Tagged: walkable charleston

July 2, 2023

Travel – Charleston 3 day itinerary

With 3 days on your hands in Charleston, there are so many options for amazing things to do, see and EAT! I am a huge fan of not packing any schedule so tight that there is no relaxation, so will stick with making each day count, but with enough time to slow down and savor the city! So, mainly sticking to the main parts of town.

Where to stay?

I am a huge fan of staying in the Canonborough area of the city. It is a central location with plenty to do and see. There are many quaint restaurants tucked down side streets, as well as the many shops, cafes and restaurants heading both north and south on King St. (main road running north to south through the city). There are 2 hotels that we have had luck with, the Hyatt Place and 583 King St. , which is a Bluegreen Vacations resort, but can be booked via AirBnB most of the time. Provided the link has not expired, here is an example of the hotel listing on the AirBnB site. Both of those hotels offer rooms with kitchenettes, so if you are a fan of coffee and light breakfast before leaving the hotel, it is an option.

Speaking of AirBnB, we have also rented 4 times with them in the Canonborough area with great success. Once with our pup, once with friends and 2 other times just me and the husband. Stay Duvet is also a property management company and great resource, renting well managed apartments in the Charleston area.

Pics of Bluebreen – 583 King

What to Do? – Plan of attack

If you read my Charleston 1 Day Itinerary, you know that I am always a proponent of a city tour, such as this one if you are a first time visitor. If you are visiting during the summer (think..HOT), there are also enclosed bus tours to ensure you are getting some time out of the heat while riding. There is something to be said for getting your bearings, allowing an expert tour guide provide history and interesting facts providing you a better grip on those places and things that you saw that you know you would like to get back to to do more exploring.

I also recommend that for Day 1 of your stay in Charleston, you stick with those recommendations made in the 1 day itinerary linked above. It is aimed at giving my “do not miss” spots, which holds true even with a couple more days on your hands.

With 2 more days, there is the opportunity to tailor your activities to the type of weather you have, as well as specific types of sights you prefer etc. As well, you can fit in MORE of my favorite restaurants mentioned in the 1 day itinerary! I do recommend spending 2 of your days enjoying the core of Charleston, and 1 of your days getting to one of the many places of interest a bit outside of downtown or the northern end of King. If you have a car, you are good to go. If not, most of these recommendations can be reached via organized tour, such as those you can find on Viator. If you are feeling splurgy, there are also options for private or custom tours. Another interesting option is checking out the site called “Tours by Locals“, where you can find local tour guides, many certified, that can be hired directly to help you customize your time/tour.

Outside of the city

For the beach lover – you cannot beat Sullivan’s Island for a few hours of strolling the sand, enjoying the waves and getting yourself a great cocktail and breakfast, lunch or dinner. From downtown Charleston, the ride is about 20 mins over the Ravenal Bridge, providing a view of the Patriots Point Naval Port and Museum. Parking and other detail can be found on the Visitor’s site here.

Lunch or weekend brunch – You cannot miss a meal at The Obstinate Daughter if you make your way to Sullivan’s. Pizza, pasta, small plates and their Raw Bar are the focus of the menu. I have had a little of everything there and nothing disappoints in terms of food, service and atmosphere!

Dinner – The Obstinate Daughter also serves dinner. Another option would be Longboard. I ordered a whole local fish with posole rojo, hominy and corn and it was amazing!

Drinks and Snacks – Poe’s Tavern is the local watering hole and perfectly fits the bill. The front side of the bar is open to the street, so perfect for a beautiful day.

For the history lover – I recommend seeing at least Drayton Hall. Driving up the long drive, you can just imagine the days when the plantation was thriving. The grounds are beautiful, backing up to the Ashley River, with a variety of enchanting trees and plants. The human and botanical history is rich and the tour worth taking of both the grounds and the house. If you want to make a day of touring, just down the road, you can also visit Magnolia Plantation or Middleton Place. Both are within 10 mins drive from Drayton, have historical signifigance and amazing gardens to enjoy.

For the Museum lover (or a rainy day!) – You cannot beat the Charleston Museum for a super hot or a rainy day. Get out of the elements and enjoy America’s first museum! There is something here for everyone, but most importantly, it tells the story of the South Carolina low country. If you buy your ticket, be sure to get the 3 site ticket, which includes the Joseph Manigault House, as well as the Heyward-Washington House, both sites that are worth your time to visit.

Day 3

One of the benefits of having a car, or a bicycle while in Charleston, is the ability to explore the northern part of the city. North of Spring Street, there are so many newer (say within the last 10 years) restaurants, shops and cafes. I absolutely recommend renting a bike and heading north. If you are not into bicycling, hop in the car or work with the local pedicab company or Uber to arrange for rides between stops.

Travel Tip coming at you: If you own bicycles and are traveling most major airlines, you can purchase a bike bag such as this one and travel with your bicycles in standard baggage check. You will want to call ahead to ensure there is space and that the size/type of bag is accepted. We fly Delta and have not had an issue getting our bicycles checked in, so we are ready to hit the ground running when we arrive in Charleston!

If you are not traveling with your bike, you can hit Bilda Bike, to rent for the day. Get on your seat and head north! My husband and I tend to pack in as many amazing meals and coffees as possible when in Charleston. So, full disclosure…this Day 3 is about walking/riding and eating!

Grab yourself a coffee at The Daily to get your day started. Pop into Wynsum Antiques & Interiors to look through the amazing array of art, furniture and antiques. This place is truly amazing, if even just browsing. Head over to Lewis BBQ for lunch. My tip here: If you are in the sandwich game, rather than the full meal, skip the line and head directly to the bar. You can order directly from the bartender and enjoy one of the city’s best brisket or pulled pork sandwiches, along with a nice cold beer!

From Lewis BBQ, you can walk over and check out Butcher and Bee or Edmund’s Oast, for an outdoor seat and a cool refreshing drink or cocktail. Note that both of these restaurants are great suggestions, if you are not wanting BBQ. Wind your way back south and hit Leon’s Fine Poultry and Oyster Shop. Here, you can get anything from Oyster shooters to fried chicken, to an amazing whole roasted fish. Not up for a meal yet, no problem, they have an amazing atmosphere inside and out for just hanging out and chilling with a drink in hand. This is an old service station converted to restaurant and bar. It is unmatched for creative vibe and is lively at all times of the day.

For Dinner

If you have not hit all of the reaturants mentioned in the 1 Day Itinerary, I can recommend a few more located close to the 583 King Street area.

For seafood – Chubby Fish – This restaurant does not take reservations, so plan to be there when they open or close to when they will close. Their seafood is unmatched and the atmosphere is amazing! Go for the whole fish…you will not be disappointed!!

For a menu that will suit everyone – Vern’s – This place came out of nowhere for us. We were visiting Charleston for about the 8th time and this restaurant was mentioned to us by a number of bartenders and others we came across. It was lauded as the new and very well loved place to be. We had to book and…wow..it knocked our socks off! We had the sourdough bread with Allium Butter, bitter lettuce with garlic confit, and chicken with brown butter jus. Just a perfect meal. Yum!

If you have not found what you want, in terms of food, in this post, check out Eater’s list of places not to miss in Charleston here!!

If you have any comments or questions, please reach out to me at any time. I am happy to provide recommendations or help with planning! watchusdostuff.com!

Travel

May 16, 2023

Travel – Charleston 1 day itinerary

Anyone that knows me or John, knows that we both love to travel. Over the years, we have covered a lot of ground and experienced amazing cultural experiences in many, many cities around the globe. I hope to do a better job of organizing our recommended restaurants and activities to better share with friends, family and other adventurers!

Charleston – Our #1 City

Back in 2012, we had our first trip to Charleston, SC. We booked an old Carriage House behind a grand house on Spring St. To say that we fell in love immediately would be an understatement! The food, architecture, history, parks, people…all of it! We have been back to visit at least every other year, hauling friends and family with us, recommending all of our favorite places and meals. Charleston is our gem, our dream for winter time retirement. Let’s see if I can round up our best of the best and share here for you. Because there is so much to share, I will break it down into 1 day, 3 day and week itineraries. Let’s start with a one day itinerary!

With so much to see in Charleston, a one day itinerary can be daunting! But it is possible to plan ahead and get the most out of the hours you have. Here is my recommended plan of action:

Morning

Breakfast on Broad

Make your way to Broad St. to start your day with a proper French pressed coffee and breakfast. One of my favorite, quirky spots in Charleston is a tiny, French café, Gaulart & Maliclet, otherwise known as “Fast and French”. I found this gem on our first trip to Charleston and have made it a breakfast staple on every other trip to the Holy City. The croissants and baguettes are outstanding. I am a ham and cheese croissant fan, but have taken friends and family here and sandwiches, cheese plates, pates and soups of all sorts have been ordered and devoured. We typically go for breakfast, but they have a full menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is small, and quirky and seating can be tricky, but I simply love this place!

Historic Meeting Street Market

Walk east on Broad. Get a photo of Saint Michael’s Church on the right, as you take a left on Meeting Street. Charleston City Hall and Washington Square will be on your right, both worth a gander and photo op. Continue on Meeting until you see the Charleston City Market on your right. It cannot be missed. Wander through the 4 blocks of market stalls. This is a prime spot for finding something truly local to bring home. Every year, I buy what is called a “rice bracelet“, which is a sterling silver bracelet made of beads that look like grains of rice. They are about $22 and easy enough to wear out of the market as a small token of my trip. There are a lot of vendors selling all sorts of baskets that are made of sweetgrass. They are amazing! If you have the cash (they are not cheap) and the space to store one of them, they are truly unique and would make an awesome gift. Ask the vendor about the history of these baskets. They come with a long local, Gullah history that I am sure they will be glad to share!

Historic Downtown Carriage Tour

Once you have your goodies and have walked off some of your breakfast, head to one of the Carriage Tour Companies just off of the market. These tours are typically about 1 hour and will give you a view of some of the main “not to be missed” sights in Charleston, such as the battery, rainbow row, some unbelievable historic homes south of Broad Street and more! Check out this option for tours, but you can rest assured that outside of the market there will be many reputable vendors that are looking to bring in your business.

Afternoon

Once your tour is complete, swing into Henry’s on the Market for a quick refreshment. The bar is large, they have a rooftop and the bartenders are great! The bathroom could definitely be improved, but they are there and for a quick stop, sufficient enough. Now, it is time for lunch! Head to Slightly North of Broad (S.N.O.B) or Magnolias for a typical southern lunch. I have had the Southern Medley at S.N.O.B and the fried chicken at Magnolias and would recommend both.

Late Afternoon/Evening

Here is where you have numerous choices. If you are staying in the city, this is when I typically would want to head back to the room or AirBnB for a refresh and a bit of relaxation. From there, options are endless. I will highlight a few options, depending on where you are staying.

Not staying, just hanging through dinner:

Drop into Charleston Place and grab a drink at the Thoroughbred Club to get off your feet for a bit. The atmosphere is swanky and soothing. Charleston Place is an upscale retail area that is attached to the Belmond Hotel, so there are bathrooms, shopping, and tip coming at you here…if you need advice regarding where to go, how to get to your destination etc. drop into the concierge (if they are not busy) and you are likely to get the advice that you need. Grab dinner at Meeting on Market, which is inside Charleston Place, facing the City Market, or alternatively, head to Hank’s. Hank’s is a stand up, amazingly beautiful place for southern seafood, fried chicken, steak and other staples. You cannot go wrong!

Staying downtown and are on foot

Follow the above itinerary. Or alternatively, take a stroll to the Pineapple Fountain at the Charleston Waterfront Park and enjoy the swings on the Waterfront Park Pier. For a very upscale dinner, head to the Peninsula Grill, where you will get, not only an amazing meal, but can try their famous 12 layer coconut, vanilla cake! Or, for a more casual meal, meander you way back to Broad St., to the Blind Tiger Pub, one of Charleston’s oldest establishments for a pint, some socializing and a good meal!

Staying anywhere and/or willing to grab an Uber, Lyft, PediCab or drive yourself!

Options are endless!! In addition to the above recommendation, one of my favorite spots would be Chez Nous. This is a place where the menu changes every day. You will need to check Instagram in the late morning to find out what the menu will be for the day, to ensure it is something you are interested in. Each day, the chef prepares 2 appetizers, 2 entrees and 2 desserts. That is the complete menu. You can book through Resy and it is typically not super difficult to get a table once you check the menu. Other options would be Little Jack’s Tavern if you want a seriously awesome burger, or one of my absolute, 100% recommendations, Stella’s. This is a super unique Greek place with a winding bar with diner style stools and food that will have you coming back with every visit to Charleston! The saganaki, octopus and whole fish are out of this world! It is lively, fun, quirky and the food is something to write home about!!

Tips and tricks

There is a free bus service called DASH that can get you around most main areas of Charleston for free. This can be convenient when it happens to be at a stop where you are looking to get a ride. Otherwise, it can be a lot of waiting. If you have one day, take the tour and make the best of the amazing things you can see in the main downtown/French Quarter area of the city. If you decide to come back for numerous days, the DASH becomes a handy tool for when it works out in your favor.

Pedicabs are everywhere along King Street in CHS. Take advantage of them! My husband and I felt ridiculous using these, but after 8 hours of walking, eating and drinking, having the pedicab there, without even a phone app needed, can be amazing. And they are there…looking for business!

Once you have an idea of what time you will begin your day, you can roughly plan for timing of the Tour and meals, so you can plan for reservations. Particularly at Slightly North of Broad for lunch. Resy tends to be the most widely used app in CHS for restaurant reservations.

At Little Jack’s, if you are not up for a full meal after a day of eating your way through the city, ask for the “off the menu”, special of 2 burgers. No fries, sides etc. My husband and I will sometimes opt to split this if we are simply trying to squeeze in one of their burgers while in town!

Reach out to me via the “Contact Me” at the Footer of all pages if you want any further advice or recommendations! I am always happy to help, if I can.

Next up, 3 day and weeklong stay itineraries!

Google Map of Charleston Downtown