Things To Do
Coastal Expeditions on Shem Creek
Check out their November schedule! They offer a ferry to Bulls Island as well as kayak expeditions of Isle of Palms and Shem Creek. They even have a shark tooth and fossil hunt.
Charleston Sailing Charters Yachts Fate, Kismet and Mystique
We've sailed on the Fate before and had a blast. You can bring your own food and drinks on board. If you're lucky, they'll even let you get behind the wheel and steer the boat a little bit!
Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon
Airbnb didn't exist yet when Blackbeard visited Charleston, so he had to stay in this historic dungeon (I guess he didn't have much of a choice). Come take a short guided tour and learn about Charleston's pirate history – and maybe catch a mock pirate trial performed by actors in period-appropriate clothing (you get to be the jury)!
Charleston Brewery District Trolley
The trolley is a free trolley-bus service that drives a route connecting all the breweries in downtown Charleston. You'll want to check the schedule to know where it's going to be when (although in general it operates between 1 PM and 9 PM every Saturday), but once you're on board, you're in for a ride.
Charleston Tea Garden
This is the only tea garden in North America! You can actually take a tour through it on an old trolley.
Gibbes Museum of Art
The Gibbes is a lovely art museum featuring a great mix of classical and contemporary art from artists in and around Charleston. Multiple floors of great work offer something for everybody, and its located within walking distance of a lot of great stuff downtown.
International African American Museum
You have to reserve tickets ahead of time. Eric and I recently went and enjoyed it! There's a lot of Charleston specific history.
Charleston Culinary Tours
Charleston is a culinary destination for sure! If you're only here a short while and can't narrow down where you want to eat + drink, a culinary tour is a great way to get a little taste of everything.
Lewis Barbecue
If you love barbecue and you've only got time to go to one spot while you're in town, make it Lewis. Their sliced brisket is unbelievable, as is their El Sancho sandwich. Wonderful sides, great sauces, and a super cool outdoor dining section. Lewis rules.
Indaco
Probably our favorite Italian restaurant in Charleston. Located downtown, they serve a ton of incredible pizza, pasta, cheese boards, and more. If Eric could recommend someone visiting Charleston to try one dish, it might be their black pepper tagliatelle.
MOMO riverfront park
Located inside the beautiful Riverfront Park in North Charleston, MOMO is a great place for brunch, lunch, and more. Awesome cocktails, including a terrific mimosa flight, and really delicious food. Since it's located in the park, it's a great place to take a walk before or after your meal.
Jackrabbit Filly
An incredible family-style restaurant located in Park Circle. Also incredibly popular – if you read the menu and it piques your interest, you'll want to make sure you make reservations ahead of time.
Gaulart & Maliclet Fast and French Inc.
Fast and French is one of Elaina's favorite lunch spots. It has the most delicious soups, salads, and sandwiches. Despite being on the lovely Broad street downtown and very French, it is not pretentious nor too expensive. Allez!
Leon's
Some of the best fried chicken in Charleston!
Off Track Ice Cream
This place offers vegan ice cream and somehow it tastes better than real ice cream, which I didn't even think was possible. It makes my lactose-intolerant heart happy!
Kudu Coffee and Craft Beer
Lovely pastries and snacks, coffee drinks, and beer. They have a really beautiful courtyard attached to the side of the building – an excellent place to sip and chat.
The Gin Joint
Really excellent cocktail bar. Sports a wonderful list of drinks to choose from, including "Bartender's Choice": a cocktail you create by selecting two adjectives, and seeing what they bring to the table.
Hampton Park
This is where we got our engagement photos taken. It's an amazing park originally designed by the group that designed Central Park. The first Memorial Day was held here and at one point it was even a zoo. There's a lot of history here, but now it's the perfect place to take a stroll.