4 Days in Charleston: What to Eat, See, and Do
I just returned from the absolute best girls trip in Charleston, South Carolina. To say my heart is happy and full is an understatement. I spent 4 days with my Instagram bestie, Jessica Young, and we giggled, talked about our life and our goals, shopped ‘til we dropped, and ate the yummiest foods. The craziest part? We hadn’t ever met in person before this trip, but the minute we met it was like we had been friends our entire life. Who says you can make a best friend online? I had so many of you reach out during the trip asking me to share details on where we ate, what we saw, and what we did while visiting Charleston, so I knew as soon as I returned home I wanted to put together a blog post. I hope that sharing about my trip to Charleston can help you when it comes time to plan your own!
Charleston Trip Day 1: Lodging, Shopping, Dining & Cocktails
Thursday morning I flew in from BWI, met up with Jessica, and we went straight to Sewing Down South where I purchased an amazing candle (the scent was Rainbow Row). Next we went to Amanda Lindroth which is truly a rattan paradise! If you haven't seen the tented ceiling and white palm trees in this shop, I promise you, it’s stunning and worth seeing. It was so fun to see items in real life that I have shared over the years online. Next, Jessica and I attended the Sue Sartor & Katie Kime Charleston Toile event at Beau and Ro, which was so much fun! Katie is known for designing city-based toile prints that are unique and absolutely stunning. When Katie designed her Charleston Toile she partnered with the queen of hand block print dresses, Sue Sartor, for a dress collaboration and the dresses are absolutely gorgeous. My favorite part of these dresses is the border they have at the bottom, which is a design of Charleston homes. Our next stop was at Madison Matthews, who was so kind to host a lunch for us! We had so much fun and we got to play dress up with all of Madison’s gorgeous hand block printed dresses. I love that Madison Matthews’ dresses are washed in lavender and the styles are all so flattering. Each dress truly is its own piece of art.
After lunch we checked into our unit at the Quarters on King. It was the perfect location at King and Society so we could walk over and explore King street during our stay. We had a two story unit with a full kitchen, dining area, living room, powder room, bathroom, walk-in closet and bedroom. I would absolutely stay there again when visiting Charleston! We quickly got settled into our room and then headed right back out to explore. We made a quick trip to Out Of Hand in Old Village, which is a gorgeous home decor and fashion boutique and also a floral shop. Next up, we met Sue Sartor and Riley Steinhour for cocktails at Post House, where the espresso martinis were fantastic! After cocktails we went to 82 Queen with Kourtney Bedoe and Found Just the Thing. It was so amazing to meet more of my fellow influencer friends and discover they're even better in real life! I ordered the award-winning She Crab Soup with short ribs and both were fantastic!
Charleston Trip Day 2: Dining & Shopping
Friday morning we went to Vintage Coffee for a breakfast of acai bowls with Kourtney Bedoe. Then, the three of us went shopping at Mulberry and King and Monkees of Mount Pleasant. After a quick shower, we met with our amazing photographer, Aleece Sophia, near the battery for a photo shoot with Madison Matthews, Sue Sartor, Maxwell & Geraldine and Mulberry and King. After the shoot we met up with our friend Katy Paradise of Little Bird Monograms for dinner at Post House and it was so beautiful sitting outside on the patio. They are known for their cheeseburgers, so of course I had to order one. And let me tell you, it certainly didn't disappoint! We all had such great conversation, wine and food! After dinner we drove through the incredibly charming Old Village of Mount Pleasant, which is one of the prettiest neighborhoods I've ever seen.
Charleston Trip Day 3: The Spa, Sightseeing & More Shopping
Saturday morning, after swinging by Starbucks we went to The Charleston Place Belmond Hotel Spa for massages. The Charleston Place Hotel is stunning and actually where Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston got married! The massage was 50 minutes of pure bliss and one of the best massages I've ever had, thanks to my talented masseur, Cody. After a quick shower, we were off to Playa Bowl, which has the absolute best acai bowls! Next, we went into West Ashley with Found Just The Thing to shop at a favorite children’s store, Ellifox. Ellifox had such sweet items and we were able to stock up on easter basket goodies for our kids! Afterwards, we drove around The Battery and awed at the most phenomenal front doors and window boxes. We also stopped by Rainbow Row, which was so fun and colorful! Next up, we went to Hotel Bennet and met some friends at the cutest pink champagne bar called Camellias where we sipped on Veuve Clicquot Rose. Pink champagne just felt appropriate! We had reservations at Frannie & the Fox, but we gave them to friends, as we were exhausted. Instead, we grabbed Chipotle carry-out and watched Outer Banks on Netflix, which is actually filmed in Old Village Mount Pleasant. Frannie & the Fox is a must-visit on our next trip!
Charleston Trip Day 4: Visiting Mount Pleasant, Sullivan’s Island and Isle of Palms
On Sunday morning we packed up and checked out of the Quarters on King and went to breakfast in Mount Pleasant. After that, we drove to Sullivan’s Island, where we shot for Weezie Towels. The wisteria growing in the dunes made the whole experience smell of salt air and the sweetest florals. The sand literally glitters on Sullivan’s Island and the surrounding homes are total beach house goals! We swung by The Co-op, which is known for their yummy frosé drinks, before driving through the beautiful Isle of Palms on our way back to Jessica’s house in Carolina Park, Mount Pleasant.
Back in Mount Pleasant, we took Jessica’s kids to the pool and on a golf cart ride around their neighborhood, where every house is stunning! Many of the homes even have direct water access. We took a walk out on one of the docks and I felt like I was literally in the notebook! Herons fishing and taking flight, clams and oysters disturbing the water as they burrowed into the sand and marsh grasses dancing in the breeze, it was pure heaven. We had dinner at Coastal Crust, which is an adorable outdoor pizza place. It’s the perfect restaurant for families, as kids have a great playground to run around on while parents enjoy a slice of pizza and cold beer. There was also a little pink and white airstream traveling ice cream shop, which made for a cool post-dinner treat.
Charleston Girls Trip
Monday morning I had an early flight back to Baltimore and while I desperately missed my family, it was really hard to leave Charleston. I almost feel like it’s where we are meant to live. The charm. The family-friendly environment. The slower pace of outdoor living. It was all just so special. I am already planning my next visit and hoping to bring the rest of my family, even my mom! Is there a potential move in our future? It’s too soon to be sure, but it’s safe to say a part of my heart now belongs to this very special place.
Shopping
Activities
Driving through Old Village of Mount Pleasant
Exploring The Battery
Walking through Rainbow Row
Day Trip to Sullivan’s Island
Day Trip to Isle of Palms
Dining & Drinking
Post House (wonderful espresso martinis & burgers!)
Vintage Coffee (quick breakfast spot)
Playa Bowl (best acai bowls I’ve ever had!)
Camellia’s (adorable pink champagne bar)
Coastal Crust (great pizza place for families)
The Co-op (yummy frosé)
Community Table (great lunch spot!)
Magnolias (perfect for brunch!)