In all honesty, I fell in love with Charleston after my first trip. I actually loved it so much, that I’ve been back 4 times in 2 years. It’s a city that’s often overlooked by foreign travelers. Personally, I love going to places that aren’t super touristy. Here you have amazing beaches, amazing food, and a deep cultural tie. What’s not to love? In 2016, Travel and Leisure magazine named Charleston, “The Best City in the US and in the world.” The town itself is packed with rich history, that I still love hearing about! If you are into US history at all, you wont be short of it in Charleston.
Folly Island
We’ve rented a few different properties all over Charleston in the past few years, but none of them have compared to the one on Folly Beach. The first time in Charleston we happened to stay in a adorable AirBNB on the estuary side of Folly Island. It really made you feel like you were in a beach shack. It had a beautiful view looking out into the marsh. If you are looking to save some money, look at renting a property away from the ocean. Your views are just as beautiful, and it’s quieter.
The rental property was only a couple blocks from all the “hustle and bustle” of Folly. It was nice to just be able to walk, because the parking in the area is scarce. It’s a bit touristy, but nothing that’s too much of a trap. It also has a lot of restaurants, and outside patio’s. We stopped twice to get some ice cream and smoothies from a local shop. Folly has a main pier you can walk along and fish from. The pier has a restaurant on it as well, but I’ve never had the chance to stop in. Early in the morning we saw a lot of people surfing. It’s really a sight to see watching them, especially when the sun rises up behind them!
You can tell that Folly Beach is well taken care of. The last trip I had taken was to Southern California, and I was surprised by how dirty their beaches and roads were. I know that there is some locals, that pick up trash on their walks every morning. There also didn’t appear to be much washed up on the beaches either. A lot of places I’ve been we had to walk or even wade through weeds.
Almost every day we are down here, we end up walking along the beach. If you continue down the beach there is a lighthouse which is fun to see, and not far of a walk. It is much more secluded down this way as well. Behind the beach you can see little trails that twist and turn throughout the foliage. I haven’t had the chance to explore them, but it’s on my list.
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Right before you get to Folly island, there are a few bigger retailers that are perfect for stocking up on groceries and necessities. Publix, Harris N Teeter, and Walmart are all located on James Island, right off from the only road that heads into Folly. As a lot of people opt for staying rental properties, having some food at home is always a must!
On Folly Beach, I wouldn’t pay for parking unless you have too. You may have to walk a little farther, but the weather is almost always beautiful. You can park outside of houses, as long as there are no signs. Another thing is that the car needs to be completely off of the road when parking. I guess the cops in the area are known to give out tickets for that kind of thing. On the weekends, this area does get super packed. And remember, there’s only one way in and out of the island. We were trying to drive out to Bowens Island one morning and got trapped in the Folly Island traffic. It made our normal 15 minute drive, closer to 45.
If you’ve done any research on Charleston, you may have seen this painting on Berts Market. I loved this little store, and we find ourselves here about every morning. They literally have everything you might need. We would grab some food, and head to the beach. Or grab a cup of coffee and some baked goods in the morning. It’s definitely a cute little “one stop shop” for all those little things you may need for the beach or at the rental.
Historic Downtown
The Pineapple Fountain itself, really isn’t a must. If you want a cute pic for the “Gram”, it would be worth the stop. A pineapple has a lot of meaning to Charleston. Pineapples symbolize hospitality and can be seen throughout the city. The historic downtown waterfront has a lot of history, and I do suggest making the trip down for that reason. The Battery is located a few blocks from the Pineapple Fountain. Overall, there’s a lot of history in Charleston. Especially when it comes to the Civil War. The first shots of the war were actually fired just outside the city. If you head more towards King Street, there’s a lot of fun shops and restaurants. You could spend the majority of the day down here, if you wanted.
Carolina Polo and Carriage Company
After my first trip downtown, I knew that I wanted to do a carriage tour. It’s a great way to hear some of the amazing local history that Charleston has. Plus you get to ride around in a carriage, and how often do those opportunities come around? I found a super good deal for Carolina Polo and Carriage Company on Groupon. The tour normally costs about $30 USD, but through a Groupon sale each ticket was roughly $15 USD. To schedule a tour, you book it by the day. All you have to do is show up between their open hours and they will put you on the next available tour. The tours depart every 30 minutes, so you don’t have to wait too long.
We were able to grab a beer at Henry’s, which is located right across the street from the tour departure point. The bar and restaurant is very unique. It has many different floors that all appear to have a unique theme. Henry’s even has multiple roof top levels where you can look over the city. Afterwards, we walked a few blocks away to check out some of the graveyards we previously passed. Charleston being one of the 13 US Colonies, has a lot of history. We were able to find some graves that dated back to the 1690’s! Prior to that time, the majority of grave markers were made of wood and didn’t last through the years.
We ended up in Shem Creek twice in one weekend. The first time we drove here for beers and college football was on. The bar was PACKED with people hanging out and it was a really fun atmosphere to watch the game. The atmosphere overall was fairly exciting, and you can tell that it’s a big area for college aged kids. The second time we came to the area, we actually came by boat! There are docks all along the creek, with people constantly boating in and out. We came here for dinner and the restaurant had a special on unlimited crab legs. I took FULL advantage of the unlimited crab. Let’s just say that I ate so much, that my stomach was bursting at the seams for about two days.
While in Charleston, we have been lucky enough to do some fishing. Charleston is a sportsman’s paradise, since there is fishing to be had everywhere. There is an ease of access, and the amount of fish in the water make for a great time. There is a variety of ecosystems from salt marshes, to the fresh water coming down from Lake Moultry, to a short drive out to the Atlantic ocean.
The views while fishing are to die for. You’re able to see the downtown area from a whole different perspective. We spent a good amount of time, fishing under the Arthur J. Ravenel Bridge which is a sight in itself. We also cracked a few too many Yeung Ling beers alongside the USS Yorktown, which is now docked and currently a museum. Charleston is currently a huge import and export area. So, throughout the night you can watch massive ships drive by.
Charleston Outdoor Adventures
We have a great friend Josh, who works at Charleston Outdoor Adventures on Bowens Island. According to their website, “Our private location and launching site gives us direct access to marshes, creeks, tidal flats, and barrier islands where you can see a plethora of wildlife including dolphins, osprey, wading birds, and sea turtles. They have anything from kayaking, boat tours, SUP boarding, and even educational tours.
We saw so many dolphins in the area that swam besides us as we kayaked. I thought that Charleston Outdoor Adventures was very reasonably priced for what they offer. We happened to have a guide take us out on the Morris Island Lighthouse Tour. The area was beautiful with white sandy beaches. Morris Island was very quiet, since it is only accessible by boat.
On their Carolina Skiff bay boat, we made our way out, and happened to catch a glimpse of Atlantic Bottle Nose dolphins. If you are going later in the night, you will get to observe them feeding. They do this in the way of strand feeding. This involves a group of dolphins herding a school of fish or shrimp onto the beach. Next, they will literally launch their bodies out of the water and onto the shore to feed. One time the dolphins were only about 6 feet away from myself, digging up in the sand. A few of them followed us back to Bowen’s Island when we had to leave.
Another thing that COA offers is their fossil tours. Now this was so much more fun then I had expected it to be. Especially since I had never found a shark tooth before. Low and behold, the first tooth I found was the MEGALODON TOOTH. The fossil tour is much longer. So, be prepared to be walking a bit in the heat. According to the tour guide, a lot of people do not come prepared at all.
Boone Hall Plantation
Fortunately, when we arrived in Charleston this last time, they had already lifted the majority of their COVID-19 restrictions. Unfortunately, Boone Hall Plantation still didn’t have any of their more personal tours open. Sadly, we also could not see the inside of the main house. We did peak into the house, and it looked beautiful. Even the guys that were with said that they would be interested in coming back to do the whole tour. Most people have a general idea of what occurred on these plantations. But once you start hearing personal stories and all the things not taught, that’s when you really start understanding the severity of it all.
While at the plantation, there was one tour going on. The tour was just a brief tour of the garden. Personally, that didn’t really peak our interests though. We walked around a lot, and listened to some of the employees telling stories and information. The grounds on the plantation are beautiful. You could take a lot of breathtaking photos with the Spanish Moss dangling from the old oak trees. It took us about 30-40 minutes to get here from James Island. If you are staying downtown or in the Shem Creek area, it will be a lot less of a drive. Check their website for sales, since the plantation wasn’t opened up all the way, our tickets were significantly reduced. I’ve also seen them offer military discounts as well. Just something to check out on their website prior. Groupon would be another good one to scan.
Where to Eat
The Tattooed Moose– The guys I was with had been to the city a few times, and swore by the Tattooed Moose. If you go to any restaurant in Charleston, let it be this one. My mouth is watering as we speak just thinking about the famous duck club. I don’t think I’ve ever had a sandwich of this size. Surprisingly I happened to finish the whole thing, which rarely happens! My eyes always seem to be bigger than my stomach.
Chico Feo– Located right down in the heart of Folly Beach. Every time I’ve been to Charleston it is one of the restaurants I must stop at. There is only 6 things on the menu. They also for the most part only serve beer and wine. When I was there the 2nd time, they did have some sort of “specialty drink.” They do have a lot of local beers, which is really fun to try. I tried this blood orange Austin’s East Cider, and it was really good if you like ciders. Every time that I’ve been, I had the Mahi Mahi tacos. If you like fish, you must try this. You can mix and match the different tacos! The bean bowl with pork, is also another favorite. Especially if you are looking for some sort of heartier option!
Crosbys- If you are looking for some of the freshest Shrimp you have had, you should head over to Crosbys. You can also get these shrimp at a phenomenal price. Prices will very on how much work you want to do. You can order anything from heads/shells on, To completely shell-less and deveined. If you can put in a little bit of work, you can get them for significantly cheaper. If you get to see the shrimp boat docked up to Crosbys, they have probably just returned from a trip out at sea.
The Lowdown Oven and Bar- Appearance wise, it’s your typical neighborhood bar and grill. Here, the food is anything but typical though. Both the guys I was with ordered burgers and wings, and noted that they were both very good. Myself, on the other hand, got a crispy chicken salad (I know, lame right?). It was honestly one of the best salads that I’ve ever had. It contained a mixture of lettuce and spinach, a plentiful amount of really good crispy chicken, and a homemade dressing that’s hard to even describe.
I read a lot of reviews that the pizza is just as good. While reading one review, a man in New York stated that pizza was as good as it is back home. Overall, The Lowdown Oven and Bar is very good. Come here if you are looking for simple bar food favorites, done exceptionally well. We were recommended this place by a local who lives in the area.
Charleston Crab House– Since we were in Charleston over my birthday weekend, we wanted to hit go out to a “fancier” restaurant. We found Charleston Crab House based on its reviews. The atmosphere was gorgeous, and we opted to sit outside on the patio. As we were eating a group of dolphins swam by. Being someone from Minnesota, I’m still amazed whenever I see dolphins. While the food was delicious, I will say that I thought the food was a tad overpriced. We had ate similar food at cheaper restaurants throughout our trip. In Charleston it is very easy to get amazing fresh seafood basically everywhere you go. Ultimately the food was good, but for the price that we paid I was underwhelmed.
Sesame Burgers & Beer– This was the first restaurant that we hit up after we landed. I went for the Grouper Bites and experimented with different local beers. There is a few different Sesame Burgers & Beer’s in the Charleston area. Good food that’s decently priced. I will note that my boyfriend Erik, actually got food poisoning after eating here. No one else in the group got sick, so it may have been a fluke. Or it could have happened from a day full of traveling!