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COVID-19 Advice: If you do plan on traveling, please be smart and responsible for yourself and others.  Practice social distancing and wear a mask when deemed necessary.  Be respectful of other's well being and stay safe.

Charleston, SC

Updated: September 3rd, 2020

Below is a list of 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.

​In the info below, the yellow cost number is just an estimated amount at the time I checked their website; over time, the amount could change.  With the cost of a hotel room, I'm pricing a queen bed for two people for a night on the weekend, and the amount shown is before taxes.  These figures are just a rough estimate of what places could cost, so if incorrect, I apologize.

Breakfast

- Millers All Day

120 King St, Charleston, SC 29401

The pancakes, chicken biscuit, and banana bread are all good at Miller All Day. If you are a brunch type of person, the cocktails are very creative.

- Callie's Hot Little Biscuit

476 1/2 King St, Charleston, SC 29403

They are known for their little southern biscuits. Food & Wine, Southern Living, The New York Times and Oprah, all have written good reviews about Callie's Hot Little Biscuit. I would get Bacon Egg Cheese Biscuit Sandwich and 3 for $6 mix and match hot little biscuits with cinnamon, blackberry, and shortcake.

- Glazed Gourmet Doughnuts

481 King St, Charleston, SC 29403

They have the best donuts in South Carolina. I want to try the Peanut Butter Brownie, and Banana Split donut. I also like to try the Apple Bacon Fritter, a fritter made from our bacon-infused dough filled with Granny Smith apples.

Website

Activities

- RiverDogs Baseball

360 Fishburne St, Charleston, SC 29403

A class Single-A South Atlantic League baseball team that is affiliated with the New York Yankees. The RiverDogs has some of the best ballpark food around the minor leagues. Make sure to grab yourself a homewrecker hot dog with chili, nacho cheese, and bacon if still offered at the park.

- Fort Sumter National Monument

340 Concord St, Charleston, SC 29401

Its 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.

Ferry Cost: $24.00

- South Carolina Aquarium

100 Aquarium Wharf, Charleston, SC 29401

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.

Adult Admission: $29.95

- The Charleston Museum

360 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29403

The museum centers on the Lowcountry history and culture of South Carolina.

Adult Admission: $12.00

- Magnolia Cemetery Trust

70 Cunnington Ave, Charleston, SC 29405

Bulldog Tours does a fantastic tour (90 minutes) in the evening at Magnolia Cemetery. Magnolia Cemetery is one of best and most beautiful Victorian cemetery in the United States.

- Magnolia Plantation and Gardens

3550 Ashley River Rd, Charleston, SC 29414

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, which is the only garden in South Carolina to have that honor. It is the oldest public gardens in America, opening its doors to visitors in 1870. The plantation has numerous tour options, e.g., boat, tram, and house tours.

Adult Admission with All Tours: $60.00

- North Charleston Fire Museum

4975 Centre Pointe Dr, North Charleston, SC 29418

This museum has the largest collection of professionally restored American LaFrance fire apparatus in the country. All the museum pieces in the collection still function properly and can still fight fires. One of the best museums dedicated to fire fighting in the United States. Plenty of good photo opportunities at this museum.

Adult Admission: $6.00

Lunch/Dinner

- Halls Chophouse

434 King St, Charleston, SC 29403

Best steakhouse and service in Charleston go to Halls Chophouse. They also rank third by Tripadvisor for "Best Fine Dining Restaurants in the United States for 2020." After the main course, save room for dessert ( Southern Caramel Cake) because they excel in that department.

- Poe's Tavern Sullivans Island

2210 Middle St, Sullivan's Island, SC 29482

Poe's Tavern Sullivans Island is one of the best burger places in the Charleston area. The restaurant has an Edgar Allan Poe theme because the famous writer called that area home in his early years. I would order the Tell-Tale Heart, a burger topped with a fried egg, applewood bacon, and cheddar cheese.

- Rodney Scott's BBQ

1011 King St, Charleston, SC 29403

There are a few excellent BBQ places in Charleston, Rodney Scott is toward the top of the list. The restaurant was named one of the 50 Best New Restaurants by Bon Appetit Magazine. In 2018, Rodney Scott was awarded the James Beard Foundation's award for Outstanding Chef Southeast. I would order Rod's original whole-hog pork sandwich, 6oz of pit-cooked whole hog, served open face on white bread topped with Rod's sauce, and crumbled pork skins.

- Butcher & Bee

1085 Morrison Dr, Charleston, SC 29403

Butcher & Bee is known for their sandwiches. I would order the double cheeseburger, burger topped with American cheese, house-made pickles, with special sauce on a brioche bun.

- Lewis Barbecue

464 N Nassau St, Charleston, SC 29403

Lewis Barbecue is another excellent BBQ place that ranks high among peers in the Charleston. The local Charleston paper named Lewis Barbecue best BBQ, ribs, brisket, and pitmaster for 2020. I would order the El Sancho (Loco Version), a sandwich with pulled pork, chopped beef, and hot guts sausage topped with pickled red onion.

- Park Pizza Co

1028 E Montague Ave, Charleston, SC 29405

Park Pizza Co is one of the top pizza places in Charleston and ranks in the top 100 in the United States. They offer a ton of different pizza options. I would order the SPACEBALLS, a pie sauced with marinara, topped with mozzarella, ricotta, meatballs, garlic, and oregano. The pizza of the month for July is the Real American Gyro, pizza sauced with Tzatziki sauce, topped mozzarella, tomatoes, green pepper, red onion, sliced meatballs, and feta.

- Leon's

698 King St, Charleston, SC 29403

Leon's Oyster Shop offers the best chicken sandwich in Charleston. The restaurant is located in an old body shop that belonged to Leon Ravenel. The restaurant space pays homage to the building's history by keeping the garage doors, concrete floors, and some remaining memorabilia from Leon himself.

Places to Stay

- The Spectator Hotel

67 State St, Charleston, SC 29401

+ One of the top hotels in Charleston year after year.
+ Complimentary bicycles to borrow
+ Personable butlers are offer
+ Prohibition-style bar
+ A gourmet continental breakfast is delivered to your door each morning

The average cost a night on a weekend in October: $486

- The Restoration

75 Wentworth St, Charleston, SC 29401

+ Voted Best Urban Hotel by Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence 2020
+ A farm to table restaurant
+ Use one of the hotel’s custom-designed bicycles to explore the city
+ A rooftop pool

The average cost a night on a weekend in October: $446

- Zero George

Right Side, 0 George St, Charleston, SC 29401

+ Within walking distance of the excellent restaurants, shops, and museums
+ Private garden courtyard
+ Complimentary bikes
+ They restored the historic property to reflect all the wow of old Charleston while setting new style and comfort standards.

The average cost a night on a weekend in October: $599

- Wild Dunes Resort

5757 Palm Blvd, Isle of Palms, SC 29451

+ Best beach resort close to Charleston
+ The beach
+ The Grand Pavilion features two oceanfront pools ideal for swimming alongside the ocean, and in the middle is Beachside Burgers & Bar.
+ Golf Digest says Wild Dunes Resort has some of the best golf courses in South Carolina.

The average cost a night on a weekend in October: $173

21 and Up Fun

- Westbrook Brewing Company

510 Ridge Rd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464

+ Twenty-two rotating beers on tap inside the taproom
+ Outside beer garden.
+ Tours are free and start about once an hour
+ Try "Orange Creamsicle Shake IPA," a hazy milkshake IPA (7.0% ABV) with orange, lactose, and vanilla.
+ Current Hours (As Dated at Top) : Tues-Fri 4pm-8pm Sat 12pm-6pm

- Holy City Brewing

1021 Aragon Ave, Charleston, SC 29405

+ Twenty-eight rotating beers on tap inside the taproom
+ Free tours available on request
+ Try "Pluff Mud Porter," an American porter style beer (5.5% ABV) with chocolate notes and a silky finish.
+ Current Hours (As Dated at Top) : Mon-Sun 11am-10pm

- Striped Pig Distillery

2225 Old School Drive A, North Charleston, SC 29405

+ Best distillery in Charleston
+ Check their website about tours availablity because of COVID
+ Try SPD Watermelon Vodka (70 proof)
+ Current Hours (As Dated at Top) : Thus- Sat 12pm-5pm

- Palmetto Brewing Co.

289 Huger St, Charleston, SC 29403

+ The first licensed brewery to open in the state of South Carolina
+ Try "Idle Speed," a lager beer (4.8% ABV) with lime and a pinch of sea salt
+ Interesting weekly SpeakEasy Program that allows you earn free awards
+ Current Hours (As Dated at Top) : Mon-Thurs 4pm-9pm Fri-Sat 1pm-9pm Sun 1pm-7pm

Out of Bounds

- Cypress Gardens

3030 Cypress Gardens Rd, Moncks Corner, SC 29461

I know about Cypress Gardens from the movie The Patriot (2000), the location was the swamp hideout for the American Colonist.  You can either walk the trail (3.5 miles) through the swamp and gardens or follow a marked trail by swamp boat (more adventurous way).  You can also visit the Swamparium, home to various species of fish, amphibians, and reptiles native to the swamp.  Do not leave without taking a picture of the church ruins in the middle of the black swamp.

29 miles from Charleston

- The Southern General

3157 Maybank Hwy, Johns Island, SC 29455

The Southern General creates some amazing house sandwiches; it's hard to pick just one.  The entire menu is on point.  I would order the pulled pork sandwich, house braised pork with sweet tea BBQ sauce on a grilled brioche bun.

9.5 miles from Charleston

 Again these are 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

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