jagovino I have been to Charleston twice now, once on a girl’s trip and another on an anniversary trip with my husband. Charleston is such a great place to visit for a quick, fun getaway, whether you are with a group of friends or your significant other. Below are my tips for what to see, eat, and do within 48 hours in Charleston.
Where to Stay:
The first time I went to Charleston, my friends and I stayed in an Airbnb right off of King Street. The location was great, with easy access to bars, restaurants, and shops on King Street. But the location also made it super loud and a little dirty, being so close to bars and restaurants. Our Airbnb actually had a bar in the back of it where they played loud House music at all hours, not ideal! This last time I went to Charleston with my husband we stayed at the Mills House and it was great! This is one of the oldest hotels in Charleston but has recently undergone a renovation. The pink building is classic Charleston and the location is ideal, in between King Street and Meeting Street, walking distance to all the local attractions. Mills House also has a beautiful rooftop pool and many outdoor areas to sit in and enjoy a morning coffee. Speaking of coffee, the hotel also has a coffee shop called The Black Door Cafe and a restaurant, Iron Rose, with a great outdoor dining area. We enjoyed our stay at Mills House and would stay there again. Our Uber driver told us there were many ghosts in the hotel, but we never encountered any supernatural sightings and enjoyed watching the Ghost Tours right outside our hotel!
Where to Eat:
Both times I have been to Charleston, I made a trip to Magnolias. I crave their fried green tomatoes! The first time I went we had brunch and it was exceptional. This time, my husband and I opted for a late lunch and it was just as good. Classic, Southern-style comfort food such as fried chicken and pimento dip, its a must-visit. Another popular destination in Charelestin is Husk. We have visited their location in Nashville and the one in Charleston is just as spectacular. The atmosphere is great, as it’s in an old, Southern-style house with gas lanterns outside and a porch in the front. Husk uses farm-to-table style dining and their menu changes depending on what’s in season but each time I have been, the food is delicious! You definitely need to make a reservation so be sure to plan ahead. Leons is a staple in Charleston and a local favorite. In fact, the Southern Charm cast was recently eating takeout from Leons on the latest episode. Classic fried chicken, oysters, and hush puppies are on the menu here and each dish was awesome. They also have a full bar with great drink options. What’s great about this spot is the locals that you will meet while there. My husband and I sat at the bar and talked with a local couple who gave us some great food recommendations!
What to Do:
One of the most fun experiences I had while in Charleston with my girlfriends was going on a Segway Tour of local Mount Pleasant. Learning to use the segway takes a couple of tries but once you get the hang of it, it’s a great way to experience the local town right over the Ravanelle bridge with beautiful historic homes and a great view of Fort Sumter. Our guide, Cliff, was patient and told us a bunch of important historical information on our tour, which I appreciated as a history teacher. It was a great way to experience local Charleston in a unique way. Another must-do while in Charleston is to take a horse carriage ride. You will see tons of them around the city and there are many companies to choose from. My husband and I did this, and like the segway tour, it was a nice, relaxing way to see around the city and learn about the history. While in Charleston, you MUST try a classic, Southern biscuit. We went to Callies Hot Little Biscuit in City Market but there are locations all over the city and other biscuit spots to try. A hot, buttery, Southern biscuit with pimento cheese, egg, and sausage is a great way to start your day while in Charleston. Another great way to start your day in Charleston is to visit Harken Cafe, with the best matcha I have had and an incredible ricotta biscuit. The space is also so cozy to sit and enjoy.
This last time I was in South Carolina, my husband and I took a day trip to Sullivans Island, which is about a 20-minute Uber ride from the city. It’s a beachy town with great restaurants and a laid-back vibe. We ate brunch at the Obstinate Daughter and their Lowcountry Frites and homemade quiche were out of this world! After brunch, we took a short walk to the beach, which was gorgeous. We were there in October, so we didn’t plan for a beach day, but the weather was amazing and we decided we need to come back with our kids in the summer to enjoy the beautiful beaches and local shops, including many ice cream stops! Lastly, no trip to Charleston is complete without a visit to a local plantation. There is so much history in Charleston and learning more about a location’s past is an experience I always like to include in all of my travels. When I was there with my friends we visited Magnolia Plantation and took a tour of the old slave quarters. It was so interesting learning what the plantation’s history included and also how it is used today. There are many famous plantations to choose from in this area, I would research what exactly you are looking for, and what type of experience you want before you book your reservations.
Charleston is a quick, two-hour flight from NYC and is a great way to spend a long weekend or even a few more days. It’s an easy city to get around, with lots of Southern charm and beautiful weather. The wharf area is a beautiful way to spend the day and look out at the river. The local shops and restaurants offer so many options and the overall atmosphere makes it a great place to add to your list of cities to visit.
Any other questions about Charleston? Let me know in the comments..
Check out this embedded map above of all of the suggestions from this post!
