A Quick Girl's Getaway Weekend to Charleston
Is it possible to experience Charleston in 36 hours? Ehhhh…no. Did we get pretty dang close? Yes. My best friend, Carla, and I love traveling together and we BOTH come down with the wanderlust bug fairly often. So, when Carla texted about planning a girl’s weekend, Charleston was my first response (pretty sure I responded in less than 30 seconds).
Charleston has been on my USA city bucket list for a couple of years now for a number of reasons. One, the buildings are so cheerfully colorful - who wouldn’t want to visit? Two, the city is associated with pineapples - I need not elaborate. Three, the history - it really sneaks up on you. Four, THE FOOD - southern foodie paradise.
I feel like as a frequent traveler, you have to constantly weigh the cost/benefit analysis of visiting a city for a shorter period of time. And, although we had limited time, we still managed to cover A LOT of territory in Charleston over the span of 36 hours. A quick trip CAN be done!
L&L’s Girls Weekend Getaway to Charleston Itinerary
Friday:
I rolled into the Holy City late on Friday evening and checked into our AirB&B. It was located close enough to the hustle and bustle so that we could walk to King Street and down, but not too close so that it cost us an arm and a leg.
Dinner at Fuel Charleston: Feeling a casual dinner joint vibe, I made my way to Fuel. A remodeled gas station specializing in tacos, Fuel is known for their affordable drink and eats. I made myself comfortable at the open-air bar. Fuel has a KILLER patio, complete with lounge chairs and bocce ball. I ordered my tacos and plantains (tacos with a Jamaican twist) and ended up making friends with a local couple who had spent the better half of a decade living in Charleston. I SWEAR - this meetup was fortuitous. It was like having a personalized tour guide AND some some dinner buddies!
They recommended some of their Charleston faves:
The Gin Joint (Carla and I loved this spot for pre-dinner drinks)
Xao Bao Biscuit (I walked past this eatery on the way to Fuel and could SMELL the goodness)
The Griffin (dive bar with dollar bills stapled all over the inside)
Prohibition (night life)
The Royal American (known for their live music)
The Vendu (drinks with a view of the harbor)
Lewis BBQ (a local fave - also recommended by our AirB&B host)
TLDR: Don’t be afraid to make some local friends at the bar. They’ll point you in the right direction. Also, I ordered a margarita and a beer - the tab came out to less than $10! Cheap drinks - no joke.
Saturday:
COFFEE: The Daily. This spot is a little off the beaten path, so you could tell it was mostly filled with locals. We enjoyed our caffeine jolt while walking around a neighboring antique store (which was FULL of treasures).
BRUNCH: Bumble and Bee. I loved this spot!! The food was AMAZING - I could eat their whipped feta every day for the rest of my life. No joke. Their menu is truly unique - definitely worth a trip.
WANDER: King Street. We started wandering at the top of King street, popping in and out of different boutiques and galleries along the way. We focused on mostly on exploring art/furniture galleries and I LOVED IT. People don’t rave enough about the amount of fantastic art you can find in Charleston. I was tempted to invest a number of times (there is a “Gallery Row” at the southernmost end of King Street).
Second State Coffee: Carla ordered a pour over and LOVED the vibe (and the jive) of this little spot. And, if we hadn’t had wandered a little bit off of the path…we wouldn’t have come across…
The Old Jail: This is literally how it’s titled on Google Maps. We just happened to stumble upon this old jail and wandered around the grounds! They offer historical tours (during the day) and ghost tours (at night). It would have been FREAKY to do a ghost tour here.
Unitarian Church Cemetery: Carla and I really enjoyed this little spot. This cemetery is attached to an old church and some of the headstones date back to before the American Revolution. This is where the history snuck up on me. I knew Charleston was an older city, but I wasn’t expecting to stand in the presence of a person who lived through the Revolution. It was a really neat feeling.
Pineapple Fountain: Pineapples in Charleston are synonymous with hospitality. This cute little fountain was one of my favorite spots - it’s just so HAPPY! You have a view of the harbor and it’s surrounded by a park and beautiful homes. If I lived in Charleston, I would want to picnic here every weekend.
Rainbow Row: Located just blocks away from The Pineapple Fountain, you can’t miss this spot! The homes reminded me of Easter eggs all lined up in a row (complete with blooming flower boxes). PRO TIP: Pick a street to wander down and enjoy all the cute doorsteps. You never know what you might find off the well-worn path! (We loved our Tradd Street wanderings).
The Battery: This is where all the MANSIONS are located + a historical park. We didn’t spend too much time here (due to our early dinner reservations), but we hopped in an Uber who drove us slowly past all the homes. Glad we were able to see it (but also glad for the chance to SIT DOWN after walking half the city).
The Gin Joint: Drinks before dinner! This cute little place is on Bay Street - great cocktails (and recommended by our local friends). You can give the bartender a list of three words (i.e. strong, floral, refreshing, tart, unusual, etc.) and they will surprise you with something yummy!
McCrady’s Restaurant: Carla is a foodie and recommended we make reservation at McCrady’s for the Chef’s Choice dinner. IT. WAS. THE BEST. CULINARY EXPERIENCE. OF MY LIFE. It was a full menu of modern, southern food. Honestly, it was well worth the splurge. The head chef, Sean Brock, also runs Husk (another well-known southern restaurant in Charleston). And, if you’re curious for an inside look, check out Season 6 of Chef’s Table on Netflix. Sean Brock is a genius. And legend has it…George Washington shared a meal with friends here.
Tradd’s: Beautiful (upscale) spot to eat/drink. White granite counter tops and plush seating. We grabbed a glass of wine here after dinner and loved the vibe. The bartenders were great!
Sunday:
BRUNCH: The Darling Oyster Bar. We had reservations at the Darling Oyster Bar (also recommended by our newly made local friends), but ended up having to leave town for Atlanta super early. We walked past this spot on Saturday and it looked SUPER CUTE. Obviously, I will return to try their oysters. And, apparently, Charleston is a BRUNCH city. Our friends recommended (if you have time) to stay in Charleston through Sunday and leaving Monday morning.
PHEW! THAT WAS A LOT - EVEN FOR A RECAP! Gosh, I loved Charleston. A quick girl’s weekend getaway to Charleston CAN BE DONE! Next time, I’ll budget at least three full days and make a point to tour more of the historical landmarks (oh, and eat more food).
Our girl’s weekend was a bit of a whirlwind, so our experience was truly a tease. We will be back.
