Last Updated:
5/14/22
Charleston, SC
Below is a list of the best places I would visit on a trip to this location. My picks fit my personality and interest. Everyone has a different interest so you may not like everything I listed which is fine. If you like a place, I recommend saving it to Google Maps for a future trip down the road. I made sure to include the address or GPS to make it easier to find. You can find out more about me in the "About Me" section to see if we share common interests.
Breakfast
Early Bird Diner
1644 Savannah Hwy, Charleston, SC 29407
Sample Menu of What I Would Order
Chicken & Waffle: Pecan Fried Chicken and a Cinnamon Waffle with Honey Mustard BBQ Sauce and Syrup $15.50
Early Burger: Beef Patty, Applewood Bacon, Scrambled Egg, and Cheddar on White Toast with 1 Side $13.50
Shrimp & Grits: Sauteed Shrimp, Applewood Bacon, and Scallions in Tomato Gravy over Grits with a Biscuit or Toast $17.00
Hours:
Monday to Saturday 8 am - 4 pm
Sunday 8 am - 2 pm
Order Online: Yes
Seen on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives
Glazed Gourmet Doughnuts
481 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
Some of the Donut Flavors I Would Order
Apple Bacon Fritter: Fritter made out of Bacon Infused Dough filled with Granny Smith Apples
PB&C: Peanut Butter Glaze drizzled with Chocolate Ganache & Chocolate Mousse Filling
Blue Cheese Cabernet: Homemade Pear Jam, Cabernet Glaze, Blue Cheese Honey Drizzle
Baked Banana: Banana Bread Doughnut, Banana Glaze & Walnuts
Sweet Corn Blueberry: Sweet Corn Custard, Blueberry Glaze, Corn Lemon Shortbread
Hours:
Tuesday to Friday 7 am - 3 pm
Saturday and Sunday 8 am - 3 pm
Close Early If Sold Out
Order Online: Yes
Constantly Mention as the Best Donuts in South Carolina
Activities
Patriots Point
In my opinion, Patriots Points is the best place to visit in the Charleston area. One of South Carolina's most popular tourist attractions with more than 300,000 visitors each year. You can explore an aircraft carrier, a submarine, a destroyer, and a Vietnam War exhibit. I have much respect for this museum on how they honor the United States military.
SINGLE DAY ADMISSION:
Parking $5.00
Adult - $27.00
Child(6-11) - $16.00
Senior(62+) - $19.00
Added Cost for Captain's Guided Tour (Recommended) - $15.00
40 Patriots Point Rd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464
Hours:
Daily 9 am - 6:30 pm
Food Trucks Make a Return to Patriots Point for the Spring and Summer Season
South Carolina Aquarium
South Carolina Aquarium was announced as one of ten recipients of the 2019 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries that make significant and exceptional contributions to their communities. The aquarium puts a lot of effort into helping sea turtles. Their animal exhibits take you throughout South Carolina from the mountains to the oceans. The centerpiece is the two-story, 385,000-gallon Great Ocean Tank, where you will see Caretta, a 220-pound loggerhead sea turtle hanging out with some sharks.
General Admission (Start At Price):
Adult - $29.95
Child(3-12) - $22.95
100 Aquarium Wharf, Charleston, SC 29401
Hours:
Daily 9 am - 5:00 pm
Last Entry Time 3:30 pm
Popular After Hours Event (Age 21+) - Beer From Here - August 19
Fort Sumter
It is a nice ferry ride out of Charleston Harbor to Fort Sumter secluded on an island. The park ranger will give a tour of the fort when you arrive; altogether, you spend about an hour on the island. Plenty of time to take photos of the cannons. The ferry departs from two locations, either near the South Carolina Aquarium or Patriots Point Naval Museum.
Fort Sumter Tour (Ferry Cost):
Adult - $32.00
Child(4-11) - $19.00
Senior/Military - $29.00
340 Concord St, Charleston, SC 29401
Ferry Departure Times:
Liberty Square 9:30 am, Noon, 2:30 pm, 4 pm
Patriot Point 10:30 am, 1 pm, 3:30 pm
USS Yorktown/Fort Sumter Tour Combo (My Pick) Adults $52 Children $33
Magnolia Plantation & Garden
Yes, I know about Middleton Plantation, but I feel overall that Magnolia Plantation has more to over to the public. It is Charleston's most visited plantation. Magnolia Plantation was selected as one of "America's Most Beautiful Gardens" by Travel + Leisure Magazine, the only garden in South Carolina to have that honor. It is the oldest public garden in America, opening its doors to visitors in 1870. The plantation has numerous tour options, e.g., boat, tram, and house tours.
Admission Info (Just Adult Info Here):
General Admission - $29.00
Historic House - $10.00
Nature Tram - $10.00
Nature Boat - $10.00
Audubon Swamp - $10.00
Historic Garden Walk - $10.00
3550 Ashley River Rd, Charleston, SC 29414
Hours:
Daily 9 am - 5:00 pm
Last Entry Time 4:00 pm
Photography Allowed But Not Inside Plantation House
Food
Poe's Tavern
2210 Middle St, Sullivan's Island, SC 29482
Sample Menu of What I Would Order
Tell-Tale Heart Burger: Fried Egg, Applewood Bacon & Cheddar Cheese $16.00
Black Cat Burger: Grilled Onions, Edgar's Drunken Chili, Applewood Bacon & Pimiento Cheese $16.75
Sleeper Burger: Roasted Garlic Blue Cheese & Buffalo Fried Shrimp $16.25
Hours:
Daily 11 am - 10 pm
Order Online: Yes
One of the Best Burger Spots in Charleston Area of South Carolina
Lewis Barbecue
464 N Nassau St, Charleston, SC 29403
Sample Menu of What I Would Order
El Sancho Loco: Pulled Pork, Chopped Brisket & Sausage on Normandy Farms Bun $14.00
Sliced USDA Prime Beef Brisket: Famous Central Texas Style Brisket $27.00 per Pound
Banana Pudding: Homemade Banana Pudding with Marshmellow Fluff & Crumbled Nilla Wafers $6.00
Hours:
Sunday & Monday 11 am - 9 pm
Tues to Sat 11 am - 10 pm
Order Online: Yes
Located Down the Road from Rodney Scott's BBQ, Go to Both Places
Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream
501-A King St, Charleston, SC 29403
Flavor Samples From Menu (Seasonal)
Brambleberry Crisp
Sweet Cream Biscuits & Peach Jam
Middle West Whiskey & Pecans
Boston Cream Pie
Maple Soaked Pancakes
Skillet Cinnamon Roll
Buttercream Birthday Cake
Hours:
Monday to Friday Noon-Midnight
Sat & Sunday 11 am - Midnight
Order Online: Yes
Jeni's is Known to Have Some of the Best Ice Cream in the Country
Places to Stay
FYI: The hotel prices are estimated and will most likely fluctuate since I looked them up on their website. I will keep them updated the best I can every three months. I look for the cheapest available room which is usually a queen bed
The Charleston Place
In the Heart of Charleston Historic District
World-Class Spa, Salon, and Fitness Center
Meeting at Market, a gastropub serving up burgers and fish & chips
Rooftop Pool
205 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401
A Two Block Walk, Two Amazing Restaurants, Husk and Poogan's Porch
Estimated Cost for Weekend Night (without tax/fee)
Deluxe King Room in June 2022 - $640
Francis Marion Hotel
Historic Hotel That Opened in 1924, Overlooks Marion Square Park
Starbucks Coffee Shop
On-Site Restaurant, Swamp Fox Restaurant & Bar Serving Up Award-Winning Shrimp & Grits
Marble Baths
387 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
Nearby: Chucktown Brewery, Big Gun Burger Shop and Hero Doughnuts
Estimated Cost for Weekend Night (without tax/fee)
Deluxe King Room in June 2022 - $364
21 and up fun
Edmund's Oast Brewing Co.
1505 King St #115, Charleston, SC 29405
SAMPLE OF BEER MENU
Cereal For Dinner: Blonde Ale with Almond, Coconut, & Vanilla | 5.0% ABV
Sour Fruit Punch: American Sour | 6.5% ABV
Cordial Offering Raspberry Truffle: Imperial Stout, Cocoa Nibs & Raspberries | 10.0% ABV
Something Cold: Ultra Premium Blonde Ale | 5.0% ABV
Hours:
Daily 11 am - 9 pm
Food Menu is Available
Also Known To Serve A Very Good Hot Dog
Firefly Distillery
4201 Spruill Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405
SAMPLE OF SPRING COCKTAIL MENU
Country Sour: Firefly Sweet Tea Whiskey, Meyer Lemon, & Sprite $11
The OG: Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka and Lemonade $11
Lowcountry Mule: WhiskeyJam Whiskey, Sweatman's Ginger Beer & Lime $11
Watermelon Sugar (Frozen): Firefly Southern Lemonade Vodka, Firefly Lowcountry Gin, & Watermelon $11
Firefly Tasting
A Tasting Flight of 6 Spirits, $13 per person
Hours
Monday to Saturday: Noon - 6 pm
Sunday: Closed
Every Saturday Afternoon, Live Music on the Front Porch and Food Trucks
Again these are just few of my picks that fit my personality and interest. If you feel that I left one-off that may interest me or other people, message me on Facebook about the location. I value a person's opinion and never just discard the information. Always looking forward to learning about new places to add to my Google Map. ~ Shawn