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With its colourful buildings, vibrant foodie scene and sandy seashores, Charleston is a type of locations that has a little bit of all the pieces and is ideal for an extended weekend. The metropolis additionally occurs to be only a two-hour flight from New York, so in the event you dwell within the Big Apple like me, it’s a simple journey in the event you can’t get a lot day without work work. 3 days in Charleston are sufficient to cowl one of the best issues to do there and eat at a number of the metropolis’s greatest eating places. Plus, the climate is way milder down within the south, with loads of heat sunny days!
If you’re planning to spend a weekend in Charleston, right here’s my steered Charleston itinerary:
Day 1: Historic Downtown, Waterfront & Rooftops
On day certainly one of your Charleston itinerary I’d recommend getting acclimatized by strolling across the downtown space. Charleston is small and simple to discover on foot.
Joe Riley Waterfront Park
Start by strolling by way of Joe Riley Waterfront Park, which has two fountains and romantic waterfront views. The park runs for about half a mile alongside the Cooper River and received the 2007 Landmark Award from the American Society of Landscape Architects and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
A spotlight is the Pineapple Fountain, which is a well-liked place for teenagers to chill off and paddle when the climate will get sizzling.
Rainbow Row
Once you’ve walked by way of the park, head to Rainbow Row on East Bay Street, which is an iconic row of colourful Georgian-style homes that date from 1748 to 1845. The homes have been owned by the retailers who operated their companies on the bottom flooring.
This is the cutest spot in Charleston for Instagram pictures and engagement shoots so don’t be shocked if it’s important to wait your flip to seize a photograph.
An fascinating reality for you – the homes haven’t at all times been brightly coloured. The colour development began in 1931 When Dorothy Porcher Legge and her husband Judge Lionel Legge bought a piece of the homes and determined to color them in pastel hues. Other neighbors adopted swimsuit, and it will definitely grew to become referred to as Rainbow Row!
Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon
Next up in your Charleston itinerary, take a stroll to Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, which was inbuilt 1771 as a business alternate and customized home. This historic constructing has functioned as many issues during the last two and a half centuries, together with a business alternate, customized home, put up workplace, metropolis corridor, army headquarters, and museum. Admission to the constructing features a guided exhibition of the highest two flooring of the constructing and a 25 minute guided tour of the cellar, referred to as the Provost Dungeon.
Admission is $12 for adults and $5 for youngsters age 6-12. Children beneath 6 enter totally free.
Old Slave Market Museum
If you curious about studying about Charleston’s darkish historical past of slavery, you possibly can go to the Old Slave Mart Museum close by, which is a constructing within the French Quarter the place slaves have been auctioned earlier than the Civil War. The self-guided tour is a sobering expertise and takes lower than an hour, the place you’ll learn informative posters about South Carolina’s slave historical past.
Charleston City Market
Afterwards make your solution to Historic Charleston City Market – a big indoor market that spans 4 metropolis blocks and dates again to the 1790s. Here you’ll discover numerous completely different distributors and stalls promoting artisanal merchandise.
The Dewberry
By this level you’ll most likely be feeling prefer it’s time to relaxation for some time, so I’d suggest visiting the rooftop at The Dewberry Charleston lodge, referred to as Citrus Club. The gorgeous rooftop terrace is the very best in Charleston and affords unbelievable views over the town. Make positive to put on good informal apparel although, and word that collared shirts are required for males.
Dinner at Husk
For dinner, seize some Southern delicacies at certainly one of Charleston’s acclaimed eating places. There are so many nice choices, however Pearlz, Magnolias and Husk have been all really helpful to us by locals. We ate at Husk, which is housed in a Victorian-era house and serves domestically sourced Southern dishes with a contemporary twist. The meals was wonderful and so have been the cocktails!
Day 2: Beach and Sunset at Shem Creek
On the second day of your weekend in Charleston I’d recommend hitting the seashore!
Folly Beach close to Charleston could be very standard, though our Uber driver warned us towards it simply because the visitors can get actually dangerous on weekends. If there’s no visitors the journey ought to take 20 minutes however at peak occasions he instructed us it could actually take over an hour to get there and again. Instead, I’d recommend going to Sullivan’s Island, which is a bit nearer to the town.
Sullivan’s Island
Sullivan’s Island is a good seashore, situated subsequent to the Isle of Palms and on the mouth of Charleston Harbor. The seashore is vast and sandy, and there are a number of nice eating places only a 5 minute stroll away. On windy days you’ll usually see kiteboarders browsing over the waves.
I’d undoubtedly suggest getting meals and drinks at Poe’s Tavern, which is known as in honor of the poet Edgar Allan Poe. Poe’s is relaxed however enjoyable, serving burgers and American fare on its busy outside patio. The Bloody Mary cocktails listed below are nice and are mainly a meal in a glass!
If you do resolve to enterprise so far as Folly Beach, there are quite a few nice eating choices there, together with The Crab Shack, Lost Dog Cafe, Rita’s Seaside Grille and Jack of Cups Saloon.
Shem Creek
After absorbing some solar on the seashore, drive to Shem Creek and watch the solar go down at Tavern & Table. This waterfront restaurant has each indoor and outside bars with scenic views of historic Shem Creek. The menu options numerous small plates which are perfect for sharing – my favourite of which was the Burnt End Mac & Cheese! From their mains I additionally actually beloved their Ahi Tuna Bowl.
Day 3: Plantation Tour or Ghost Tour
On day 3 in Charleston you would go to a plantation or do a ghost tour. There are a number of plantations within the space, together with Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens, and Middleton Place. Magnolia Plantation and Middleton Place are quite shut to one another, so it might take advantage of sense to drive out and go to these two on the identical time.
Boone Hall Plantation
Boone Hall Plantation is the plantation the place Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds had their wedding ceremony. There was enormous controversy over them holding a marriage on a web site that saved slaves, which resulted in them apologizing to the press and public.
The plantation was based by Englishman Major John Boone in 1681 and covers an space of 738 acres on the banks of Wampacheone Creek. The plantation has a gorgeous backyard that includes vintage roses which can be over 100 years outdated in addition to a butterfly backyard containing numerous stunning butterflies. You can tour the plantation on a 40 -minute tractor tour and see the plantation’s Black History in America exhibit, which is housed in 9 former slave cabins.
Middleton Place
Located about 15 miles northwest of Charleston, Middleton Place is house to the oldest landscaped gardens within the United States. Occupied by the Middleton household for a number of generations, the plantation spans 110 acres and is designated a National Historic Landmark. Through self-guided or guided excursions, you’ll study all concerning the Middleton Family in addition to the generations of slaves who lived, labored and died at Middleton Place. A tour referred to as “Beyond the Fields: Enslavement at Middleton Place” facilitates a dialog about slavery in American historical past. Admission to the plantation prices $26 for adults in the event you purchase your tickets on-line, or you should purchase them on the gate for $29.
Magnolia Plantation
Founded by the Drayton Family in 1676, close by Magnolia Plantation additionally has very stunning gardens and was chosen by Travel + Leisure Magazine as certainly one of “America’s Most Beautiful Gardens”. In addition to the home and gardens, the plantation web site now encompasses a nature tram, zoo, cafe and reward store. Boat excursions depart all through the day, taking guests on Magnolia’s outdated flooded rice discipline alongside the Ashley River. Admission to the plantation prices $20 for adults, $10 for teenagers and kids beneath 5 are admitted totally free.
Ghost Tour
Another choice for the ultimate day of your 3 days in Charleston is to take a ghost tour. Bulldog Tours affords quite a lot of excursions that can present you all issues spooky and supernatural in Charleston. You can take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Old City Jail, which housed a few of Charleston’s most notorious criminals, or stroll round Charleston’s oldest graveyards after darkish.
The firm even runs a haunted pub crawl, which takes you to a few of Charleston’s notable pubs and taverns to study the tales of the ghosts that wander the town streets.
Dinner Downtown
Once you’ve pushed again to the town it’s time to check out one other restaurant. With so many nice ones within the downtown space, you’re spoilt for selection. We ate at an Italian restaurant referred to as Le Farfalle, the place we ordered the Octopus Carpaccio and the Whipped Ricotta.
However, I additionally had my eye on Chubby Fish, FIG, 167 Raw Oyster Bar and Fleet Landing. If I’m going again to Charleston I’ll undoubtedly be making an attempt these out! Many eating places within the metropolis have been featured in well-known meals magazines and a number of other eating places in Charleston are winners of the James Beard Award, together with FIG, Husk and Rodney Scott’s BBQ.
Where to Stay on Your 3 Days in Charleston
Charleston has loads of good boutique lodges within the historic downtown space, though they are usually dearer and don’t have swimming pools. I’d suggest staying simply throughout the water in Mount Pleasant so you will have the choice of stress-free by a pool if it will get too sizzling.
Hotel Indigo – I stayed at Hotel Indigo in Mount Pleasant – a boutique lodge with a palm tree lined pool. It’s solely a bridge away from Charleston, so it’s straightforward to get out and in of the town. Book your keep at Hotel Indigo right here.
Shem Creek Inn – Located in Shem Creek, this lodge is correct subsequent to standard eateries comparable to Tavern and Table and Red’s Ice House. The pool is correct on the water and lots of the rooms have views of the creek. I like that Shem Creek Inn affords particular packages to entice prospects together with issues like free koozies and a six pack of craft beer! Book your keep at Shem Creek Inn right here.
The Dewberry – If you’re on the lookout for fashion and luxurious, The Dewberry is likely one of the greatest lodges in Charleston. The ethereal visitor rooms characteristic hardwood flooring, leather-based wingback chairs, Irish linens and loos wrapped in Danby Vermont marble. Plus you’re solely a brief elevator journey away from Charleston’s greatest rooftop bar, Citrus Club. Book your keep at The Dewberry right here.
Emeline – Located in Charleston’s historic district, Emeline is an elegant boutique lodge that includes a wood-fired eatery, café and low store, courtyard and health heart. Rooms are tasteful, with considerate touches comparable to Amber Wood Red Flower tub facilities, customized embroidered linens, plush towels from Matouk and customized ceramic tub equipment designed by native artist Susan Gregory. Book your keep at Emeline right here.
Getting Around on Your 3 Days in Charleston
The greatest solution to get round in your weekend Charleston is by renting a automotive however since we have been solely there for 3 days we opted to get round by Uber and Lyft.
Maybe we’re simply spoiled residing in New York however we discovered that there weren’t many vehicles in Charleston and we have been usually ready a very long time for a journey. We quickly learnt it’s greatest to journey with Lyft and pre-book a journey prematurely to make sure that a automotive comes if you want it.
If you intend to lease a automotive from the airport, Discover Cars or Rentals.com are good websites for locating low cost leases.
When to Visit Charleston
Charleston experiences delicate winters and sizzling summers. Spring runs from March to June and is one of the best time to go to, when the flowers are in bloom and the climate is heat and sunny.
Summer is extra tropical, with thunderstorms occurring within the afternoon. Autumn can be a pleasant time to go to, when Charleston experiences clear blue skies, sunshine and crisp, cooler evenings.
Winters are usually delicate however there’s nonetheless the prospect of the odd snow bathe in December and January.
A Final Word…
I hope you want this Charleston itinerary! 3 days in Charleston is the proper period of time to see this lovable metropolis and in addition make it out to the seashore. It’s probably the greatest southern cities to go to within the USA and has some actually nice eating places, so in the event you’re a foodie you’ll undoubtedly take pleasure in a weekend right here. Charleston can be a scholar metropolis with very low cost drinks and many bars, so in the event you’re visiting on a weekend you’ll discover loads of nightlife.
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