Folly Beach is the funky Charleston beach town 10 miles south of the peninsula, a 1,000-foot pier and a Center Street strip. Bowens Island for steamed oysters, Jack of Cups for cheap globally inspired plates.
Tip: Bowens Island runs Tue-Sat, steamed oysters from 16:00. Park at the pier and walk to Jack of Cups for lunch on the way back.
Awendaw sits in the marsh and forest 15 miles north of Mount Pleasant. SeeWee Restaurant on US 17 has run a 1920s general store as Lowcountry seafood since 1993, the canonical local stop.
Tip: Order the shrimp 'SeeWee style': Old Bay, garlic, lemon, sherry. The she-crab soup is the best for the money in the region.
Summerville is the pre-Civil War tea town 24 miles northwest of Charleston, oak-shaded streets and azaleas. Five Loaves on Hutchinson Square and Oscar's anchor the eating.
Tip: Five Loaves does locally sourced sandwiches, soups and pastas with a strong vegetarian list. Oscar's does the Southern lunch buffet on weekdays.
Savannah sits two hours south of Charleston, an 1820s grid of squares and live oaks. The Grey from Mashama Bailey (multiple James Beard awards) and Husk Savannah do the serious dining.
Tip: Book The Grey and Husk Savannah at least two months out. Walk the historic district between meals; River Street for sunset cocktails.
Beaufort is the older, quieter Lowcountry sister to Charleston, a walkable Bay Street downtown lined with 150-year-old homes. Saltus River Grill, Old Bull Tavern, the Foolish Frog do the eating.
Tip: Saltus River Grill on the waterfront for shrimp and grits with Parmigiano-broth grits; Old Bull Tavern on West Street for the pork shoulder braised in milk.
Edisto Island runs slower than Folly or Sullivans, 45 miles south of Charleston through a marsh-and-oak landscape. The eating sits at Po Pigs Bo-B-Q and the SeaCow on Jungle Road.
Tip: Po Pigs is Wed-Sat lunch and dinner only; the $9.25 buffet covers chicken, pulled pork, sides. The SeaCow's Moo-La-La French Toast handles breakfast.