If you’ve been following me for a while, it’s no surprise that Charleston, SC is my absolute favorite place! We lived there for about 3 years and hope to buy a home there sooner than later. Charleston has been named the top city in the world for over 10 years by Conde Nast Traveler, so if you haven’t visited it yet, add it to your list! Charleston is filled with so much rich history, beautiful photo opportunities on every corner, and mouth-watering restaurants! Plus the beach is just down the road!
We recently took my little sisters on their first trip to Charleston. I wanted to show them all the great must-see spots that we wouldn’t usually go to as locals. However, if it’s your first time visiting the Holy City, there are spots you just have to see, like Rainbow Row! Below I’m sharing how we spent our weekend in Charleston and plenty of recommendations!
THE BEST TIME TO TRAVEL TO CHARLESTON:
Charleston is absolutely beautiful year-round but temperatures can be pretty high in the peak of summer. Winters are mild which is great but still a little too chilly to really enjoy the beaches. July and August are the hottest so if you’re traveling there during this time, I would plan on getting to the beaches in the morning since by lunchtime the sun can be unbearably warm. I consider spring to be the perfect time of year to visit. The temps are so nice for long strolls downtown and sitting outside for every meal. Plus there are so many beautiful flowers blooming!
WHERE TO STAY:
There are so many beautiful hotels and vacation rental homes in the area! I would look for a place to stay based on the type of activities you’re interested in. I think it’s a good idea to have a car if you really want to explore. Since we lived in Charleston for so long we really haven’t stayed at a ton of hotels in the area but I do have some recommendations based on the few times we have stayed downtown and rented homes.
Hotel Bennett
The Dewberry
Hotel Bella Grace
The Spectator Hotel
The Charleston Place
The Loutrel
Wild Dunes Resort – Great for families
Home Rentals through Airbnb and VRBO – if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option and don’t mind driving, staying right outside Charleston is a great option! The Park Circle and Summerville areas have great affordable rentals!
RESTAURANTS:
I have a whole blog post where I list my favorite restaurants! Make your reservations through Resy or Open Table weeks in advance!
MY WEEKEND ITINERARY:
This is the itinerary we followed when we took my sisters to Charleston for the first time!
Friday:
Dinner – 82 Queen. Order the shrimp & grits and she crab soup! When making your reservation, ask to be seated in the courtyard. They have a beautiful outdoor dining area.
Dessert – Jennis Ice Cream. The Brambleberry Crisp is my favorite flavor! Sometimes it looks like there’s a long line outside the shop but it does move pretty quickly!
Late Night Cocktail – The Cocktail Club
Saturday:
Sullivan’s Island Beach
Lunch – Sullivan’s Fish Camp. Order the Pina Colada and seafood basket.
Tour of Charleston: Rainbow Row, Pineapple Fountain, Waterfront Park, The Battery, Sugar Bake Shop, Shopping on King Street, Tiny Tassel shop. There’s so much to see and do but I think these are must-stop places!
Stop for a drink at Little Palm Bar or get a Boba Tea at Ding Tea downtown.
Dinner – The Darling Oyster Bar. Make your reservation well in advance and make a note on your reservation that you’d like to be seated in the same room as the raw bar. The other seating area is dark with no decor but the main bar area is so cute! Order the Seafood Plateau!
Dessert – Stop at Kaminsky’s (best desserts) or Carmella’s (best dessert drinks).
Sunday:
Brunch – Post House Inn. This area in Mt. Pleasant is SO cute! Spend some time walking around. Most of the shops near Post House are closed on Sundays so consider going Saturday for brunch as well.
Take a walk on Pitt St. Bridge
There are so many more things to do and see in Charleston and I highly recommend Googling “Charleston travel blog posts” to see what other bloggers recommend as well! Cheers!
