My husband and I are traveling to Charleston in early October, staying 4 nights in a B&B in the historic district. This is our first time in Charleston...what are some must-sees/dos and unique experiences? Best plantation to visit? Best nearby beach (can't get this close to the ocean without some beach time!)? Best restaurants? Not into wines, shopping, or bus tours at all. Please give me your best suggestions. Thanks in advance, Fellow Hoggers!
Charleston is a charming and interesting city, and photogenic! If you have a car, you might get to Patriots Point which is a great vantage point to take pictures of the bridge and city skyline features as well as explore an aircraft carrier, a destroyer, and a submarine. The aircraft carrier is stocked with aircraft of several vintages. Some very good resturants in the city to sustain you, so have a great time...
Make sure you get to visit some of the older houses. They are unique, only in Charleston.
There are interesting things to see and hear about the tunnels from the harbor to buildings in the city where contraband was smuggled ashore.
Catch the East Battery at sunrise. As the sun rises over the bay, then turn around and watch the mansions light up.
Gardens and garden gates throughout the Historic District make for great pics.
Don’t forget to make your way to one of the many marsh areas for all sorts of opportunities.
Rooftop bars are great u to o capture some cool sunset pics.
Enjoy Charleston! We live in Hilton Head about 70 miles south and frequent Charleston
Thanks for the suggestions!!! Keep them coming...I'm making a list!
Todd1959 wrote:
Catch the East Battery at sunrise. As the sun rises over the bay, then turn around and watch the mansions light up.
Gardens and garden gates throughout the Historic District make for great pics.
Don’t forget to make your way to one of the many marsh areas for all sorts of opportunities.
Rooftop bars are great u to o capture some cool sunset pics.
Enjoy Charleston! We live in Hilton Head about 70 miles south and frequent Charleston
I especially appreciate these specifics from someone who knows the city! Great ideas! Any particular marsh area especially great for birding? My first love is wildlife photography....
Restaurants:
Poogans Porch
Vendu (roof top)
Poogans Smokehouse
Pawpaw
Fig
Callies Hot Little Biscuit (2 locations, in City Market and on King Street)
Todd1959 wrote:
Restaurants:
Poogans Porch
Vendu (roof top)
Poogans Smokehouse
Pawpaw
Fig
Callies Hot Little Biscuit (2 locations, in City Market and on King Street)
Making me hungry already! Any of these specialize in fresh seafood? Being from Indiana, that is a big treat for us!
There are so many marshes and all will provide great experiences. One that is easy to get to is Shem Creek. It is across the Cooper River.
If you get further south there is the Caw Caw along US 17.
Several locations along the Ashley River on the way to Drayton Hall and Magnolia plantation.
October is a great time to visit Charleston
Hymans has great seafood but most restaurants in the area are great for seafood unless they are specialized in BBQ
The Avian Conservation Center; I have recently found this, haven't been I am putting on my list for 2020.
Eighteen miles out of Charleston with this recommendation.
“I have traveled worldwide and seen countless centers and this is the absolute best of its kind I have ever seen anywhere.”
Jack Hanna, Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and the Wilds
http://www.thecenterforbirdsofprey.org/
Todd1959 wrote:
Hymans has great seafood but most restaurants in the area are great for seafood unless they are specialized in BBQ
Wonderful!!! Thank you Todd for taking the time to help me out! :) Fantastic suggestions! Have a great day!
cedymock wrote:
The Avian Conservation Center; I have recently found this, haven't been I am putting on my list for 2020.
Eighteen miles out of Charleston with this recommendation.
“I have traveled worldwide and seen countless centers and this is the absolute best of its kind I have ever seen anywhere.”
Jack Hanna, Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and the Wilds
http://www.thecenterforbirdsofprey.org/WOW!!! Thanks for putting that on my radar! We are driving down from Indiana, so we'll have a car...will certainly check this out. Have a terrific day!
October is a perfect time to visit Charleston!
Walking Tour or Carriage/Bus Tour (start at the Visitors' Center on Meeting Street) Note: Each carriage tour only covers one quadrant (to eliminate traffic congestion) of the city; not sure if the bus tours have to comply with the same tour rules
Civil War: Fort Sumter National Monument, Liberty Square Visitor Education Center, Fort Moultrie, the H.L. Hunley, Warren Lasch Conservation Center, Charleston Museum, Fort Lamar Heritage Preserve, Confederate Museum, Citadel Museum, The Battery, Aiken-Rhett Mansion, City Hall
Rainbow Row; City Market
Avery Research Center Bull Street
Unitarian Church Cemetery (a must-see IMHO)
St. Philip's Anglican Church
Middleton Plantation (best and oldest), Boone (most well-known), Magnolia (best wildlife), Drayton Hall (best preserved)
Patriots' Point and the USS Yorktown, Vietnam Museum
Walk over the Ravenal Bridge
Shem Creek (Restaurants: Waters' Edge, Vicery's, Tavern and Table, The Wreck)
Birds of Prey Awendaw (check website for hours)
Sullivan's Island (Beach): Restaurants: The Obstinate Daughter, Poe's Tavern
Charleston Tea Plantation (most unusual) (only one in NA) Wadmalaw Island
Joe Riley Waterfront Park (pineapple fountain)
St. Michael's Church
Angel Oak Johns Island
Mt. Pleasant Restaurants: The Pickled Palate, Page's Okra Grill, Five Loaves Cafe, Red Drum
Charleston Restaurants: Fleet Landing, Five Loaves Cafe, Halls Chop House, Fig (reservations), Husk (reservations), Rue de Jean (near Visitors' Center), Grill 225 (rooftop); Mason's on N. Market Street (lobster rolls), Gaulart & Maliclet (Broad Street), Rappahannock Oyster House. The Vendue (rooftop) I personally did not like Hymans Seafood Restaurant...touristy, you'll like it if you like being herded; my entree was not that great
34 West Theater (live performances)
Isle of Palms (beach, restaurant The Boat House)
You can take the water taxi from Patriots' Point to Charleston
"Only in South Carolina" (website) frequently features sites/restaurants in Charleston and the environs
If you want to reply, then
register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.