In a city like Charleston, there is so much to see and do! We arrived mid-day on a Thursday and left first thing on Sunday, so we were really only there for 2 full days.
There is definitely a time and place to get up early and explore vs. lay low and enjoy a more relaxed trip. If you are looking to pack in a lot of adventure and sight-seeing into your trip check out our suggested weekend guide below! If you are willing to get out there and explore, you sure can pack a lot into a weekend!
Day One | Venture Outside of the City
Something Tyler and I love to do is rent a car for one day. If you are in a city where you can get around easily like Charleston, you don’t need a car the entire trip; instead, opt to rent a car for day-use only to get out of town to see things harder to get too while paying a fraction of the price (overnight hotel parking, additional charges per day, etc.) Plan to go adventure outside of the city and pack in everything that is not central and easy to get too!
- Stop One | Find some breakfast! We headed to Playa Bowls on Market Street, because it was quick and easy. It was also a short walk to the car rental location, so all around a good call for us.
- Stop Two | Take your car across the beautiful Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge to Mount Pleasant, an island directly across from Charleston, SC. The bridge is the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America and tallest structure in South Carolina. It is 2.5 miles long, so if you were thinking of walking across I would just note the distance.
- Stop Three | Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens. This is a must-see when in Charleston, SC. This plantation is known as “America’s most photographed plantation”! It is where scenes from The Notebook (Allie Hamilton’s family home) were filmed, the famous oak tree row was recreated in Gone With The Wind and where Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively got married! It is one of America’s oldest working farms with a very powerful and meaningful history. It is such a picturesque setting right on the river, with beautiful well-kept gardens, 500 year old oak trees and the home itself beautifully maintained. (We preferred its immensely over the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. If you are looking to enjoy beautiful gardens, go to Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, but if you are looking to tour a true “plantation” visit Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens. The Magnolia Planation home was very underwhelming and in a lot of ways not as beautifully kept. It was also a “summer home” for many years, so not even a true working plantation.)
- Stop Four | Head over to Sullivans Island for some lunch (16 mins away from Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens), but on your way there don’t forget to stop and enjoy the picturesque views of Isle of Palms. From the street, it is hard to see the ocean past all of the beautiful beachfront homes, but find a public access beach path to get to the water. You won’t regret it! The beach-front goes for miles… enjoy picking up some seashells, peak at the luxurious real estate
- Stop Five | End the night at Rappahannock Oyster Bar! You will not be disappointed! To learn more about it, click here.
If you are like us and want to see more before handing over the keys of your one day rental, take a night time drive through the neighborhoods of the French Quarter! The French Quarter is considered the oldest part of Charleston, SC with homes dating back before the 1700’s! At night, the owners have their front entry way gas lamps burning and it’s a great way to close out an evening. Stop the car at Battery Park to enjoy the sound of the ocean, romantically lit park and original homes (one where George Washington stayed). It is stunning both during the day and at night.
Day Two | Enjoy Downtown
After a fun-filled day one, now it’s time to dive into day two! This time staying local
- Stop One | Find some breakfast!
- Stop Two | If you are visiting over the weekend, stop by the Historic Charleston City Market and stroll through the marketplace. To be honest, it is quite touristy and there are lots of trinkets…but if that is what you are in too take a look. For us, it was a quick pass-bye, but maybe for some of you, you might want to take your time. The overall area of town is very fun, historic and a fun pocket you won’t want to miss seeing.
- Stop Three | Carriage Ride. Now I know some might be skeptical and think it must be a “tourist” trap….but it was truly our favorite tour while in Charleston, SC. The tours are regulated by the city and each guide has to go through an intense program and be licensed! The city also uses a special “lottery system” for which route each individual carriage can take, meaning no company is better than the other and each route will hold different history! The city goes to great lengths to ensure the history is being properly portrayed. It is also not expensive ($30 per person) for about an hour tour. You walk away with such an appreciation for the history of the city and understanding of details you would have completely missed if they weren’t pointed out to you!
- Stop Four | Now that you have enjoyed your carriage tour, hopefully, it has ignited an appetite to explore some more now that you know what you are looking at. Pick up a Charleston walking map and hit the road! The streets are short, so you can easily walk all across town! If you are wanting to move a bit faster, rent a city bike which are located all over the city!
- Stop Five | After a day on your feet, you will be hungry! Trek across town (Lyft/Uber if you don’t have a car) to Edmunds Oast Exchange, NOMO to find a bit to eat or two or three! May we suggest a bit of progressive eating…. to learn more about our favorite restaurants in the area, click here.
- Stop Six | Shop on Market Street and walk around Marion Square. (During the spring, Marion Square is a masterpiece with all of the beautiful Charleston flowers) Enjoy many unique boutiques, well-known brands such as Yeti, Vineyard Vines, Chubbies and luxury designers such as Louis Vuitton. Whatever you are looking for, you will find it.
- Stop Seven | End the night out on the town on Market Street and around the Historic Charleston City Market which is lined with fine dining, bars, clubs and everything in-between. We would recommend starting at The Darling Oyster for some oysters and oyster shooters! If you want to know where else to stop by, click here.
Crist Adventures 