Charleston, all the Islands, and Beaches
Islands, Beaches, Neighborhoods
James Island will be your home base while you are visiting Charleston. It is centrally located between West Ashley, downtown Charleston, and Folly Beach. Johns Island, and subsequently Kiawah and Seabrook Islands, are just a bridge away.
The Terrace Plaza is the heart of dining and business on the Island and is 5 minutes from our home. There is a retro movie theater, the Terrace Theatre, Charleston Flower Market, Reflections Nail Studio, a barre studio, and a medical-spa. There are also several dining/bar options including Millers All Day, Bar George, and Paddock & Whiskey. Across the street, you will find L&B Sweets which has yummy ice cream and cookies, the Pour House music venue and a couple more restaurants: Kwei Fei, Azul Mexicano and Charleston Sports Pub.
The Charleston Municipal Golf Course is also located here and non-residents can play for $60 walking or $80 riding.
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James Island
James Island will be your home base while you are visiting Charleston. It is centrally located between West Ashley, downtown Charleston, and Folly Beach. Johns Island, and subsequently Kiawah and Seabrook Islands, are just a bridge away.
The Terrace Plaza is the heart of dining and business on the Island and is 5 minutes from our home. There is a retro movie theater, the Terrace Theatre, Charleston Flower Market, Reflections Nail Studio, a barre studio, and a medical-spa. There are also several dining/bar options including Millers All Day, Bar George, and Paddock & Whiskey. Across the street, you will find L&B Sweets which has yummy ice cream and cookies, the Pour House music venue and a couple more restaurants: Kwei Fei, Azul Mexicano and Charleston Sports Pub.
The Charleston Municipal Golf Course is also located here and non-residents can play for $60 walking or $80 riding.
Folly Beach is a family-friendly beach and mecca for the laid-back beach lifestyle. Surfers can head to the Washout, history lovers can check out Morris Island Lighthouse, fishing enthusiasts can head to the pier, and there's plenty of beach for building sandcastles or taking long walks. There are quite a few dining options along Center Street including The Washout, Rita's Seaside Grill and The Crab Shack. SUP Safari offer paddle boarding, Carolina Salt Surf Lessons can set you up with a board or reach out to Charleston Outdoor Adventures for guided kayaking in the inter-coastal.
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Folly Beach
East Ashley AvenueFolly Beach is a family-friendly beach and mecca for the laid-back beach lifestyle. Surfers can head to the Washout, history lovers can check out Morris Island Lighthouse, fishing enthusiasts can head to the pier, and there's plenty of beach for building sandcastles or taking long walks. There are quite a few dining options along Center Street including The Washout, Rita's Seaside Grill and The Crab Shack. SUP Safari offer paddle boarding, Carolina Salt Surf Lessons can set you up with a board or reach out to Charleston Outdoor Adventures for guided kayaking in the inter-coastal.
Home of the Kiawah Island Golf Resort and some of the most expensive real estate in Charleston county. It's a 40 minute drive from our home, but the golf courses are exceptional (they hosted the 2012 and 2021 PGA Championship) and Beachwalker Park is a lovely beach option.
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Kiawah Island
Home of the Kiawah Island Golf Resort and some of the most expensive real estate in Charleston county. It's a 40 minute drive from our home, but the golf courses are exceptional (they hosted the 2012 and 2021 PGA Championship) and Beachwalker Park is a lovely beach option.
We love the beaches on Sullivan's Island. They are nestled between Charleston Harbor and Isle of Palms, so the water is calm and the beaches are wide - perfect for biking or walking. Middle Street has good dining including Home Team BBQ, Mex 1 Coastal Cantina, Poe's Tavern (named in honor or Edgar Allen Poe who was stationed on Sullivan's Island and used the island as his setting in The Gold Bug), and the Obstinate Daughter. A caveat: parking can be very difficult and the some of the beach accesses require lengthy walks to reach the actual beach.
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Sullivan's Island
We love the beaches on Sullivan's Island. They are nestled between Charleston Harbor and Isle of Palms, so the water is calm and the beaches are wide - perfect for biking or walking. Middle Street has good dining including Home Team BBQ, Mex 1 Coastal Cantina, Poe's Tavern (named in honor or Edgar Allen Poe who was stationed on Sullivan's Island and used the island as his setting in The Gold Bug), and the Obstinate Daughter. A caveat: parking can be very difficult and the some of the beach accesses require lengthy walks to reach the actual beach.
Sightseeing
Fun way to explore Charleston. The guides are extremely knowledgable and oftentimes, funny. The carriages might not be operating if the temperatures are too high. Their priority is protecting the horses.
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Old South Carriage Company
14 Anson StFun way to explore Charleston. The guides are extremely knowledgable and oftentimes, funny. The carriages might not be operating if the temperatures are too high. Their priority is protecting the horses.
A snapshot into Antebellum Charleston through a powerful family and their slaves. The house features three distinctive periods of architecture. Couple with the Nathanial-Russell house for a full historic record of Charleston life from 1808 to the Civil War and beyond.
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Aiken-Rhett House
48 Elizabeth StA snapshot into Antebellum Charleston through a powerful family and their slaves. The house features three distinctive periods of architecture. Couple with the Nathanial-Russell house for a full historic record of Charleston life from 1808 to the Civil War and beyond.
A look at Charleston in the late Colonial and early Federal period. Considered one of the most opulent houses in Charleston when the family arrived in 1808. Pair with the Aiken-Rhett house for a full architectual review.
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Nathaniel Russell-huset
51 Meeting StA look at Charleston in the late Colonial and early Federal period. Considered one of the most opulent houses in Charleston when the family arrived in 1808. Pair with the Aiken-Rhett house for a full architectual review.
There are always interesting exhibits but it's easy to get in and out. Spend an hour or three, depending on your mood.
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Charleston Museum
360 Meeting StThere are always interesting exhibits but it's easy to get in and out. Spend an hour or three, depending on your mood.
Our favorite art gallery. There is an art walk featuring all of Charleston's art galleries on the first Friday of every month.
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Robert Lange Studios
2 Queen StOur favorite art gallery. There is an art walk featuring all of Charleston's art galleries on the first Friday of every month.
Charleston has beautiful gardens, mostly hidden from view, but Mrs. Whaley's Garden is open year round and just asks for a $10 donation to be left at the door.
Mrs. Whaley’s Garden
58 Church StCharleston has beautiful gardens, mostly hidden from view, but Mrs. Whaley's Garden is open year round and just asks for a $10 donation to be left at the door.
If you're looking for the perfect Charleston souvenir, this is the place to go.
Preservation Society of Charleston, SC
147 King StIf you're looking for the perfect Charleston souvenir, this is the place to go.
The McLeod Plantation is located minutes from our home and is a Gullah/Geechee heritage site.
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McLeod Plantation Historic Site
325 Country Club DrThe McLeod Plantation is located minutes from our home and is a Gullah/Geechee heritage site.
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens
3550 Ashley River RdBeautiful gardens and wildlife preserves.
18th century plantation on the Ashley river considered a Palladian palace when it was first constructed. It has not been restored and the land is an active archaeological site.
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Drayton Hall
3380 Ashley River Rd18th century plantation on the Ashley river considered a Palladian palace when it was first constructed. It has not been restored and the land is an active archaeological site.
Middleton Place
4300 Ashley River RdThe site of America's oldest landscaped gardens.
Food scene
A Southern food staple and a pioneer in the promotion of Southern ingredients and farmers. The restaurant is great, but we love the bar and patio for it's historical charm and casual feel. No reservations are required at the bar, but are highly recommended for the restaurant. They are always busy!
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Husk
76 Queen StA Southern food staple and a pioneer in the promotion of Southern ingredients and farmers. The restaurant is great, but we love the bar and patio for it's historical charm and casual feel. No reservations are required at the bar, but are highly recommended for the restaurant. They are always busy!
Possibly our favorite restaurant in Charleston! Seafood with a Southern and Puerto Rican twist. The crab rice is delicious, as are the hush puppies and roasted oysters. It's located in an historic home and is just charming.
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Delaney Oyster House
115 Calhoun StPossibly our favorite restaurant in Charleston! Seafood with a Southern and Puerto Rican twist. The crab rice is delicious, as are the hush puppies and roasted oysters. It's located in an historic home and is just charming.
Elevated Southern, simple and delicious. The chicken liver pate and the tomato tart tatin are seasonal staples and have never disappointed. The sticky sorghum pudding for dessert is fantastic. Lovely wine list and cocktails as well. Highly recommend.
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FIG
232 Meeting StElevated Southern, simple and delicious. The chicken liver pate and the tomato tart tatin are seasonal staples and have never disappointed. The sticky sorghum pudding for dessert is fantastic. Lovely wine list and cocktails as well. Highly recommend.
FIG's sister restaurant with a seafood focus. The raw bar and seafood towers are excellent, as are the various crudos and fish dishes. The cocktail list takes inspiration from the Caribbean and is top-notch.
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The Ordinary
544 King StFIG's sister restaurant with a seafood focus. The raw bar and seafood towers are excellent, as are the various crudos and fish dishes. The cocktail list takes inspiration from the Caribbean and is top-notch.
Great raw bar, yummy lobster rolls, shrimp po'boys, and fish tacos. Never disappointing.
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167 Raw
193 King StGreat raw bar, yummy lobster rolls, shrimp po'boys, and fish tacos. Never disappointing.
This is where we head for comfort food. Peel n' eat shrimp, hush puppies, char-grilled oysters, fried chicken, catfish, and scalloped potatoes. They have a frozen G&T machine for adults and soft serve with sprinkles for the kids.
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Leon's
698 King StThis is where we head for comfort food. Peel n' eat shrimp, hush puppies, char-grilled oysters, fried chicken, catfish, and scalloped potatoes. They have a frozen G&T machine for adults and soft serve with sprinkles for the kids.
Awesome patio and space on Johns Island. Go for the burrito but make sure you try their salsa trio, wings, and broiled oysters. The tacos are excellent as well.
Minero Mexican Grill & Cantina
3140 Maybank HighwayAwesome patio and space on Johns Island. Go for the burrito but make sure you try their salsa trio, wings, and broiled oysters. The tacos are excellent as well.
Consistent and delicious traditional Italian. In the colder months we eat here once every couple of weeks! It's just that comforting.
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Wild Olive Restaurant
2867 Maybank HwyConsistent and delicious traditional Italian. In the colder months we eat here once every couple of weeks! It's just that comforting.
Wild Olive's sister restaurant on Sullivan's Island. If we are regulars at Wild Olive in the colder months, the opposite is true of the OD - it's perfect in the summer. More coastal Italian with pizzas, pastas and yummy salads.
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The Obstinate Daughter
2063 Middle StWild Olive's sister restaurant on Sullivan's Island. If we are regulars at Wild Olive in the colder months, the opposite is true of the OD - it's perfect in the summer. More coastal Italian with pizzas, pastas and yummy salads.
Best brisket and smoked sausages in town. The patio is fun especially when football season rolls around.
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Lewis Barbecue
464 N Nassau StBest brisket and smoked sausages in town. The patio is fun especially when football season rolls around.
Fantastic meat & three. Best pulled pork (vinegar based), smoked chicken, ribs, and mac n' cheese in the Lowcountry.
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Rodney Scott's BBQ - Charleston
1011 King StreetFantastic meat & three. Best pulled pork (vinegar based), smoked chicken, ribs, and mac n' cheese in the Lowcountry.
Breakfast until 3pm if you're needing it. Good biscuits, sandwiches and pimento cheese too.
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Millers All Day
120 King StBreakfast until 3pm if you're needing it. Good biscuits, sandwiches and pimento cheese too.
The breakfast menu that has it all. Biscuit sandwiches, omelettes, skillets, pancakes . . .
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Big Bad Breakfast-Charleston
456 Meeting StThe breakfast menu that has it all. Biscuit sandwiches, omelettes, skillets, pancakes . . .
Super relaxed beach hang with good cocktails, shrimp rolls and burgers.
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Lowlife Bar
106 E Hudson AveSuper relaxed beach hang with good cocktails, shrimp rolls and burgers.
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Charleston Area Restaurants
Make reservations at restaurants as soon as you plan your trip. They fill quickly.
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Parking in downtown Charleston
Although there is metered parking throughout the city and 1-2 hour residential parking in the neighborhoods, we always recommend parking in a garage. The parking garage at 85 Queen Street is perfect for exploring the historic district including South of Broad and lower King Street. The garage at 558 King Street is ideal for exploring upper King Street and any area north of Calhoun Street.
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Bike Taxis
If you have found you've walked too far from your car and you can't imagine walking all the way back, hail a bike taxi or rickshaw. The college kids driving them will thank you for the business and your feet will thank you for the rest!