Red's Ice House in Charleston, South Carolina

There's something about being at Red's on a Sunday afternoon that makes you forget that you have a job to go to tomorrow. And I think that is what God intended in creating a bar.

Is Red's a fancy institution? No. Is the plastic menu a little sticky and are most menu items fried? Yes. Do all of the waiters wear the same faded tee? Also yes. But that's the point. Red's is, in essence, a tiki bar. It's located right on the water overlooking Shem Creek, which is a marshy waterway with a bustling marina and docks that haul in fresh seafood.

The marina is an important part of the Red's experience. Sometimes, live musicians or bands will play sets from a boat docked right at the back of the restaurant. These boats float back and forth between Red's, Saltwater Cowboy, and the other mainstay bars at Shem Creek. Even though these bands are playing from a literal crows nest of a fishing boat, their Hootie and the Blowfish and Counting Crows covers feel like they're coming from inside the bar.

In an odd way, the food and drink here...doesn't really matter? Have I said that before? It's the experience that is the main attraction at Red's. Get a bucket of Coronas and some hushpuppies or coconut-battered shrimp and you'll have everything you need. There won't be veggies on your plate and if you're gluten free, you're going to have some trouble. But Red's is here to say that sometimes you're just supposed to have decent basket of fried shrimp and a few cold beers in the sunshine. It's good for you.

The expert tip is to come for happy hour. Watch the sun set, listen to the live music, have a few rounds, and look out over the marshes, cranes, and sea grass. Soak up the view that feels like it alone inspired Where the Crawdads Sing or a Nicholas Sparks novel. Then, head to the peninsula and grab a late dinner after the sun goes down.

The last time I was at Red's, there was a chocolate lab sitting in a bar stool next to his owner. Even the dog was having a good time.