Over the last couple of years, we’ve been fortunate enough to visit Charleston, SC a number of times. Charleston is known for its Civil War history, beautiful old buildings, and southern charm. Here are some of our favorite things to do, eat, and explore in Charleston:
Where to Stay
We’ve stayed in a couple of different areas of Charleston, including downtown, Mount Pleasant and West Ashley. We’ve enjoyed all of theme for different reasons.
Staying downtown is great because you are close to a lot of the great restaurants, bars and things to do downtown. Things are generally more expensive and more rundown downtown though.
Staying in Mount Pleasant is nice because it’s close to many of the beaches (Sullivans Island, Isle of Palms, etc.), and it’s a newer area. You also get to drive across the Arthur Ravenel Jr. bridge every time you go downtown, which is a huge bonus! Oh, and the Whole Foods is in Mount Pleasant, which we love!
Staying in West Ashley is great because it’s only a few minutes to downtown and it’s close to John’s Island, Folly Beach and other areas to the west of the city. It’s also quite affordable to stay over there.
We always stay in AirBnbs when we’re in Charleston! There are tons of great options all across the city, with everything from rooms to full houses available.
What to Do
Explore Downtown – Wandering down King Street and down to the harbor is one of the best things to do in Charleston! The streets are adorable and there are so many beautiful buildings to check out. We love exploring the streets to find new restaurants, bars and shops to check out.
Walk on the Battery – There is so much history in this area, and you also get beautiful views of the harbor. This part of Charleston is nice because it’s also a bit less touristy than some of the other areas of downtown.
Sullivan’s Island – We’ve been to Sullivan’s Island a couple of times and have enjoyed it everytime we went. The beach here is beautiful and there a ton of cute shops and restaurants to check out while you’re there.
Folly Beach – We visited Folly Beach on our most recent visit to Charleston and it was a really nice beach with another cute beach town. On a nice summer day, the beach is pretty busy, but it’s big enough that you can find your own space to relax and enjoy the views.
Walk through Rainbow Row – Rainbow Row is a stretch of 13 colorful historic houses in downtown Charleston, and it is super cute. Each house is a different color and they are all vibrant pastel colors that make the strip of houses really fun to see.
Visit Magnolia Plantation – Magnolia Plantation is one of the most popular plantations located just outside of Charleston. The gardens are right on the Ashley River, and the entire property is stunning. We spent a few hours exploring and learning about the history here, and it was a really insightful experience.
Boating in the Harbor – If you enjoy boating, renting a boat (if you can drive one, that is) or taking a boat tour of the harbor is really fun. There are a ton of gorgeous riverways that connect the different islands and it feels like a quintessential southern experience to be out on a boat taking in the big, gorgeous houses propped high up overlooking the water.
John’s Island – John’s Island is only about 20 minutes from downtown Charleston and it feels like another world. This is where a ton of the farms that grow local produce are located. Driving on John’s Island is gorgeous and this is a great way to get a sense for how families in South Carolina have lived and supported themselves for years.
Where to Eat & Drink
Minero – Great Mexican food on King Street
HoM – Awesome place to grab a burger and some beers! They even have GF buns!
Xiao Bao Biscuit – A friend took us here and we loved it! It’s sharing style Asian food in an old garage that’s been spruced up and has an awesome vibe.
Hominy Grill – It feels like a shame to come to Charleston and NOT eat at Hominy Grill. It’s almost always busy, but it’s worth the wait, especially for the nasty biscuit!
Chipotle – Being from a small Canadian town without Chipotle, having multiple around is such a treat for us. We always eat Chipotle a ton when we are in the US, and Charleston is no different. If you’re looking for something affordable and quick, Chipotle is your place!
Verde – Verde is a great spot to get a gigantic salad! If you’re craving some veggies to balance out all the fried chicken and waffles, Verde is a great option.
Jenni’s Ice Cream – You can’t go to Charleston and not get Jenni’s! The ice cream is to die for. A personal favorite is the wildberry lavender!
Fuel – Fuel Cantina has a great little patio and really tasty tacos for good prices.
The Belmont – If you’re looking for a great cocktail bar, check out The Belmont. There are a ton of awesome options, and it’s pretty much guaranteed that everyone in your party will find something they like there!
Revelator – This is one of our favorite coffee shops that we discovered in Atlanta, and we were super pleased to discover that there is one on King Street in Charleston. We would definitely recommend Revelator for your coffee fix!
Coffee Collective – If you’re up in Mount Pleasant this is an awesome coffee shop to check out. It’s close to the Whole Foods and near to some great neighborhoods in the city.
What are your favorite things to do in Charleston? Share in the comments!
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