In Our Winter 2019 Issue

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Do you remember what it feels like to travel, I mean, really travel? Not with kids in tow, and all the extra gear and planning that requires. No, I'm talking about the way you traveled when you were young--carefree, spontaneous, fueled by a wanderlust you couldn't keep in check even if you wanted to. Mykonos for a few days with your best friends, little money and uncertainty of where you'd be resting your head, enjoying the freshest seafood, olive oil and feta cheese you'd ever had; or cruising the Caribbean for seven days, on and off little islands, drinking local rum and eating exotic fare, not knowing whether it was day or night.

Those were the days! 

While I might not be jetting off to Greece or lounging carefree on a Caribbean beach all day, I still find ways to satisfy my wanderlust. Sometimes all it takes is a quick weekend trip, like the one we made to the charming town of Aiken, South Carolina. A few days spent exploring a quaint downtown, sampling four-star fare at a local restaurant that didn't involve an hour-long wait to get into, can be a truly rejuvenating experience. 

Sometimes, it takes a little more. I've found that getting to the water, no matter where, instantly recharges my travel batteries. I recently traveled to the Outer Banks, and spent an amazing weekend treating myself to a bounty of coastal cuisine, local brews, and a luxurious stay at the Sanderling Resort. With views of the sunrise every morning and the sunset every night, it was everything I needed, and a little bit more. 

But if you can't spare a week or a weekend, you can still travel. Our amazing community of chefs and restaurants provides countless opportunities to take your palate on an excursion without even packing a bag. We recently spent the day with Nico Romo, chef of NICO Oysters + Seafood along Shem Creek outside Charleston. He called on his upbringing in Lyon, France, and transported us there with him. He taught me about quenelle, a local favorite in Lyon and something I hadn't experienced. I closed my eyes and took a bite, and I was right there in the French countryside. 

Travel is a state of mind, friends--you just have to get yourself there. Here's to your next delicious destination, whether it's down the road, across the waves or right there on your plate. 

-Jacquelyn McHugh, Editor in Chief

Read more about Aiken's charm, Nico Romo's story and more in the digital edition of the travel issue.