Southern Comfort
Two years ago, my husband and I had the pleasure of spending a few rainy hours in Charleston, South Carolina, as we were staying at a small inn just thirty minutes outside of the gorgeous South Carolina seaside city. But it wasn’t enough. So last fall, instead of booking another trip cross-country or somewhere tropical, we opted for a perfect autumn weekend in one of the South’s most popular cities. Rich with history, world-class dining, and designer shops and quaint antiques stores, Charleston truly has something for everyone.
For the Foodie
It’s no secret that of all the Southeastern cities, Charleston is one of the most well known for its culinary efforts. During your visit, take full advantage of some of the top restaurants in town per dining magazines such as Bon Appetit and Food & Wine. A brunch staple, Poogan’s Porch boasts delicious pecan pancakes and fried green tomato eggs Benedict (a Poogan’s specialty) with applewood-smoked bacon. For lunch, a must is Blossom, whose contemporary fare features an array of locally caught seafood as well as house-made chorizo served with local creek shrimp and stone-ground grits in a tasso gravy.
For dinner consider Blossom’s sister spot, Magnolias, which serves upscale Southern cuisine (we loved the Down South Egg Roll, stuffed with collard greens, chicken, and tasso and served with red pepper purée, spicy mustard sauce, and peach chutney). Want something more upscale? Try McCrady’s, arguably one of the best restaurants in Charleston (Executive Chef Sean Brock recently won a James Beard award).
If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle, drive a short distance to Firefly Distillery, the impetus for the sweet-tea vodka craze that’s swept the nation the past two years. A few miles away is the Charleston Tea Plantation, the only tea plantation in the United States, another must-see in the area.
For the History Buff
Like its culinary scene, Charleston is rife with history, from churches, Revolutionary War forts, and former homes of heads of state to battlefields, museums, and eighteenth-century cotton and tobacco plantations. Spend the day walking the city’s Museum Mile—a one-mile section of Meeting Street, which is home to six museums, four scenic parks, a Revolutionary War powder magazine, as well as historic houses of worship and public buildings including the Market and City Hall.
Stop at The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon. Completed in 1771 as the Royal Exchange and Custom House, the building has been the centerpiece of such historic happenings as when South Carolina elected its delegates to the First Continental Congress in 1774 and as a prison for American Patriots during the Revolutionary War.
To get a true feel for how Americans lived in the early nineteenth century, tour two historic homes: the Edmondston-Alston House and the Aiken-Rhett House. The former is set on Charleston’s High Battery and offers a glimpse of early-nineteenth-century elegance. The large Aiken-Rhett House (circa 1818) is the city’s most intact antebellum urban villa, and virtually the entire home has been unaltered since 1858 due to a conservation approach.
For the Shopper
Charleston is a mecca for designer goods and quaint storefronts. At Charleston Place Hotel, find everything from Louis Vuitton and Gucci to Papyrus and Lacoste. But King Street is where the bulk of the fantastic shopping can be found.
Stop in some of the shops unique to Charleston, like Worthwhile. This laidback storefront with hardwood floors and a neutral aesthetic has everything from women’s and baby clothing to cool home accessories like a stack of botanical prints from Sweden.
A few blocks away is M. Dumas & Sons, where you’ll find Vineyard Vines and the store’s own line of apparel. Copper Penny offers accessories like Michael Kors riding boots, and be sure to peruse the piles of Three Dots tees at The Finicky Filly.
After hitting King Street, head back to Market Hall, where vendors set up booths every Saturday and Sunday. One of many great finds: Charleston Market Tin Works, which scours the United States for tin ceiling tiles from eighteenth- and nineteenth-century buildings such as hotels or banks about to be torn down.
To Stay
While Charleston offers dozens of intimate and welcoming bed-and-breakfasts, we suggest the Charleston Place Hotel. The hotel’s central location at Meeting and Market streets allows you to walk everywhere without ever having to hop in a cab. Consider the club level, perfect for couples or families, as it provides a full continental breakfast, afternoon tea with small sandwiches and dips, and a cocktail hour with hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, cheese plates, and a full open bar. Between 8 and 10 PM, club-level guests are treated to a full dessert tray of cheesecakes and chocolate cakes, among other goodies. The comfort and seclusion of the club level provides an intimate getaway from the bustling streets below.
