personal

Charleston Trip Recap and Recommendations | Where to Eat and What to Do in Charleston, SC

Our annual trip this year took us to Charleston, and I have to say, it completely lived up to the hype! We’ve heard so many wonderful things about this city, and after experiencing it ourselves, we can’t wait to go back. Charleston reminded me a lot of St. Petersburg, Florida—charming, coastal, and full of history—but with an extra layer of Southern charm and history. While we were there, I kept track of what we did and where we ate to provide a Charleston trip recap and recommendations of all our favorite experiences for anyone visiting this amazing city!

Nashville wedding photographer, Kera Photography captures images while visiting Charleston SC

Charleston Trip Recap and Recommendations: What We Did in Charleston

Charleston is such a walkable city, especially when staying downtown like we did. There were a few days we racked up more than 18,000 steps! We had the most amazing weather with only one afternoon of rain. To start the trip we wanted to get a lay of the land so we did a Bus & Harbour Tour!

Bus & Harbour Tour

We love starting our trips with an overview of the city, and the Bus & Harbour Tour gave us just that. The bus tour was about 1.5 hours long and gave us a great introduction to Charleston’s rich history—both the old and the new.

Afterward, we hopped on a harbour tour, which was so relaxing. You can buy the tickets together, but there’s a two-hour intermission between the two tours. We didn’t mind though as it gave us time to grab a bite to eat. The harbour tour has a full-service bar, so naturally, we had a couple of beers while enjoying the water views and learning a bit more about Charleston.

Charleston Trip Recap and Recommendations | Where to Eat and What to Do in Charleston, SC

Woodhouse Day Spa Couples Massage

After a few days of walking, we decided to treat ourselves to a couples massage at Woodhouse Day Spa. If you’re visiting Charleston and doing lots of sightseeing, I highly recommend treating yourself to a massage to relax those muscles! It was easily one of the best massages I’ve ever had. I even added an orange aromatherapy, which felt perfect for the Charleston vibe. Afterward, we hung out in the lodge in our robes—me with a hot tea, and my husband with a beer— where you can stay as long as you’d like. We just relaxed without any technology. It was pure bliss!

Chalmers Street

One of the most beautiful spots in Charleston is Chalmers Street. This historic, cobblestone street was absolutely stunning and not as crowded as other popular spots like Rainbow Row. It’s a must-see if you want to take in the more intimate, historic corners of the city.

historic homes and cobblestone streets in Charleston, SC

Historic House Tours

Charleston is known for their beautiful, historic homes, so we made time to tour a couple of them.

Nathaniel Russell House

The first house tour was the Nathaniel Russell House. This home was located in the French Quarter and contains a stunning garden. We did a self-guided audio tour, which allowed us to explore at our own pace. The architecture and design were breathtaking.

Edmondston-Alston House

Next, we toured the Edmondston-Alston House. This home is located on the water and still houses family on the third floor. Though we could only tour part of it, we had a private tour and it was very interesting.

Both tours were only $15 each and well worth it for anyone interested in Charleston’s history and the families that built the city!

Shopping on King Street

If you love shopping, King Street is the place to be! We stayed right off of King Street in historic downtown and spent an entire day going in and out of local shops. There’s something for everyone here!

Historic Charleston City Market

Historic Charleston City Market is the place to find some true Charleston treasures! We wandered around and I picked up a pair of beautiful, handmade clay earrings. If you want to leave with a little charleston, this market has a ton of sweet grass basket makers!

Rainbow Row

We couldn’t leave Charleston without walking through the iconic Rainbow Row. We visited on our last day and were pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t crowded, making it even more enjoyable. I learned that the colorful homes were originally considered part of “the slums” until one person decided to renovate their house, inspiring others to do the same. The result is the beautiful, pastel-colored homes we see today.

Charleston Trip Recap and Recommendations | Rainbow Row

Sullivan’s Island

For a little escape to the coast, we visited Sullivan’s Island. Though it’s mostly residential, there are a few wonderful restaurants and an old lighthouse commissioned by the USCG with an elevator. While we couldn’t tour the lighthouse, it was a must-see for me, as both of my parents were in the Coast Guard.

Charleston Recap and Recommendations: Where We Ate in Charleston

Let me start by saying that Charleston is a foodie’s dream – there is so much good food! There was a little Asian restaurant that we didn’t eat at called Mama Kims. However it stood out to us and made us giggle as that is what I call my mother-in-law!

Here are a few highlights of where and what we ate, as well as where we recommend making time to stop when you’re in Charleston.

Lenoir – ($)

We got in late Sunday afternoon and most things were closed for food. So we had a beer to wait for restaurants to open. It was a fun vibe and environment for a drink, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend their food. We came back here to try their food later in the trip and were disappointed.

Felix – ($$)

This was our first dining experience Sunday evening. Their cocktails were fantastic, but the mac and cheese was the real star of the show! It was to die for!!

Charleston Trip Recap and Recommendations | Where to Eat in Charleston, SC

Virginia’s on King – ($$)

Went here for breakfast biscuit sandwiches before our Charleston bus tour. It is a little expensive but so good! You could tell the biscuits were homemade.

Legends Deli– ($)

Though we didn’t eat sandwiches here, we had a little appetizer after our Harbour Tour and before dinner since it was raining. We had the most amazing Ricotta Toast!! I am still dreaming about it.

Magnolias – ($$$)

This was our first fancy dinner in Charleston, and it did not disappoint! The market catch of the day was halibut, and it was so fresh. Karl had bouillabaisse. We paired our meal with a crisp Albarino wine and ended our meal with a rich chocolate cake – absolutely divine! The service here was also fantastic!! For everything we got — the price was affordable coming in under $200.

Fancy dinner in Charleston | Charleston Trip Recap and Recommendations by Kera Photography

Marbled & Fin – ($$$$$)

We had an absolutely fantastic experience from beginning to end at Marbled & Fin, with quite a few surprises and delights! Our server, Corrigan, was pleasant and had wonderful recommendations — we thoroughly enjoyed talking with him!

We started our meal with a caesar salad that we shared — definitely big enough to share. I ordered the Ricotta Agnolotti and my husband had the Australian Wagyu with lobster accompaniment. We also ordered a side of roasted carrots and au gratin potatoes. The entire meal was mouth watering! We paired our meal with a Chenin Blanc from Vouvray. I was so thrilled that they had a fantastic wine menu to accompany their amazing dishes.

We’re already planning a return trip just for this restaurant!

Fantastic eating experience at Marbled and Fin in Charleston, SC

The Obstinate Daughter – ($$)

This restaurant is located on Sullivan’s Island, and was recommended to us by a local for their brunch, but we came on a weekday and could only order lunch. BUT it was delicious and we had an incredible experience. I ordered the caprese with a pickled vegetable side and my husband had the shrimp po boy with fried polenta.

Where to Eat and What to Do in Charleston, SC | Charleston Trip Recap and Recommendations

Harken Cafe – ($)

This was the cutest little coffee shop in the French Quarter with outdoor seating. Everything was homemade. I had the “Green Thing” toast, and it was the perfect light breakfast after a night of indulging in rich foods.

Sorelle – ($$)

A great spot for a quick, delicious bite after a morning of historic house tours. We were pleasantly surprised with the options! My husband ordered the spicy chicken caesar sandwich and I had a caprese. It was a perfect late lunch that hit the spot!

Visiting Charleston

As you can see, we had the absolute best time as we explored and ate our way through Charleston. Charleston 100% lived up to its reputation as one of the best destinations in the South. Between the charming streets, delicious food, and historic sights, we had an unforgettable time. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a longer vacation, Charleston should be at the top of your list!