Eye-let's Get It Started
By far the prettiest area in Charleston is the Historic Downtown. We stayed at an Airbnb right off of King Street, the main street downtown, and got to spend a lot of time exploring that area. Some of my top recommendations downtown to check out include...
To Eat:
- Poogan's Porch for a hearty southern brunch
- Caviar and Bananas for a casual breakfast or lunch at one of several locations
- Magnolias for a delicious upscale take on southern cuisine
- Le Farfalle for a great Italian meal
- The Park Cafe for a delectable egg and avocado sandwich
- Zero George Restaurant for a culinary experience
- Sugar Bakeshop for a yummy sweet treat
- Black Tap Coffee for a caffeine fix
- The Ordinary for good cocktails and ambiance
- The Palmetto Cafe for a sunny brunch spot
To Do and See:
- Rainbow Row is one of my favorite spots in the city -- a collection of colorfully painted homes all in a row.
- The Battery is the area at the very tip of the peninsula where you can see the big historic homes that overlook the harbor.
- Waterfront Park and the Pineapple Fountain are a lovely spot to see the harbor and take in the charm of the area.
- St. Michael's Church is the infamous white steeple that is so iconic of Charleston, The Holy City. Fun fact -- Charleston is nicknamed The Holy City because it was one of the few places in the 13 colonies that was tolerant of all religions.
- The Charleston City Market is a historic marketplace where local vendors sell their handicrafts. Take a stroll through it and maybe pick up a unique souvenir.
- The Mills House Wyndham Grand Hotel is a beautiful historic hotel that is painted all pink, so clearly it's a must see. It's also said to be haunted by its storied past and guests have reportedly seen a woman in a 19th century purple dress roaming the lobby.
- Historic homes downtown that you can tour to learn more about the town's history include the Aiken-Rhett House, the Heyward-Washington House, and the Nathaniel Russell House.
To Shop:
- Hampden Clothing for higher end designer fashions.
- Moon and Lola is a wonderfully colorful store on King Street full of artwork, jewelry, and various accessories.
- Candy Shop Vintage for unique and adorable finds.
- Belmond Place has some indoor shopping of nice stores off King Street.
- King Street -- just strolling up and down King Street you will find a great variety of stores like Kate Spade, Club Monaco, J.Crew, and the like.
- The Skinny Dip Charleston has yet to open but it promises to be a great destination for stylish shopping.
Thanks Ashley for the photos!