Many people question choosing South Carolina as a travel destination. There aren’t any commonly known must-see sights like an Eiffel Tower that draw thousands of tourists every day. Famous sights may be few and far between but South Carolina drips with history, culture and delicious food. The pinnacle of southern charm, South Carolina boasts plantations with beautiful gardens, Civil War forts, and lip-smacking BBQ.
Transportation
You can fly directly into Charleston from most major cities. Flights from the west coast run around $350 RT.
You will also want to book a rental car. Although Downtown Charleston is pretty easy to walk around in, not all of your journey should be in downtown. There is a lot to see and do in the neighboring cities.
Where to Stay
An affordable way to stay in or around Charleston is to use a VRBO or an AirBnB. For a more centralized location look into staying somewhere in Downtown Charleston. It will be more expensive but it will save you driving time to most attractions.
If you want a more affordable and relaxed stay, look into staying in a house on Folly Island. This small beach town is 20 minutes outside of the hustle and bustle of downtown and most houses are within walking distance of the beach. If you like to end your day with a relaxing sunset walk on the beach, stay by Folly Beach. On the weekends this tiny beach town is hopping and there are some great places to eat and booze it up.
One Week Itinerary
One week is the perfect amount of time to see all the highlights of South Carolina. Base your travels around Charleston. This port city is situated right on the coast and its cobblestone streets will take you back in time to Pre-Civil War America.
Day 1
Arrive in Charleston
Depending on when your flight arrives will determine what you can do on your first day. We recommend checking out Folly Beach. No matter how many hours of daylight you have left there is no wasted time spending it at the beach.
Day 2
If you stay on Folly Island, begin your day with breakfast at the Lost Dog. Popular breakfast spot with pictures of dogs everywhere. Not the greatest food of all time but a good way to start the day.
When your belly is full, head into Downtown Charleston for the Charleston Harbor Tour. Hop aboard the Carolina Belle and enjoy the 90-minute narrated boat ride. This is a great first activity as you will get to see and hear a brief description of all the popular sights of Charleston. You can then make decisions on what you want to further explore and areas that you can skip. When you book your tour, we recommend getting the Tri-Combo package. It will save you money on the Harbor Tour, Carriage ride, and Boone Hall Plantation.
Be prepared to stand in line while getting ready to board for the tour and if it’s a hot day, don’t forget to bring sunscreen! They pack a horde of people on this boat so be ready to defend your space when the narrator draws attention to your side of the vessel.
Once docked, head over to C.R.U Cafe for a midday meal. Lunch reservations are highly recommended at this must-eat experience. The food here is so good you’ll want to come back several times during your stay in the low country. The fried green tomatoes are amazing and the mac and cheese is to die for. C.R.U is right next to the carriage tours which is your next stop.
Take a few short steps towards the big red barn at Palmetto Carriage Works for your carriage ride through the cobblestone streets. While traveling through the heart of downtown, gratuitous amounts of knowledge is bestowed upon you by the entertaining tour guides/ carriage drivers. If you only want to do one tour while in Charleston, this is the best choice.
End your day watching the sunset at Morris Island Lighthouse. You can’t step foot on the lighthouse, as it is surrounded by water but a short hike to the nearby beach puts you at the perfect viewing distance.
Day 3
Use Day 3 to study up on the Civil War and visit Fort Sumpter. As an island fortress, the only way to get there is by ferry boat. This ride is very similar to the Harbor Cruise tour but focuses more on the history of the fort where the first shots of the Civil War were fired. For tips on visiting Fort Sumpter click here
We recommend having dinner at Charleston Crab House. If you have never tried them order up some hush puppies as an appetizer. As an entree, the blackened swordfish is excellent, as well as beer-battered shrimp.
Day 4
Get excited because today you will see the most beautiful gardens in South Carolina! Take a stroll through Magnolia Gardens and Plantation and enjoy thousands of flowers and picturesque bridges. At the back of the trails look for the observation deck. Climb the 3-story lookout and watch as alligators sunbathe in the mud. The garden takes a few hours to get through so take your time and enjoy the scenery. There are a few tours available but only do them if you have extra time to spend here. There aren’t many food options around the plantation so grab a bite at Peacock Cafe inside the Plantation. If you have never had a Frito Pie, give it a try, you won’t regret it.
When you have had enough greenery, head downtown and check out the Charleston City Market. Wander through 3 city blocks of shops littered with of all kinds of trinkets. A craft fair may be a more appropriate description. You could probably make most of the stuff at home, but it is still fun to just walk around in. The narrow alley gets crowded on weekends so avoid Saturday and Sunday if you can. The market closes at 6 pm but vendors start closing as early as 5.
If you eat anywhere in downtown Charleston eat at Poogan’s Smokehouse.
Poogan’s has the best BBQ! You’ll need reservations before trying this food of the gods. The pulled pork is perfect even without sauce, and as a side, do the Hash and Rice, it is the best in the state. Their house-made BBQ sauce is made with smoked tomatoes which give it a unique flavor that you won’t get anywhere else.
As a late-night thrill check out Bulldog Ghost Tours. Especially the Haunted Jail Tour. The tour takes you through the old city jail that was used to hold POWs during the Civil War as well as serial killers and other delinquents of that period. The tour is only 45 minutes but you get to hear a side of Charleston history that you won’t hear anywhere else. Don’t expect any gimmicky stuff like a haunted house. This tour focuses more on a gruesome history and less on ghost stories. But if you get to experience the supernatural that is a bonus.
Day 5
If you only ever get to go to South Carolina once take a little day trip to Congaree National Park. Congaree is a 2-hour drive from Charleston. As one of the newest National Parks, it is also one of the most unique. Take the Boardwalk Trail hike. It’s only 2.5 miles and all you need is a comfortable pair of tennis shoes. The boardwalk is built over a swampy marshland and makes for cool pictures even if it is raining. Go to the visitor center first and talk to rangers about trail conditions.
Day 6
Earlier in the week, you visited the scenic Magnolia Plantation. Now it’s time to view a more accurate representation of an 18th-century working plantation. Boone Hall is the largest still functioning plantation in the US. All kinds of fruit and vegetables are grown here and you can purchase the crops up the road at Boone Hall Farms. Do the Plantation Tram tour and House tour early in the day before it gets too crowded. After the tours check out the row of slave houses. Different items and artifacts are located within each brick building.
Day 7
Some Vitamin D does the body good. Day trip over to Myrtle Beach and enjoy the tourist-friendly beach and boardwalk while basking in the sunshine. Myrtle Beach is often viewed as a tourist trap and for the most part, it is. That shouldn’t stop you from visiting though. There are plenty of things to keep visitors of all ages thoroughly entertained It is worth the trip just to say you’ve been there.
Overall
There are some great places to visit in the low country and South Carolina is often overlooked. Spend a week here and explore some of its hidden treasures.
Chad can be summed up by his idea of a perfect day: Waking up early to watch the sunrise over the mountains, warm cup of coffee in hand then grabbing his camera and fly rod, hitting the trail to explore some uncharted territory followed by cold beers and campfire steaks. Chad is often joined on his adventures by his wife, Tori, and their dog, Kona.