Things to Do: Charleston, SC

Things to Do: Charleston, SC

Visited from May 2019 – July 2019

I had the privilege of living in Charleston, SC for about two months. During these two months, I have journeyed through various restaurants to visiting numerous attractions. There are things that I enjoyed during my stay and things that I could live without (the humidity). Here is a compilation of some of my favorites.

Restaurants

Cane Rhum Bar

→ 251 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401

*update restaurant is permanently closed

Cane Rhum Bar is my favorite lounge in Charleston. Cane has an array of rum selections from different parts of the world. You can choose from a selection of 6 different rum flights. If you don’t enjoy drinking straight rum, Cane also makes delicious cocktails from the traditional pina colada to the strongest cocktail in Charleston, the Zombie. 

Not only are the drinks magnificent, but the food is also to die for. I love Caribbean food and it is difficult to come by in California. If I can find a place that serves Caribbean food, I never miss the opportunity to try it. I ordered the jerk chicken for $15 and it was worth every penny. The chicken was so juicy and it was perfectly paired with my rum beverage. 

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Tattooed Moose

→ 1137 Morrison Drive, Charleston, SC 29403

A sandwich shop with a hip and down-to-earth decor. Try their basket of hand-cut duck fat fries with homemade garlic aoili. 

Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit

→ 188 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC 29401

This is hands down the best biscuit that you will ever have. There are 3 shops located in Charleston. My favorite is the one located in the historic market because they have the best dessert biscuits. They also make great sandwiches too. I tried the chicken biscuit sandwich. Their biscuits are nice and warm and fluffy. It is so good that my coworker even advises me that the biscuits are sold in the freezer aisle at some grocery stores across the US!

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Rooftop Bars

The Vendue Rooftop

→ 19 Vendue Range, Charleston, SC 29401

Charleston has several rooftop bars located in close vicinity to one another. The Vendue is one of the top rooftop bars in Charleston and offers a fantastic view of the city and flavorful cocktails. We took the elevator to the top floor and grabbed an open seat. It is a great place to unwind. 

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Nightlife

Prohibition

→ 547 King St, Charleston, SC 29403

I heard prohibition has good food but I’ve only been here to party. Prohibition has a small dance floor and a nice patio area. I enjoyed the music here. Great to sing and dance to. 

Uptown Social

587 King Street, Charleston, SC 29403

Uptown Social is where to go to get your groove on. There are two floors to Uptown Social. The bottom floor is for socializing and relaxing. The upstairs/rooftop floor is for all you dancers. The music is typically trance. There are two bars upstairs but it does get crowded that you have to swim your way to the front. The rooftop is partial covered which is good if it rains suddenly. 

Attractions

Downtown

Downtown is full of history. There are plaques located throughout the city that will give you insight into the history of Charleston. 

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Historic Charleston City Market

The Historic Charleston City Market is a big flea market where travelers can purchase all things Charleston from T-shirts to food seasonings. 

Civil War Landmarks

There are several Civil War Landmarks in Charleston.

Fort Sumter National Monument

The civil war commenced with a battle in Fort Sumpter. You can book a tour of Fort Sumter for $24. The tour includes a ferry ride to the island and a brief history of the events that occurred. You can also walk the grounds.

Fort Moultrie National Monument

Fort Moultrie is a fortress build to protect the city of Charleston. The only way to visit this national monument is by driving. Parking is available in the visitor center. There is an entrance fee of $10 inside the fort but you are able to tour the surrounding area at no costs. Unfortunately, you cannot access Fort Sumter from Fort Moultrie

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Old Slave Mart Museum

→ 6 Chalmers St, Charleston, SC 29401

You cannot walk through Charleston without a reminder of the existence of slaves. The Old Slave Mart Museum is the exact place where slaves were sold and purchased since 1938. This is also where slaves were housed before they were sold to their owners. According to their website, some staff members can trace their history to Charleston slavery. You can bet to leave feeling emotionally drained. It still blows my mind that this existed. 

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Charleston Riverdogs

→ 360 Fishburne St, Charleston, SC 29403

The locals here kept telling us that we cannot be in Charleston and not see a Riverdogs baseball game. The Riverdogs play at the Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park. My coworkers and I reserved a section at the game which included unlimited Budweisers, chips, and hot dogs. It was a classic all-American baseball experience. 

Beaches

Myrtle Beach

I have to admit that I was not able to visit Myrtle Beach due to the weather. For some reason when I plan my trip to Myrtle Beach, the weather decides to move in. From what my colleagues say, there are some nice shops and the beaches are warm. 

Folly Beach

I am used to my CA beaches. For starters, the heat is blazing in SC so make sure you have sunscreen on. I was frying in the sun after laying out for 10 mins. Folly Beach also has jellyfishes in the water so practice caution when you go for a swim. Folly Beach does have a nice boardwalk to buy beach trinkets or eat out at a beach vibe restaurant. 

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Weekend trips

Angel Oak Park

→ 3688 Angel Oak Road, Johns Island, SC 29455

Angel Oak is one of the oldest things East of the Mississippi. The tree is 65 feet high and 17,000 square feet of shade. It has survived countless hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and human interference.

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Firefly Distillery and Deep Water Vineyard

6775 Bears Bluff Rd, Wadmalaw Island, SC 29487

* Update: Firefly Distillery has permanently moved to Park Circle: 4201 Spruill Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405

Firefly Distillery is Charleston’s oldest working distillery. Next to the distillery is Charleston’s only vineyard, Deep Water Vineyard. You can get a flight of wine and vodka for $10 each. Firefly Distillery will give you 5 small samples and Deep Water Vineyard will let you sample 6 wines. The premise also has a food truck if/when you get hungry. 

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Savannah

Savannah is a 2-hour drive from Charleston. I love Savannah for its carefree nature. Open container is permitted in downtown and it felt like a charming Vegas town with cheap booze advertised from various bars.