3 Days in Charleston, South Carolina
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
Day 2
You will want to dedicate at least a full day specifically for exploring downtown Charleston as there is just so much to see and do. The city is located just a quick 20 minute drive from the inn, so you can get up early, enjoy a great breakfast, and still get here before all the afternoon crowds begin to arrive. Surprisingly, mornings are very quiet (especially Sundays).
7:00am: Breakfast is served around 7, thus allowing you to get to downtown pretty early. Breakfast varies by day, and is always filling & delicious. The staff works with any type of food allergies or special diets. No need for a separate coffee run either as the coffee is quite good. Views are tremendous – really you can linger cup after cup. But, don’t stay too long as you want to get to Charleston before it gets too busy!
9:00am: Arrive in Charleston and immediately reserve your spot for a carriage ride through the historic district. There are numerous companies, so it is usually pretty easy to get on right away if you arrive early enough. Palmetto Carriage Works is the oldest and most respected company in town.
The tour guides here are really knowledgeable about the history of the town, so much so that even the biggest history buffs will learn a thing or two! I really enjoyed the history lesson and taking in the beautiful architecture which would be hard to see via just walking. Consider booking online to ensure availability.
Carriage routes are selected via random draw. Our tour included a beautiful ride past many of the city’s historic churches. The city’s history of religious freedom landed it the nickname “The Holy City.” St Michael’s, built in the 1750’s, is the oldest surviving religious building in the city. Beth Elohim, founded in 1749, is the oldest synagogue in continuous US, as well as the second oldest in the US. It was an interesting tour for sure and probably not one that I would have picked out myself, so a nice suprise.
Take a look at a few of the gorgeous historic churches we saw on our tour.
10:00am: The tour is only an hour long, yet still incredibly detailed. This leaves you plenty of time to explore more of the city. Right across the street, you will find the historic Charleston City Market, established in the 1790’s, and still one of the city’s most popular meeting spaces.
Here, you can shop for all sorts of unique souvenirs and art pieces. Hand crafted Sweet Grass Baskets, brought to Charleston by enslaved West Africans, are extremely popular. We didn’t buy anything, but we still enjoyed browsing around at all the beautiful handcrafted items.
11:00am: By now, you will probably be starting to get hungry. Charleston, now a popular foodie destination, is most famous for its’ low country cuisine. Right across from the market, you will find a touristy favorite known as the Charleston Crab House. Also, Hanks Seafood Restaurant has won many awards over the year. They are known for their raw bar and lowcountry cuisine.
I am not a huge seafood fan, so I opted for a cute little French cafe that I stumbled across. If you are up for a long walk, check out Gaulart & Maliclet Cafe, a quaint French restaurant offering a perfect lunch special (half sandwich, cup of soup, and wine or coffee for just $13 bucks).
12:00pm: Explore Charleston’s Museum Mile on historic Meeting Street. Here, you will find over a dozen museums, historic houses, and numerous historic churches. During the off-season, they offer an affordable all inclusive deal, a great value if you intend on visiting multiple museums.
A few of the most interesting to check out include: The Gibbes Museum of Art, The Charleston Museum (America’s first museum), and The Powder Magazine (South Carolina’s oldest public building).
2:00pm: Although the carriage rides cover a large section of the city, you will want to walk around and explore more on your own. The architecture is so gorgeous everywhere you turn. It’s really hard to take photos on the cramped carriage ride, so walking around will give you the opportunity to photograph away. I enjoyed listening to the history tour, but preferred walking to take most of my photos.
Here are a few interesting sights to add to your must-do list.
King street is a gorgeous 300+ year old street now home to lots of boutique shops and restaurants. Fans of “The Notebook” will definitely want to stop for a photo opp by the historic American Theater.
If you are up for a fright, take a tour of the haunted Old Charleston Jail. We learned on our tour that this prison operated form 1802 to 1939. Notorious inmate include the country’s first female serial killer, Lavinia Fisher, Civil War prisoners, and a handful of 19th century pirates including Jacque Alexander Tardy. This prison is supposed to be incredibly haunted and you know it is because Zak Bagans chose to hold an investigation here on Ghost Adventures (Season 6, Episode 9).
Philadelphia Alley is one of the city’s many hidden pathways. Our tour guide told us a little bit about these enchanting alleys and you can also sign up for a special tour to learn more. Philadelphia Alley, dates back to 1776, and is the most interesting. The setting is picturesque and secluded with high brick walls and plenty of shade. It is also quite eerie (you take the night ghost tour to learn more about the haunted legends).
4:00pm: Head over to Rainbow Row, one of the most famous and photographed streets in America. The brightly colored section of town is home to a row of pastel colored houses. This is a great quick photo opp before continuing on to The Battery.
The Battery, a gorgeous area on the harbor, is home to multi million dollar mansions and million dollar views. As an architecture buff, I loved walking around lusting after the incredible houses. Imagine the views!
A quick tour of Charleston’s beautiful downtown district…
5:30pm: Head over to Isle of Palms for a nice dinner and sunset at the beach. Isle of Palms is one of the more tranquil beaches in the Charleston area. The wide stretch of sand is perfect for a nice sunset stroll.
The Boathouse is a popular seafront restaurant conveniently located in the vicinity. You can basically get anything seafood related here, all while enjoying the quaint coastal scenery. As a vegetarian my choices were limited, although Mike enjoyed his fish sandwich. I did enjoy the quiet waterfront setting. Basically, it’s a great choice if you are visiting the beach.
7:30pm: Head back to the inn and enjoy another night relaxing under the stars. Summer nights are typically pleasant, mild in the 70’s or so. If your visit falls during the winter season, you might be surprised to find that the temps are surprisingly cold. Don’t worry, the inn has a nice relaxation room with a cozy fireplace and several cozy couches. Plus, there is a screened in balcony.
