4 Days in Charleston

Charleston, South Carolina has a little something for everyone. Whether you are a foodie, a history buff, or a beach bum, you’ll find plenty to do and see. Four days in Charleston is just enough to get a feel for the city’s charm and leave you wanting more.  

I spent four days in Charleston with my high school girl friends and fell in love with Charleston’s southern charm. Consider Charleston for your honeymoon, couples’ getaway, bachelorette party, or girls’ weekend. We all said we would be returning with our spouses to explore the city even further.

Having never been to Charleston before, I wanted to get a broad and varied experience of the city. I’ll share my experience with you here and provide some additional suggestions if you have extra time. We went to the beach on Day 1 based on the weather. The next three days were forecast for rain and thunderstorms all day but we experienced only spotty rain each day. The locals told us not to worry about a rainy forecast as it typically rains only for a short time.

Day 1  A Day at the Beach and Fine Dining

• Breakfast at The Lost Dog
• Folly Beach
• Dinner at The Fig

Folly Beach

We started our day with breakfast at The Lost Dog in the town of Folly Beach. The owners of this café have created a place where locals and tourists can mingle and enjoy delicious breakfast all day long. My only regret is that I didn’t get the shrimp and grits. The casual atmosphere made it the perfect stop before heading to the beach.

We chose Folly Beach which is just a 20 minute drive from downtown Charleston. For this Arizona girl, any beach is a good beach; but those who know beaches rate Folly as one of Charleston’s finest. Sporting one of the best spots for surfing on the east coast, Folly is also a great beach for families, kayakers and SUP’s. It doesn’t get too crowded and there are plenty of places in town to grab a bite to eat before or after your day at the beach. Check out the Travel Channel’s review of several other beaches in the Charleston area. The beaches at Sullivan’s Island and Isle of Palms are a short 30 minute drive north of Charleston, making them great alternatives when you are fitting a lot into a short weekend.

Dinner at The Fig

With so many dining choices in Charleston, the hardest part of your trip may be deciding where to eat. We chose The Fig for our first night, having made reservations several weeks before.  The Fig has a seasonal menu featuring local ingredients. Our server was exceptional and extremely knowledgeable about the menu.  With her help, we enjoyed a delicious dinner from appetizers through desert.

For other fine dining experiences, try Halls Chophouse, a family owned steakhouse with a Sunday Gospel Brunch featuring live music ; Husk with a changing menu based on local ingredients; or The Ordinary for seafood served in a 1920s bank building.

Day 2 – Plantation Gardens, Historic Charleston, Cocktails and Dessert

• Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
• Horse Drawn Carriage Tour of Historic Charleston
• Cocktails at Husk
• Dessert at Kaminsky’s

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens

No visit to the South is complete without a visit to a Plantation Home. We chose Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. The Plantation was established in 1676 by Thomas Drayton and still remains privately owned by the family. The Gardens were opened to the public in 1870 and invited visitors to travel by boat from Charleston up the Ashley River. Some parts of the garden date back to 1700s, making them the oldest unrestored gardens in the United States.

Visitors can choose from a variety of experiences to personalize their visit. Stroll through a swamp garden, learn about rice-growing in the South while you glide through a flooded rice field or take a tram through the plantation’s wetlands, lakes, forests and marshes.

We took the Slavery to Freedom Tour which offers a glimpse into the darker side of plantation life. Five former slave dwellings have been restored to reflect various time periods during the plantation’s history. Our guide provided an unvarnished narrative of the Gullah people including their contribution of knowledge and skills which enabled the growing of rice on the plantation. 

There are six plantations open to visitors within a short drive from Charleston. For a comprehensive look at all six, read this article by Independent Travel Cats.

Historic Charleston Charm

There are so many ways to discover the charm of Historic Charleston. Whether you wander by yourself, take a walking or horse drawn carriage tour, or cruise the harbor; you’ll likely be enchanted by the stately homes, historic buildings and beautiful parks. As you walk or ride through town be sure to notice the progression of architectural styles including Colonial, Georgian, Federal, Italianate, and Victorian.  Read more about each of these architectural styles.

One predominant architectural style you will see is the Charleston Single House. These homes are identifiable by their multistory covered porches (or piazzas if you are a local). The homes are usually 10 to 25 feet wide and sit close to the property line on one side with the porch running perpendicular to the street. This provides a generous side yard on the porch side. As you walk through Charleston, sneak a few peeks through the wrought iron gates to get a glimpse of the many tucked away gardens.

We chose Palmetto Carriage Tour’s one-hour tour of Charleston’s residential district. Our guide informed and entertained us with stories of the history, people and architecture of Historic Charleston.

A few things we learned during our tour:

• Do you know the difference between a cemetery and a graveyard? A cemetery is not associated with a church. A graveyard is located next to a church building.
• Robert Ripley of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! was the first to name the intersection of Broad and Meeting Streets “The Four Corners of Law.” The four buildings at the intersection represent four branches of law; City Hall (city law), the State House (state law), the Post Office (federal law) and St. Michael’s Episcopal Church (God’s law).
• Charleston is known as “The Holy City.” Some say the nickname refers to the early religious tolerance of the city which was settled by those fleeing religious persecution. Today, Charleston’s skyline is dotted with an abundance of church steeples representing the city’s religious diversity. Another theory is that Yates Snowden, a native Charlestonian, used the name to illustrate its residents love for the city.

Cocktails and Dessert

A perfect way to end a day in Charleston is with a cocktail and/or dessert. Both of which you can find in abundance in Charleston. We chose The Bar at HUSK for our cocktails. The bar pays homage to traditional Southern spirits and serves a mix of historic and modern cocktails. If the weather suits, be sure to enjoy your cocktails in the back garden.

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Kaminsky’s Dessert Café  was our dessert choice. With a rotating menu of desserts made in-house, dessert martinis and adult milkshakes, nobody will be skipping dessert!

While the old classics are always a safe bet, here are some of the best new cocktail spots in Charleston.

And for dessert, try any one of these restaurants where dessert is not to be missed. 

Day 3 – Fort Sumter, Walking Tour, and more good eats!

• Fort Sumter
• Lunch at 5 Church
• Walking tour of Historic Charleston
• Dinner at 5 Loaves

Fort Sumter

Whether you are a Civil War buff or not, don’t leave Charleston without seeing Fort Sumter. Standing in the spot where the American Civil War began is truly awe-inspiring; especially when you stop to think how life in America might be different if that war was never fought. The only way to reach the island is by ferry boat. Click here for times, rates, and reservations.

I recommend taking the first ferry out in the morning. Visitors on that tour are invited to participate in the daily flag raising over the fort.  Due to the ferry schedules, time at the Fort is limited and I felt rushed. I would like to have lingered longer in the museum and exploring the grounds.

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Lunch (Yep, more food!)

The 9:30 tour will bring you back to Charleston around 11:30, a perfect time to grab some lunch. We ate at  5 Church (I recommend making reservations). 5 Church is a feast for the eyes as well as the palette. There is no mistaking that the restaurant is housed in a former church. The arched roof and stained glass windows add a majestic feel to any meal, and don’t forget to look at the ceiling where you will find the entire text of The Art of War.

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Check out these other recommended lunch spots in Charleston.

Walking tour of Historic Charleston

Whether you go it alone or with a guide, here are areas you’ll want to watch out for:

Historic French Quarter – This area was within the original “walled” city of Charleston. You’ll find historic homes and churches, the Dock Street Theatre, and the Old Slave Mart.  Be sure to explore side streets and cobblestone alleyways. Today, the area is known for its many art galleries.

Waterfront Park and the Pineapple Fountain – Here you’ll have views of Fort Sumter and Charleston Harbor. First used as a public garden in 1837, it was later used to fortify the city during the Civil War. Rumor has it, more than one pirate was buried near here. Today, it is a popular spot for weddings.

The Battery – Stroll along the defensive seawall and promenade, taking in the historic antebellum homes along the lower end of the peninsula.

Rainbow Row – These 13 brightly painted homes on East Bay Street are said to be one of Charleston’s most photographed spots. The homes were originally built by merchants in the mid-1700’s.  Some say the houses were colorfully painted to indicate the types of items sold inside; others say it was because the pastel colors kept the homes cooler during hot, humid summers. Whatever the reason, be sure that Rainbow Row is on your list.

King Street – If shopping is your thing, this is where you’ll want to be. More than 300 years old, King Street was a main route in and out of town. King Street has been highlighted as a prime shopping spot by U.S. News and World Report and Travel & Leisure Magazine.

Harleston Village – Home of the College of Charleston, Colonial Lake, and the City Marina.

Charleston City Market – Often referred to as the “Slave Market,” not because slaves were sold here but because this is where they purchased food and supplies for the plantations. Inside this series of open air sheds you’ll find local artists and vendors selling everything from one-of-a-kind artwork to touristy trinkets. Be sure to be on the lookout for Sweetgrass baskets which were originally made to winnow rice on Lowcountry plantations and now are purchased as works of art.

Dinner at 5 Loaves

Great food served in a way that helps the plant; that’s what you’ll find at 5 Loaves. The owners source high-quality, local food; use sustainable materials in their building; and provide biodegradable to-go containers in an effort to reduce their carbon footprint.

For other uniquely Charleston restaurants try Workshop, an “exploratory food court where emerging and renowned chefs experiment with culinary concepts, “ Bourbon and Bubbles luxury restaurant and bar, or  Edmund’s Oast, a brewery and seasonally-focused kitchen.

Day 4 – A last dip in the Atlantic and the Hunley Submarine

• Sullivan’s Beach and Isle of Palms
• The Hunley Submarine

The last day of any trip is usually a fly-out or drive home day.  This is a good day to drive through any areas you haven’t had a chance to see. We had late afternoon flights and so had time to take a short road trip to Sullivan’s Island and Isle of Palms. 

From downtown Charleston, cross over the Cooper River Bridge and follow Highway 703 around the island. You’ll drive through town and then follow the coast towards Isle of Palms. Cross over the bridge to Isle of Palms and take a right on any side street towards to ocean to explore the homes along Ocean Blvd. There are plenty of places to park and walk to the public beach.

The Hunley Submarine

Our last stop before the airport was to learn about the first submarine to sink an enemy ship in combat. The Hunley was a man-powered submarine which set out on February 17, 1864 on a mission to break up the Union Army’s blockade of Charleston Harbor. The Hunley and its crew successfully attacked and sank the USS Housatonic; however, they never returned to shore.

In 1995, the Hunley was located and successfully recovered. Today, the Hunley is housed in North Charleston where it is being preserved. Tours of the Hunley include a view of the lab where the restoration work is taking place and interactive exhibits that kids and adults alike will enjoy and learn from. I highly recommend you add this to your list. Learn more about the Hunley’s history and restoration.

Charleston FAQs

When to go to Charleston

Charleston is a year-round destination depending on what you plan to do and how you like to travel.

• March – May: Temperatures are mild and flowers are in full bloom. Expect higher prices and bigger crowds.
• June – August: Plan for heat and humidity. Best time for a beach vacation. Expect rain in August.
• September – November: Beautiful days and nights. Expect crowds for the many autumn festivals.
• December – February: Mild winter temperatures. Good time to visit if you want to avoid the crowds.

Where to stay in Charleston

I recommend staying in downtown Charleston on the Peninsula for the best way to really immerse yourself in Charleston’s charm. You can rent a 100 year-old home or stay in an historic hotel.

Do you need a car in Charleston

If you are staying downtown, you won’t need a car to visit any of the Historic Charleston areas. Walking or ride-sharing are great alternatives and will avoid that hassle of driving and parking. If you plan to visit the beach or other sites outside of downtown Charleston, a car is recommended. 

Is your favorite Charleston destination missing? Let me know where you love to go when you visit The Holy City.