I know I’m not alone in this, but I love walking around old, charming neighborhoods. It’s honestly one of my favorite things to do on a summer evening – pack the stroller in the back of the car, throw in some cold drinks and a snack, and just go find a nice place to walk and look at homes. It’s such a peaceful way to end the day. Plus, older established neighborhoods are the best places for long walks because the trees are bigger and fuller and provide plenty of shade – a very important factor when going on walks in the south!

One of my favorite neighborhoods in the Charleston area is the Old Village of Mount Pleasant, just across the Cooper River bridge from downtown. It’s perfectly situated between Shem Creek and Sullivan’s Island giving it easy access to both. Even though the town around it has grown and become busy, the Old Village has managed to remain as peaceful and quiet as ever. In the evening kids are racing each other up and down the streets on their bikes, parents are sitting out on front porches, people are walking their dogs, and everyone greets you with a wave and a “Good evenin’!” I grew up in a small town so this doesn’t just feel good to me, it feels like home.

The Old Village is a perfect mix of old and new houses. The oldest house in the neighborhood dates back to 1755 and it seems like there’s always another house under construction. Each one is unique in its own way, and yet they all perfectly embody coastal living. You know how when you’re standing in a completely white, airy hallway, the light bounces from one surface to the next and brightens the entire space? That’s the effect you get in the Old Village, except the evening light is bouncing off of the lightly colored beach homes. It creates a soft, dreamy glow that is so perfectly summertime and so peaceful.

I love the big, welcoming front porches that you see here. In fact, the south just does front porches well, full stop. Here, front porches are viewed as a room of your house. It’s the first place you greet someone so it needs to radiate hospitality. It’s not uncommon to see a front porch that more closely resembles a living room. People spend a lot of time on their front porches so they want them to be a place of comfort and joy, not just for their own family but for guests too. We could all learn a lot about hospitality from this one feature. It’s so quintessentially southern and I love it.

The main road that runs through the Old Village is called Pitt Street. At one end you’ll find a collection of sweet, little small town shops. These aren’t chains but places that are locally owned and a part of the community around them.

After Pitt Street takes you past the local businesses, and past the dreamy houses, it finally ends as it turns seamlessly into the Pitt Street Pier. Lined with palm trees and stretching out over the Charleston harbor, it’s another perfect place for a walk. We recently went out for an evening walk on the pier on the 4th of July.

And there it is! It’s not Mayberry, but it’s pretty darn close! If you visit Charleston you should add a wander through this quiet village to your list. Pack a picnic, wear some good walking shoes, and be prepared to be asked to “Come on in and stay a while!”