Exploring Charleston in 36 Hours

Where to Stay, What to See, and How to go back in History

Where to Stay

The Mills House is terrific if you’re looking to stay downtown with its outdoor terrace for drinks and breakfast. It’s right across the street from Husk and Eli’s Table, and a short walk from all the shopping that awaits a few streets up. You can also easily access The Battery, famous Pineapple Fountain, and Rainbow Row (a bit further up). It’s in a super walkable part of town.

What to Eat

For dinner:

Husk is one of my absolute favorites. Make reservations well in advance and be ready for everything from crispy pig’s ear to delicately-prepared duck breast. Stop by their speakeasy the next house over for pre- or post-dinner cocktails and lively conversation.

Fig lives up to its hype. Terrific atmosphere and great locally-sourced ingredients. Another place you’ll need reservations in advance – and it’s worth the wait.

For brunch/lunch:

Eli’s Table is a great spot for southern cuisine. They also do a great job with larger parties.

Hominy Grill is a staple, and for good reason. Stop by and try the Charleston Nasty biscuit (in the picture above) washed down with a Bloody Mary, then plan to walk it off down The Battery.

Happy Hour:

You can find all kinds of spots like Pearlz to grab fresh oysters and half-price cocktails and brews. We went to the rooftop at Vendue this last trip and really enjoyed it, though it can get crowded later into the evening.

Where to Shop

Plan on starting at one end of King Street and working your way down, hitting Market and Meeting Streets on your way back up. A few of my favorites:

Hampden Clothing has been rated one of the top boutiques in the U.S. Definitely a can’t-miss.
Grab a frose at Skinny Dip Charleston and check out their carefully-curated clothing and gifts selection, including Sail to Sable, KJP, machine washable blouses, and so much more
Copper Penny is another favorite. They also have a separate shoe store a littler further up King Street.
Croghan’s Jewel Box is a classic. Plan on spending a few time in this 100-year-old family jewelry store and you’ll see everything from their famous Goldbugs to antique silver just waiting to be engraved.

Meander through the old Charleston City Market for Charleston Tea Plantation’s earl grey tea, old Junior League cookbooks, and famous lowcountry sweetgrass baskets.

How to Explore

Calhoun Mansion

Calhoun Mansion is aptly-named “Charleston’s Gilded Age Mansion.” We ran out of time to tour the entire home (we’ll have to save it for next time), but if the gardens are any indication of its beauty and intricate detailing, it’s a total stunner – and something totally different.

Nathaniel Russell House

I could have spent a full day in the Nathaniel Russell House. Also, if you’re lucky enough to get Joy as your tour guide, you’re in for a total treat and a lot of laughs. Pro tip: make sure you check out the Historic Charleston Foundation’s website and the Charleston Visitor’s Bureau’s site as there are a handful of historic homes that offer combination tickets.

This beautiful 1808 merchant home has been painstakingly restored – and it shows. The only piece of furniture original to the house is a lone, plain chair. All other items were researched and carefully chosen. The dining room below was probably my favorite of all the rooms – those window treatments and that turquoise!

The doors, like this one below, are all original to the house – except for the front door.

The home’s cantilevered staircase is stunning – appearing to float in mid-air. It has since been reinforced to withstand all of the foot traffic that the old home now gets on a daily basis.

Even the stitching on this bedding was done by hand in Williamsburg, VA.

I’ve also added a cellarette and a hot water dispenser to my antiques collecting list. I hear New England has loads of the cellarettes. I think my next guide needs to take me up that way!

Battery Park

Take a walk or run along The Battery to Battery Park, where you’ll see some of Charleston’s beautiful southern homes and terrific views across the water.

Rainbow Row

Rainbow Row is a must-see if you’re coming to Charleston. This row of pastel-colored Georgian homes dates back to the mid-eighteenth century and is even more picture-perfect in person.

The Pineapple Fountain

Charleston is home to southern hospitality and you won’t want to miss a photo-op by the famous Pineapple Fountain. The water splashes down as long as the weather allows it to, so if you’ve got your heart set on seeing it, don’t wait til the winter.