In This Post: Wondering what to do in Charleston, SC? From Instagram-worthy rainbow homes to sweet treats and a beautiful boutique hotel, here are my recommendations for a day in Charleston!
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Outfit Details: Color block pleated skirt | Report Shoes
I’m back today to share with you the next stop of last month’s 10-day road trip! Having explored the blooming town of Summerville followed by an evening spent dolphin spotting in Mount Pleasant, our adventures of Charleston’s surrounding areas were already a delight. But, I could not wait to finally explore the city of Charleston. People kept telling me how beautiful and charming Charleston is, which left me with pretty high expectations that I was almost afraid were too good to be realistic! I didn’t need to worry though because the hunch in the pit of my belly that kept saying, “Charleston is it!” was growing stronger by the day.
It was a pretty hot and humid day, so the blogger in me wanted to get my photos out of the way first! As I started driving through the city looking to a spot to park by Rainbow Row, I became covered in certainty that Charleston feels like home. Blooming streets, colorful houses, sunshiney days, and palm trees are just a few of the elements of life in Charleston that I am in love with. Keep reading to following along with how we spent our day in the city!
Where to Take Instagram Photos in Charleston:
Charleston stop number one was to Rainbow Row! Rainbow Row is an iconic, Instagram-worthy site in Charleston where a row of vibrant Georgian homes lines the street. When conditions of the area deteriorated after the Civil War, some of the houses in the row were painted pastel pink inspired by the color scheme commonly found in the Caribean. As more of the homes were purchased and renovated, other owners followed suit by choosing rainbow colors as well and now it’s one of the most popular places to see in Charleston! More on this here.
Just a short walk away from Rainbow Row is the popular Pineapple Fountain. We didn’t take any photos there because the sun was getting too bright and there were a lot of people, but it was fun to see kids having a ball in the water!
Where to Shop in Charleston:
Having some more time before we could check into Hotel Bella Grace, we got back in the car and drove over to the Historic Charleston City Market. This place was so cool! Think of a more elegant take on the flea market. Made up of an indoor great hall followed by 3 open-air “sheds” the seemingly endless market is filled with all kind of local artisans and small businesses that you can shop from. Whether you’re looking for sweetgrass baskets, something to eat, locally made souvenirs, artwork to add to your home, or stylish gifts, there’s truly a few Gems for everyone to find here.
It might seem strange, but this is one of the moments that made me see just how wonderful the people in Charleston were. Typically, I hate being in small spaces with a lot of people. It overwhelms me and I can only handle it for a short period of time. Even though the market was really crowded, I was really surprised how at ease I felt. I didn’t feel shoved around or anxious. Everyone was taking their time and the vendors were pleasant and kind, I never felt like I was being pressured into buying anything. I did buy a hat and the guy was so sweet to take the time to adjust it to fit me better. I wish I could put it into better words, but from my perspective, the energy was just very different than when you have a crowded space of people up North. I attribute it to the weather. Sunshine makes everyone happy, right? So more sunny days = more happy people!
Where to Get Ice Cream in Charleston:
As we were browsing through the market, we kept seeing people walk through with these huge, scrumptious looking ice cream sandwiches and WE NEEDED THEM. After some research on Instagram, we figured out they were from Peace Pie. Peace Pie makes ice cream sandwiches with a layer of pie in the middle! I had such a hard time choosing what to get but I went with the birthday cake. Listen, I think about that ice cream sandwich and how badly I want another one at LEAST once a day because it was THAT GOOD. They also have locations in Florida and New Jersey! I miss you so much, Peace Pie.
Where to Stay in Charleston:
After some shopping and ice cream, it was time to check in our hotel! Opening just last Summer Hotel Bella Grace was another Gem of a hotel that I found when researching where to stay for our road trip. Hip and historic worlds collide at this beautiful boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Charleston. Hotel Bella Grace mixes Southern charm with modern decor for a unique, edgy atmosphere. More to come on this place to stay soon as I’m working on a full review to post in the new few days!
After taking our time to soak in the eye-catching and thoughtful design of Hotel Bella Grace (by that I mean I photographed the room while I made my sister and the baby hide out in the bathroom. I didn’t even feel bad about it because even the bathroom area was spectacularly gorgeous and sparkling clean), off we went to find food!
Outfit Details: Gal Meets Glam Beverly Jumpsuit | Report Shoes
Where to Eat in Charleston:
Looking for something local but casual and affordable, we started heading to Jestine’s Kitchen. On our way to the restaurant, we drove by a cat cafe, which I turned the car around to let me animal-loving sister visit for a few minutes. Back on track, since Jestine’s Kitchen had had a pretty big crowd out front when we drove past earlier so out of hanger, I rushed my sister out of the car to go put our name in while I parked. An avid avoider of parallel parking, I ended up like 4 blocks away and it probably would have been faster to just walk from the hotel lol. After my (what seemed extensive at the time) walk, thankfully there was no wait, the food was done fast, and it was delicious. If you’re looking for good home-style Southern food, this is the place to go!
What to Do in Charleston, SC:
I would have loved to walk around more exploring more of the city, but the first few days of the trip had us worn down a bit and we all needed some sleep. I knew I needed to get my sister back to the hotel to recharge because as we were driving, she spotted a Toyota with the standard Corolla logo on it and said, “they must be from North Carolina because their car says Corolla on it”. Corolla is a town in the Outer Banks – and also people don’t have emblems of the towns they’re from on their cars – haha. You probably had to be there for it to be as funny as it was in the moment, or maybe we were just so tired that everything was funny. She’ll probably kill me for putting this in here, but I want to remember this memory when I go back to read this post down the road!
I made fun of her at the moment, but totally made up for it the next day! For our few hours in Charleston, I wanted to do something extra special for my sister. After a delicious breakfast the Delaney House, the gathering spot for eating at Hotel Bella Grace, I falsely told my sister we were meeting with a brand for a business meeting before our next destination – Savannah, GA.
I held my breath as we pulled in certain that she would put the pieces together with the big sign that said, “Aquarium Garage”. Pretending I wasn’t sure where the “cafe” was for the “meeting” we were supposed to be at, I told her I was going to ask for directions in the aquarium. About to reveal the surprise, I turned around and she wasn’t even behind me! Now wasn’t the time to be waiting outside! I yelled, “Alyssa, this is so cool you have to come in here for a second”. As she made her way in, I asked, “do you want to go to the aquarium?” She responded with, “That’s what we’re doing today?… Oh really?! I love aquariums!” as streams of happy tears rolled down her face. I was so grateful she didn’t catch on until the last second because I was able to get a priceless video of her reaction and every time I watch it, it gives me all the feels!
My sister LOVES fish and aquariums. When she agreed to come on this trip with me, she also knew it meant she was going to be my photographer for all things blog related, which is a lot of work. From the moment she told me she’d go, I decided I needed to plan some kind of surprise for her and this one turned out perfectly. She was so excited to feed the stingrays and we both enjoyed watching the sea turtles. It is smaller than I was anticipating for the price (it only took us about an hour to go through), but it was a well kept and thought out experience. They had lots of shows, activities, and hands-on stuff for kids, so I’m sure it’s something you could make a half or full day out of with little ones.
Check back soon for our itinerary for the next stop – Savannah, GA!
Do you have suggestions on what to do in Charleston, SC? Be sure to leave them in the comments!
