Stephen and I took a weekend getaway down to Charleston, South Carolina for a couple's trip with some friends of ours and it did not disappoint! We only had a couple of days, so we packed it full of exploring and eating (lots of eating) and we tried several new places along the way! I've been to Charleston several times and Stephen and I were there a couple of summers ago for my friend Shelby's wedding, but that weekend we didn't have time to truly check out some new places, so this trip was a treat for sure.
Itinerary
Below was our itinerary for the weekend! We had Saturday and Sunday fairly planned as we wanted to make sure we had reservations for all of the places we wanted to eat. Our "downtime" was just spent shopping and exploring - and those moments of just wandering the streets of Charleston were some of my favorites.
Friday
- Leave for Charleston
- Check in to Kings Courtyard Inn
- Appetizers and drinks at Virginia's on King and exploring
- Get ready for dinner
- Hall's Chophouse (reservation recommended)
- Drinks at 5Church
Saturday
- Breakfast at The Palmetto Café
- Alleys and Hidden Passages Walking Tour
- Walk along the Battery
- Lunch at Fleet Landing
- Shopping on King Street
- Drinks at Camellias Champagne Bar
- Dinner at Blossom's
- Drinks at Pavillion Rooftop Bar
Sunday
- Breakfast at Poogan's Porch
- Coffee from Bitty and Beau's
- Exploring North of Broad and neighborhoods
- Boone Hall Plantation
- Lunch at Sol of Mt. Pleasant (original plan was Taco Boy)
The Highlights
Kings Courtyard Inn
The Kings Courtyard Inn was a great place for our weekend retreat. The inn occupies one of the oldest buildings on King Street and its location put us in a spot that was easily accessible to everything we had planned. We booked a King and Queen bedroom suite at since there were two couples going, and it made for the perfect little place to stay for the weekend. The rooms connected but each had a bathroom, so it's perfect for a trip with friends. The structure was built in 1853, so it has the charm of old Charleston with amenities of modern day convenience.
Halls Chophouse
I can't say enough good things about our experience here. It came highly recommended but we also have some pretty great chophouses in our area, so while I wanted to give it a try, I knew it would be okay if we tried something different. However, now that I've had a meal there, I'll probably want to go back every single time we're in Charleston. On Friday evening, our friends hadn't made it in town yet, so we decided to give it a try. We didn't have a reservation (I tried to book one a month in advance but they were booked) so I had my fingers crossed that Stephen and I could get a spot in the bar. While that didn't quite work out, it turned out even better, as they put us at a table upstairs. We go on "date nights" all the time since we don't have kids yet and tend to eat out too much, but this felt like a true little date night. Sides are offered family style, so I would recommend the loaded mashed potatoes and the pepper jack creamed corn skillet as well as the Halls Chop Salad. Stephen ordered the filet and while I don't eat a ton of steak, I could get on board with this one! Safe to say we'll be back!
Alleys and Hidden Passages Walking Tour
I've never done any tours in Charleston (aside from my 4th grade field trip) but this time around, our group decided to take a walking tour that showcases some of the hidden walkways of Charleston. We booked through Low Country Walking Tours and had the chance to explore some really beautiful spots. Some of the places we visited Stephen and I had actually stumbled across by chance during our last trip, but what I loved about the walking tour is the all of the history you learn. While I've walked down Rainbow Row a time or two, I had no idea that it used to be considered a slum (and was not always so brightly painted). I also learned how to spot a building that survived the Charleston Earthquake of 1886. If you love history or just love learning about new things, I would highly recommend checking out a tour.
Shopping
I never do much shopping at home anymore unless it's at Target or HomeGoods, so I was really excited to just spend some time exploring the shops of King Street! A few favorites:
- Charleston Shoe Co. - we actually carry Charleston Shoes at the shop but I loved popping by their brick and mortar location.
- Beckett - I've been following them on Instagram since around the time they opened, so I loved having the chance to check out their shop in person. Such a beautiful space!
- Anthropologie - I know this is not a store unique to Charleston, but we don't have one here and the collection they had in the store was amazing! I purchased this top as well as this one and I had a few other things that could've gone home with me had I allowed myself!
Eating
I think half of what we did while we were in Charleston was eat but I have no complaints about that! Each restaurant we went to offered a little something different than the last. Fleet Landing was the perfect lunchtime spot for Saturday as it offered gorgeous views, great food (and drinks) and we in the area post-walking tour! I also loved Blossom's for dinner - each person ordered something different and everything was amazing!
Other restaurants I want to try:
- Fig
- Husk
- Magnolia's
- Stars
- Slightly North of Broad
- High Cotton
Boone Hall Plantation
If you love The Notebook, you'll love Boone Hall Plantation! The iconic Alley of Oaks served as a backdrop for Allie's parents' summer home and let me tell you - it's even more gorgeous in person. We explored on our own and hung out with these cute little horse friends before taking the home tour. While the plantation has been around for over 320 years, I was surprised to learn that the present house, despite its historical architectural designs, was not the original. Built in 1936, it replaced the original home that was on the plantation. While we only did the house tour and explored the gardens, there are so many other options to check out the property!
Camellias
This adorable pink champagne bar in the Hotel Bennett is too cute for words! It's safe to say the boys felt a little out of place, it is the cutest little spot. We had plans to go to the rooftop bar of the hotel, but there were storms in the area so we decided to hit this spot and then do a little more shopping instead. I saw someone hosting a little baby shower in there which was so cute! Definitely a great location for afternoon tea or champagne with the girls.
We absolutely loved our trip to Charleston! Though I've been a few times already, it's an easy place to go time and time again as it's not too far away from Wilmington, making it the perfect weekend spot. I still have so many other things I want to check out - but we'll safe that for the next trip!
Outfit Details:
Red Dress - ZIA Boutique
Tie Sandals - Jack Rogers
One-Shoulder Top - ZIA Boutique
Wedges - Dolce Vita
Blue Top - Anthropologie
Denim Shorts - 7FAM
Metallic Sandal - Charleston Shoe Co.
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