Yesterday my family stumbled upon one of the quaintest small Southern towns in the USA. Established in 1825, Bluffton, SC is situated just west of Hilton Head and half way between Savannah, GA and Beaufort, SC. During the 1850’s, visitors could stopover in Bluffton by way of steamboat. Following the capture of Fort Sumter, many SC island residents fled here, and the town soon became the headquarters for the Confederates. In 1863 Union forces destroyed much of the small town, leaving just a few buildings standing. It wasn’t until the late 1880s when the town started to rebuild.

Recently, the town of Bluffton has expanded and plans the development of more than 32,000 acres acquired through annexation. But the historic downtown remains and is a haven for artists. There are art galleries and antique shops, and during the summer months there is an excellent produce market in the street.

The shops have unique, high quality art, jewelry, wood pieces, antiques and more. And better yet, the people are so friendly, we found ourselves “getting stuck” inside their businesses for long periods of time while chatting. We ate lunch at the Calhoun Street Café, housed in a rickety old building. The food was fresh and delicious. Everywhere we went, we were stopped by dog-lovers. Our standard poodle, Gigi is hard to resist.

If you find yourself in coastal SC, don’t miss a visit to Bluffton! Click here for the website.

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