Charleston Travel Guide Summer 2021 Where To Eat, Things To See, What to Pack and More
Five and a half years ago I launched Styled by McKenz and it has connected me with some of the most incredible people. One of the very first friends I made through my blog was Molly McGrew. She’s just a year older, going into her senior year at Gardner Webb University as an education major. After years of messaging through Instagram and reading one another’s posts, we finally had the chance to meet. Last July I flew to Charleston, South Carolina (Molly’s hometown) for a week-long stay. We had the absolute best time.
After a long year without seeing each other, a trip back to Charleston was definitely in the cards! So, I packed my bags and caught a flight. I have to admit I loved this trip ten times more than the last. Not only has our friendship flourished since meeting one another in real life but with things finally reopening post-Covid there was so much more to see and do. Plus, we landed some pretty awesome collaborations with local restaurants so going hungry certainly wasn’t an option this trip!
You know what time it is—I’m spilling all the details of my trip with you today! From the food to the sights, to where to stay… here’s everything you need to know when planning your next trip to Charleston. Feel free to drop your own recommendations in the comments below to keep the suggestions flowing. Enjoy!
WHERE TO STAY
There are dozens of adorable hotels and Airbnbs scattered throughout the King Street area. Although I did not stay in one this time around, I did manage to pop in a few of their most popular properties to take a look! Every building here is so photogenic with cute corners everywhere you turn. Hopefully next time I visit Charleston I can stay downtown to experience it all in a new light.
(click pink text to make a reservation!)
Your Bestie’s House
However, there’s nothing better than getting to stay with your bestie! As I said, Molly lives in Charleston and is about twenty minutes from King Street. North Charleston has some of the cutest neighborhoods and I loved getting to spend time with her and her family. One of the reasons I love Charleston so much and could see myself here post-grad is because of the suburbia aspect of it all. You’re so close to so much and yet still get a yard + can drive a car. It’s the best of both worlds if you ask me!
Hotel Bennett was one of the most recommended properties when looking through Charleston travel guides before my trip. I stopped in and can see why! This property is in a fantastic location and has a luxurious feel throughout. The interior is absolutely stunning with paneling and chandeliers everywhere.
The Restoration gives off more of a farmhouse vibe that I love so much. There is tons of greenery throughout and so many cute corners. They also have a rooftop restaurant/bar area that is open to the public and a pool on the third floor.
This is one of the most high-end hotels to stay at in Charleston! With a shopping plaza attached, you can browse stores like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and more. The entranceway is so grand here, I can only imagine what the interior of the rooms looks like!
The Ryder is a quaint property that just opened up off King Street. It has the most adorable interiors with a vintage vibe throughout. The workers here were incredibly friendly! They also have a rooftop bar called Little Palm with an open to public pool and seating area. It was the cutest!
WHERE TO EAT
Don’t get me wrong, we did a lot throughout my trip to Charleston but a lot of it was spent eating. Like, a lot of it. Charleston is considered one of the food capitals of the world and it’s clear why- thank god this place wasn’t another repeat of Nashville. Not one restaurant disappointed and that’s saying a lot for how much we ate LOL.
(click pink text to access the menu!)
Taco Boy was among the most popular responses when asking for your Charleston recommendations. They have a few different locations throughout Charleston although we stopped in their Downtown location.
The vibes here were immaculate and we were seated outside for our late lunch. We started off with the salsa, queso, guac trio and it was amazing. The guac was fresh and the queso some of the best I’ve had. I loved their chips too. For my meal, I ordered the shrimp tostadas and they were an easy 10/10. These hit every flavor palette and were the perfect mix of tangy yet fresh. I also tried the Mexican street corn and it was amazing as well. I’ve never had it before but this exceeded all my expectations.
We were in the mood for some takeout Monday night so we picked up from Charleston Sports Bar, a local place in North Charleston. We grabbed the mozzarella sticks, loaded tater tots, and the soft pretzel to share. The tots were amazing with blue cheese, cheddar cheese, bacon, and chicken. The pretzel was also delicious with some yummy queso on the side. Not bad for takeout!
Oh my gosh, were the vibes here amazing. Nothing has a feeling quite like Wiki Wiki. This is one of the many restaurants along Folly beach and it has a large outdoor seating area in addition to a bar and indoor dining space.
They have a huge drink menu with tons of frozen + virgin options. I started off with the fried clamaré and the pineapple + bacon salsa on top brought it to life! For my meal, I went with the coconut shrimp. It was way different than I expected with a sweet, fried batter. I liked it but would try something else if I went back. The grilled pineapple with cinnamon is a must! Such a cute place, with lots of seafood options.
We stopped in Toast for brunch one day and while the vibe is nothing special (just your average restaurant with bland decor) the food was great!
I tried my first southern biscuit with scrambled egg, cheddar cheese, and bacon- wow is all I have to stay. I prefer my usual bagel but was so glad I tried out this Charleston favorite! The home fries here are delicious and Molly said their chicken tenders deserved a 9/10.
Park Cafe is an adorable spot that’s “off the beaten path”. Located on the outskirts of Charleston this place was truly a hidden gem. Truthfully, there were definitely a handful of items on this menu I had to look up but the food did not disappoint. I had the steak and it was incredible. Seasoned with onion, peppers, and mushrooms it was bursting with flavor. However, the potato wedges deserve a mention of their own. These were seasoned to perfection and were extra salty just the way I like them.
This was definitely a “treat yourself kind of place, so a dress and heels are perfect! Oh, and at 5:30 we had almost the entire place to ourselves which was so intimate.
Mexican + breakfast food = my idea of a match made in heaven. This is another spot located on the outskirts of King Street and it was so delicious. I feel like I’ve said that a gazillion times but they don’t call it the food capital for nothing! Even if it is ten am when you sit down to eat, you need, and I mean need to try their chips and guac. This was the best guacamole I’ve ever had. The queso wasn’t my favorite although we did give it a try.
I got the breakfast bowl and it was gigantic + so filling. With a sunny-side-up egg, chorizo, avocado, beans, queso fresco, potatoes, and salsa this meal was a flavor explosion in my mouth. Man was it good! Molly got the agave pancakes and I had to sneak in a bite. They too were delicious but I definitely like something a little more savory in the morning.
One of my favorite stops of this trip was 5 Church! Located across from the Charleston Market, this church turned restaurant offers incredible food with a unique atmosphere.
The famous painter Jon Norris spent 6 months, 12 hours a day, painting the interior of this building. The fried chicken sandwich with homemade cheese and a chipotle aioli was amazing! I’ve never tried the southern fried chicken but man did this live up to the hype. With crispy fries and an explosive taste, I would recommend this meal 100 times over. I definitely recommend a cuter, more polished outfit as this restaurant definitely had a fancier vibe compared to some of the others we went to.
THINGS TO DO
There is so much to do in Charleston! While most of the action happens downtown—there are plenty of spots to visit within a 20-minute radius: Folly Beach, Shems Creek, Mount Pleasant, and more. They’ve got the beach mixed with the city mixed with suburbia. It’s my idea of heaven! Here are a few of my favorite things we did.
The Pineapple Fountain is one of Charleston’s top tourist attractions. It truly is just a fountain, shaped like a pineapple but it’s still fun to see and take a photo in front of. It was packed this time, with little kids wading in the water! Across from the fountain is a gorgeous view of the water with a small pier. There is a historic element to this area but if I’m being honest, I was too lazy to walk over and read the little monuments, haha.
I always love seeing the college campuses in different cities. College of Charleston’s campus is scattered throughout the downtown area, with many students living along King Street. However, there are a few key buildings + greek life houses in one centralized area and it is beautiful! There are moss trees everywhere and the most amazing columns. If for nothing else, at least stop here for a photo. It’s super peaceful in this area.
I’m a baseball girl at heart so of course, we had to stop and watch a Charleston Riverdogs game! I was floored by the number of people at this event (lots of twenty-somethings if you’re looking to meet people!)—I’ve never seen so many people at a Minor League baseball game. The southern hospitality kept coming as a sweet gentleman offered us two free tickets that he wasn’t using. We sat front and center right behind the backstop! Doesn’t get much better than that.
Charleston also has a Tanger outlet mall just minutes from the airport. It’s the perfect pit-stop before hopping on your flight! Not only is this outlet mall colorful but there are palm trees throughout and big open windows along the ceiling covers so you can see the planes flying in!
They’ve got so many good stores and every one was stocked full of goodies and great deals! Too bad my luggage was already fifty pounds or I definitely would have been swiping my card.
More shopping can be done along King Street. The main strip has all kinds of shops and adorable boutiques that are locally owned. This is definitely the busiest area of Charleston as it’s considered the “main strip” but even still, it’s nothing compared to NYC or Chicago. I love the slow pace that everyone seems to move by. Dress Up and V2V were two favorite shops of mine. And if you’re looking for a pair of cowboy boots, or the cutest boys you’ve ever seen, don’t forget to stop into Tecovas!
There are so many different side streets worth exploring. Each one has its own unique vibe and if you’ve never been to Charleston, prepare to be floored by these houses. Wrap-around porches, bright paint jobs, and incredible landscaping accompany each and every house. I stopped to take photos in front of a gazillion of them because they are all just so photogenic. You can also find some hidden gem restaurants and shops mixed in! Oh, and the churches…. the churches are incredible.
The Charleston Market is another place with a lot of historical significance. What was once used as a place to trade slaves is now renovated and full of vendors selling unique, handmade goods. There were so many neat things here—hats, handmade palm bowls, hand-painted glassware, and more. It’s a beautiful building too if you’re looking for a photo op.
Although it’s nothing compared to Nashville, Charleston has its fair share of rooftop bars and restaurants that lookout along the city/water. Little Palm Bar at The Ryder was the perfect afternoon spot for a dip in the pool and a delicious lemonade. Although it’s attached to the hotel, it’s open to the public and definitely worth checking out.
Folly Beach and Kiawah Island are both about an hour from North Charleston and yet we made the trip to both! It feels necessary to see the water and we wanted to enjoy the sunshine at least one of our days. I love the small beach town vibe of Folly. There are tons of tourist shops, seafood restaurants, and live music along this strip.
However, if you’re looking for a high-end resort type of beach visit with lots of shopping and sit-down restaurants then perhaps Kiawah is more your vibe! I think both are worth seeing.
If you’ve watched the Netflix Original Outer Banks then Shems Creek should be on your must-see list. Many of the scenes from this show were filmed here and it’s so fun to see. There’s a long boardwalk that leads to a small strip of waterfront bars and restaurants. People can dock their boats here and take out kayaks. It was super mellow here when we went but Molly says at nighttime it’s electric! Oh, and I learned so much about the water, animals in it, and other cool Charelston facts from the plaques along the boardwalk.
The Battery has all kinds of historical significance and is a wonderful place for a morning walk. It’s super shaded over here with gigantic houses and hotels along one side. Although we just drove by this trip, we did stop here on my last visit to Charleston and it was so peaceful!
WHAT TO PACK
I’m sure you’re also thinking—what on earth should I pack?! Lucky for you, I uploaded a Charleston outfit guide yesterday, chock full of sixteen different outfit ideas for your summer trip. Not only am I linking each item but I’m also sharing directions to each photo spot so that you can grab some cute pictures for the gram while in town. Be sure to give it a read once you’re done with this post!
A few key items I wouldn’t go without:
- Pair of flat sandals: I’m someone who loves heels but they aren’t the most practical for Charleston. While this city is much, much smaller than others I’ve been to, it’s also much older so the roads can get a little uneven. For the strappy look but something more comfortable, pack yourself a pair of flat sandals! It can get a little hot for socks and sneakers.
- Straw bag: My straw bag went with almost every outfit I brought with me and fit everything. From water to my camera to an extra outfit, I was so glad I brought this guy with me!
- Breezy Dresses: Don’t get me wrong, I definitely bought other items but sundresses were what I wish I’d brought more of. They will keep you the coolest and can easily be dressed up and down which is key here!
- Hat: If you have thin, frizzy hair like mine, do yourself a favor and bring a baseball cap or floppy hat. My hair seriously could not stand the humidity here so any chance to cover up my head, I took lol.
- Silk Scarves: If you’re looking to maximize your luggage bring a few of these guys with you! They can be worn tied to your bag, in your hair, or tied into several different tops. Plus, they fold into nothing which is a plus.
- Walking shoes: Throw in at least one pair of good walking shoes. I brought my Dolce Vita white sneakers for travel days. These are also great if you’re headed for a walk around The Battery. You never know, just pack em!
WATCH THE VLOG
Want to see my trip to Charleston + get the inside scoop of all these photos? Check out this vlog and hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out on more travel content coming your way soon.
Phew, I know that was a ton of info but I wanted to give you a one-stop-shop for all things Charleston. Even being here twice, I know there were definitely things that I still missed out on. If you’ve been and have any recommendations, please leave them below to add to this ever-growing list.
Cannot thank Molly and her family enough for putting me up for the week! I am so grateful for this platform—it has opened more doors than I ever could have imagined while connecting me to some pretty incredible people. Can’t wait to see what other travels this summer has in store!
With love, McKenz
Latest Post: What To Wear In Charleston Summer 2021
Related Post: Nashville Travel Guide Summer 2021
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