A FIRST-TIMER'S GUIDE TO CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA: WHERE TO VISIT, EAT, SHOP, AND SLEEP
First-Timer's Guide to Savannah, Georgia
, made some waves, I figured that the time was right for me to impart my knowledge about my beloved hometown of Charleston, South Carolina. I was born here, and other than an eight-year-gap when I lived elsewhere in South Carolina, I've called Charleston my home my entire life.
From school field trips to my own wanderings, I've seen most of what the Holy City has to offer. If you're heading this way on a trip, here are a few ways to make the most of your stay.
If you're staying in downtown Charleston (aka the Peninsula), there are plenty of options for every budget.
The Holiday Inn Charleston Historic District is one of the newest hotels on the peninsula. It's just a block from the Visitors Center and within easy walking distance of Marion Square and King Street. (Read my review here.)
The Days Inn and the King Charles Inn (both on Market Street) are two of the lower priced options in the downtown area that are still in safe, walkable areas. Note that both of them have been there for as long as I can remember, so I can't speak to how well they've been updated.
On the other end of the spectrum, Charleston has some amazing high-end hotels. Book a stay at the Wentworth Mansion, the Mills House Hotel, the brand new Spectator Hotel, or the Charleston Place to experience luxurious accommodations in the middle of the historic district.
There are also many smaller boutique hotels such as the French Quarter Inn, 2 Meeting Street Inn, Planters Inn, 27 State Street B&B, Zero George Street, and the Cannonboro Inn if you're looking for a more intimate experience.
If you're willing to drive over the Ravenel Bridge to Mount Pleasant or the Ashley River Bridge to West Ashley, you can get some great deals on large chain hotels such as Hampton Inn, Best Western, and Hilton Garden Inn.
What to Eat
Charleston has so many great places that I don't think you can really go wrong no matter your budget, tastes, or style. I've broken down some of my favorite restaurants into a few different categories, and then suggested favorite dishes at each (since I'm allergic to shellfish, any recommendations for seafood have come from family and friends). Note that not all of these are in the historic district!
The Ordinary (downtown): oysters on the half shell
O-ku (downtown): sushi, chicken teriyaki
Red's Ice House (Mt. Pleasant and Seabrook Island): fish and chips
Husk (downtown): the menu rotates seasonally since all of the ingredients are locally sourced
Fuel (downtown): braised pork tacos, hoe cakes
Poe's (Sullivans Island): blue cheese coldslaw, any of their burgers
Poogan's Porch (downtown): fried green tomato BLT, crab cakes, ham macaroni and cheese
Jestine's (downtown): pecan fried chicken, fried okra, sweet tea
Sewee Restaurant (Awendaw): fried flounder, potato salad, any dessert
Virginia's on King (downtown): pecan fried chicken, macaroni and cheese
Groucho's (downtown and West Ashley): mushroom cheese melt or the Pink Moose
Fire Grill (downtown): chicken teriyaki
Tzakiki's (downtown and Mt. Pleasant): traditional gyro
Andolini's (Mt. Pleasant, West Ashley, North Charleston): standard cheese pizza or calzone
Eli's Table (downtown): filet mignon, pimento cheese and tomato appetizer
Peninsula Grill (downtown): the coconut cake
Hominy Grill (downtown): omelet, biscuits
Acme Cantina (Isle of Palms): the Southerner (sweet tea fried chicken on a biscuit)
Charleston Cafe (Mt. Pleasant): waffles, Amber's Choice (egg-topped crab cake)
Charleston has some tried and true attractions--I'm a firm believer that some things are popular because they're good. So, while you're here, try out a few of the big attractions, but don't forget to mix in a few hidden favorites as well!
Hampton Plantation, McClellanville
Plantations are a part of Charleston's history, so if you'd like to learn more, you need to head out to see the Ashley River Road plantation district. The big three are Middleton Plantation, Drayton Hall, and Magnolia Plantation. Of the three, Magnolia is my favorite since there's a great petting zoo, extensive gardens, a butterfly house, and restored slave quarters in addition to a tour of the main house. If you're willing to drive further away from downtown, Hampton Plantation in McClellanville is never crowded and, with its wide front porch and classical architecture, looks more like a stereotypical antebellum plantation.
Many of the rich planters also had fashionable "city" homes in downtown Charleston, so you can get the full story by visiting both the plantations and the houses in the historic district. The Edmonston-Alston House, the Nathaniel Russell House, and the Aiken-Rhett House are all within easy walking distance of the rest of the historic district.
My husband and our dog on Isle of Palms
If you'd like to see more of the Charleston area, I highly recommend renting a car or taking a cab out to one of the beaches. Isle of Palms, Sullivans Island, and Folly Beach are all barrier islands just off the coast of Charleston, and each has its individual charms.
Visiting Fort Sumter circa 1994. I'm the cool kid in the middle, while my sister's rocking her rainbow bike shorts.
There's a lot of military history in the Charleston area as well. Fort Sumter, where the first shots of the Civil War were fired, is located in the middle of the Charleston harbor; you can get a ferry over to this national monument from Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant or from the pier near the South Carolina Aquarium downtown. Patriots Point is more than just a ferry departure point--it houses the U.S.S. Yorktown, the U.S.S. Clamagore submarine, military aircraft and much more.
King Street when it's closed to vehicles during the seasonal 2nd Sundays on King
If you're into shopping, King Street will be your best friend. Start just above Marion Square and work your way towards Lower King, where you'll pass all sorts of shops: Urban Outfitters, Lush, Louis Vuitton, the Body Shop, and Forever 21 are just the start! If you'd rather take home a painting, head over to East Bay and Broad Streets to the art district.
For kids, a trip to the Children's Museum of the Lowcountry and to the fountain at Waterfront Park are great breaks between historical tours.
Britton on one of our many trips to the kids' museum.
Want even more suggestions? See my 101 Things to Do in Charleston post!
http://www.cosmosmariners.com/2015/02/a-first-timers-guide-to-charleston.html
areudirty
gummygunk
jbbartram-illu
prguitarman