We recently took a trip to Charleston and it was such a fun little getaway to finish off summer! Charleston is one of our favorite places to visit, it’s so beautiful and there are so many different things to do so we never get bored. It’s a pretty quick car ride from our house so it’s a super easy, quick trip for us. We’ve stayed downtown at hotels and in busier areas before, but lately when we visit we’ve been renting houses in Folly Beach and Isle of Palms since it makes it easier when traveling with Merlin (our doggo). If you’re heading to Charleston soon I put together all of my Charleston recommendations depending on what you’re looking to do! If you don’t know what to bring along with you to Charleston, I also shared everything I packed for our trip in this post. Let’s get into it!

Where to Stay

The Dewberry

We stayed at The Dewberry earlier this year and had such a great experience. The room was gorgeous and spacious and the hotel was located in a great location a block away from King Street.

The Mills House

If you’re looking for something a bit less expensive, we’ve also had great experiences at The Mills House. Plus the exterior is pink so it scores major points! 

Where to Eat and Drink

Breakfast

Millers All Day

We never let a trip end without going to Millers at least twice. I usually order the Millers Plate or Frittata for breakfast and the lobster roll for lunch.

Dinner Spot

Le Farfalle

One of my favorite restaurants of all time is Le Farfalle. If you go, you have to try the Whipped Ricotta and Fusilli Lunghi.

Drinks

The Citrus Club

The Citrus Club is a pretty rooftop bar and restaurant at the Dewberry Hotel. It has beautiful views of Charleston. I recommend their Lobster Roll.

Camellias

Hotel Bennett has a gorgeous champagne lounge called Camellias. It’s perfect for evening drinks and they even serve afternoon tea. It would be a great spot for a day or night with the girls.

Things to do

Visit Isle of Palms or Folly Beach

Lately, we’ve been spending most of our time in Charleston at the beach. We love both Isle of Palms and Folly Beach!

Isle of Palms

When we’re in Isle of Palms we love staying at the Wild Dunes Resort. We went there last summer for my grandma’s 70th birthday and had the best time. It’s great because once you check in you never have to really leave the resort. They have restaurants, multiple pools, private beach access, activities, stores, and everything else you really need. We usually rent a golf cart to make it easy to get around the resort and area.

Folly Beach

When we’re in Folly Beach we typically rent a beach house. It’s a really fun area and they have great restaurants and bars on their main avenue, Center Street. In Folly, I recommend Taco Boy for lunch or dinner and The Lost Dog Cafe for breakfast. You also have to check out The Pineapple Hut. It’s a food truck that serves pineapple dole whips and floats!

These are all of my all-time favorite spots in Charleston but we’re always going back and trying new places! Let me know if you have any Charleston questions in the comments or favorite spots of your own!