It’s been a busy summer and now that things are finally setting down, I’m back to the blog.  In addition to my annual vacation to my family’s lake house, I was also lucky enough to go to Charleston, South Carolina in June.  I’ve always wanted to go to Charleston, so I was excited it when it was voted as the location for my friend Annette’s bachelorette party weekend.  It’s always a good time when my best friends from high school get together, and this time did not disappoint.  Because we had people coming and going on different days, our time with all of us together was limited.  But with the time we had, we fit in as much Charleston as we could.

As only a few of us arrived Thursday night, we rented a hotel room at The Dewberry.  The hotel is located downtown and is beautiful.  The rooms are spacious with super comfortable beds and pillows.  The bathroom was massive and fancy.  We didn’t take advantage, but as I was arriving around 11:45pm, the hotel bar was hopping.  It’s a retro theme and a nice fit for the cool vibe of the hotel.  They also have a great restaurant in the hotel, Henrietta’s.  We had brunch at Henrietta’s Friday morning, as we awaited the rest of the crew’s arrival.

 

For the rest of the weekend, we stayed in an Airbnb called Cottage Row, also located downtown.  It was 2 separate cottages, next door to each other.  The cottages were identical, 2 bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, nice sized living rooms with a pull out couch and a smaller, but functional kitchen.  For us, the separate cottages ended up working out well, as it allowed us to not disrupt anyone sleeping if some stayed out later than others.  The location was super convenient, only a 10-15 minute walk to the bars and restaurants on King Street.  It’s a perfect place for a larger group of people and I’d highly recommend it.

 

Because we were in town for a bachelorette party, the majority of our time was spent eating, drinking and shopping.  Charleston is a great city to explore with a large group, with more than enough to see and do to keep everyone entertained.

Food & Drinks

Henrietta’s
Located in The Dewberry hotel.  We had brunch here our first morning.  It’s a little pricey, but good food and cocktails.  Fun fact, you can’t order a cocktail in Charleston until noon, so make your reservations accordingly.

Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit
Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit is the perfect anytime treat.  They have a variety of sweet and savory options and you can’t go wrong with any of them.  There are a few locations, but the one on King Street is perfectly located for a stop on your way home from the bar.

Magnolia
Magnolia’s is located in the French Quarter area of Charleston, not on King Street.  We stopped for a late lunch/early dinner following our harbor cruise, when the menu was in the process of changing.  We all ordered from the brunch menu, but there are only a few items not on both. It was good food, and relatively inexpensive.

Minero
Minero was recommended to me by multiple people as some of the best Mexican food in Charleston.  We stopped in for happy hour and had cocktails and some apps.  I’ll be honest, I was several drinks in by this time, so I can’t speak to the food and drinks personally, but from what I was told, they were excellent.  The restaurant also has a fun vibe so it’s worth a stop.

Charleston Beer Works
We stopped here for drinks while waiting for our table for dinner, because it was a few doors down.  As the name would suggest, they have a great beer and cider selection.  We also tried the boiled peanuts because it’s a southern delicacy, and I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed them.

The Rarebit
We had dinner at The Rarebit on our last night in Charleston.  The menu was upscale American with a Southern flair and good cocktails.  Go for the delicious mac and cheese.

Grill 225 Rooftop Bar
Grill 225 is in the Market Pavilion Hotel.  In addition to the rooftop bar and restaurant, there is a pool!  If you are staying at the hotel it would be a great way to spend an afternoon.  We, however, stopped in for drinks and to admire the view, and happened to be there during a lightening storm, which kept things interesting and exciting.

Attractions

Shopping on King Street
King Street is the heart of downtown Charleston.  It has tons of shops, restaurants and bars that you can easily spend a full day exploring.  You’ll prob spend at least one night out there as well, particularly if you’re coming for a bachelor or bachelorette party.

Exploring the historical areas/homes
There is so much history in Charleston.  Take time to wander and explore all the beautiful neighborhoods and homes, as well as the gorgeous campus of the College of Charleston.  There are also several formal historical walking tours you can take daily to learn even more.

Waterfront Park
Once you reach the end of King Street, you’ll arrive at the waterfront.  Stop and check out the very on trend pineapple fountain.  It’s a perfect spot for a photo op.

Harbor cruise
We did a harbor cruise along the river on our last day.  It was a nice way to learn some history and get some fresh air on the water.  I would suggest getting there early to get in line, so you are able to get a seat outside.  We were running a little late and ended up having to sit inside, which wasn’t the worst thing because we had AC.  The views inside were not as great as the seats outside, but it was still a nice way to tour the area.

Folly Beach
We spent a day on Folly Beach with a stop at Rita’s Seaside Grill before.  Rita’s had a basic but good menu, with some great cocktails.  The beach itself, was a little crowded but we reserved beach chair and umbrellas and had a nice area to lounge.  It was a relaxing day spent in the sunshine.  If you’re looking for other beach options, Sullivan’s Island, Kiawah Island and the Isle of Palms also came highly recommended to us.

Plantation tours
Although we didn’t get a chance to do a plantation tour this trip, it’s absolutely something I would like to do on a future trip.  My friends who have been before recommend the Aiken-Rhett House, Middleton Place and Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens.

Charleston was a great bachelorette party destination, but I definitely want to go back and spend more time exploring the history and city.  However, the next time I may go when the weather is slightly cooler, and I’m not sweating to death in the southern, summer sun.  Despite the heat, we had a fab time celebrating our bride to be, Annette, and a great mini high school reunion.  Go Barons!