Yankee Gone Southern: A New Yorker's Guide to Charleston

Original post dated September 13, 2016. 

In August, Will and I took a 5-day trip to Charleston, South Carolina. It was an absolutely amazing vacation. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a getaway with amazing food, great people, rich history and beautiful beaches. Below are my eat, play and stay recommendations!

EAT // To be frank, we ate our way through the city of Charleston...and we have no regrets. Seriously, the food was so incredible that we decided to look at three wedding venues while we were there. Talk about yankees gone southern!

Callie's Hot Little Biscuit - THIS IS A MUST! This tiny hole in the wall boasts the most mouth-watering biscuits and french-pressed coffee. You won't be disappointed. There's usually a line out the door, especially on a Friday, but the wait is so worth it. Confession: We ate there almost every morning.

Bubba Gump - Perfect for a quick, delicious bite and great drinks!

kudu - We aren't huge drinkers so the perfect after-dinner activity is a unique coffee shop. This spot is perfect if you're traveling with friends or family because it offers amazing teas, coffees and beer!

Southern General - Located on Kiawah Island. Even if you don't plan on going to the beaches, I'd recommend taking the 30 minute ride over there. If you're looking for true southern cooking, this is where you want to be. It's definitely a local hangout....and you must get the poutine! By the description, it does not sound appetizing, but it turned out to be my favorite meal of the trip.

Peace Pie - Sweet Lord have mercy...the Key Lime Pie one was heavenly! While $6 may seem a little steep for an ice cream sandwich, I'd buy them by the dozen if I could.

PLAY //

Kiawah Island - The public beach is not your typical Jersey shore option. It was seriously like a luxury, private beach. Super clean, inexpensive to park, powdery white sands...Could you ask for more?

 

Candlefish - I have a serious candle obsession. I'm not afraid to admit it. So, as soon as I found out that we could make our own candles, I was over the moon. It averaged about $45 per person with a BYOB. It was a fun night, and something we wouldn't have done back home. Even if you don't take the class, you should definitely check out the store. We got amazing prints for our apartment from 42 Pressed.

Fort Sumter - This was our last stop of the trip. Will is a huge history buff, so this was on the top of his list. I'm so happy we made time to go. It was a lovely ferry ride over the the fort with gorgeous views of the Ravenel Bridge.  

STAY //

King Charles Inn - We had a wonderful experience at this hotel, and it was central to everything. While we did rent a car, it isn't necessary if you plan to stay solely in the city itself. KCI is a moderately priced option with superior service. They gave us prosecco and a room upgrade since we were celebrating my completion of law school/bar exam and our one year engagement anniversary.

If you have any specific questions, please feel free to email me at Lauren@TheSassySuburbs.com.

Thanks for reading!

Lauren xo