How to Spend the Perfect, Easy Weekend around Charleston, South Carolina
Birds-eye view of a house in the historic area of Charleston, South Carolina
I grew up a smidge north of Charlotte, NC so often enough on long weekends or sometimes even for a day trip, we’d pop down to Charleston for a change of scenery. If you’re looking for a coastal town with tons of history, colorful architecture, and some of that quintessential Southern charm, this is the place for you. I mean, there is a reason why Travel + Leisure readers voted it the #1 city in the United States. That’s quite a claim but I’m here to tell you that there is something to it.
I’m spending a few weeks house-sitting for family in the area, so recently for the long weekend my mom popped down for a quick two-night visit. Taking into account that it is almost June, the heat in Charleston is picking up as is the humidity (which in my opinion is the bigger killer of the two), so even if you were planning for more, you might end up having a low-key weekend simply because the sunshine will likely drain you quickly. That being said, pack a reusable water bottle cause you’re going to need more than the occasional lemonade or sweet tea to stay hydrated.
There are plenty of ways to spend a fun weekend around Charleston, here’s how to spend an easy one:
Day 1 - Experience Smalltown Charm in Summerville, SC
While you’re in the area (or if you’ve visited Charleston before and you’re looking for something new to do) head up to Summerville. Between the classically southern homes, main street shops, and local artists, it’s the perfect way to spend a day strolling. Here are some of my recommendations:
Summerville Farmers Market - Every Saturday from 8 AM to 1 PM, this market is a pleasant blend of produce, art, food, and local creations. My favorite buys? Some ginger lemonade and organic elderberry syrup.
Summerville Antique Gallery - If you love antiquing or thrifting, this shop is a great find. Loads of variety from clothes (there was a Civil War uniform), furniture, kitchenware, and other odds and ends
World’s Largest Sweet Tea - Nestled behind brick buildings you’ll find the world’s largest sweet tea, a southern staple, sitting inside what looks to be a mason jar complete with straw and lemon slice. I mean if you’re coming to the south, you’ve gotta have some sweet tea so why not make it a little cheesy too?
Soil and Soul Nursery - The future plant lady in me loved this shop. Filled with a variety of greenery, many exotic plants and so many unique pots. Also, I overheard one of the staffers tell a customer claiming not to have a “green thumb” that you could send them photos of your plant, if it looks unwell, and they can tell you how to save it. Love!
Public Works Art Center - If you don’t know this yet, I loveeeee local artists. After popping into the People, Places, & Quilts shop next door, they directed us to this gallery on the corner featuring work for locals. There is a gallery on the top floor, with rooms featuring different works as well as a few sections for gift buying, and studios downstairs!
Main Street Reads - I also love a good bookstore, even better in a small town. This is a small but packed shop featuring street signs designating the various genres within.
Day 2 - Experience Historic Charleston
I would venture to say that the main attraction (and reason for the above T+L ranking) is in direct regard to the historic area of Charleston, SC. Between the waterfront, colorful streets (often laid with brick and/or cobblestone), city market, shops, dining, and more, there’s a lot to cover here. My two big tips are first, come on a Sunday, as parking is free in most areas, and secondly, arrive early. We found a primo spot on a side street near the market around 9 AM. That puts you in early enough that the streets are still a little quiet, the market hasn’t opened yet, and you can wander around in relative peace. These are some of my favorite spots:
Charleston City Market - A must when visiting. Spanning a few blocks and filled to the brim with a range of local artisans, some food stalls, and, of course, all the beautiful sweetgrass baskets.
Rainbow Row - Iconic street aptly named for its colorful houses, near the waterfront. Great photo spot and place for a stroll. From here you can also walk a little further up until you see the pathway along the waterfront for a breezy walk.
The Battery - Shady spot with waterfront views featuring a park, with plenty of benches to have a sit and enjoy the views (and people-watching) or to simply take a break with a good book.
Church Street - What will you find here you might ask? Well if you guessed a lot of churches… ding ding ding. I think my favorite is the French Huguenot Church, in all its perfect pink glory. St. Philip’s is also a standout (literally, the road bumps out with the church on it) and is surrounded by beautiful grounds.
Basic Kitchen - Went here for lunch for the first time and honestly loved it. The vibes were vibing, we did get lucky to grab a table without a reservation (so note to the wise that you should book one, especially for a holiday weekend), but we were very grateful and highly sun-wiped. The menu is strongly plant-based (to my mother’s chagrin) but our vegan ceasar and tempura buffalo cauliflower were so good! Maybe just avoid the expensive mocktails… that tasted more like lightly flavored water.
The Spice & Tea Exchange - I have more tea than I will probably get through in the next year but does that stop me from going into a tea shop? Definitely not. I love the variety of teas (and spices!) in this brick store and no one will stop me from going in.
Pineapple Fountain - I mean, she’s an icon. She’s also near the pier where there are giant wooden swings so if I haven’t already convinced you to bring a book, bring a book.
Carmella’s Cafe and Dessert Bar - This is the perfect spot to bring the friend who loves sweets and the friend who loves booze. I’m the former. A delicious place for a sweet treat and an adult-sip, while being very cute and family-friendly.
Ultimately, you could spend a few days in the historic and downtown areas of Charleston alone but the above is just a simple way to conquer some of my favorite hits in the town, without going full-exhaustion mode. Don’t forget to apply your sunscreen either! I love these organic sunscreen sticks for days like these, they fit perfectly in a pocket or a purse.
I hope you enjoy Charleston and all of its southern charm. Follow @accentgolden for all the itineraries, travel tips, and more!
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