Charleston Travel Guide: What to See, Eat and Do
Charleston, South Carolina is a city rich in both history and southern charm. This port city was founded in 1670 and is defined by its cobblestone streets, brightly colored homes, and historic sites. Although we only spent 24-hours in Charleston, it’s not difficult to see why many dub it a living museum.
The last time I was in Charleston was the summer before my senior year of high school. I drove down to South Caroline to visit the University of South Carolina and College of Charleston with my family. Neither college made it on my short list, but while at College of Charleston, I fell in love with this picturesque city. The food was incredible, the city was walkable, and we were welcomed with the utmost of southern hospitality.
This time around, we traveled to Charleston to visit Matt’s sister, Rachel, who is a D1 volleyball player at a college in Charleston. Although her school is in North Charleston, it’s no more than a 20 minutes drive to King Street and other popular attractions. We were in Charleston for a little over 24 hours, and spent the majority of that time in North Charleston. There is so much of Charleston to explore, so we’re already excited and planning for our next trip!
If you’re planning to travel to Charleston for the first time, be sure to check out the map below. It details the main streets and neighborhoods in Charleston and is bound to make first time travels more streamlined.
Courtesy of Explore Charleston
WHERE TO EAT
The food in Charleston is truly something special. It’s a great city to try and experience something new; whether it be a new cocktail or some dish you cannot pronounce and have never heard of.
Courtesy of Rodney Scott’s BBQ
Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ
Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ was recommended to me by my roommate for having the best ribs in Charleston! They have locations in Charleston, SC and Birmingham, AL. The Charleston location is on Upper King Street
Courtesy of Eater Charleston
Minero
If you have a craving for Mexican food, Minero showed up time and time again on my searches of best bang for your buck restaurants in Charleston. Minero is a casual Mexican eatery with a menu that is sure to leave your mouth watering.
Minero and HUSK are actually both owned and operated by The Neighborhood Dining Group (NDG). Learn more about HUSK below!
Courtesy of Eat Boutique
HUSK
HUSK is an award-winning restaurant with ingredient-driven cuisine. The menu at HUSK is continually changing based on what the region’s producers provide daily. I have personally never eaten here, but SO many of you guys recommended this restaurant to me on Instagram.
The Junction: Pigs in a blanket + Chicken & Waffles
The Junction
The Junction is located in Northern Charleston and is the perfect low-key brunch location to spend time with friends or family. We went on a Sunday morning around 10 am, and due to the small size of the restaurant and limited parking, we were bracing ourselves for a long wait. Thankfully, we were seated after about only 20 minutes.
Once seated, be sure to ask for the specials. When we were there it was chicken and waffles and SO delicious! They also have a self-serve coffee bar that is sure to leave any coffee drinker satisfied.
Another great spot to hit for breakfast or brunch is the Maple Street Biscuit company. They have quite a few locations on the east coast, and one close to the Airbnb where we stayed. I highly recommend the chicken club with honey mustard.
If you’re looking for a fun place in and around Charleston to get drinks, there are so many great options! On my most recent trip to Charleston, we were celebrating my future sister-in-law’s bachelorette weekend. On Friday, we did the Tipsy Tour where they took us to a winery, brewery and distillery. It was a great way to experience the local beer, wine and liquor scenes in Charleston without having to rent and car and worry about a designated driver.
Deep Water Winery
Deep Water Winery was our first stop on the Tipsy Tour and a bit of a hike from Charleston (about 40 minutes). Although the wines weren’t my favorite, the winery has picturesque outdoor seating. On a beautiful day, this is definitely a place where you could sit and stay for a while.
Holy City Brewing
I am not the biggest beer fan, however, we had a blast at Holy City Brewing. The brewery and restaurant had an extensive outdoor seating area filled with picnic tables and plenty of room for social distancing. Although I wasn’t a fan of the beer, their cider was absolutely delicious.
Firefly Distillery
Our final stop on the tour was Firefly Distillery, right across the street from Holy City Brewing. If visiting not on the tour, I highly recommend doing a tasting at $10/person to try 6 spirits. Our favorites were the lemonade vodka, sweet tea vodka and the strawberry moonshine.
Grand Bohemian Hotel Charleston
On a normal day, the Grand Bohemian Hotel is the perfect place to enjoy a drink and rooftop bar. When we visited, the rooftop a majority of the hotel was closed for a wedding. Although service was slow due to the wedding, we enjoyed wine and a charcuterie board outside on the front patio.
WHAT TO DO
When you’re not in a food coma from all the incredible food Charleston has to offer, be sure to walk around and explore. There is no shortage of things to see and do in Charleston!
Rainbow Row
Walk Around South of Broad
Walking or biking has always been my favorite way to explore a new city. South of Broad is a great place to do just that! Traveling along Murray Blvd gives you not only an amazing view of the Ashley River, but also of the mansions that line the street. White Point Garden is the perfect place to stop and take a rest. If you stand at The Battery beside White Point Garden and look out, you see a clear view of Fort Sumter.
Folly Beach
Folly Beach is a great way to spend a Saturday. Just south of Charleston, Folly Beach is home to a charming beach town with streets filled with coffee and souvenir shops.There are several paid parking lots as you get closer to the beach ranging from $20-$30 for full-day parking. If you’re visiting the shops, I highly recommend getting coffee at Center Street Coffee.
Charleston City Market
The Charleston City Market stretches across 4 city blocks in downtown Charleston. The market is open daily from 9:30am-5:00pm and is filled with artwork, jewelry, food and other fun trinkets. One of my favorite retailers was called “Rewined” and they sell wine-inspired candles in repurposed wine bottles. If visiting for the first time, I highly recommend visiting in the early morning or weekday to avoid large crowds.
Rainbow Row
While walking around South of Broad, be sure to head over to Rainbow Row on East Bay Street. Rainbow Row is the largest cluster of intact Georgian row houses in the United States. The present structures were constructed ca. 1720 to ca. 1790., and are truly a cool piece of history to experience. The name “Rainbow Row” wasn’t established until the 1930s and 40s when the pastel colors they were painted were restored.
Shopping on King Street
King Street runs straight through the heart of Charleston and was named for King Charles II of England. It is now home to upscale, trendy restaurants and luxury shopping. The King Street Shopping District is named one of the “Top 10 Shopping Districts in the USA” by Forbes Traveler. It is home to brands like LAKE, Hampden Clothing, and The Skinny Dip.
Sullivan’s Island
Sullivan’s Island is a 3.3 mile island nestled at the mouth of the Charleston Harbor and located next to Isle of Palms. Although I’ve never personally been to Sullivan’s Island, many readers messaged me saying they’ve routinely stayed here on family vacations. Fort Moultrie, one of oldest still-standing along the eastern seaboard, is located on Sullivan’s Island. Fun Fact: Edgar Allan Poe was stationed at Fort Moultrie from November 1827 until December 1828.
Kiawah Island
Kiawah Island is primarily a beach and golf resort located 25 miles southwest of Charleston. This upscale community is a popular destination for families in the summertime. My family traveled to Kiawah Island for the first time when I was in high school. One of my favorite perks of the island is how pedestrian friendly it is with extensive sidewalks. It’s not uncommon to use bikes as a primary mode of transportation while on the island.
WHERE TO STAY
I’ve only stayed in Charleston a handful of times, once at a hotel and once at an Airbnb. Because I’ve only stayed in two locations, I am not the best resource for where to stay in the city. Instead, I’m sharing a few amazing resources below:
Gal Meets Glam: Julia Engel is one of my favorite fashion & lifestyle bloggers, currently expecting her first child! She and her husband, Tom, moved to Charleston from San Fransisco a few years ago and they are now an incredible resource for all things Charleston! Check out their guide for where to eat, stay and what to do.
AFAR: AFAR shares an amazing article for what to do in Charleston and breaks down the best restaurants, attractions, hotels by neighborhood. Check out their guide.
Paper Stitch Blog: I happened across this blog post while researching for our trip to Charleston. It’s a great extensive resource of what to see, eat and do. Read their guide.
SHOP MY CHARLESTON SUITCASE
