3 Days in Charleston Itinerary: Excellent Weekend in Charleston!

With its colourful buildings, vibrant foodie scene and sandy seashores, Charleston is a kind of locations that has a little bit of every thing and is ideal for an extended weekend. Town additionally occurs to be only a two-hour flight from New York, so when you dwell within the Huge Apple like me, it’s a straightforward journey when you can’t get a lot time without work work. 3 days in Charleston are sufficient to cowl the perfect issues to do there and eat at a few of the metropolis’s greatest eating places. Plus, the climate is far milder down within the south, with loads of heat sunny days!

Should you’re planning to spend a weekend in Charleston, right here’s my steered Charleston itinerary:

Day 1: Historic Downtown, Waterfront & Rooftops

On day considered 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

Begin 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 Panorama Architects and the Nationwide Belief 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

When you’ve walked by way of the park, head to Rainbow Row on East Bay Road, which is an iconic row of colourful Georgian-style homes that date from 1748 to 1845. The homes had been owned by the retailers who operated their companies on the bottom ground.

That is the cutest spot in Charleston for Instagram images and engagement shoots so don’t be shocked if you must wait your flip to seize a photograph.

An attention-grabbing truth 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 Decide Lionel Legge bought a piece of the homes and determined to color them in pastel hues. Different neighbors adopted go well with, and it will definitely turned often known as Rainbow Row!

Outdated Change and Provost Dungeon

Subsequent up in your Charleston itinerary, take a stroll to Outdated Change and Provost Dungeon, which was inbuilt 1771 as a business alternate and customized home.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, navy 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, often known as the Provost Dungeon.

Admission is $12 for adults and $5 for youngsters age 6-12. Kids beneath 6 enter without spending a dime.

Outdated Slave Market Museum

If you interested by studying about Charleston’s darkish historical past of slavery, you may go to the Outdated Slave Mart Museum close by, which is a constructing within the French Quarter the place slaves had been auctioned earlier than the Civil Conflict. 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 Metropolis Market

Afterwards make your method to Historic Charleston Metropolis Market – a big indoor market that spans 4 metropolis blocks and dates again to the 1790s. Right here you’ll discover a lot of totally 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 resort, known as Citrus Membership. The gorgeous rooftop terrace is the best in Charleston and provides unbelievable views over town. Be sure that to put on sensible informal apparel although, and observe that collared shirts are required for males.

Dinner at Husk

For dinner, seize some Southern delicacies at considered one of Charleston’s acclaimed eating places. There are such a lot of nice choices, however Pearlz, Magnolias and Husk had been all really useful 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 glorious and so had been the cocktails!

Day 2: Seaside and Sundown at Shem Creek

On the second day of your weekend in Charleston I’d recommend hitting the seashore!

Folly Seaside close to Charleston could be very standard, though our Uber driver warned us in opposition to it simply because the site visitors can get actually dangerous on weekends. If there’s no site visitors the journey ought to take 20 minutes however at peak occasions he informed us it could actually take over an hour to get there and again. As a substitute, I’d recommend going to Sullivan’s Island, which is a bit nearer to 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 huge 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 positively suggest getting meals and drinks at Poe’s Tavern, which is called 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 principally a meal in a glass!

Should you do determine to enterprise so far as Folly Seaside, there are quite a few nice eating choices there, together with The Crab Shack, Misplaced Canine 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 & Desk. This waterfront restaurant has each indoor and outside bars with scenic views of historic Shem Creek. The menu options a lot of small plates which are perfect for sharing – my favourite of which was the Burnt Finish Mac & Cheese! From their mains I additionally actually liked their Ahi Tuna Bowl.

Day 3: Plantation Tour or Ghost Tour

On day 3 in Charleston you may 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 Corridor Plantation & Gardens, and Middleton Place. Magnolia Plantation and Middleton Place are fairly shut to one another, so it might take advantage of sense to drive out and go to these two on the similar time.

Boone Corridor Plantation

Boone Corridor Plantation is the plantation the place Blake Energetic and Ryan Reynolds had their marriage ceremony. There was big 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 Main 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 a lot of stunning butterflies. You’ll be able to tour the plantation on a 40 -minute tractor tour and see the plantation’s Black Historical past in America exhibit, which is housed in 9 former slave cabins.

Middleton Place

Situated about 15 miles northwest of Charleston, Middleton Place is house to the oldest landscaped gardens in america. Occupied by the Middleton household for a number of generations, the plantation spans 110 acres and is designated a Nationwide Historic Landmark. By way of self-guided or guided excursions, you’ll study all concerning the Middleton Household in addition to the generations of slaves who lived, labored and died at Middleton Place. A tour known as “Past the Fields: Enslavement at Middleton Place” facilitates a dialog about slavery in American historical past. Admission to the plantation prices $26 for adults when you purchase your tickets on-line, or you should purchase them on the gate for $29.

Magnolia Plantation

Based by the Drayton Household in 1676, close by Magnolia Plantation additionally has very stunning gardens and was chosen by Journey + Leisure Journal as considered one of “America’s Most Stunning Gardens”. Along with the home and gardens, the plantation web site now encompasses a nature tram, zoo, cafe and present store. Boat excursions depart all through the day, taking guests on Magnolia’s outdated flooded rice subject alongside the Ashley River. Admission to the plantation prices $20 for adults, $10 for teenagers and youngsters beneath 5 are admitted without spending a dime.

Ghost Tour

An alternative choice for the ultimate day of your 3 days in Charleston is to take a ghost tour. Bulldog Excursions provides a wide range of excursions that can present you all issues spooky and supernatural in Charleston. You’ll be able to take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Outdated Metropolis Jail, which housed a few of Charleston’s most notorious criminals, or stroll round Charleston’s oldest graveyards after darkish.

The corporate 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 town streets.

Dinner Downtown

When you’ve pushed again to 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 known as Le Farfalle, the place we ordered the Octopus Carpaccio and the Whipped Ricotta.

Nevertheless, I additionally had my eye on Chubby Fish, FIG, 167 Uncooked Oyster Bar and Fleet Touchdown. If I’m going again to Charleston I’ll positively be attempting these out! Many eating places within the metropolis have been featured in well-known meals magazines and several other eating places in Charleston are winners of the James Beard Award, together with FIG, Husk and Rodney Scott’s BBQ.

The place to Keep 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 Nice so you may have the choice of stress-free by a pool if it will get too sizzling.

Lodge Indigo – I stayed at Lodge Indigo in Mount Nice – a boutique resort with a palm tree lined pool. It’s solely a bridge away from Charleston, so it’s straightforward to get out and in of town. Ebook your keep at Lodge Indigo right here.

Shem Creek Inn – Situated in Shem Creek, this resort is correct subsequent to standard eateries comparable to Tavern and Desk and Pink’s Ice Home. The pool is correct on the water and lots of the rooms have views of the creek. I like that Shem Creek Inn provides particular packages to entice prospects together with issues like free koozies and a six pack of craft beer! Ebook your keep at Shem Creek Inn right here.

The Dewberry – Should you’re in search of fashion and luxurious, The Dewberry is without doubt one of the greatest lodges in Charleston. The ethereal visitor rooms characteristic hardwood flooring, leather-based wingback chairs, Irish linens and bogs wrapped in Danby Vermont marble. Plus you’re solely a brief elevator trip away from Charleston’s greatest rooftop bar, Citrus Membership. Ebook your keep at The Dewberry right here.

Emeline – Situated in Charleston’s historic district, Emeline is a classy boutique resort that includes a wood-fired eatery, café and low store, courtyard and health heart. Rooms are tasteful, with considerate touches comparable to Amber Wooden Pink Flower bathtub facilities, customized embroidered linens, plush towels from Matouk and customized ceramic bathtub equipment designed by native artist Susan Gregory. Ebook your keep at Emeline right here.

Getting Round on Your 3 Days in Charleston

One of the simplest ways to get round in your weekend Charleston is by renting a automobile however since we had been solely there for 3 days we opted to get round by Uber and Lyft.

Perhaps we’re simply spoiled dwelling in New York however we discovered that there weren’t many automobiles in Charleston and we had been usually ready a very long time for a trip. We quickly learnt it’s greatest to trip with Lyft and pre-book a trip upfront to make sure that a automobile comes while you want it.

Should you plan to hire a automobile from the airport, Uncover Vehicles or Leases.com are good websites for locating low-cost leases.

When to Go to Charleston

Charleston experiences delicate winters and sizzling summers. Spring runs from March to June and is the perfect time to go to, when the flowers are in bloom and the climate is heat and sunny.

Summer time 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 typically delicate however there’s nonetheless the prospect of the odd snow bathe in December and January.

A Ultimate Phrase…

I hope you want this Charleston itinerary! 3 days in Charleston is the right period of time to see this lovable metropolis and likewise 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 when you’re a foodie you’ll positively get pleasure from a weekend right here. Charleston can be a pupil metropolis with very low-cost drinks and plenty of bars, so when you’re visiting on a weekend you’ll discover loads of nightlife.

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