywhere, odds are pretty good I’m knitting. But I digress.

We’ll look a three perfect days--well, two and a half--in pursuit of Florida fiber fabulousness. You can find some more conventional shops with a quick Google search, but I’m delighted to introduce you to a new, charming shop as well as some great local places your average travel magazine may not point out.

FRIDAY
First Stop:
USS Nemo
3745 Tamiami Trail North
Naples, FL 34103
239-261-6366
ussnemorestaurant.com
“Job One” down here--or perhaps for us yarn lovers “job two”--is seafood. It’d be just plain irresponsible to spend more than thirty minutes in this zip code without eating something that used to swim. So check in to your lodgings and plan on an early dinner as you wander your way up Naples’ main North-South thoroughfare, Tamiami Trail. Our first stop is a stylish and sophisticated spot, only you’d never guess it from the unassuming outside (except for maybe the packed parking lot). I admit, I misjudged it as a family-friendly theme-ish restaurant based on the name, and my tween/teens did enjoy their meals (they do actually boast a kids menu), but this is really more of an adult place. The fusion of asian and seafood--along with the theatrical submarine decor--is unique and clever. While their miso broiled fish is their hallmark, I had a fabulous salad and a primo fish taco.

Next Stop:
Alvin’s Island
5295 Tamiami Trail N
Naples, FL 34103
239-262-1648
www.alvinsisland.com
Hate your swimsuit? Forgot your flip-flops? Need a hermit crab in a painted shell to keep you company? Head a little on farther up the road to Alvin’s Island. If you’re traveling north from Naples proper, each of our stops tonight will be a mini-lesson in the challenge of left-hand turns in Florida. They take some planning. And some courage. Persevere, though, because this is the massive hundreds-of-beach-towels-lining-the-walls kind of place you just don’t find inland. If you can’t score a souvenir t-shirt for your nephew here, you’ve got issues. Stock up on anything you need--or just something you’d never dare at home because after all, no one knows you here--and you’re outfitted for your adventures.

Next Stop:
The Bean
8803 Tamiami Trail N
Naples, FL 34108
239-594-0088
Wander up a little more. Tucked inside a strip mall is a cozy coffee joint that hosts live music on Friday nights. How can you not love a coffeebar with a piano in one corner and local artwork on the walls? Grab your drink of choice and perhaps get a few rows done on whatever project you brought for your plane/car ride while you listen to a local artist. It’s the perfect post-travel decompression activity, if you ask me.

Food, coffee, floppy hat, loud shirt, hermit crab, check. Head back to your lodgings, get in a couple of more rows, and then turn in for the night.

SATURDAY
Eat a good breakfast, today is chock full of adventures!

First Stop:
The Best of Everything
28194 S Tamiami Trl,
Bonita Springs, FL
(239) 948-5828
www.bestofeverythingnaples.com
We’re not done yet with our friend Tamiami. The Trail has a few more goodies in store. Our first stop today is the most excessive store you’ll ever see, the Florida phenom known as The Best of Everything. The website lists another location at 3754 Tamiami Trail (just south of USS Nemo), but I’ve only been to this location, so I can’t vouch for the closer shop. You know a store is good when they have to put up a waiting area for men and the parking rivals a city street. I guarantee you’ve never seen more accessories in your life, or more rhinestones outside of Vegas. One local review called it “like a candy store for grown up girls.” The prices vary from “give me one in every color” inexpensive to “what?!?” posh, with everything in between. Everything. Seriously, give yourself at least an hour to wander the aisles with the little black velvet tray they give you when you arrive. I’ve never seen anything like this place, and I visit every single year.

Next Stop--Our Fiber Fix:
Gabriella’s Yarn Shop
14950 Old 41 N
Naples, FL 34110 US
239-325-9251
www.ready2knit.com
Now that you’re accessorized within an inch of your life, shoot west over “Old 41” to the most charming yarn shop in the most unlikely place. I guarantee you’ll drive past this place--maybe even twice--if you’re not looking, but tucked into an industrial-looking block on the south side of Old 41 is Gabriella’s Yarn Shop. Opened just last December, Gabriella has set up a thoughtful shop with an impressive selection of quality yarns. If you like to felt, this store will make your mouth water. You won’t find much in the way of flavor-of-the-month novelty yarns, but this shop features a well-focused selection of outstanding basics. In short, you won’t end up wondering how you walked out of there with orange eyelash--Gabriella’s made sure you can’t go wrong.

I’m of the personal opinion that the very best yarn shops have mascots. Adorable, friendly Casey, a small white dog, is likely to meet you at the door and escort you throughout the shop. If he could, Casey would remind you to get here well before 2pm, when they close on Summer Saturdays.

Owner Gabriella Bittner, whose husband runs boutique wine importers Bittner America Inc., has gone out of her way to make a friendly shop where all kinds of good things await. Here are the projects she recommends when you visit

Guilda Scarf
This kit from yarn faves The Twisted Sisters is one of those great projects that takes a simple idea and turns it into a dramatic showpiece. It’d be hard to pull together more pizzaz for the $55 kit price, and you get everything in one package. The Twisted Sisters call this “the Femme Fatale of scarves,” and the description is right on the money. If your date isn’t impressed by the beading and design of this scarf, he’s not worth another shot.

Peony Scarf
Another great kit--and our Knit-Along from this store, is the Peony Scarf. Dripping in luscious springtime colors, this wispy scarf is soft as a cloud, and the perfect accessory for a city like Chicago, where Easter as often be snowy as it is sunny. $45 buys you a whole lot of glamor and touchability. Patience is a virtue here--the scarf is done on size 4 needles with a single row coming in at over 400 stitches, but there’s a worthy pay-off indeed. Well, so far. You’ll read more about my impatient nature in the forthcoming Knit-Along.

Noni Bags
Gabriella’s has developed somewhat of a specialty in Noni bags, where you pick you own feltable wool and lining materials to create a one-of-a-kind donations. A slam-dunk “gotta have it” anytime I see one (and I don’t even like to felt!), these are w-a-a-a-y cool. The store sells a dizzying collection of snazzy handles to give your bag a finishing touch, and offers many classes to help you along the way. Flowers are what make Noni bags the crave they are, and Gabriella stands ready to help you through the patterns and choices. You’ll be the envy of all your friends, whether they knit or not.


Next Stop:
Lunch at Naples Tomato
4700 Tamiami Trail N
Naples, FL 34110
(239) 598-9800‎
naplestomato.com

Not far away is an amazing restaurant and foodie store, Naples Tomato. Known as a wine restaurant, most people think of Naples Tomato for dinner, but it’s a great--and less busy--choice for lunch as well. You could spend the entire afternoon tasting their impressive selection of wines (and no one would blame you if you did, especially with their cool wine dispensing system), or stock up on a variety of Italian specialties to nosh on the beach in what might constitute the spiffiest picnic ever. If the wine importer recommends the wine restaurant, you know it’s got to be worth a visit! Have a leisurely lunch while you decide which of your projects is best suited to cast on for beach knitting because...

Next Stop:
Head to the beach at Delnor Wiggins Pass State Recreation Area
11100 Gulfshore Drive
Naples, Florida 34108
239.597.6196
http://www.floridastateparks.org/Delnor-wiggins/default.cfm
You’d be foolish not to get in a little shore-leave while here on the Gulf coast. Locals prefer Delnor Wiggins to some of the other beaches, and you’ll get just a touch less of the touristy feel on this quiet but popular beach. May to August constitutes sea turtle season, but you’ll have to stay up late at night to catch that natural wonder. For now, kick back in your beach chair and take up my all-time favorite Naples pass-time, knitting on the beach. If you get antsy, an observation tower, nature center, and a connecting trail of boardwalks provides a bit of a diversion. If you go late in the day now, after lunch, not only will you avoid the Saturday crowds (and a nasty sunburn), but you can nosh on your goodies while you watch the sun go down and the pelicans fly in formation--one of the best shows south of Broadway. If you’re stressed out after this day of bling, yarn, vino, and sand, you’re beyond my help, sister.

SUNDAY
First Stop:
Randy’s Fish Market for Brunch
10395 Tamiami Trail N.
Naples, FL 34108
239-593-5555
http://www.randysfishmarketrestaurant.com
Seafoods spots abound in this neck of the woods, but my personal fave has always been Randy’s Fish Market. If you didn’t even know groupers had cheeks, this is the place to round out your culinary education. Order just about anything--it’s all good here--but make sure you finish your meal with Key Lime Pie. And don’t dwaddle: this place is popular and doesn’t take reservations, so get here at the crack of 11am or you might be waiting a good long time. If you want to do dinner here one of your nights instead, same goes--only be here by 5pm.

Next Stop:
Tin City
U.S. 41 East at Goodlette Rd.
Naples
www.tin-city.com
Okay, I’ve sent you up Tamiami long enough--time to explore Naples proper, especially if you haven’t had the chance to do it already. And for me, first stop is always Tin City. It’s ubiquitous, cheesy, touristy, and I love it anyway. Tin City looks like someone strung tin shacks together in a Lego set, and you find yourself wandering from tiny shop to tiny shop like an explorer in a foreign bazaar. Even if you only come out of there with one of the half-pound chocolate chip cookies from the Serious Cookie Company, you’ll have had a ball looking at clothes, gifts, t-shirts, and collectibles until your eyes glaze over.

Next Stop:
Naples Shopping
If that doesn’t float your retail boat high enough, go upscale and wander down posh 3rd and 5th Avenues, where you’ll get a real “Old Naples” feel. Banyan trees, fountains, benches, outdoor dining, art galleries and jewelry stores give this area a unique costal flavor. Where there are loads to choose from, I always seem to end up eating at Meson Ole Jr. (770 5th Ave), probably because they have a good gelato place practically built in next door. Another favorite stop is 5th Avenue Coffee Co (559 5th Ave). The website explorenaples.com will give you a good overview if you want to do more than just wandering the streets, but why plan when you can wander in the sunshine?

Next Stop:
Naples Pier
12th Avenue on the water

Every good DestiKNITion must have a really cool place to knit in public. Now, be warned; wind may be an issue, but one of the most amazing places to park it and stitch must be the the Fishing Pier in Naples on 12th Avenue. A mid-sized walk from the shopping (but a walk that showcases some really wonderful beach homes), this is coastal in the extreme. The sheer people-watching--or is that fisher-people watching?--on this pier is fascinating. I think I heard six languages and a dozen accents on my last trip alone. Even if you don’t stop to stitch among the fishermen, or even if a breathtaking sunset doesn’t leave you enough light to see your size 2 needles, go anyway. The thing has been rebuilt through a fire and a handful or hurricanes--it deserves a little respect.

And there you have it. A perfect weekend discovering some out of the way joys in Naples Florida. I hope you go home with a good memories, some cool yarn, a few baubles to go along with it, and a decent tan.

As always, I recommend a bed-and-breakfast guest house. More details to come o this one:
A Dream Come True Guest House
4641 5th Avenue N.W.
Naples, Florida 34119
239-352-6887
www.adreamcometruegh.com

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA

Tell someone you’re even thinking about going to Charleston, South Carolina and they’ll get a dreamy look in their eye. Its reputation as a charming Southern city didn’t materialize out of thin air. Small size, compact layout, and a captivating diversity make this city the perfect long-weekend destination in any number of seasons. Crowds are drawn to the blooms and the world famous Spoletto Music Festival in Spring, but this town doesn’t really have an “off season,” to worry about, unless you count summer heat/humidity amongst your dreaded enemies. DestiKNITions is all about the “grab your girlfriends and go,” trip, so here’s my suggestions for a perfect four days—I’ve chosen a Thursday to Sunday format-- in The Holy City (nick-named for all the churches within its confines). Grab your needles, your suitcase, and off you go...

THURSDAY:
Dinner at Jestine’s Kitchen
251 Meeting Street
Charleston, SC
(843) 722-7224
If you want to feel like you just stepped into a good cook’s home kitchen, Jestine’s is the place. Lauded on Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations and surprisingly reasonable, this restaurant has the kind of food you’d associate with Southern hospitality, and the room just oozes with it. It’s wonderfully casual, so you can literally climb out of the car in your “fat jeans” (the ones with the big waistband you use for long car trips or enduring the trials of air travel) and saunter on in. Just make sure you’ve taken your cholesterol medication before you do—this isn’t spa food. The Sunday brunch, while spectacular, will buy you a long line of waiting so opt instead for Jestine’s as your first Holy City dinner. The entrees are all good, but for me, eating about is really only about the deserts; and this place doesn’t disappoint. We were wisely guided toward three in particular, each distinct and marvelous. Do what we did: order all three; a handful of spoons, and let everybody eat everything. The coconut cream pie was my particular favorite, but the Coka-cola cake was an intriguing twist on chocolate cake that you can’t find anywhere else. The three-berry cobbler was equally luscious—no small feat to stay on level ground with the other two. Whatever you order for dinner, make sure you leave room for these deserts.

Waddle on back to your lodgings, finish off whatever knitting you didn’t get done on the plane or in the car, and settle in for the night—you’ll be off and running tomorrow.

FRIDAY:
It’s a Stitch of Charleston, SC
3464 Maybank Highway
Johns Island, SC 29455
Itsastitch.net
Charleston’s all about the history, so we’re going to start this off “old school.” Grab breakfast wherever you like and drive away from the city out to Johns Island where many locals live. If you can catch the Fat Hen open for breakfast, it’s supposed to be fabulous (we tried for lunch and found it closed), but I can’t speak for myself. After downing everything you ate at Jestine’s, someplace called the Fat Hen might suit perfectly, and it’s only a matter of blocks down the street from It’s a Stitch of Charleston, SC You want color? It’s a Stitch has loads of color. Owned by lovely and knowledgable New York transplant Margot Anderson, this store has a foot firmly planted in both the knitting and the needlepoint camps—which is what makes it fascinating. This is not your mother’s needlepoint—I saw things here that made even me consider taking up the craft—as Margo puts it “you don’t have to make just pillows!” I dare you to leave the store without taking home a cool, small needlepoint project to try your hand. Best of all, Margot is delightfully familiar with tourism stitching, so she won’t even flinch when you call back in three months to say you miscalculated and you need four more balls of dark blue cashmere to finish the scarf you started on vacation. Or need six more skeins of a yarn in baby blue because now your sister is having a boy and she wants one of the gorgeous blankets you made for your niece. A woman who knows her customer base, Margot’s got a hefty collection of baby yarn and patterns designed for auntie/grandma/great-grandma knitting.

Projects Margot recommends:
Feather and Fan Shawl in Euroflax
Charleston’s fickle climate (something we know a little about in Chicago where it’s six degrees below zero as I type today) makes for challenging fiber choices. Euroflax comes in a wide palate of delectable colors, so it’d be hard to go wrong. They’ve got a feather and fan shawl pattern on hand that works up in delicate waves. Euroflax starts out stiff but softens up as you wash (Margot says to wash it in a pillowcase to prevent a washing machine full of fuzzies) to an all-season stunner that’s sure to get loads of use.


Jojoland Swirl Scarf – This one caught my eye immediately. Use Melody Superwash to create a true piece or art that will impress even your picky mother-in-law.


Margot gets true kudos for handing me her last ball (literally!) of Superior to undertake the Tahki Sampler Scarf. While white was my only option, Superior comes in loads of colors. This will be my project from the store, no small endeavor and not for beginners but enticing for those who want to kick their skills up a few notches and need a highly portable (i.e. one ball small needles) attention-grabber. More later.

My favorite story from this place: As I was interviewing Margot, I asked my usual set of questions. As for coffee, Margo quipped “At Startucks they know me as ‘Venti Half and Half’"—she actually had one in her hands as we talked. While we were discussing our favorite places to knit in public, a well-dressed man popped up from behind a huge bank of needlepoint yarn and said, “Oh, I know the answer—airplanes.” Now, this response was valuable for it’s shock value to my twelve-year-old son alone (“There are guys who do this???”), but as a telling example of the store’s conversational atmosphere. Collectively, the room decided that “anywhere you have to wait” is the best place to stitch. Here, here! When I’m on an airplane, it’s not my “dangerous pointy needles” you should fear. It’s the nasty, snarky woman I’ll become after even thirty minutes in coach if you take away my knitting needles…

Next Stop: Angel Oak
Johns Island
Flush with your fiber finds, take a short drive to a natural wonder, the Angel Oak. Locals call it simply “The Tree.” It deserves all the capitalization it gets—really. You would not think a tree could be so impressive, but this oak stands as the oldest thing—living or man-made—east of the Rockies. You simply will not see anything like it anywhere, period. Estimates place this grand old lady at over 1400 years old. Fifteen minutes under her shade is guaranteed to lower your blood pressure. Even in November, when we saw her, it was astounding. If the weather is amiable, grab a picnic table and cast on your spanking new projects while soaking in the ambiance.

Next Stop: Freshfields Village
Johns Island, SC
Now might be a good time for a little retail entertainment. Margot recommends the Indigo Bookstore among the other fine establishments in Freshfield’s Village . After you’ve exhausted your feet (or your wallet), either wander the coast for a bit or head on back into town and spend a lazy afternoon knitting away on your new projects from It’s a Stitch.


The trip’s fancy dinner: Peninsula Grill
112 N. Market Street
Charleston, SC
843-723-0700
Dress up a bit tonight, it’s time to treat yourself like the treasure you are and have a memorable dinner at Peninsula Grill . According to the restaurant, patrons will gladly pay the $100 it takes to have the coconut cake shipped to them when they’re not in town. That’s a mighty tall claim, and you owe it to yourself to see if the dessert warrants it’s c-note status. Expect this dinner to cost you—this is a top-of-the-line establishment, but it’ll be worth it. The Peninsula Grill is handily located right on the Market in Charleston, where souvenir shopping is at its zenith. Just think, you can go from cheesy trinkets to celestial coconut cake in half a block! Dine out, knit some more, and get ready to do another side of this splendid city tomorrow.


SATURDAY:
First stop:
Kudu Coffee House
4 Vanderhorst St
Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 853-7186
http://www.iheartkudu.com/
Today we take on urban cool—the other side of Charleston’s unique character. Ditch the corporate mode and get your morning java fix at Kudu, where the African vibe makes for a great experience. Sip your favorite among the exotic wildlife décor inside, or enjoy one of the single origin coffees on the outdoor patio. I had a great, strong cup of coffee here, and if you like yours as much as I did, you can get some shipped home. A great way to give a little exotic flavor to a Midwestern grope-bleary-eyed-for-the-coffeemaker winter morning.



Next Stop: knit
87 Wentworth St
Charleston, SC 29401
843-937-8500
Knitk.com
Once you’ve awakened your senses, it’s time to take the short walk to “knit” . Yes, that’s “knit” with a lower case K, mind you, but this is one capital store. You’ll not only be greeted by charming owner Gay or our own personal guide Marianne, but the store’s three resident miniature schnauzers, Ruben, Bunny, and Bailey. Those dogs hold a world record by being the only thing that could get my son to voluntarily enter a yarn shop twice in 24 hours! Plan to stay all morning—not only does the store offer a collection of comfy chairs and great coffee , but Saturday hosts a very friendly crowd of local regulars who will chat with you like you’re their favorite cousin. The yarn selection gave me a wicked case of the “gimmies,” but the bag selection was just as compelling. Buttons? They’ve got some of the coolest. Books? Chances are they’ve got that book you’ve been yearning for. If you, like me, get into “souvenier yarn,” ask about the fascinating local yarns in amazing colorways. Local fiber artist Sara from Sara’s Colorwave Yarns just happened to be in the store on my visit, and we had a lovely chat. Sometimes the local stuff goes fast, so if you’re really in the market for something you can’t get anywhere else, it might be wise to call first.

Projects recommended by the folks at knit:
Basketweave Starter Scarf Kit – an excellent choice for those brand new to the craft. One of those great patterns that looks more complicated than it is (I love those!), with everything you need in one handy $30 kit.

February Lady Sweater If you’re a fan of Elizabeth Zimmerman, this is a lovely version of one of her top-down patterns. Charming and not so overwhelming that there’s no nope of getting it finished.


Rick Rack Feather and Fan Shawl– The project I’ll be taking on in the coming weeks. Rick Rack, hand died by Judy L. Ditmore for Interlacements is one of those yarns that looks so wonderfully artisan you’ll feel cool even in your “mom jeans” wearing this shawl. The deliciously colored rayon yarn’s a bit slippery to work with, but well worth it. Warning—this hank is treacherous to unwind by hand. Do yourself a major favor and have it balled in the store while you enjoy some of knit’s great brewed coffee. Not only will it fit in your suitcase more easily, but your kids will be saved from the cursing episode you’ll surely have when you tangle the yarn trying to ball it at home (not that I’d know or anything…)

Next Stop: Lunch at Caviar & Bananas

51 George Street
Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 577-7757

Once your fingers begin to cramp up from knitting, take a well deserved break by walking up through the College of Charleston campus to Caviar & Bananas . The ladies at knit said “I’d eat at Caviar & Bananas every day if I could,” and trust me, so would I. The energetic vibe of this upscale market-eatery makes you feel hip and trendy. You can fool yourself into believing the handsome college-boy barristas really are flirting with you over chicken salad that makes your eyes water. There’s a reason the knit ladies said “if I could”—this is foodie, costly gourmand fare, but worth every penny. “Girl food,” according to some of the men in my party who were still infatuated with Sticky Fingers ribs. Well, this girl loved it. Make sure to stock up on some prime snacks for the rest of your stay (and your next stop), or take a brochure if you have need of a truly scrumptious gift basket to be sent somewhere in the near future—say your favorite knitting travel blog author??

Next Stop: Tourism ala Fort Sumpter
Departing from Liberty Square and Aquarium Wharf
Fortified with yarn and goodies from the market, make your way over to the Aquarium Wharf and book yourself on the 2:30pm SpiritLine cruise to Fort Sumpter. You can knit and nosh during the 30-minute cruise while you get a cram course in Charleston history (it can’t all be about the fiber, darlings). The Fort gets Weather (hot, cold, windy, etc) so dress accordingly, but there’s no better way to get a quick, real feel for Charleston’s pivotal role in the Civil War--or is that The War Between the States?

Next Stop: Blue Bicycle Bookstore
420 King St
Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 722-2666
Chances are all that history has given you a taste for knowledge, so head to Blue Bicycle Books, the town’s primo place for rare, used, and local books. Quality independent bookstores like this are an endangered species and deserve your business. Blue Bicycle is open until 6pm, and the website will give you lots of details on the art of parking your car in this part of town.

Next Stop: Cupcake
433 King St
Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 853-8181
Travel from the academic to the indulgent by heading just up the street to Cupcake , a charming little cupcake bakery. If frosting is your thing, this place is just short of heaven. Do what we did—order multiple flavors and pass everything around. The store calls them “perfectly sized portions of personal happiness” but I ran out of adjectives after the fourth flavor.

If you’re still up and running by the end of Cupcake, you’re a better woman than me. Head back to your lodgings and spend a few hours knitting through your sugar coma watching the sun go down over the low country.

Next stop: Dinner at A.W. Shucks
70 State St
Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 723-1151
a-w-shucks.com
After your nap (I dare you not to take one after a day like that…), head on out to A.W. Shucks for some serious but affordable seafood. You may have to wait a bit, as this is a popular joint in the touristy side of town, but hey, you’ve brought your knitting, haven’t you? You’re back just outside The Market, so if you find you can’t resist that seashell do-dad for you saw the other night, now’s your chance. Stare appreciatively at the sweetwater grass baskets, but if you want to take one home, be prepared to part with some serious cash…and we’re really here for fiber of a different kind, aren’t we?

You should konk out like a baby after all that fiber, sugar, history, and food. Go ahead.

Note: If you find you had to bring men-folk along with you, I suggest you send them to spend the day at the Patriot’s Point Naval and Maritime Museum before or after doing the carnivore thing at Sticky Fingers rib joint. They’ll be just as well fed and seriously exercised as you by the end of the day. Touring the USS Yorktown is a combo treadmill, stair-climber, and patriotic duty all in one.




SUNDAY:
Sleep in. Knit in bed if it suits you. This might be a good moment to talk about your choice of lodging. Charleston offers you a host of options depending on your budget and your tastes. Staying right down town in the thick of things is alluring but pricey, and parking can be challenging, but the ability to walk out your door into all that historic charm is not to be ignored. Plus, this town has so much character you might feel like you’re missing something to be staying in a “looks like it does in any city” chain hotel—although the city boasts an impressive selection of most of the major chains. Here are a couple of recommendations for your consideration:

Wentworth Mansion
149 Wentworth Street
Charleston, SC 29401
888-466-1886
http://www.wentworthmansion.com/
Want your pampering wrapped up in a history lesson? Take the advice of the staff at knit and book yourself into the stunning Wentworth Mansion --it’s even thematic, since the original owner Silas Rodgers made his money in cotton, which is technically a fiber, right? How can you resist an inn rated in the top 100 hotels in North America with a five-star restaurant and its own spa? Charming Inns (the parent company) sent charming Sally Davis to give me a tour which included the stunning view from the rooftop . While I considered it another unique knitting roost if it’s neither too hot nor too windy, Sally tells me it ranks as one of the city’s top sites to “pop the question.”

Two Meeting Street Inn
2 Meeting Street
Charleston, SC
888-723-7322
twomeetingstreet.com
Another property with a porch just begging to host knitters for hours of stitching relaxation—not to mention an inviting “low country afternoon tea” is Two Meeting Street Tucked among ancient-looking trees with a tension-melting view out into the park and water, this location will land you square amongst some of Charleston’s primo real estate (more on that in a minute).






Palmer Home
5 East BatteryCharleston, SC888-723-1574
Palmerhomebb.com
Can’t leave your precious pet behind? For a small fee and with pre-registration, the carriage house the Palmer Home (known as the Pink Palace) welcomes pets as well as the knitters who own them.

Vacation Rentals by Owner
http://www.vrbo.com/
Several Charleston resident list their homes with VRBO, a handy option if you’re adventuresome with your car and have a group of four or more, although many book on a weekly basis so do your research.


So what’s the plan for Sunday morning? There isn’t one. After all, an agenda can be exhausting and you’ve got twelve more rows in your repeating pattern. Spend the morning knitting, noshing, and when your thumbs cramp up, take a leisurely stroll through “The Battery,” the lower point of the peninsula between the Cooper and Ashley Rivers that makes up Charleston.Narrow cobblestone streets and gardens tucked behind wrought iron gates make this a visual delight even in winter—something is always in bloom. Graveyards—many of which hold important historical figures--sit eerily in church shadows. Wander the streets and daydream about what it’d be like to be able to live in one of these movie-set-ready homes. Art galleries—we loved the Nina Liu and Friends Gallery on State Street—as well as interesting boutiques abound, although this is primarily a residential area. If you’re so inclined, there’s a whopping list of historical homes and churches open for public touring and charlestongateway.com will provide you with a nifty map and all the pertinent details. When your feet tire of negotiating the wobbly terrain, you’ll be ready to sit in plane or car and take yourself—and your fab fiber finds—home along with your memories.

Stay tuned for “knit along” blogs of both the sampler scarf from It’s a Stitch and the feather and fan shawl from knit.