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Home / Travel / 10 Things You Don’t Want to Miss in Charleston, SC

10 Things You Don’t Want to Miss in Charleston, SC

Charleston, Couples Trip, Travel, US Trip

This February, my husband I visited Charleston and totally fell in love with the city! Charleston, also known as the Holy City, is a place with so much to offer – amazing restaurants, tons of history, stunning architecture, beautiful gardens, and (usually) pretty nice weather! Here are 10 things you don’t want to miss when visiting Charleston, South Carolina!!

bike ride around charleston

The best way to see the city in my opinion is by bike! We rented these cute blue bikes from Holy Spokes. Day passes are $20 or you can pay by the hour.

We opted for day passes and spent the whole morning biking around the city. Our favorite spot was around the Battery! There are so many gorgeous historical homes to admire.

the battery

The Battery is a defensive seawall used during the Civil War to protect the city. Many of the homes in this area are gorgeous and full of history with quintessential Charleston touches – side porch, shutters, and beautiful architectural details.

the food

Charleston has a lot going for it and food is no exception! When I researched things to do in Charleston, I quickly realized how many restaurants in the city are well known and considered must-eats! My favorite dining experience in the city was definitely Husk! I loved it so much I wrote a whole blog post on our experience at Husk! But here are a few more options you should definitely try while you’re in the city!!

  • Poogan’s Porch – southern food, breakfast / lunch / dinner
  • Xiao Bao Biscuit – multi-cultural asian food, lunch / dinner
  • Leon’s Oyster Shop – oysters and fried chicken, lunch / dinner
  • Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit – grab and go eatery, breakfast / lunch

the sweets

If you have a sweet tooth, make sure you get some ice cream in Charleston! Jeni’s Ice Cream is well known and for good reason!

I loved the dairy free Texas Sheet Cake chocolate ice cream!

Another spot for sweets I would highly recommend is Sugar Bake Shop!

rainbow row

Arguably one of the most iconic and instagram-worthy spots in Charleston is Rainbow Row on East Bay Street! This spot is well-known for it’s thirteen colorful, pastel homes right near the Battery.

Fun Fact: While these houses were built in the mid-1700’s, they weren’t painted bright, pastel colors until the 1900’s!

pineapple fountain

While you’re checking out Rainbow Row, make a short walk to Pineapple Fountain! This unique fountain in Waterfront Park is a tourist attraction that first opened in 1990. You might be wondering why the fountain is shaped like a pineapple… apparently pineapples are a symbol of hospitality in the south!

happy hour

Charleston has some great happy hour options! Mitch and I’s favorite happy hour spot in Charleston was Edmunds Oast (pictured below). They had a fun patio area (some of which was also covered)! And we loved the drinks and appetizers. We got the cheese plate, wine, & slushy drinks! Other great happy hour options are:

  • Rooftop Bar at Vendue
  • Bistro A Vin Wine Bar
  • Bay Street Biergarten

shopping on king street

If you love to shop, head to King Street! This major street in the heart of downtown Charleston has tons of shops – including so many amazing local stores, as well as several known chains like Anthropologie, Kate Spade, and Kendra Scott.

My favorite shop find was House of Nomad – an interior design studio and shop with a modern style inspired by the female founders’ global travels! Oh, and they also have an online store 😉

the beaches

From downtown Charleston, you can get to the beach rather quickly. It only takes about 20 minutes to get to Folly Beach and 30 minutes to Isle of Palms.

Folly Beach has a fun vibe and lots of eclectic shops and casual dining options. We spent an afternoon in Folly Beach walking along the water and had lunch at a fun Mexican restaurant – Taco Boy! Folly Beach also has some nightlife. I went here for a bachelorette party a few years ago and had a blast!

Isle of Palms is a beautiful beach often visited by locals and families. This beach has a more “upscale” feel than Folly Beach and is usually less crowded.

fort sumter

Since Charleston was incorporated as a city nearly 250 years ago, back in 1783, the city has a long and complex history. There are so many things to do and see in Charleston to learn about its history including walking tours and plantations.

Another historical place to visit is Fort Sumter.

Originally built to defend against the British in the War of 1812, Fort Sumter marks the location of the first shot fired in the American Civil War. The fort is situated at the entrance of Charleston Harbor and is a short 30 minute boat ride from Charleston. It is a great place to visit for those who want to learn more about a significant place in American History as well as for those who want to enjoy beautiful panoramic views of the Battery and Downtown Charleston.

The tour, including the boat ride, takes ~2 hours. While you can buy a ticket at the dock, I would recommend booking a spot in advance to ensure you have a spot. Mitch and I booked our tour in advance through Fort Sumter Tours.

Charleston is truly a gem of a city with so much natural beauty, history, architecture, and fun things to do! I hope if you plan a trip to the Holy City you’re able to check out these 10 can’t miss things in Charleston (and much more!).

Mitch and I adored our time in Charleston and hope to go back sometime soon!

Looking for more fun cities in the US to plan a weekend trip to? Check out these articles below!!

  • Austin TX Guide: Where to Stay, Eat, & Things to Do
  • Girls Weekend in DC: The Perfect Itinerary
  • Napa Honeymoon: Ultimate Itinerary
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March 30, 2021 ·

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Previous Post: « Best of Charleston: Dinner at Husk
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Falling for North Carolina is easy 🍂🍁🤍

📍 blowing rock, nc

#northcarolina #mountainair #blowingrock #nc #charlotte #daytrip #fallcolors #blueridgeparkway #leahblively
Last weekend we drove up to @raffaldini (only an h Last weekend we drove up to @raffaldini (only an hour and 10 min from Charlotte!) and it made us feel like we were right back in Tuscany 🇮🇹 🍷 And now we’re wine club members, so we’ll definitely be back ❤️😉

#northcarolina #charlotte #cltblogger #ncwine #ncwinery #tuscany #winetour #leahblively
17 year old me would pinch myself after our stop i 17 year old me would pinch myself after our stop in Wilmington, NC last month 🤍Any other One Tree Hill fans out there also have this on their bucket list??

Will definitely come back to stay longer ✨

#leahblively #nc #wilmington #onetreehill #naley #nctrip #carolinas #weekendgetaway
Cheers to the freakin weekend !!! I’ve been liv Cheers to the freakin weekend !!!

I’ve been living in Charlotte just over 2 months! And I LOVE it 🤍

It’s such a fun, vibrant, growing city with amazing weather ☀️, so many things to do, and an incredible restaurant scene! 🍽 

If you’ve never been to Charlotte, definitely add it to your list! I’ll be sharing more of my favorite spots!
Pretty details plus wine 🍷 @folktalewinery is l Pretty details plus wine 🍷 @folktalewinery is like something out of a fairytale✨

#folktalewinery #carmelbythesea #carmelcalifornia #gardendesign #beautifulplaces #beautifulwinery #fairytale #castle #cawine #carmelvalley #girlslovetravelling #girlstrip #prettydetails #winecountry #leahblively
Disneyland or Disney World?? What’s your favorit Disneyland or Disney World?? What’s your favorite?

Disneyland was just as fun as 10 year old me remembered ✨ 

My friend and I went back in February and here are my top tips!

1. Book your tickets in advance (popular days can sell out well in advance) 🎟 

2. Get there early - the morning is less crowded ☀️ 

3. Seriously consider the fast pass (aka Genie Plus)! For an extra $20 each, we thought it was so worth it! 👏🏼 

4. Make sure your phone is fully charged! Especially if you get Genie Plus, b/c you’ll have to schedule rides using the app! 📱 

And last but not least…
5. Rides you don’t want to miss (or at least my favorite ones 😋)
-Space Mountain 🚀 -Big Thunder Mountain Railroad ⛰-Pirates of the Caribbean 🏴‍☠️-Haunted Mansion -Indiana Jones 
-Matterhorn Bobsleds -Its a Small World (not your typical ride but a classic) 😉 

And Disneyland is my favorite ❤️ I went there many times as a kid and have so many great memories! But Disney World is pretty cool too 😉 

#disneyland #disneylandcalifornia #disneylandfood #disney #california #mickeymouse #girlstrip #vacationmode #wanderlust #travelgram #cltblogger #leahblively
Well, we made a big move 🏠 and life has been a Well, we made a big move 🏠 and life has been a little crazy these last few months! 

We’re excited to call Charlotte, NC our new home and have been busy the last couple weeks exploring 🤍 

That’s why I’ve been MIA for awhile :) I’m sure I’ll be posting again soon! But wanted to share this little update!

Hope you all have a great rest of the week!!

#travelblogger #southerncharm #clt #charlottenc #queencity #northcarolina #nc #newcity #leahbively
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