Things to Do: Weekend Trip to Charleston, SC
If you ever want to take a weekend trip to Charleston, South Carolina, here is a perfect weekend itinerary!
This past weekend, my boyfriend and I drove down to Charleston, South Carolina for our anniversary. We were there for less than 48 hours but we had an amazing time! If you are looking for a quick getaway, add Charleston to your list.
Here is what we did!
Friday:
7:00 PM: Check Into Hotel
We arrived and checked into our hotel in Downtown Charleston. We stayed at the Courtyard Charleston Historic District. It is within walking distance to King Street, one of the most popular streets in the city, with lots of dining and nightlife options.
9:00 PM: Dinner at The Ordinary
The Ordinary is a Southern seafood restaurant and oyster bar located right on King Street. The restaurant used to be an old bank and has since been transformed into a two-level restaurant with very high ceilings and a full bar.
We ordered a dozen oysters of different varieties, the Crispy Tarvin White Shrimp Roll, and the Lobster Rice. All of the food was amazing! However, keep in mind that their menu does change on a daily basis.
Saturday:
Our Saturday did not start until the afternoon because we sleep in on vacation! But if you are a morning person or just like to have a fully packed schedule from sun up to sun down, you could head to the Historic Charleston City Market in the morning.
The market hosts a variety of local vendors and is a great place to shop for souvenirs and unique items to take back home with you. Charleston City Market is open from 9:30 AM to 5 PM everyday.
High Wire Distilling
1:00 PM: Distillery Tour at High Wire Distilling
After grabbing something quick to eat, we headed to a distillery tour at High Wire Distilling. High Wire is the oldest distillery in Charleston and they sell all their own spirits. The tour was about 30 minutes and it took us through their entire production process and how they store their barrels.
The distillery has both a full production area and a tasting room where people can enjoy tasting flights or special cocktails. It is definitely a good, and tipsy, outing for your Saturday!
3:00 PM: Sullivan’s Island Beach
Less than 20 minutes from Downtown Charleston is Sullivan’s Island Beach. It was a pretty chilly day when we were there so we just took a glimpse at the ocean, but if you are going during warmer weather, the beach can be an all day event! There are several public access stations to the beach and lots of good food and shops around the area.
Fleet Landing Stuffed Hushpuppies
8:30 PM: Dinner at Fleet Landing Restaurant & Bar
Fleet Landing Restaurant & Bar is a popular seafood restaurant with a waterfront view. We ordered a dozen chilled oysters and the Fleet Landing Stuffed Hushpuppies to share. I also ordered the She-crab Soup and the Lowcountry Seafood Pasta.
Our waiter told us that the stuffed hushpuppies were now on the Top 50 List of Foods to Try in Charleston so we had to get them and they exceeded our expectations. The filling in the middle was so good!
Sunday:
Another morning of sleeping in for us, but a good Sunday morning option is the South Carolina Aquarium. The aquarium is open from 9 AM - 5 PM daily. Tickets are available purchase online.
1:30 PM: Brunch at The Macintosh
The Macintosh was located right on King Street and was within walking distance from our hotel. We ordered The Duke Sandwich (a fried chicken sandwich with a fried egg) and poutine.
The food was absolutely amazing and I wish I could recommend it but unfortunately, the brunch service on Sunday, March 7th was the last service ever for The Macintosh as they will be closing after a rough year during the pandemic. According to Live 5 News, The Macintosh has been serving Charleston for about 10 years but ultimately made the hard decision to close.
Rainbow Row
4:00 PM: Rainbow Row & White Point Garden
We could not leave Charleston without seeing Rainbow Row, a row of beautiful rainbow colored houses on East Bay Street. It is a very popular tourist attraction and the perfect place for Instagram worthy photos.
The street dead ends at White Point Garden, a beautiful historic garden overlooking the water. Lots of people were jogging and walking next to the water. The water was so serene and peaceful. It was the best place to end the weekend.
Waterfront at White Point Garden
A little less than 48 hours later, we were heading out! We had such a great time. That’s all we had time for on this trip but we just scratched the surface of the things to do in this coastal city.
Charleston is the perfect place for a quick getaway or a long vacation. If you’ve ever been to Charleston, drop a comment and tell me what you did while you were there so I can add it to my list for next time!
“Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! Until next time, always remember to be kind.”