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Stay & Play
Charleston, South Carolina
Travel Guide
Understated low-country elegance is the epitome of Charleston. Full of picturesque architecture, camellia-lined maze gardens and horse-drawn carriages, Charleston is the perfect destination for a girls’ trip or a romantic retreat. This charming southern city is worth a visit – or two! So check out our Charleston Travel Guide below and get going!
S T A Y
Charm & Luxury (a perfect combination)
The luxurious Belmond Charleston Place Hotel is in an excellent location for walking to the shops on King Street and to some of Charleston’s top restaurants. A stay at Wentworth Mansion, 86 Cannon Historic Inn or Zero George Street will make you feel like a resident of Charleston. Full of quintessential southern charm, each offers a daily complimentary continental breakfast that we urge you to consider enjoying in true southern fashion on your piazza.
E A T
Southern Cuisine
FIG: Be sure to get a reservation if you want to eat here. Reservations open up 1 month in advance and they fill up fast. You may also opt to sit at the community table that is first come, first served. The ricotta gnocchi appetizer is a must-try. The menu at FIG changes frequently, but this appetizer remains a staple, kept on by popular demand.
HUSK: Like FIG, you’ll need to get reservations here well in advance for dinner. If you miss the window for dinner reservations, a table at lunch is usually easier to grab. Try a Shrub (a non-alcoholic fruit and vinegar drink – yes, you do have to enjoy a vinegar taste). If you are looking for before or after dinner drinks, The Bar at HUSK is an excellent choice. Of course, you can order cocktails in the restaurant; but, if you’re up for a change of scenery, the HUSK bar is located next door to the restaurant in a Victorian townhouse.
P A C K
Low-Country Elegance
When choosing what to wear to Charleston, South Carolina, your packing list should contain items that match your itinerary and the weather. In the summer, the climate can be very hot and humid. If you plan on venturing out to any beaches or plantations, be sure to pack mosquito spray.
Charleston is a lovely place. The old-world architecture lends an understated luxury feeling to this beautiful location; and we love to dress accordingly. Pinks and floral patterns are fun and we especially love items from Lilly Pulitzer for a Charleston vacation. And don’t forget to bring a comfortable pair of shoes for shopping and exploring; then plan to change into something fancy for dinner.
Check out some of our Charleston-approved items below for your Charleston vacation.
Charleston Travel Guide Packing Inspiration
P L A Y
See and be Seen
A horse-drawn carriage ride with Palmetto Carriage is a wonderful way to take in the beauty of Charleston. Also be sure to enjoy a relaxed stroll along the waterfront to The Battery and detour to see the famous Rainbow Row. Then make some time for shopping on King Street. And if you happen to pass by Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit, stop in for a treat. While on King Street, plan a for a quick detour into the Preservation Society of Charleston Book And Gift Shop where they have curated a fabulous array of locally made items. Think feather bowties by Brackish and the most incredible cast iron cookware from the local-owned, Smithey Ironware. Time permitting, tour one of Charleston’s historic homes:
Plantation Guide
And last but not least, be sure to venture over to at least one plantation.
Middleton Place – Enjoy a guided tour of the historic house museum, a horse-drawn carriage ride and stroll the immaculate gardens. Be sure to make time for a sunlit lunch in the Middleton Place Plantation restaurant where you can enjoy beautiful views of the plantation grounds.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens – Walk amid the flowering gardens and tour the grand plantation home. This plantation home has been modernized to some extent (more so than the homes you will tour at Middleton Place and Drayton Hall).
Drayton Hall – Take in the beautiful views around Drayton Hall. After you finish the house tour, stroll down toward the Ashley River just below the house. You’ll feel like you just stepped back in time.
*Middleton Place, Magnolia and Drayton Hall are all very close to each other on Ashley River Road.
Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens – A grand alley of oak trees awaits your arrival at this plantation. Take a tour of the plantation home (keep in mind this plantation home has been modernized to some extent – more so than the homes you’ll tour at Middleton Place and Drayton Hall). Attend an enlightening presentation on “Exploring The Gullah Culture;” and be sure to look closely at your surroundings as some scenes from “The Notebook” were filmed here.
*Depending on what attractions and tours you plan to do, a Heritage Passport that offers discounts to a number of different attractions may be a good idea.
Final Thoughts on Charleston
We hope you have enjoyed our Charleston Travel Guide. This southern city is a beautiful place to experience and enjoy. It is a place steeped in centuries of United States history and its just begging to be explored. Quaint and charming, sophisticated and serene, add Charleston, South Carolina to your bucket-list and get going!
