Pastel colored houses, southern hospitality and a history that includes both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, Charleston, South Carolina is an interesting place to visit with a lot to see and do. The city was founded in 1670 and still holds onto its old southern charm. Moss covered trees line cobblestone streets and the sound of horses pulling carriages echos throughout the town. Charleston is a great port city to explore and eating biscuits with gravy or shrimp and grits is a good way to introduce yourself to the southern culture.

Getting There

Charleston, SC has an airport where flights come in from all over the country. It’s also about 40 minutes off of I-95 if you are road tripping it. It’s approximately 2 hours north of Savannah, 5 hours from Atlanta and about a 3.5 hrs drive south of Charlotte, NC.

Things to Do

Stroll through the Historic Charleston City Market– The market dates back to the late 1700s and runs from Meeting Street down to East Bay Street. We found a large variety of things to buy including sweet grass baskets (handmade by locals), spices, homemade treats, jewelry and local art. The majority of the market is air conditioned and the entire market is covered.

The Confederate Museum is above the City Market and is open from Thursday through Sunday from 11 am until 4 pm. Admission is $10.00. Unfortunately it was not open on the days we were there..

Take a tour of one of Charleston’s historic homes – You can buy a combo pack to visit 2 homes for $25. Why tour one when you can tour two??? We Visited the Nathaniel Russell House and the Aiken-Rhett House with the combo ticket. You don’t have to tour the two houses on the same day and both houses come with an audio guide. We spent about an hour in each house. The Nathaniel Russell House was a beautifully restored house dating back to the early 1800s with furniture from that period along with grand staircases and a rich history. In contrast, The Aiken-Rhett House was preserved, not restored, which gave it a more haunted vibe. You start this tour in the slave quarters behind the house and the tour guide explains the importance of this sequence. Starting where the enslaved people lived gives a sense of importance to those who actually kept the house running, yet got no recognition, no compensation and no choice in the matter. Although both houses were interesting and worth visiting, The Aiken-Rhett House was my favorite.

Visit the Gibbes Museum of Art- Who doesn’t love a good art museum? Maybe some people. But I truly love visiting them and enjoying the peace and quiet. There was a great exhibit at the museum focused on Harriet Tubman’s involvement in the Combahee River Raid and the enslaved people she helped to free from there. Harriett was truly a badass.

Admission is $12.00 but I scored a teacher discount for $10.00. Plan to spend about 45 minutes to an hour.

Walk through Waterfront Park along the Cooper River and see the famous Pineapple Fountain- The Waterfront Park has long wide paths that run along the harbor. Tall Palmetto trees shade benches along the way and the famous pineapple shaped fountain stands in the middle. Not to be confused with the upside down pineapple (which signifies a swinger lifestyle), and certainly not to be mistaken for the Pineapple Under the Sea where Sponge Bob lives, The pineapple historically signified wealth and hospitality and now offers a great photo opportunity. I look at it and think; “pina colada” .

Follow me for more fun facts and random thoughts…

Shop on King Street– King Street runs from the tip of downtown all the way up to the northern edge of the city. It has 3 distinct sections…lower King Street, which is the antique district, middle King Street, known for high end stores and fashion, and upper King Street, consisting of home decor, art galleries and restaurants. High end stores are not my thing, but I will shop for antiques and browse art galleries for hours, much to my sons dismay.

Snap a Photo on Rainbow Row– Take a walk along Rainbow Row to admire the beautifully painted pastel houses.

Have a Drink at a Historic Speakeasy- The Blind Tiger Pub on Broad Street dates back to 1802 with a history of “illicit drinking and gambling”….say no more, just sign me up. I am certain that it was way more fun to partake in “illicit drinking and gambling” than to sit and sip tea while doing puzzles in those fancy southern dresses. Boring. There is also a fantastic courtyard in the back of the Blind Tiger Pub where you can sit under the stars and enjoy a cold prosecco… These days it’s legal.

Where to Eat

Ruru’s Tacos and Tequila- Amazing menu; so many choices and the food was incredible. I loved all of the local artwork on the walls and prices were great in an otherwise expensive neighborhood!

The Black Door- Cozy coffee shop next to the art museum downtown.

Mac’s Place– The food here was beyond fantastic…. I am not kidding when I say it was the best beef stew I have ever had…. Prices were equally good. Great pub atmosphere!!!

Where to Stay

The Hyatt Place– I love Hyatt Hotels and felt that this hotel was in a good location, offering free breakfast and decent prices. The free bus was right across the street and when you exit the hotel, you are on King Street! It’s about a 20 or so minute walk to the waterfront.

Travel Tips

Charleston is an easy walking city, but there are also free buses that run uptown to downtown and the riverfront. The buses also double as an interesting people watching activity. A bit scary at times.

Parking is expensive. If you download the app SpotHero you can find good deals on parking.

If you visit the Aiken-Rhett House, go early if it is summer, the house is not air conditioned!

There are a lot of things that I wish I had time to see, including Magnolia Plantation, Fort Sumter, Old Exchange and Dungeon and Arthur Ravenel Bridge (to walk across). Although as I have said in previous posts, its always better to leave a place wanting to see more.

So if you have ever wanted to explore Charleston and experience that good ol’ Southern charm, take a trip back in time by visiting historic homes, speakeasies and the old market, all while enjoying modern day shopping and classic southern food. I’m not sure I would recommend the shrimp and grits…but the biscuits with gravy were oh so good…. Try to see some of the interesting sites while you are there and leave some for a second visit. Skip the bus to walk off the biscuits and gravy.