Chris and I spent last weekend in Charleston, South Carolina. Being in Charleston makes me absolutely love where I am from. The city is gorgeous, historic, casual and upscale all at the same time. If you have never been, book your tickets now. It's perfect for a weekend trip. Here is my idea of a perfect day in Charleston...
TIPS.
WHAT TO WEAR. Dress comfortably and in layers. Charleston weather will fool anyone so dress in layers and remember that Charleston is a relaxed city so flip flops are perfect, sundresses are the ideal outfit and sunglasses are a must.
MIND YOUR MANNERS. The appropriate greeting for anyone on the street before noon is "Good Morning". Say please and thank you and we will really love you if you say "Ya'll" at some point. Southerners are hospitable so you will find store keepers and waiters very friendly for the most part.
THE TEA IS SWEET. Our default drink is sweet tea so if you aren't into that specify and you really should try it.
PARKING. Charleston has a great parking garage at King and Queen. Park there and walk. Parking along the battery is free and if you are there in the early morning you should have no problem finding a spot.
DO YOUR RESEARCH. Do some research online for whatever you to see. There are stores, restaurants and sights scattered all over Charleston and the surrounding areas so do some research and I guarantee they have what you are looking for.
THE SHOPPING
Charleston is a great place to shop. Here is my primer on shopping in Charleston and I am by no means an expert but this is a good place to start.
KING STREET & CHARLESTON PLACE HOTEL
This is the most well known place for shopping in Charleston and will certainly be the busiest. The Charleston Place Hotel is located between King Street and the City Market (see below). Inside the hotel is a line of chain stores (Papyrus, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Pandora, etc.). When you come out onto King Street you will see lots of chain stores including J.Crew, Banana Republic, Williams Sonoma, etc. Also there is one of my favorite stores Half Moon Outfitters. They have a great selection of outdoor clothing and equipment and it's a perfect place to pick up flip flops if you forgot yours.
If you come out of the Charleston Place Hotel and head left you will go to Lower King Street, which is a great place to shop. The chain stores die down and there are some great shops like Lily and Vieuxtemps. My favorite is...
Gorgeous lighting, furniture and accessories.
E BAY STREET
East Bay is lined with lots of great restaurants and an amazing kitchenwares shop,
Definitely for the serious cook and if you have time stay in for a cooking demo.
THE SIGHTS
I grew up going to Charleston on school trips so I am not going to give you a history lesson but Charleston is full of revolutionary and civil war history. If history is what you are after, Charleston is your place. There are tons of resources online and lots of travel guides so I won't bore you with those. Also, Charleston is filled with carriage tours. I can't imagine anything less appealing that riding around with a smelly horse but if you want to go for it. I recommend grabbing a travel guide with a walking tour. Take comfortable shoes (flip flops are appropriate at any time) and walk the city. My favorite sites in Charleston are these...
THE BATTERY
Located along the Cooper River, the Battery is a esplanade along the river that looks out over the water. The walk way lines a gorgeous park and amazing colorful homes. I recommend going in the morning to avoid a crowd. Pick up your breakfast and enjoy it strolling along the water.
THE MARKET
This is referred to often as the City Market. This open air market is filled with history and now home to 90% of the tourist traps in Charleston. The market is lined with chain stores and ladies making sweetgrass baskets. While it is definitely a tourist trap (think of a Southern version of Canal Street), it's worth wondering around in and you might find something you like. If possible, go during a weekday and the crowds will be thinner.
HOUSE HUNTING
Charleston is full of amazing homes and gardens. The streets along the battery boast some of the most gorgeous homes you will ever see. Rainbow Row is the row of homes known for their colorful facades. Also check out Chalmers street for some gorgeous homes and streets. Gorgeous buildings and hidden gardens are everywhere so keep your camera ready.
THE FOOD.... YUM
Charleston has AMAZING food. Amazing. There are restaurants everywhere and it's easy to get sucked into one of the chain or touristy restaurants but I urge you to seek out the restaurants that are doing amazing things with local ingredients. If you want upscale, check out the line of restaurants on E Bay St (High Cotton, Magnolias, S.N.O.B. (Slightly North of Broad).
BREAKFAST: BAKED
This is a small bakery located on E Bay St that serves excellent pastries. Try the Zucchini Muffin. It's to die for. The atmosphere is relaxed and modern and pick up one of their famed brownies for later.
LUNCH: MAGNOLIAS
This restaurant is perfect for brunch, lunch or dinner but I loved their lunch. The menu is upscale southern cuisine and it's delicious. I ordered the fried green tomato and lump crab BLT. Heavily toasted bread topped with lump crab, a large fried green tomato and bacon served with sweet potato fries. Also their Blue Crab Bisque is amazing. Make reservations.
DINNER: 82 QUEEN
We actually dined here for lunch but I really want to go back for dinner. Again this is another upscale southern cuisine restaurant. They have a gorgeous courtyard to eat in filled with magnolias and flowers. I ordered the BBQ Shrimp and Grits and they were delicious. For starters experiment with the lobster corn fritters with truffled butter. Also, the sweet tea is great.
That is all for my perfect day in Charleston!