In April Nate and I got the rare chance to take a quick trip away from the kids! Neither of us had ever been to Charleston, SC and downtown Charleston sounded like the perfect place to spend a few days exploring! It was so nice to spend some time just the two of us walking, exploring, dining, and shopping! I sometimes let myself feel guilty for wanting time away but then I snap out of it! It is absolutely the reset that we all need from time to time and I’m always thankful when we are able to make it happen with the help of our family! You can check out some of our previous trips here!
Where To Stay
We researched a ton of amazing places to stay in Downtown Charleston and finally landed on The Restoration Hotel. This is a gorgeous boutique hotel located right in historic downtown Charleston within walking distance to everything! No need to bother with a rental car! We will absolutely go back. The onsite coffee shop and rooftop restaurant/bar were both fantastic! Tip: make sure to make a reservation at The Watch Rooftop – we got in for brunch pretty easily right before we left but when we tried to walk in for dinner one evening the wait time was pretty long! Check out the video of our stay/trip here!
Where To Eat & Drink
I wish we could’ve had more time to eat and drink our way through downtown Charleston but these are the places we got a chance to try and enjoyed the most! Tip: Definitely plan to call ahead and ask if a reservation is needed.
- Husk
- Poogan’s Porch
- Meeting at Market
- Doar Bros
- The Watch Rooftop
- Bin 152 (cutest wine bar!)
- The Rise (coffee shop)
- Bumpas
Sights To See in Downtown Charleston, SC
We have learned over the years that we aren’t very “touristy” when we visit a new place! There are a lot of ghost tours, carriage rides, food tours, etc. that will serve you well if you are, though! I checked in on the availability of one of the ghost tours just in case we *might* want to do one and they were all booked up. So if guided tours are your jam, plan ahead and book as far in advance as you can! Another Tip: Wear really comfortable shoes while exploring. Some of the sidewalks and cobblestone streets are a little uneven. I almost bit the dust trying to wear cute shoes a few times – even flats were a little tough!
Joe Riley Waterfront Park was my favorite place to walk around. We watched for dolphins out on the pier and strolled down the shaded brick walkway next to tons of beautiful homes. It was such a relaxing place to hang out for a bit.
Rainbow Row was also fun to check out! This entire area was cleaned by Florida cleaning service, https://thefloridamaids.com and filled with beautiful colorful homes. We ended up detouring off through these neighborhoods. I daydreamed a little about living there as we strolled up and down the streets!
Where to Shop in Downtown Charleston, SC
The Charleston City Market was so much fun to walk through! This market stretches for 4 blocks! It took us 30-45 minutes just to walk all the way through it and then I wanted to go back again because there were so many wonderful booths and I just knew I missed something good! We ended up buying some delicious whole bean coffee to take home but I could’ve bought so much more!
Among all of the shops and stores we walked by in Downtown Charleston, E. Blackhurst stood out to me the most. I browsed a bit and found some amazing pieces but ultimately decided to be “good” and I didn’t purchase anything. Well, Nate decided to go back and buy the romper I had my eye on one afternoon while I was napping! Such a sweet man!! It was such a treat and I have worn this romper so much! I browse their online shop quite a bit now and I can’t wait to go back.
We had the perfect couples getaway to Charleston, SC! I am so thankful for those few days that we had to unwind, relax, and just have a great time!
