From Knoxville, we drove about 5.5 hours to Charleston, SC. We were only there from May 1–6, but that turned out to be enough time for us.
Walking in Charleston
There wasn’t really any hiking to be had in the Charleston area, and I don’t think we would have enjoyed it if it was an option because it was just so humid. We did walk around our neighborhood and to downtown, but our favorite outdoor area was the nearby Hampton Park. It’s next to the Citadel and full of grand old trees, walking trails, and open lawns for relaxing.
Places to See and Things to Do
Old Slave Mart Museum As you probably assume, this was a difficult but necessary place to visit. Enslaved people were auctioned in this building, which is considered the last slave auction gallery still standing in South Carolina. To me, this is the top must-see place in Charleston.
White Point Garden: This is a beautiful area by Charleston Harbor surrounded by some of the most gorgeous houses I’ve seen. Juxtaposed with a trip to the Old Slave Mart Museum, it’s difficult to separate the beautiful area from the sources of wealth that built it.
Walk around downtown: Charleston is known for its picturesque cobblestone streets and colorful rowhouses, so a walk around downtown will likely be on any visitor’s to-do list. While there, you’ll also have plenty of opportunities for shopping, eating, and dodging bachelor/bachelorette parties.
Places to Eat and Drink
Palmetto Brewing Co.: This brewery was just a few blocks from our rental house, and we stopped in on our first night in town on the way to dinner. The beer was okay and the relaxed, neighborhood vibes were nice.
Baker and Brewer: We like to find a local pizza place for dinner on our first night in a new town, so finding Baker and Brewer within walking distance of our rental house was great. The walk itself was a little desolate at times (under a highway overpass and along abandoned buildings), but the restaurant was packed. I ordered a pistachio pesto pizza (which I’d never heard of before), and now I wish every restaurant offered one. The pesto was so much richer and creamier than traditional basil/pine nut pesto, and it made for a decadent cheese pizza.
Hyman’s Seafood: Hyman’s was the most touristy place we ate at and it was definitely worth the crowds. We had deviled crab, shrimp and grits, and a shrimp po-boy. Everything was delicious and eating at the bar with some locals was a nice experience.
Dave’s Carry-Out: Dave’s came highly recommended in some of our searches, so we took a humid walk down one evening and ordered takeout. Dave’s is a hole in the wall with little seating, so we took our fried bounties to a nearby park bench to enjoy.
Huriyali: We saw Huriyali on a neighborhood walk one day and I was hooked by the leafy green patio I glimpsed around the back. It’s a coffee shop that also serves bowls, salads, sandwiches, so I went back for a weekday lunch and enjoyed my bowl on the back patio, despite the heat. Cute place with quality food!
