If I was going on a road trip, I knew that my schedule would be jam packed. I wanted to see as many cities as I could, but also as much as I could within each city. Charleston was by far the most jam packed. To maximize your trip, where you stay is key. You want to be close to Meeting St and Market St. We stayed at The Ryder Hotel right on Meeting St.
Before the trip, I did my research. I was googling things to do in Charleston, asking friends, and stalking influencers. It was the perfect combination because I think I hit the jackpot with everything we did. Also, it is a lot to do, but it is absolutely worth it to get the most out of Charleston.
Battery Park and Rainbow Row
Charleston is hands-down known for Rainbow Row. They pastel colored row houses are quintessential Southern. It was pretty, but it’s much smaller than I would have expected. Just a half-mile away, you can venture to The Battery, also known as Battery Park. This is the lowest part of the peninsula and offers unobstructed views of the harbor where the Ashley and Cooper Rivers meet the harbor. On a clear day, you can see Pickney Castle, Fort Sumter, and Sullivan’s Island to name a few. Unfortunately for us, we experienced both of these in a downpour. Can’t let a little rain stop us!
Carriage Tour
Our first night in Charleston we did a ghost carriage ride. Charleston is known as the “Holy City” for it’s churches and their corresponding graveyards. Personally, I think there is something so magical about taking a horse drawn carriage. It was a good way to see a lot of the city with a guided tour. If I were to go back, I would want to do a day time tour because you get to see more, but also the ghost themed ride was more of a few historic stories instead of anything scary. However, the tour guide probably plays a big part into this.
Cypress Gardens
Just an hour outside Charleston, you will find an iconic movie scene. Both The Notebook and The Patriot were among the many filmed at Cypress Gardens. There are trails for you to explore, but the highlight is by far the swamp adventures. The dark black water with the cypress and tupelo trees make it an Instagram dream. You have the option to take a guided tour at a small cost or you can get your own boat for free depending upon availability. We took the guided tour because there was a chance of rain and didn’t want to struggle getting out of it. However, if I had the chance again, I would take the self-guided boat. Not only does it allow for better pictures, you can truly explore at your own pace.
Graveyards and Churches
Did you know that Charleston has over 400 churches? Nearly every block has a church or two. To put it into perspective, Charleston is about the same size population wise as Naperville. Nearly every church has a graveyard attached to it that are also open to the public. A fact I learned on this trip was that graveyards are burial places attached to churches whereas cemeteries do not have a church attached. This was a great activity to do while exploring.
King St.
There is an understated glam side to Charleston which can be found on King St. You can find everything from Lily Pulitzer to local boutiques to upscale retailers like Gucci and Louis Vuitton. It was so much fun to spend a morning popping in and out of the shops before we left town.
Magnolia Plantation
On our way out of town, we visited Magnolia Plantation. This was my favorite part of our visit so much so that I wrote an entire post on it here. Magnolia was the perfect combination of southern charm, beautiful gardens, and history. Complimentary with your entry is the “From Slavery to Freedom” tour which is a must do.
See my Magnolia Plantation TikTok
We did all of this in our 48 hours in Charleston. Location is key to fitting it all in so we stayed at The Ryder Hotel. To round up the trip, you have to experience the lowcountry culinary experience. Check out my 3 favorite Charleston restaurants (so far!).
Let me know if there is anything you would add for a future visit!
Xoxo
Janelle
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