Three Day Itinerary for Charleston
Charleston is in the state of South Carolina in the south east of the United States. It is a great city to visit for a long weekend or as part of a longer trip to the deep south of the US. It’s a city full of fascinating American history and delicious southern food. Here is my three day itinerary for Charleston which will enable you to see the best of the city, and its surrounding area, in just a few days.
Where to stay? There’s lots of hotels in Charleston and I would recommend trying to find one in the beautiful historic district. I stayed at the Indigo Inn, which was reasonably priced and I would recommend. My room had a huge, high bed (they even provide little steps to help the ascent!) and there is a pleasant outdoor courtyard to enjoy, as well as free breakfast and a daily wine & cheese hour.
Day 1
Charleston is a very easy city to wander around and the old houses, churches and gardens look so picturesque, so start your day by wandering the streets of the historic district, looking at the quaint streets, old churches and colourful buildings.
Make sure you take a stroll down to the waterfront park where you might be lucky enough to view dolphins frolicking in the water from the end of the pier.
Now it’s time for a bit of history. Start at the Old Exchange and Provost building which has been central to lots of Charleston’s interesting history. You can join a guided tour of the old British dungeons underneath the building and the guide will provide a detailed overview of the building and thus Charleston’s history. Next, walk over to the Old Slave Mart Museum – a sobering and enlightening exhibition about slavery, an issue which so dominated this city’s history.
Now it’s time for some lunch. Try Eli’s Table on Meeting Street where you can enjoy a light lunch on the patio. I can recommend the restaurant’s famous Tuscan Grilled Cheese sandwich.
Now wander further ‘south of Broad’ along Meeting Street where impressive private homes dominate both sides of the street. Walk to the end at White Point Gardens and the old battery, now a small park at the tip of the peninsula. Then take a further walk along the waterfront and enjoy views of the bay, often busy with boats. Walk back to Waterfront Park and maybe treat yourself to an ice-cream for all the walking today.
This evening make an early (or late) dinner reservation at 82 Queen. It’s in an old historic house and you can sample some local specialities such as she-crab soup and shrimp & grits.
This evening visit the nearby Circular Congregational Church to see the Sound of Charleston concert. (You’ll need to purchase tickets in advance.) It’s a wonderful introduction to Charleston with a host describing the historical events in the city, and music ranging from classical, through civil war tunes and slave spirituals to Gershwin and jazz. The evening ends with a rousing rendition of Amazing Grace, written in this very church.
Day 2
Start the second day of this three day itinerary for Charleston at the Charleston Museum (which claims to be the oldest museum in the US, although it’s now based in a modern building). It’s an interesting museum with exhibits about Charleston and the low country through history. There is a particular focus on slavery and the civil war. It’s a fascinating story so take your time appreciating the leisurely stroll through the centuries. There is also a small exhibit of the museum’s old original collections – a curio of mummies, preserved snakes and many other pieces seemingly out of place in the museum today but offering a fascinating glimpse of what museums used to be.
Leaving the museum, walk over to the nearby Aitken-Rhett House. There are many historic houses to choose to visit in Charleston but the Aitken-Rhett is a great choice, especially because it has been preserved as found, rather than restored, so you get a real feeling of history as you stroll the house and grounds. Pick up the fascinating audio guide and take a slow wander through the rooms and outbuildings, from the old slave quarters to the stables to the grand house and its portico.
By now it must be time for lunch so walk over to King Street and pick up some of the famous biscuits from Callie’s. (The cheese and chive little biscuits with bacon and pimento cheese are absoulte delicious!) You could eat them in nearby Marion Square if you want to sit down and take a rest. Then walk down King Street, where there are lots of intereesting shops you can pop into if you feel like shoping. At least, make sure to pop into the striking City Market building.
You might want a quick rest back at your hotel now, before heading out again in the later afternoon to catch the Fort Sumter Sunset Cruise from Liberty Square. You’ll have an enjoyable boat ride across to the fort and plenty of time to explore Fort Sumter which has a unique place in history as the fort where the first shots of the civil war were fired. As a bonus, on the return boat journey, a Southern BBQ meal is served.
If you’ve eaten on the boat, you may not want a full meal tonight (although if you do, you won’t be short of choices in this city). Do take the opportunity, though, of dropping by Kaminsky’s desert café. I can attest to the fact that both the bourbon pecan pie and coconut cream pie are delicious …
Day 3
For the final day of this three day itinerary for Charleston, you’ll need a rental car. You can pick one up in town or at the airport and then drive to Middleton Place plantation, which should only take about 40 minutes. Start your visit here by exploring the gardens and don’t miss a walk alongside the river, which is full of alligators
You can also take a guided tour through the House Museum and/or visit the stable yard area where there are domesticated animals, including goats and water buffalo to see. Then grab an early lunch at the restaurant where you can enjoy the ‘southern sampler’ buffet full of southern staples, such as fried chicken, fired catfish, mac ‘n’ cheese, cornbread and ‘hoppin’ joe’ – rice with beans. Perhaps a mint julep to wash it down?
Next, drive a few minutes down the road to the Magnolia Gardens. Follow the path through gardens brimming with colourful flowers.There’s also a lake where you might just spot another alligator.
Your next destination is the Audubon Swamp Garden, which is just a mile down the exit road. Here you can walk the boardwalk across the swamp. It’s like a different world – full of birds and other wildlife. It’s another great spot for photgraphing alligators.
This evening, make a dinner reservation for the famous Magnolias restaurant. There’s a menu full of tasty Southern food. I enjoyed fried mac ‘n’ cheese, served with a spicy bacon jam, followed by bourbon fried catfish served with BBQ black-eyed beans and corn succotash. After dinner, you might consider seeing a performance at the Dock Street Theater, which is an old restored theatre that is a pleasure to visit. Or you could just take a final stroll along the cobbled streets of Charleston’s historic district, while you plot when you can return again.
Where next? Savannah makes a great pair with Charleston for a week down south. You can drive there in a few hours, or you could break the journey with an overnight in Beaufort, another lovely, historic town. In Savannah, make sure to visit the beautiful Tybee Beach and lighthouse, get your history fix at the Owens-Thomas House, and take time to stroll Savannah’s leafy squares. Or you could travel a bit further and see three music cities of the US south.
