While travel looks a lot different for many of us regardless of what country we currently call home, there are still so many sites to enjoy should you choose to plan a vacation during the current times. For both of our vacations this summer we decided to keep relatively close to home, and Charleston was the unanimous choice for our first vacation of the year.
Now that masks are a requirement in the city of Charleston County, we felt a little safer knowing that there would be a protective barrier between us and anyone we encountered during our short outings into the city. Despite our self-imposed limitations on time spent out and about, we enjoyed seeing some of our favorite spots and a few new ones as well.
In this mini-travel guide, I’m sharing some of my favorite things to do while in Charleston (art gallery hopping, shopping), some of the spots where we picked up food to-go and a few of the best places to stay in the city.
Do
Art Galleries
Principle Gallery
The Principle Gallery is a gallery that we visit every time we visit Charleston. It’s located in the historic French Quarter near the intersection of Meeting and Queen streets and features museum-quality works from both American and International artists. The light filled gallery is ideal of escaping the heat and enjoying artwork in both the Contemporary and Classic Realism genres.
Hagan Fine Art Gallery & Studio
While this gallery isn’t open to the public, you can visit the gallery exclusively online. So if you’re in the market for work fine art impressionist paintings or abstract originals you can schedule a ZOOM meeting with one of the Personal Art Consultants to find the perfect piece for your art collection.
Miller Gallery
Located at 149 1/2 East Bay St. (I love all of the 1/2’s you’ll see around Charleston!) you’ll find this woman run, contemporary art gallery. The Miller Gallery features artwork by both local and international artists who are either emerging artists and mid-career artists working a variety of artistic mediums.
Shops
The Tiny Tassel
I know you’ve seen Mimi’s stunning and brilliantly colored earrings all over Instagram. Prior to moving her business to be solely online versus brick & mortar, The Tiny Tassel was located in the Cannonbourgh Collective at 185 Phillip Street. Mimi founded The Tiny Tassel during the summer of 2015 after graduating from the College of Charleston the previous year. All of the jewelry (including her signature tassel jewelry) are either handmade or curated by Mimi with the garments featured in the online shop made by her mom (several of the cutest tops and dresses are featured on the official Instagram.
Amanda Lindroth
Our products were born from the breezy, joyful sensibility of Amanda’s Bahamas home. At Hope Hill, gathering friends for an outdoor dinner isn’t just fun, it matters. Cocktails are candlelit, dining chairs are nestled extra close, and no one ever leaves on time.
Spartina 449
I love this brand so much, and I brought along some of my favorite pieces from their River House Capsule Collection to wear while in Charleston. The dress Hannah Tank Dress is the perfect option for a 3 hour drive to Charleston and I absolutely adore the yellow and white striped bag that is also a part of the collection.
I was eager to check out some of the items from the Oldfield Capsule Collection that was released just prior to our trip, but due to a rain shower that hit during our day into Charleston (and pastries that would have melted to nothing in a hot car, I’m looking forward to doing a bit of online shopping!)
Charleston is home to both a King St. location and an outlet location.
Lake Pajamas
I’ve been looking forward to visiting the Lake Pajamas store on King Street since we first started planning our vacation last year. While I’ve perused all of their beautiful sets, gowns and robes online, I wanted to experience purchasing my first set of Lake Pajamas in person.
Even knowing what I the short set that I wanted to purchase prior to visiting the store, I was in absolute awe of all the beautiful gowns, pajama sets, robes and the cutest pair of royal blue slippers that were a dream to put on after walking in both the heat and rainy weather.
Grit & Grace Studio
Prior to our trip I purchased both a mask and several of the lavender products from Grit & Grace, located on Upper King Street on the second floor with a porch to see views of Charleston as you venture from room to room, viewing their collection of handcrafted oyster shell necklaces and limited-edition decoupage oyster dishes. (If you’re looking for unique masks in beautiful patterns, Grit & Grace is definitely a lifestyle girls best friend!
Candlefish
If you’re looking for the ultimate candle store, a visit to Candlefish is a much. With a library of over 100 fragrances, you’ll want to visit even if you only take pictures of their beautiful selection!
Gardens/Parks
John Riley Waterfront Park
This waterfront park is one of the most visited in Charleston. You can enjoy views of some of the cities most recognized landmarks from the Copper River Bridge and U.S.S Yorktown to Fort Sumter and the Charleston Harbor. Also taking a photo by the Pineapple Fountain is a must!
Cypress Gardens
For those of you who might not know/remember, Cypress Gardens was one of the places where scenes from The Notebook were shot. The Gardens are located just 41 minutes north of Charleston.
Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse
Charleston Light, also known as “Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse,” is located on Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina, which is the northern entrance to Charleston Harbor.
The Battery
The Battery is a landmark defensive seawall and promenade in Charleston, South Carolina. Named for a civil-war coastal defense artillery battery at the site, it stretches along the lower shores of the Charleston peninsula, bordered by the Ashley and Cooper Rivers, which meet here to form Charleston harbor.
Rainbow Row
Rainbow Row is the name for a series of thirteen colorful historic houses in Charleston, South Carolina. It represents the longest cluster of Georgian row houses in the United States. The houses are located north of Tradd St. and south of Elliott St. on East Bay Street, that is, 79 to 107 East Bay Street.
Marion Square
Located right next to the Hotel Bennett, Marion Square offers plenty of shady paths perfect for snapping lifestyle pictures (for my fellow bloggers!)
Charleston Tea Gardens
The Charleston Tea Garden is the only tea garden in North America where you can actually see both acre after acre of tea bushes, or tour the tea factory where you can walk though the production building to see all of the equipment and work that goes into creating your favorite cup of tea. Admission is free, but if you opt for the 45 minute trolley ride there is a fee.
La Patisserie
Eat
La Patisserie
La Pâtisserie serves the Holy City’s finest coffee, breads and pastries, and breakfast sandwiches and quiche. Whether guests choose to dine in or are on-the-go, renowned French Pastry Chef Rémy Fünfrock ensures both authenticity and freshness. La Pâtisserie opens early, offering sweet and savory pastries, alongside a full coffee bar. Throughout the day, it presents a selection of sandwiches crafted with artisanal bread, prepared sides and sweet delicacies, like macarons and éclairs. And, of course, it is the only place to go for a slice of the famed Camellias cake. — Hotel Bennett
Butcher & Bee
It all started with a vision… of sandwiches. The notion was simple. Perfect all the ingredients – proteins, cheeses, veggies, bread – and craft sandwiches with flavor combinations and food quality usually reserved for fine dining. A gourmet meal between two pieces of bread.
Now the dream has grown beyond sandwiches to all types of foods. And we bring them to you from local farmers who produce spectacular flavors. Supporting local and sustainable is not a slogan. It’s the right thing to do, and the food tastes better for it. — Butcher & Bee
Savi Cucina & Bar
If you’re in the mood for Italian cuisine and housemade pasta in Mount Pleasant, Savi Cucina & Bar is the perfect option for picking up a bite of dinner. Just order ahead and pick up your food at the kiosk outside. Need tips on what to order? We went with the Shrimp Carbonara and Caesar Salad and Burrata with local strawberries, arugula candied hazelnuts and balsamic reduction.
Tavern & Table
If you’re in the mood for seafood, this location in Shem Creek (just a short distance from the Cottages at Charleston Harbor) this is the perfect lunch or dinner spot. I highly recommend the crab roll. Delish!
Hotel Bennett
Stay
The Cottages at Charleston Harbor
For our latest trip to Charleston we opted for the Cottages on Charleston Harbor. It’s no surprise that the thoughts of traveling and staying somewhere during the COVID pandemic had us more than a little on edge. We wanted a spot that was more secluded and out of the way from downtown Charleston, which made The Cottages at Charleston Harbor the perfect location to stay. There are a total of 10 secluded waterfront cottages that have 2 bedrooms, three-baths, a full kitchen (which we were looking forward to using), a living room with a gas fireplace and each of the cottages also features a private screen-in porch that is perfect for enjoying meals you’ve either created yourself in the kitchen, or take-out you’ve picked up curbside from the variety of local restaurants.
86 Cannon
86 Cannon has been on my list of places to stay (along with the following two listings) ever since it first opened. For those of you who adore boutique hotels, this is definitely a spot to add to your must stay list. I’ve enjoyed seeing the posts by several local bloggers/photographers who’ve featured their staycations at 86 Cannon and look forward to staying at the hotel in the near future. For those of you who want a little history on the building itself, it’s a fully restored, three-story circa 1860’s single house and for the animal lovers, they are the cutest doggie innkeepers to greet you during your stay.
Zero George
If you’re looking for a spot that blends Old World authenticity with contemporary upscale hospitality with it’s own private courtyard and award winning cuisine and the possibility of a cooking class with the head chef, then Zero George is a spot to check out. The hotel is spread out through several restored circa 1804 buildings and offers complimentary bikes for exploring the city.
Hotel Bennett
The Hotel Bennett is one of the newest luxury hotels in the city, and the is located on King Street with an entrance opening onto the historic Marion Square. With guest amenities that will keep you occupied throughout your stay and four delicious restaurants onsite (Gabrielle, La Patisserie, Camellias and Fiat Lux) you’ll find yourself spending most of your time within the stylish and elegant walls of the Hotel Bennett for the majority of your stay in the city without any regrets!
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