Charleston, South Carolina is a fairly short drive from Raleigh. So, we packed our bags and hopped in the car for a long weekend.
Charleston is a gorgeous city that has a population of over 130,000 but gives off a small-town feel. Charleston is also a port city that has numerous great beaches to explore.
Unfortunately, our time in Charleston was rainy and cold. However, we plan on going back shortly to enjoy Charleston during the warmer months.
The city is filled with tons of great restaurants, landmarks, and shopping opportunities. We were always coming across new favorites. This travel guide is only a start to all the amazing things to do in Charleston.
Where to eat
Fleet Landing
Charleston is known for its great seafood and it would be a sin not to try some while in town. Fleet Landing is the best of the best seafood restaurants in Charleston. The restaurant, itself, is super sleek and there is a patio overlooking the water. (The patio is super enjoyable on warm, Summer days.)
We both got fried shrimp and hush puppies, which was delicious. However, our starter was the real showstopper of our meal at Fleet Landing. The She Crab Soup with Blue Crab Roe & Sherry is a must-try.
Quick tip: Fleet Landing is right by Waterfront Park. Enjoy the sights of Waterfront Park and the Pineapple Fountain then head over to Fleet Landing for lunch.
Jeni’s Ice Cream
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream is an artisan ice cream company with only 40 “scoop shops” across America. Thankfully, one is located in Charleston, South Carolina.
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream is by far the best ice cream I’ve ever had. Their ice cream is made with buttercream and has a uniquely smooth texture. They also have a huge variety of flavors including wildberry lavender, salted caramel, fluffernutter, and more! My absolute favorite is the green mint chip.
We were in Charleston for Ryan’s birthday so Jeni’s actually gave us some free ice cream. If your birthday is around the corner then stop by Jeni’s scoop shop for a FREE single, standard, or trio size splendid ice cream. There is no purchase necessary, all you have to do is present your ID with your birth date.
The Palmetto Cafe
The Palmetto Cafe is an unforgettable Charleston dining experience. The cafe serves delicious American fare in the lush windowed garden cafe & courtyard of the Charleston Place Hotel. However, it is a wildly popular restaurant which is why I recommend booking a reservation.
The best time to enjoy The Palmetto Cafe is, by far, weekend brunch. On Sundays, they have a 31$ brunch buffet with eggs benedict, omelets, bagels, etc. Totally worth the price!
Where to stay
For our trip to Charleston, we stayed in a dog-friendly Airbnb so we could bring Kona. There are a lot of great Superhosts in Charleston like this one, this one, and this one. If you are going to book an Airbnb, make sure to use my link for 55$ of your first booking.
If you’d rather forgo Airbnb, there are tons of beautiful Charleston inns. Some Charleston favorites include Planters Inn, Barksdale House, and Elliot House.
Where to play
The Battery
Our Saturday began with a relaxing walk along The Battery. The Battery is a landmark defensive seawall and promenade in Charleston that provides a spectacular view of Fort Sumter and Charleston Harbor. We also enjoyed checking out the numerous historic houses along the walk.
The Battery leads you to White Point Garden, a 5.7-acre public park at the tip of the Charleston peninsula. White Point Garden is beautiful with a plethora of blooming flowers and immense oak trees. However, it is said to be one of the most haunted places in Charleston, haunted by pirates and other unsavory characters.
There are many monuments in the park, including one commemorating the notorious pirate Stede Bonnet, who was hanged here with about 50 other outlaws in the 1720s.
Rainbow Row
Rainbow Row is the longest cluster of Georgian row houses in the United States. It is a series of thirteen colorful historic houses located north of Tradd St. and south of Elliott St. on East Bay Street, that is, 79 to 107 East Bay Street.
While Rainbow Row was a great place to see, I found it very underwhelming. Rainbow Row, though a great photo op, doesn’t offer much historical value, as it was painted in the 1900’s.
We snapped a quick Instagram photo and moved on.
Pineapple Foutain
The Pineapple Fountain is located in Charleston Waterfront Park. The fountain is an important landmark of Charleston and people from all over come to enjoy its picturesque views. It is also a popular place to cool off, so don’t be surprised if you see people of all ages swimming in the fountain during Charleston’s blazing summer months.
The Waterfront Park, itself, is a sight-to-see. The eight-acre park faces the Charleston Harbor and Ravenel Bridge. I definitely recommend walking the Park’s pier and relaxing on the covered swings.
Boone Hall Plantation
Boone Hall Plantation is one of America’s oldest working plantations, continually growing crops for over 320 years. The Boone Hall Plantation costs $26 for admission and takes about half a day to explore and do all the activities. The whole plantation is absolutely stunning but I especially loved entry down the famous Avenue of Oaks. The Avenue of Oaks is the road entering the plantation which is lined with a canopy of giant oak trees.
The mansion that exists on Boone Hall Plantation today was built in 1936 by Canadian ambassador Thomas Stone and available for 30-minute tours. Guided tours of the first floor allow guests to see how this Georgian-designed home blends recovered materials and antique furnishings to recreate an atmosphere that would have surrounded a Coastal Carolina planter’s family and his guests. The tour will also introduce you to the history of Boone Hall Plantation and its evolution through several owners since 1681.
There are numerous tours you can enjoy while visiting Boone Hall Plantation such as the Garden Tour, Plantation Tractor Tour, and Butterfly Pavilion. The plantation also kept eight original slave cabins to present visitors with a historical look into the living quarters, historic relics, and lifestyle of the slaves that lived here at Boone Hall.
While there are multiple beautiful plantations by Charleston, Boone Hall Plantation has been recognized as Charleston’s #1 plantation by USA TODAY.
The Angel Oak
The Angel Oak is thought to be one of the oldest living oak trees (400-500 years old) east of the Mississippi River and it is a miraculous sight. The tree is enormous, standing at 65 feet tall and 28 ft in circumference with an area of 17,000 square feet shaded by its leaves. However, The Angel Oak isn’t actually located in Charleston… but a short thirty-minute drive south to John’s Island!
The area also hosts a number of artistic and social events throughout the spring and summer seasons. My favorite part though: it’s dog-friendly. Fido can tag along to see The Angel Oak too.
Where to shop
Charleston City Market
Whenever we go on a trip, Ryan and I love to bring back small knick-knacks for family members and friends. During our Charleston trip, we picked up a few magnets from a Charleston artist Kadie Sue.
The City Market is a historic market complex in downtown Charleston. Established in the 1790s, the market stretches for four city blocks from Meeting Street to East Bay Street. The Market features a ton of vendors including jewelry, custom art, clothing, and more. It may be a bit “tourist-y” but fun, nonetheless.
King St.
Some say that King Street is the main artery of downtown Charleston. At more than 300 years old, King Street is the second most historically and architecturally significant street in Charleston, after Meeting Street. Before the mid-1700s, King Street was used predominantly as a path for coming in and out of town. Not commercial property!
Nowadays, King Street is filled with cute, edgy boutiques. There are also tons of designer stores if you’re in the mood to drop a pretty penny! Ryan and I enjoyed window shopping at Kate Spade, Louis Vuitton and Gucci. The U.S. News and World Report named King Street one of the country’s Top 10 Shopping Streets.
