Coastal Living

what’s in your beach bag?

Though she hails from Great Britain (she’s the daughter of acclaimed English decorator David Hicks and the goddaughter of Prince Charles), India Hicks has become synonymous with the Bahamas. For nearly 25 years, she and partner David Flint Wood, along with their five children, have called Harbour Island home. “I love that life here is very raw. It’s driven by Mother Nature for good and bad. We face devastating storms. But she also provides us with some beautiful sunsets and some extraordinary pink sand.” That rawness has inspired a laid-back approach to parties and gatherings, showcased in Hicks’s new book, An Entertaining Story. “There are definitely ideas for exquisite dinners laid out under the stars, but it’s more about making the most of what you have at hand,” she says. “It’s…

lowcountry lure

The coastal tavern has long been a beacon for weary travelers: a cozy spot offering hearty food, drink, and a snug bed upstairs. Now, just outside Charleston in Mount Pleasant’s historic Old Village, Post House has arrived to turn that beacon into a shimmering spotlight. And it’s one that beckons for more than just a wayfarer’s stopover. Credit the vision of owners Ben and Kate Towill, who infused a circa-1896 neighborhood landmark with a heady mix of modern design and keen vintage touches. (The Towills also helm Basic Projects design studio.) That just-right balance of airy and cozy, exuberant and traditional, informs every space from the downstairs tavern to seven guest rooms above. (Is it any wonder that Kate worked in film set design?) The eye-grabbers are everywhere: William Morris wallpaper…

hearts of the sea

They are as expressive as a sailor’s shanty, as delicate as a beloved’s heart. No wonder these shell-covered masterpieces are called sailors’ valentines. And no wonder they became, in the late19th and early 20th centuries, a favorite gift for any Odysseus to bring home to his Penelope. Forget me not, they implored with the soothing hues and gentle geometries of seashells, becoming treasured keepsakes. But were these high crafts of the high seas created by the homesick salts who bore them home? No, it turns out. Sailors’ valentines owe their Victorian virality to merchants on Barbados who took advantage of the island’s supply of seashells, the painstaking labor of local women, and high traffic of whalers and other seamen. It was a perfect souvenir, and home it went—to ports up and…

hawaiian classics

WAHOO POKE SERVES 8 ACTIVE 15 min. TOTAL 2 hours, 15 min., including 2 hours chilling Closely related to king mackerel, wahoo has a firm texture, moderate oil content, and sweet-tasting flesh prized by both island chefs and sportfishermen. ¼ cup shoyu (soy sauce)2 Tbsp. sesame oil1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice (from 1 lime)2 tsp. rice vinegar1 tsp. grated fresh ginger½ tsp. crushed red pepper2 tsp. finely crumbled nori (dried seaweed)⅓ cup thinly sliced scallions (2 to 3 scallions), plus more for serving2 Tbsp. crushed wasabi peas, plus more for serving1 lb. fresh wahoo (ono) fillet, cut into 3/4-inch cubes1 ripe avocado, cut into 3/4-inch pieces1 (6-oz.) pkg. taro chips (such as Terra)¼ cup thinly sliced radishes (from 2 to 3 radishes)1 tsp. toasted sesame seeds Whisk together shoyu, sesame oil, lime juice, vinegar, ginger, red…

perfect harmony

Shane McAnally isn’t one to take things for granted. The host of Songland, NBC’s hit songwriting competition, is also a three-time Grammy Award–winning songwriter and producer who has notched more than 40 No. 1 singles (so far). But that career wasn’t made in a day—McAnally spent nearly 20 years chasing success in the music industry before ultimately achieving big breaks with hit songs recorded by Kenny Chesney, Sam Hunt, and Kacey Musgraves, among others. “I can’t tell you how many times I thought about giving up along the way,” McAnally recalls. “I begrudged those years at the time. Today I can look back and truly appreciate the journey that brought me here.” He’s equally grateful for the road that led him and husband Michael McAnally Baum to become the unexpected owners of…

the best places to live on the coast 2021

THE INSIDER’S OUTER BANKS Emerald Isle, North Carolina Tucked at the southern end of North Carolina’s famed Outer Banks, this beachy little town (pop. 3,705) has been discovered anew during the pandemic as offering a family-oriented, year-round ideal at a surprisingly affordable price. Chief among its move-of-a-lifetime gifts: a centrally located causeway across Bogue Sound to mainland conveniences, as well as the cultural charms (and great seafood spots) in neighboring communities like Beaufort and Swansboro, says Jim Browder, executive director of the Crystal Coast Tourism Development Authority. Add to that equation a vibrant watersports culture, from kiteboarding and surfing to kayaking and fishing, and it’s easy to understand families wanting to move here for good. And what a good vibe it is: “The motto ‘Nice Matters’ is printed everywhere here,” Browder says.…