Sure, Highway 278 running through Bluffton on the way to Hilton Head Island is chock-a-block full of big boxes and name-brand outlets. For those seeking one-of-a-kind local finds inspired by the surrounding beauty, Old Town Bluffton on Highway 46/May River Road begs you to take your time and to browse. Stroll at your leisure among bespoke boutiques, filled with unique clothes and accessories, such as Spartina 449, a homegrown handbag and accessories line.

Art galleries and antique markets, coffee shops, wine bars, bakeries and craft breweries breathe fresh air into refurbished cottages and bungalows. Catch a matinee at the May River Theater, or walk across to the promenade where home furnishings stores, like Abode, help you imagine that relaxed and refined Bluffton flair for your dream home overlooking the marsh. Top off your day with a taste of jazz and bourbon at the Roasting Room Lounge.

No two sittings at FARM Bluffton are alike. At lunchtime, when the menu is an elevated meat-and-three, you might have a choice of fresh-caught shrimp or country ham and sides of stone-ground grits flecked with parmesan and pepper, sautéed lady peas, or refried butter beans. At supper, Chef Brandon Carter might fashion a bruschetta topped with chanterelle mushrooms foraged earlier that day by managing partner Josh Heaton. Whatever farmer Ryan Williamson has grown and harvested less than a mile down the road serves as inspiration for the day’s menu, which is numbered to emphasize how quickly tastes change when the ethos is on the freshest proteins and produce available. The intimate, wood-planked atmosphere creates a communal vibe made all the more convivial by the expertly crafted cocktails.

Every Thursday afternoon, from mid-January through late-December, the stand of Carson Cottages on Calhoun Street in the heart of Old Town becomes a communitywide celebration of wholesome goodness. Farmers Market Bluffton, which launched in 2008, shares the wares of more than 30 producers, from artisanal cheesemakers and spice blenders to bread bakers and small family growers.