Charleston Weekend Getaway South Carolina

Finding Kathy Brown is a proud Member of the adidas Blogger Community – Items in this image/post were gifted*

Though it’s true a weekend will not be enough time to experience everything this top travel destination has to offer, we certainly tried. Logging 20,000 steps on my Fitbit per day.

Travel Tip: Wear comfortable sneakers and if traveling in the Fall or Winter, wear layers.

Like what I’m wearing in the image above?  Be sure to check out adidas activewear and hoodies before your next vacation!

Listed below are what stood out as exceptional attractions and those we’d pass by on the next weekend’s getaway.

Purchasing a walking tour was a great way to get the lay of the land.  The walking tour was educational, informative, and a great way to learn the city layout.

The downtown streets of Charleston, SC are walkable, but vast.  Taking a walking tour first helps to get the layout of the downtown streets.  Though expect to get lost at least once, maybe twice. 

The Andrew Pinckney Inn offered us everything we were looking for in Charleston, South Carolina hotel accommodation, and more.

The Andrew Pinckney Hotel is known for its fantastic location in the heart of the historic district.

We found charming accommodations, southern hospitality, and a complimentary breakfast that was incredible. The location of the Andrew Pickney Inn was Exceptional!

Let me start by saying, that touring old houses isn’t a normal vacation attraction for me. I typically bore easily when it comes to touring old mansions. However, Charleston house tours are on another level.

So much rich and mostly tragic history behind these old walls makes for a perfect storytelling opportunity.

We enjoyed the tales of life through the eyes only these homes could provide. Our tour guides were very knowledgeable and really great storytellers.

Many of the homes, provide lovely gardens that can only be seen by taking an inexpensive tour. Often combo tickets are available to see multiple places for one low price. Exceeded Expectations!

I’m as surprised as you are that a ghost tour makes my list of the best of Charleston. But here it is, the reasons the carriage ghost evening tour is worth the $50 price.

First, most of the year it’s dang hot in South Carolina. The fact that this carriage ride takes place in the evening makes the temperature ideal.

Second, tourists learn about the history of many of the landmarks with a scary twist.

Finally, we loved our tour guide’s fun nature and lighthearted banter.

I would put the Charleston haunted carriage tour on any must-see list. Special thank you to Jessica and our horse Ben for a great tour. Exceptional!

Because everyone has a budget let’s look at activities and ways to have fun for free. Below are a few top free things to do in downtown Charleston, SC.

Without question, walking the historic streets of Charleston is the most popular tourist attraction. Guess what? Creating your own walking tour and exploring is completely free.

As mentioned earlier in this post, I logged a wapping 20,000 steps per day.

That being said comfortable shoes are a must, like adidas sneakers.

I also highly recommend taking lots of pictures because Charleston is a one-of-a-kind gem and you will want to take lots of pictures.

Free sights that Charleston is most known for include Rainbow Row, City Market, King Street, Waterfront Park, Philadelphia Alley, and the Iconic pineapple fountain.

Be sure you include Riverfront Park on the list of top places to see in Charleston, South Carolina. Riverfront Park is a popular area for both tourists and locals. This Charleston public area offers a lovely pier, beautiful river views, the iconic Pineapple Fountain, canopies of shading oaks, and so much more.

All-in-all there is too much beauty to be found while strolling the historic downtown streets to list them all. Some are simply discovered by looking into street-side gardens.

Charleston being a southern USA city has no shortage of amazing cathedrals and churches open to the public. Random Civil War history and graveyards provide time to reflect on the past. Must-Do!

Charleston, SC made my complete list of the most budget-friendly vacations in the USA!

Shop and Stroll The Charleston City Market

The City Market in Charleston, SC, dating back to the 1790s, offers a blend of history and modern charm.  Known for sweetgrass baskets crafted by local artisans, it’s a hub for handcrafted goods like jewelry and artwork.  The lively market buzzes with vendors, live music, and local flavors, creating a popular place for tourists. 

I’m no stranger to Shem Creek, in Mount Pleasant, SC.  We discovered this hidden gem years ago. I have included a detailed guide for visiting Shem Creek located a short ride over the Cooper River. 

READ MORE

Love, Shem Creek. 

Here are the dining establishments we loved on our weekend Charleston getaway.

• Husk Restaurant: My top pick from this travel weekend getaway. Wow on the atmosphere, menus, and cuisine. Reservations suggested – 76 Queen St. Exceptional!
• Church and Union: Comfort food at its best and the beauty of a converted church. Reservations recommended – 32 North Market Street. Fantastic!
• Hotel Emeline Dining: Not often do I put dining inside resorts on a top city guide, but I loved the restaurant inside the Emeline Hotel. Lured in by the food, and I hoped to book a stay with Emeline on the next visit. Clerk’s Coffee is a nice place to escape the heat too. Address: 181 Church St. Surprising Find!
• 82 Queen Charleston: Southern cooking and a beautiful courtyard.  As tourists walk the historic streets of downtown Charleston, SC, you can’t help but notice beautiful courtyards.  Many of these are reserved for private residences.  However, 82 Queens Courtyard is accessible to all who think ahead and make reservations! The She Crab soup, southern tomato pie, and cocktails were to die for.

There were just a few letdowns and experiences that didn’t live up to our hype. So here it goes, a few things I won’t be doing again on our next Charleston weekend getaway.

• Poogan’s Porch Southern Restaurant: For the purpose of tasting as many food dishes as we could, we adopted a common practice savvy travelers use, tasting multiple appetizers and drinks. Well, that did not go over well with our waiter and he became downright rude. At one point he practically throws the food plate down at me. Now I understand bad service is not always a full measure of a restaurant and so I really wanted the food to recover from this bad experience. The problem was it didn’t. The food was not good, flavorful, or what I had expected. It’s a pass on Poogans Porch next time. Total disappointment!
• Kaminsky’s Dessert Cafe: It’s possible my expectations were set too high by the constant line that formed outside Kaminsky Cafe. Ultimately, waiting in line was not worth it. I found much better sweet treats elsewhere in this historic southern town. Too much hype!
• Boone Hall Plantation: Boone Hall is located on the other side of the Cooper River on the Mount Pleasant side. For me, it was a letdown due to a lack of interesting narration. Most of the antiques within the home were replicas and not historic at all. I will note that Boone Hall gets top reviews online, so maybe it’s me.