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‘The Summer Wind’ is a Beautiful Beach Read

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The Summer WindI finished reading “The Summer Wind” by Mary Alice Monroe and was immediately annoyed. I was going to have wait until next summer to get the last installment in the trilogy! Don’t you just hate when you get so engrossed in a book you’re sad when it ends? I felt the same way last summer when I read “The Summer Girls,” the book that introduced us to three half sisters spending the summer at their grandmother’s beach house on Sullivan’s Island. I was instantly drawn to the distinct, complex and endearing characters. Both books are a must for your summer reading list.

Released last summer, “The Summer Girls” introduced us to Mamaw, who gathers her three granddaughters at her beach house under the guise of her 80th birthday celebration but with the true intent of reuniting the three women who have grown apart over the years and to heal old wounds. The New York Times bestseller also gave readers a look into the very real plight of the Atlantic bottlenose dolphins – a theme that continues into “The Summer Wind.”

The second book — which also hit The New York Times bestseller list — picks up mid-summer with this edition focused more on Dora, who is in the process of a divorce while raising a son with autism. Plus, she’s trying to get her Summerville home ready to put on the market. Overwhelmed from always trying to do the right thing, Dora suffers a health scare and begins to come to terms with her life, recognizing some changes need to be made. With her grandmother and sisters for support, Dora uses her time on Sullivan’s Island for self-discovery and healing.

As Dora deals with her own changes, Carson also faces a major decision, and Harper takes a hard look at her life’s direction.

Be sure to pick up a copy of “The Summer Wind” for your beach bag. Plus, for those who live outside Charleston it’s a terrific glimpse at the charm and beauty of the Charleston area, including Summerville and Sullivan’s Island, which are highlighted in the book. Mary Alice Monroe continues to make Charleston proud with her authentic and purposeful writings.

Now, we can start the countdown to the final book in the trilogy, “The Summer’s End” coming in the summer of 2015.

Connect with Traveler of Charleston on Facebook because we have a copy of “The Summer Wind” to give away the week of July 14.

~ Holly Fisher, editor of Traveler of Charleston

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Charleston FAQ's

Choosing a hotel and where to stay in Charleston all depends on your budget and goals. Do you want to stay Downtown, at the beach or in the outer areas such as North Charleston where you have to drive to get everywhere? For more help on deciding: https://travelerofcharleston.com/articles/hotels/

Charleston has 3 main public beaches which are: Folly, Isle of Palms and Sullivans. Each beach has it’s own atmosphere. The most common beach that people visit is Folly Beach and then Isle of Palms followed by Sullivans Island. For more info on Charleston’s beaches visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/guide-charlestons-beaches/

Charleston, SC is full of historical things to do. Everything from museums, to public sites and free landmark sites such as Rainbow Row and the Battery can be seen. For more info on Charleston’s top historical sites visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/places-to-learn-about-charleston-sc-history/

There are many things that will keep the kids and family entertained and educated in Charleston. There are historic sites such as Fort Sumter, a Children’s Museum, Aquarium and the USS Yorktown…a WWII era aircraft carrier you can tour. For more info visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-family-fun-activities/

There’s so many  things you could do in Charleston it can be overwhelming. We recommend that first time visitors, checkout the ultimate first-time visitor guide here: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-first-time-visitors-guide/

Spring in Charleston, SC is an amazing time of year to visit. The flowers are blooming and the weather is mild and sunny. For more info, check-out our spring guide to Charleston here: https://travelerofcharleston.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-springtime-in-charleston/

Summer in Charleston is a great time to visit. There’s plenty of things to keep you busy and visiting the beach will probably….or should be on your short-list. Also water-based activities and tours are popular. Checkout this summer guide to Charleston for more info: 

Our 10 Favorite Summer Activities in Charleston

Fall is one of the best times to visit. The weather cools down a bit and the skies are typically blue and clear. In addition there are many great events, festivals and the large crowds of summer have gone back to school or work. For more info on visiting in the fall, checkout this article: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-12-things-to-do-fall/

There are so many great things to do that it’s difficult to narrow the list down. This article does a great job with figuring out the must do things to do in Charleston

7 Can’t Miss Reasons to Visit Charleston, SC Now

The consensus is a minimum of 3-days is needed to settle in and experience Charleston. For instance, many people take 2 days exploring downtown and another day visiting sites outside of downtown such as the plantations, Angel Oak Tree or beaches. Checkout this page for a list of tours and attractions: 

Charleston’s Top Tours & Attractions | Things to do

Downtown Charleston was made for walking and for sure one of the best way to soak up and experience the history first-hand. This article goes over getting around Charleston with and without a car as well: 

Getting Around Charleston, SC

We’re of course partial to Charleston, but here’s the truth. There are many similarities however there are some differences in our opinion: 

  • Both cities are historic and beautiful. 
  • Both cities are extremely walkable. Savannah, with it’s park-like squares maybe more walkable than Charleston. 
  • Charleston has a more established and food scene with many more options. 
  • Charleston has better hotels and shopping.
  • Both cities have equally good tours.
  • Charleston has better beach options. Savannah has Tybee which is great, however it’s 1 beach vibe versus Charleston which has 3 beaches with different vibes. Checkout this Charleston beach guide article: https://travelerofcharleston.com/guide-charlestons-beaches/
  • In Savannah you can walk with alcoholic beverages on the street. This is not allowed in Charleston. This can be good or bad depending on your stance. 
  • Savannah is more affordable.
  • TourPass offers all-inclusive passes in both cities: https://tourpass.com

There are always great and world-class events happening in Charleston. For a calendar of events and things to do in Charleston, checkout our online calendar of events: https://travelerofcharleston.com/events/

Of course there are free money-saving coupons that you can use. Visit the coupons page for a bunch of ways to save: https://travelerofcharleston.com/coupon/

Charleston has some fantastic can’t miss tours such as Fort Sumter, carriage, ghost, harbor, historic and culinary tours. For a full list with more info visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/attractions/

Checkout the Charleston Relocation Guide page which will guide you during your move: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-sc-relocation-guide/

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