Charleston, SC as a vacation spot...
- Thread starter dawgstudent
- Start date
Charleston itself is pretty neat with the downtown area. Lots of great restaurants and bars especially around Boundary St. and the nightlife in this area is pretty happening. As far as daytime stuff, you've got Patriot's Point which includes and ride across the harbor and the battleship, USS Yorktown I believe. You've also got the Aquarium and fort Sumter is pretty cool and of course you have to take a walk along the battery and view all the old homes.
Charleston really doesn't have much of a beach, you'll have to go out to Sullivan's Island or John's Island to enjoy the beach and most of the beach front is private property. You also have Isle of Palms, which has some great golf and great beach front but be prepared to pay premium prices on Isle of Palms.
We vacation every year just north of Charleston, Edisto Beach. We share a house with a couple of other families and its on an inlet but only 100 yards from the beach. You can crab and fish right off the dock. Not commercialized at all, and that's the way i like it.
Charleston really doesn't have much of a beach, you'll have to go out to Sullivan's Island or John's Island to enjoy the beach and most of the beach front is private property. You also have Isle of Palms, which has some great golf and great beach front but be prepared to pay premium prices on Isle of Palms.
We vacation every year just north of Charleston, Edisto Beach. We share a house with a couple of other families and its on an inlet but only 100 yards from the beach. You can crab and fish right off the dock. Not commercialized at all, and that's the way i like it.
I'm a MS transplant living in Charleston/Mt Pleasant.
I moved here as a coach in 05 and fell in love with the place and decided to stay. We've got 3 beaches- one for families (Isle of Palms), one for beach combers (Sullivan's Island)-cool bars there as well, and one for surfers and the hippie/young crowd(Folly Beach). (Wow, I'm getting old). Downtown is a hot spot for fine dining and tons of bars and great night life. Anything from a jazz wine bar to a Coyote Ugly bar.There's something for everybody.
It's an old city and history is everywhere. It's easy to walk and it's set up like Savannah or any Old Southern fortifications on the water. If your into shopping there's high end places on King St and the market on Market St.
If you are into the arts, there are always concerts and shows going on.There's a nice aquarium here, USS Yorktown for tours, Fort Sumter (first shots of theCivil War), downtown walking tours, horse carriage rides. Tons to do.
Pretty much whatever you want to do, it's here. If you've been to Myrtle Beach, it's a lot less commercialized and not as many chain restaurants, but more locally owned places that makes it different than other towns/cities.
If you're a golfer, there are tons of nice courses to play for reasonable prices with great views, and some that are very expensive, but ranked in the top 5 in the nation per Golf digest.
Needless to say, I'm a big fan. Just my opinion. Only bad thing is there are more Rebels than Dogs, but there are a few of us here.
(Sorry for the long post)
I moved here as a coach in 05 and fell in love with the place and decided to stay. We've got 3 beaches- one for families (Isle of Palms), one for beach combers (Sullivan's Island)-cool bars there as well, and one for surfers and the hippie/young crowd(Folly Beach). (Wow, I'm getting old). Downtown is a hot spot for fine dining and tons of bars and great night life. Anything from a jazz wine bar to a Coyote Ugly bar.There's something for everybody.
It's an old city and history is everywhere. It's easy to walk and it's set up like Savannah or any Old Southern fortifications on the water. If your into shopping there's high end places on King St and the market on Market St.
If you are into the arts, there are always concerts and shows going on.There's a nice aquarium here, USS Yorktown for tours, Fort Sumter (first shots of theCivil War), downtown walking tours, horse carriage rides. Tons to do.
Pretty much whatever you want to do, it's here. If you've been to Myrtle Beach, it's a lot less commercialized and not as many chain restaurants, but more locally owned places that makes it different than other towns/cities.
If you're a golfer, there are tons of nice courses to play for reasonable prices with great views, and some that are very expensive, but ranked in the top 5 in the nation per Golf digest.
Needless to say, I'm a big fan. Just my opinion. Only bad thing is there are more Rebels than Dogs, but there are a few of us here.
(Sorry for the long post)
we are going to be there 4 nights. Looking for any type of condo rental that you know of because we just reservedWild Dunes to go ahead and get a place. We got a rental car so I don't mind staying a little bit away. Southwest just had an amazing deal last week for $80/leg. We chose Charleston b/c we had yet to decide to go anywhere for vacation and Charleston seemed cool.
If you know of any rental that doesn't have a 7 night min - let me know.
If you know of any rental that doesn't have a 7 night min - let me know.
Wife and I just got back from Savannah and Charleston. Spent 2 days in Savannah and 4 days in Charleston. We loved it. <div>Charleston: </div><div>We stayed at a VRBO place on Broad Street and it right across the street from Blind Tiger Pub, cool place. Charleston has probably the best restaurants in the country. Cru' Cafe, Hominy Grill, McCradys, Fig, Taco Boy (the one downtown), Monza and others.... That was pretty much all we did we eat. We drove out to Folly Beach, which is definitely a beach town and nothing more. Cool place though.</div><div>
</div><div>We went to two shows at Theatre 99, which is a stepping stone for Second City in Chicago. Highly recommended. </div><div>
</div><div>The wife shopped on King Street ..... I posted up at Upper Deck while she shopped.</div><div>
</div><div>We did no tourist stuff and still loved it.</div><div>
</div><div>I spent about 4 hours in Charleston Beer Exchange. It was like a wine/liquor store for craft beer. I dropped some money in there.....</div><div>
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</div><div>We went to two shows at Theatre 99, which is a stepping stone for Second City in Chicago. Highly recommended. </div><div>
</div><div>The wife shopped on King Street ..... I posted up at Upper Deck while she shopped.</div><div>
</div><div>We did no tourist stuff and still loved it.</div><div>
</div><div>I spent about 4 hours in Charleston Beer Exchange. It was like a wine/liquor store for craft beer. I dropped some money in there.....</div><div>
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like someone mentioned. Try VRBO.com.
When we want to get away for a staycation weekend, we drive 3 miles and stay. vrbo is the best place to find different combinations and minimums.
When we want to get away for a staycation weekend, we drive 3 miles and stay. vrbo is the best place to find different combinations and minimums.
We spent 3 or 4 days on Edisto Island and then 2 nights in Charleston. Great trip. Edisto is such a beautiful place and wasn't touristy or over crowded (no clue about now). Charleston was a blast as well. I'd love to make a trip back soon.
great restaurants, bars, sight-seeing, history, etc. If you do go, make the trip out to the Hunley Museum, especially if you're a Civil War buff. You won't lack of things to do or places to eat.
and I wasn't even holding a beer. I was within arms reach of a car with beer in it. Seriously. Spent four or five hours in the klink with some friends.
skip the low country boil, everything is overcooked. Again, eat some she-crab soup, it's made with cream, sherry and crab eggs and taste very unique.
How does Savannah compare to Charleston? If you were to spend a long weekend at one or the other with the wife, which would be the better choice?
opusdawg said:
About 40 years ago, when I was in Army basic training in Ft Jackson in Columbia, SC.
Spent the weekend there with another trainee at his home with his parents.
He gave us a great tour of the old city, told us of the history which was awesome, showed us the Civil War sites.
Great places to eat.
An awesome town. I'm sure it hasn't changed much.
I hope to revisit, someday.
Unfortunately, that trainee friend came home from Viet Nam about 6 months later in a coffin.
This 4th of July, please remember Luther Genes and all the other veterans who have given all they had.
Luther was 19 years old.
From the Vietnam Wall website:
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="BlackText" align="left">
<div align="center">LUTHER ALLEN GENES
</div>
</td></tr><tr><td class="BlackText">
</td></tr><tr><td class="BlackText" align="center">CPL - E4 - Army - Regular
1st Cav Division (AMBL)
His tour began on Jul 11, 1970
Casualty was on Sep 12, 1970
In LONG KHANH, SOUTH VIETNAM
NON-HOSTILE, HELICOPTER - CREW
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was recovered
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Spent the weekend there with another trainee at his home with his parents.
He gave us a great tour of the old city, told us of the history which was awesome, showed us the Civil War sites.
Great places to eat.
An awesome town. I'm sure it hasn't changed much.
I hope to revisit, someday.
Unfortunately, that trainee friend came home from Viet Nam about 6 months later in a coffin.
This 4th of July, please remember Luther Genes and all the other veterans who have given all they had.
Luther was 19 years old.
From the Vietnam Wall website:
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="BlackText" align="left">
<div align="center">LUTHER ALLEN GENES
</div>
</td></tr><tr><td class="BlackText">
</td></tr><tr><td class="BlackText" align="center">CPL - E4 - Army - Regular
1st Cav Division (AMBL)
His tour began on Jul 11, 1970
Casualty was on Sep 12, 1970
In LONG KHANH, SOUTH VIETNAM
NON-HOSTILE, HELICOPTER - CREW
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was recovered
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td bgcolor="#000000">
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<td>
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My wife was given a warning on the beach behind Windjammer. I just missed out on one after I threw my empty in the cooler. Be careful, they were wearing street clothes. Claimed they could fine us over $1k for have an open container. This was a Sunday afternoon.
and did culinary school there. A great way to see the city is by doing the harbor tour. It leaves from Patriots Point or by the aquarium a couple of times a day. It covers Fort Sumter, Isle of Palms, Sullivan's Island, the downtown battery, and the Yorktown- again great way to see the city without having to walk around all day or stare at a horse's *** in a carriage. Lasts about an hour and a half and is narrated- most importantly with beer for sale.
Shopping along King st. and North and South Market streets.
A couple of really cool rooftop bars are The Library at The Venue Inn and the one on the corner of Market and E. Bay street on top of a hotel (name escapes me). I really like the Griffon pub too.
Restaurant are amazing- if you want high end $$$$$ Peninsula Grill, McCradys, or Cypress
I suggest eating at Fig, Cru Cafe (lunch too), Hominy Grill (lunch too), Taco Boy, or Jestine's Kitchen
Tourist traps to avoid are Hyman's, Vickery's, Sticky Fingers, Southend brewery (cool building- turrible beer
and food) to name a few
Really big fan of Folly Beach- don't know where this no beer on the beach thing came from but doesn't apply to Folly- very laid back and no high-rise condos- just a nice beach town with cool restaurants and shops. Might want to look into condos there- there are a few that are quite reasonable, and I'd be happy to track down the one my parents stayed in while visiting.
Definitely suggest a home tour if you want to do the historical thing- the Calhoun mansion sticks out as a good one. Also just driving down to the battery area and checking out some of those homes is a must. I'm sure I'm forgetting several things, but the harbor tour will knock out a ton of sightseeing in an hour and a half (I think its
called spiritline harbor tour). And eat at FIG for dinner- my buddy is the chef- and extremely talented.
Shopping along King st. and North and South Market streets.
A couple of really cool rooftop bars are The Library at The Venue Inn and the one on the corner of Market and E. Bay street on top of a hotel (name escapes me). I really like the Griffon pub too.
Restaurant are amazing- if you want high end $$$$$ Peninsula Grill, McCradys, or Cypress
I suggest eating at Fig, Cru Cafe (lunch too), Hominy Grill (lunch too), Taco Boy, or Jestine's Kitchen
Tourist traps to avoid are Hyman's, Vickery's, Sticky Fingers, Southend brewery (cool building- turrible beer
and food) to name a few
Really big fan of Folly Beach- don't know where this no beer on the beach thing came from but doesn't apply to Folly- very laid back and no high-rise condos- just a nice beach town with cool restaurants and shops. Might want to look into condos there- there are a few that are quite reasonable, and I'd be happy to track down the one my parents stayed in while visiting.
Definitely suggest a home tour if you want to do the historical thing- the Calhoun mansion sticks out as a good one. Also just driving down to the battery area and checking out some of those homes is a must. I'm sure I'm forgetting several things, but the harbor tour will knock out a ton of sightseeing in an hour and a half (I think its
called spiritline harbor tour). And eat at FIG for dinner- my buddy is the chef- and extremely talented.