Beautiful Charleston, SC

So here we are smack dab in the middle of February, and I find myself longing for the warmth of summer. The sun on your skin, the sounds of waves lapping on a shoreline and cool summer breezes, green everything, and gorgeous flowers. As my mind drifts with these thoughts, I am drawn to my too few visits to Charleston, SC.

For a short time, my daughter moved to this beautiful area and we were able to visit and take in as much as we could. I think like anywhere you go, there always seems to be too much to see and do in a long weekend, or even in an extended vacation, but my daughter and her beau did a great job picking out some top items for us to experience.

Our friends over at google provide us with this description: “Charleston, the South Carolina port city founded in 1670, is defined by its cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages, and pastel antebellum houses, particularly in the elegant French Quarter and Battery districts. The Battery promenade and Waterfront Park both overlook Charleston Harbor, while Fort Sumter, a federal stronghold where the first shots of the Civil War rang out, lies across the water.”

We took two trips to really take in the city itself, or as much of it as we could. On our first trip we boarded a horse-drawn carriage and took a tour of the city to take in some expert knowledge and plan out where we wanted to revisit on foot. If you know our blog, you know that we highly recommend taking advantage of city tours. While you can spend days online looking up top places to see, taking a personal tour when there, really allows you to hit a lot of ground and narrow down what is truly worth it to you, to revisit. Everyone’s views of what is worth it are different, so these are great to help you find your own hidden gems. During our second trip, we rented bikes, and I HIGHLY recommend doing this if you are physically able. This was an awesome way to take in the city up close, allowing you to hop on and off whenever and where ever you wanted to. If you want to shop or grab a bite to eat, you just park the bike at one of many stations and your charges stop. Ready to hit the streets again, grab another bike and get going. Make sure you download the app before you head out for the day.

Here are a few of the experiences we enjoyed most as well as some delicious eateries.

1: Old South Carriage tours were great to really take in the city, its history and its hot spots. We would recommend them for one of your first stops, but be sure to make reservations ahead of time.

2: The Charleston City Market is one of the nation’s oldest public marketplaces. They have over 300 vendors ranging from crafts, pottery, art, food and more. Plan to take some time strolling through the beautiful open air building and checking out all they have to offer. There is plenty of parking around the surrounding area, so find a spot and spend the day.

3: The Battery, White Point Garden, and Oyster Point is a must at sunset. What a stunning view up the Ashley River for a sunset, and a perfect spot to stroll along the waterfront viewing the stately homes and pristine White Point Garden. Pack a picnic lunch and spend the afternoon!

4: The Angel Oak Tree on nearby John’s Island is definitely worth seeing. This majestic oak is estimated to be over 500 years old. With its bending and dipping mighty branches, you can’t help but imagine the history it has seen. There is free parking along the road and admission is also free, however, donations are GREATLY appreciated to help maintain the tree and area.

5: Deep Water Vineyard and Firefly Distillery are great destinations for the over 21 visitors. Located next to each other, there are tastings available at each property, and of course, after finding your favorites, you can stock up before you head out. If you have the little ones with you and even the four-legged kind, feel free to bring them along as they are pet and kid-friendly, even offering a little farm with pigs and a goat!

Which leads us to eating, and a lot of it. There are so many amazing places to eat here that you will definitely find a favorite and will not be disappointed.

One of our favorites was 5Church, conveniently located across from the City Market. I can’t even begin to tell you how much we enjoyed brunch here and will definitely be back someday for dinner and likely brunch again! There is also Millers All Day for another fantastic brunch and the Blind Tiger Pub for dinner or just drinks relaxing on their patio. Of course, you can also check out Henry’s on the Market also, again, great food and an awesome atmosphere.

Last but not least, I can not leave you with this post and not mention the unbelievable beauty of the homes and gardens here. With their covered porches, gas lanterns, and hanging flowers and ferns make them a breath taking portion of your visit. Do take time to slow down and take them in.