Not only did I get blessed with two amazing college roommates, but one of them happens to come from the beautiful and historic city of Charleston, South Carolina. I had never been to the east coast before, so when my roommate offered to let me stay with her for spring break this year, I immediately took the offer up.
The convenient thing about knowing someone who has lived in Charleston their whole life was I didn’t really have to spend much time researching where to go and what to see. Honestly, if felt like I had a built-in tour guide during the trip. Because of that, I was able to experience all the iconic things Charleston has to offer in less than a week.
Today, I am going to share the best places to go, things to do, food to eat, and coffee shops to try based on the suggestions from my roommate. At the end of this post, I’ll compile the things I recommend doing on the same day. I’ll also give you my top three favorite moments from my trip!
Lets start off with…
Places to Go
Rainbow Row
83 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401
Chances are, you have probably seen pictures of this street on Pinterest and Instagram before. What can I say, it is even more colorful and gorgeous in person. It blows my mind that people actually live in such beautiful homes. If I could pick any of them to live in, it would be the lavender one!
The Battery
The Battery consists of even more breathtaking houses situated right along the coast. The thing that stood out the most to me from visiting South Carolina was the impeccable, pristine, and historic architecture. Every single house is unique, and I guarantee no matter what color you wear, there is a house that matches.
Pineapple Fountain
This fountain is a gorgeous spot for photos, and it isn’t too far from Rainbow Row and the Battery. It is found within Waterfront Park, which is a great place to stroll, take in the scenery, and even catch a nice view of Charleston’s iconic Ravenel Bridge.
Folly Beach
Instead of driving two hours to go to Myrtle Beach, which many Charlestonians I spoke with call the “dirty Myrtle,” we went to Folly Beach. This beach was only about thirty minutes outside of Charleston. It has a pier extending pretty far into the ocean that provides a beautiful look back at the shore. Also, this beach has so many shells! I came back home with a plethora of really neat ones.
Things to Do
Go on a Carriage Ride
Recommendation: Palmetto Carriage Works
Not only does this ride take you through all of downtown Charleston, but it also provides a great overview of the city’s past. Charleston is filled with history and works so hard to preserve it. In fact, if you own one of the homes in the historic district and decide to paint your house, you have to get the color approved beforehand. This attention to detail and dedication to preserving history is something I admire and respect.
Explore the Various Vendors on Market Street
Contrary to popular belief, this is NOT where slaves were auctioned off. Today it consists of a strip of open buildings filled with local artists and vendors selling their handmade creations. I’m telling you, this is where you want to go to purchase souvenirs. There is so much variety, and you can find really unique items at any price range.
Shop on King Street
I spent almost a full day walking down this street and exploring different shops. It extends way longer than I was expecting it to, not going to lie. I really like how one half of it was comprised of local, unique stores I had never seen before. The other side had more of the high end, recognizable brand names. Overall, that made it the perfect mix of mainstream retail and small business charm.
Watch the Sunset/Sunrise on Ravanel Bridge
Before arriving, I had no idea South Carolina has the fifth largest bridge in the United States. When my roommate picked me up from the airport and drove across it, I was so impressed by its size and also the stunning view of downtown Charleston. There is also a sidewalk on it for people to bike and walk. We woke up to watch the sunrise my last morning there, and it was honestly one of the highlights of my trip, excluding the fact that we had to get up at 5:30 a.m. haha.
Food
Low Country Bistro
49 S Market St, Charleston, SC 29401
This is the perfect restaurant to stop at if you are exploring the market because it is right off Market Street. I went with the chicken & waffles and let me tell you, it was was heavenly. It’s a great option if you are in the mood for some good Southern comfort food.
SeeWee Restaurant
4808 N Hwy 17, Awendaw, SC 29429
Although this restaurant in a bit outside of downtown Charleston, it is worth the trip. You get so much food with your order, and the hush puppies they provide beforehand are delicious. It has a family-owned feel to it, the seafood is fresh, and just about everything is fried. You really can’t get any more Southern than this restaurant.
Mellow Mushroom
309 King St, Charleston, SC 29401
We went here for lunch the day we shopped along King Street. We started off with the bruschetta, which was a nice appetizer while our pizza baked. Please, do yourself a favor and get the Holy Shitake Pie. This pizza has a unique blend of ingredients, including mushrooms, caramelized onions, mozzarella, garlic aioli, and black truffle oil. I have never had a pizza like this before. It was incredible, and I highly recommend trying it!
Coffee Shops
Skinny Dip
345 King St, Charleston, SC 29401
This adorable coffee shop is located above a boutique on King Street. It has a gorgeous patio area out back, a flower wall to take pictures, and the cutest succulents on each table. My roommate and I ordered vanilla lattes and the barista offered to put these cute cinnamon stencil designs on top! The overall vibe and atmosphere was so happy, productive, and inspirational. I could see myself as a regular there if I lived in the Charleston area!
Bitty & Beau’s
159 Church St, Charleston, SC 29401
This is the perfect place to grab coffee before or after taking a carriage ride because it is in the historic portion of downtown. Not only is the coffee amazing, but I love the mission behind this store. It is run by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, thus fostering a wonderful environment of acceptance. Coffee is something I buy regardless, so knowing that it supports a cause like this made me feel good.
What to Do On the Same Day:
- King Street, Mellow Mushroom, Skinny Dip Coffee
- The Battery, Rainbow Row, Pineapple Fountain
- Carriage Ride, Market Street, Low Country Bistro, Bitty & Beau’s Coffee
- Ravenel Bridge, SeeWee Restaurant
- Folly Beach (just relax and spend the whole day there)
My Three Favorite Moments:
- Taking the carriage ride through downtown Charleston
- Exploring the variety of vendors in the Market
- Taking pictures along Rainbow Row
I hope you enjoyed this guide to Charleston, South Carolina. It really is such a beautiful, charming, and historic city filled with friendly people, great food, and breathtaking architecture. I hope you have the opportunity to visit one day!
