4 Days in Fabulous Charleston

Once you arrive in Charleston, check in at your hotel and get settled. Take a short stroll to Little Palm Bar at The Ryder Hotel for lunch and a great craft cocktail to celebrate your arrival.

After refueling, wander down Meeting Street and visit Gibbes Museum of Art and enjoy paintings dating back to the 1700s.

After, explore Washington Square Park and the Four Corners of Law.

Make your way back to your hotel and get ready for dinner. I recommend FIG, one of the best restaurants in town for elevated Southern classics (you will want a reservation here).

Start your day with a specialty coffee and a delicious pastry at The Daily on King Street, then explore the area, which offers outstanding shopping options. Stroll by some of the city’s famous buildings, like the Joseph Manigault House, Aiken-Rhett House and the William Aiken House, then soak in Charleston architecture in the neighborhood South of Broad, a quiet residential area with gorgeous villas. This is also a good opportunity to visit White Point Garden at the southern tip of the city.

For lunch, I recommend Millers All Day on King Street, where they serve all the breakfast and lunch hits as well as different takes on the Bloody Mary classic.

In the afternoon, take a relaxing 30-minute narrated cruise to historic Fort Sumter, which played a pivotal role in the American Civil War. It’s an interesting place, and the National Park Service Rangers share lots of details about the fort and its significance.

After your tour, wander south just a bit until you get to Joe Riley Waterfront Park Pier and take a moment to sit in one of its many iron swings to rest and take in the beautiful scenery.

Then, head back to the hotel and enjoy an aperitif at the hotel bar before heading to Husk, a Charleston staple that prepares refined Southern fare in a former residence. Be sure to have a reservation here as this place is typically booked well in advance. Another option is Poogan’s Porch, named after the last residential owner’s neighborhood dog, which today is a popular restaurant that oozes old Charleston ambiance and offers delicious Southern classics.

Use this day to visit sights outside of the old town, like the Magnolia Plantation & Gardens and Drayton Hall. Both are spectacular places to see, and you want to reserve a good chunk of your day to avoid feeling rushed. You can charter transportation or pick up a rental car and explore on your own.

Magnolia Plantation & Gardens is the area’s oldest public attraction, a significant historic and cultural site as well as a place of breathtaking natural beauty. Drayton Hall is a masterpiece and the earliest example of Palladian architecture in the United States.

On your way back to the city, stop at Maison for dinner, a fabulous restaurant where the chef blends French technique with local ingredients, like shrimp schnitzel or rabbit en croute.

To round out the night, head to Dudley’s on Ann, the city’s LGBTQ+ bar welcoming the whole community. There are special events like drag shows and ladies nights, but you can have a good time here every day of the week.

Grab a coffee and a pastry close to the hotel and venture down to the French Quarter, the city’s gallery hotspot. You will find several wonderful art galleries showcasing local talent. Some of my favorites are Atrium Art Gallery, Revealed Art Gallery, The George Gallery and Mary Martin Fine Art Gallery.

For lunch, pop by Harken Café for their daily sandwich to go, which is served on freshly baked focaccia.

Then, head to The Williams Mansion (formerly known as The Calhoun Mansion) and take the tour to learn more about this jewel of the gilded age.

For an early dinner, I recommend the 2018 Eater Pizza of the Year award-winner Melfi’s, a fun Italian place that makes amazing Roman-style pizzas and interesting cocktails.