Guidebook for Charleston
Food Scene
Great pulled pork sandwiches, wings, ribs, and a great selection of draft beer. Just around the corner from our house. Kids eat free on Sunday. Live music Wednesday nights.
46 locals recommend
Smoky Oak Taproom
1234 Camp RdGreat pulled pork sandwiches, wings, ribs, and a great selection of draft beer. Just around the corner from our house. Kids eat free on Sunday. Live music Wednesday nights.
Wonderful Spanish restaurant in the heart of the city. It is a tapas bar and has excellent paella. Happy hour is 4-6 each day with $1-$2 off drink and a discount on paella. TIP - order paella when you first arrive, takes 45 minutes to cook, but well worth it! We like to request the seafood paella with chorizo added (not as on menu). Live music is on Thursdays. Sunday Brunch 11-3 with full menu after 3. Off street parking lot
66 locals recommend
Barsa Tapas, Lounge, & Bar
630 King StWonderful Spanish restaurant in the heart of the city. It is a tapas bar and has excellent paella. Happy hour is 4-6 each day with $1-$2 off drink and a discount on paella. TIP - order paella when you first arrive, takes 45 minutes to cook, but well worth it! We like to request the seafood paella with chorizo added (not as on menu). Live music is on Thursdays. Sunday Brunch 11-3 with full menu after 3. Off street parking lot
Japanese/Sushi bar well worth the trip. Reservations are a good idea online or by phone (843-737-0112) Happy hour Monday, Wednesday & Friday 5:00 PM-7:00 PM Free valet parking
94 locals recommend
O-Ku
463 King StJapanese/Sushi bar well worth the trip. Reservations are a good idea online or by phone (843-737-0112) Happy hour Monday, Wednesday & Friday 5:00 PM-7:00 PM Free valet parking
Local French bakery with a nice selection of pastries, sandwiches and coffees.
45 locals recommend
Baguette Magic
792 Folly RdLocal French bakery with a nice selection of pastries, sandwiches and coffees.
Quaint setting with "true Italian dining". Locally sourced food, house made pasta, and house cured salumi. It was the first Certified Green Restaurant in South Carolina. Reservations recommended online or by phone (843-737-4177)
184 locals recommend
Wild Olive Restaurant
2867 Maybank HwyQuaint setting with "true Italian dining". Locally sourced food, house made pasta, and house cured salumi. It was the first Certified Green Restaurant in South Carolina. Reservations recommended online or by phone (843-737-4177)
Sit down cafe with nice atmosphere, good breakfast and lunch menu, and a variety of drink items. Folly Rd. location near our house and original cafe on Folly Beach.
97 locals recommend
Black Magic Cafe
1130 Folly RdSit down cafe with nice atmosphere, good breakfast and lunch menu, and a variety of drink items. Folly Rd. location near our house and original cafe on Folly Beach.
The best sweet treats. Cookies, cakes, pastries, chocolates, and ice cream. They also make custom cakes but these may take time and require advance notice.
7 locals recommend
Luckhaus & Brubaker Sweets & Treats
1939 Maybank HwyThe best sweet treats. Cookies, cakes, pastries, chocolates, and ice cream. They also make custom cakes but these may take time and require advance notice.
This is a drive-thru Starbucks located close to the house on Folly Road.
107 locals recommend
Starbucks
730 Coleman BlvdThis is a drive-thru Starbucks located close to the house on Folly Road.
Parks & Nature
10 minutes from the house, the park has a playground, excellent bike and walking trails and a fishing pier on a creek
234 locals recommend
James Island County Park
871 Riverland Dr10 minutes from the house, the park has a playground, excellent bike and walking trails and a fishing pier on a creek
Angel Oak Tree
3688 Angel Oak RdIncredible Live Oak well worth the 25 minute drive.
Gorgeous sunsets and complete view of Charleston harbor skyline. Great view of Ravenel Bridge.
38 locals recommend
Melton Peter Demetre Park
640 Wampler DrGorgeous sunsets and complete view of Charleston harbor skyline. Great view of Ravenel Bridge.
Historic site with museum and large park. Has a small zoo with outdoor walking trails along the banks of the Ashley River. Replicas of a settler's home and small sailing ship.
123 locals recommend
Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site
1500 Old Towne RdHistoric site with museum and large park. Has a small zoo with outdoor walking trails along the banks of the Ashley River. Replicas of a settler's home and small sailing ship.
Beautiful area of the beach and a good place to go with your family. Has lifeguards, restrooms, snacks, and beach equipment rentals. Parking paid per vehicle and rates vary according to time of year and day of the week.
82 locals recommend
Folly Beach County Park
1100 W Ashley AveBeautiful area of the beach and a good place to go with your family. Has lifeguards, restrooms, snacks, and beach equipment rentals. Parking paid per vehicle and rates vary according to time of year and day of the week.
Sightseeing
Wonderful plantation house about 30 minutes away. It has many of the trees and flowers indigenous to the Lowcountry. The Black swamp and Rice paddy tours are informative.
395 locals recommend
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens
3550 Ashley River RdWonderful plantation house about 30 minutes away. It has many of the trees and flowers indigenous to the Lowcountry. The Black swamp and Rice paddy tours are informative.
Boat ride out gives a great view of the harbor, museum on Fort Sumter gives a rich history of the Civil War in Charleston. Boat leaves Charleston near the Aquarium.
501 locals recommend
Fort Sumter National Monument
Boat ride out gives a great view of the harbor, museum on Fort Sumter gives a rich history of the Civil War in Charleston. Boat leaves Charleston near the Aquarium.
Historic lighthouse. Stunningly located offshore. Beautiful beach walk.
119 locals recommend
Morris Island Lighthouse
1750 East Ashley AvenueHistoric lighthouse. Stunningly located offshore. Beautiful beach walk.
Beautifully preserved plantation. Informative guided tours.
72 locals recommend
McLeod Plantation Historic Site
325 Country Club DrBeautifully preserved plantation. Informative guided tours.
The bridge has a nice walking and bike path. Well worth it for the beautiful view. The Mt. Pleasant side of the bridge has paid parking at the Waterfront Park. The Charleston side has free parking on East Bay Street but you will have to walk a longer stretch before you reach the actual bridge section.
64 locals recommend
Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge
The bridge has a nice walking and bike path. Well worth it for the beautiful view. The Mt. Pleasant side of the bridge has paid parking at the Waterfront Park. The Charleston side has free parking on East Bay Street but you will have to walk a longer stretch before you reach the actual bridge section.
Folly Beach Pier
101 E Arctic AveBeautiful walk out onto the Atlantic.
Arts & Culture
Beautiful area of Downtown Charleston with the highest concentration of art galleries. Also many good restaurants and shops. Great for sightseeing and walking. The DASH Shuttle will also bring you to this area of the city.
19 locals recommend
French Quarter
Beautiful area of Downtown Charleston with the highest concentration of art galleries. Also many good restaurants and shops. Great for sightseeing and walking. The DASH Shuttle will also bring you to this area of the city.
The museum is small but will give you a good overview of Charleston's history. The Museum also has a few historic houses that are open for tours. It is located right across from the visitor's center where you can catch the free DASH shuttle to go and see these houses.
371 locals recommend
The Charleston Museum
360 Meeting StThe museum is small but will give you a good overview of Charleston's history. The Museum also has a few historic houses that are open for tours. It is located right across from the visitor's center where you can catch the free DASH shuttle to go and see these houses.
Museum and art gallery. Building is worth seeing on its own, but the gallery is recently renovated and the art collection is varied and interesting. A cafe and gift shop are located on the first floor. You'll find plenty of parking nearby including a garage around the corner, or you can get to the gallery riding the free DASH Shuttle.
369 locals recommend
Gibbes Museum of Art
135 Meeting StMuseum and art gallery. Building is worth seeing on its own, but the gallery is recently renovated and the art collection is varied and interesting. A cafe and gift shop are located on the first floor. You'll find plenty of parking nearby including a garage around the corner, or you can get to the gallery riding the free DASH Shuttle.
Entertainment & Activities
Small unique movie theater with good food. Shows mainly arthouse films.
118 locals recommend
The Terrace Theater
1956d Maybank HwySmall unique movie theater with good food. Shows mainly arthouse films.
Great place to take small children with tons of fun and educational activities. Right next to to the visitor's center.
329 locals recommend
Children's Museum of the Lowcountry
25 Ann StGreat place to take small children with tons of fun and educational activities. Right next to to the visitor's center.
Nice small aquarium and lots of hands-on activities for the kids. Beautifully located on the river. Right next to the boat tour to Ft. Sumter.
489 locals recommend
South Carolina Aquarium
100 Aquarium WharfNice small aquarium and lots of hands-on activities for the kids. Beautifully located on the river. Right next to the boat tour to Ft. Sumter.
Essentials
There are 4 of these grocery stores on James Island. The closest is on Folly Rd. near the James Island Connector.
290 locals recommend
Harris Teeter
290 East Bay StreetThere are 4 of these grocery stores on James Island. The closest is on Folly Rd. near the James Island Connector.
Very close to the house. Also on the way to Folly beach and usually carries basic beach supplies.
48 locals recommend
Walmart Supercenter
1231 Folly RdVery close to the house. Also on the way to Folly beach and usually carries basic beach supplies.
Small, friendly salon and spa with reasonable prices and excellent service. Great for getting ready for a special occasion or just pampering yourself. (843)406-6008 to make an appointment.
View Salon & Spa
792 Folly RoadSmall, friendly salon and spa with reasonable prices and excellent service. Great for getting ready for a special occasion or just pampering yourself. (843)406-6008 to make an appointment.
Sea Star Nails & Spa
915 Folly RdGood nail salon that takes walk-ins.
Shopping
Treasure Island
1959 Folly RdHas everything you could need for the beach including swimwear.
Tiny Tadpoles
1939 Maybank HwyKids boutique consignment. Nice selection and good prices.
Mingle with the community. Entertainment, local food, and artists.
29 locals recommend
Sunday Brunch Farmers Market
1977 Maybank HwyMingle with the community. Entertainment, local food, and artists.
Has Garden Center but also a gift store with decorative items for your home and garden. Good place for gift shopping.
Hyams Garden & Accent Store
870 Folly RdHas Garden Center but also a gift store with decorative items for your home and garden. Good place for gift shopping.
Right in the heart of Downtown Charleston on Saturday mornings. Good place to see local artists and find local food and produce.
70 locals recommend
Charleston Farmers Market
329 Meeting StRight in the heart of Downtown Charleston on Saturday mornings. Good place to see local artists and find local food and produce.