How to Wing a Weekend in Charleston

Recently we found ourselves in Charleston, South Carolina for the 39th annual International Sea Turtle Symposium. This ‘meeting of the minds’ brings together individuals who are passionate about our worlds population of oceanic reptiles. From volunteers to researchers, park rangers to PhD students, hundreds of people attend this annual gathering. There were two days of workshops and several days of presentations, posters, and jovial synergy. It was, to say the least, inspirational! And the perfect lead up to our weekend in Charleston.

While there were many focuses of the conference, it was great to see so many individuals under one roof who were concerned about the MAJOR PLASTIC PROBLEM that plagues our oceans. Ever heard of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? Got a strong stomach? Google the video for a sea turtle with a plastic straw stuck in it’s nose… We won’t go into much other detail here, but the impact of our daily use of plastics is having on the ocean is worth learning about. And if you take anything away from it, it’s to start reducing your use of [single use] plastics. Or better yet, all plastics! Eco-conscience, save the ocean, marine biology brain aside…

Charleston Loves Sea Turtles!

It’s clear to see that Charleston has a soft spot for sea turtles. Located on the waterfront, the South Carolina Aquarium, is home to the Zucker Family Sea Turtle Recovery Center. This exhibit doubles as a hospital for the rehabilitation of sick and injured sea turtles. The aquarium is home to over 5,000 animals of aquatic, terrestrial and even avian origin. There are loads of interactive opportunities for all ages and even includes a wildlife observation deck overlooking the Cooper River. Here you can catch a glimpse of a wild bottlenose dolphin while taking in views of the iconic Ravenel Jr. Bridge. The aquarium is first on our list of ‘must-dos’ in Charleston. Keep reading for more last minute ideas to entertain on a weekend in Charleston.

There are loads of interactive opportunities for all ages and even includes a wildlife observation deck overlooking the Cooper River. Here you can catch a glimpse of a wild bottlenose dolphin while taking in views of the iconic Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. Keep reading for more last minute ideas to entertain on a weekend in this entertaining town.

Starting January 1st 2020, Charleston is implementing a city-wide ban on plastic bags, Styrofoam and straws!

Palm Trees & Spanish Moss

Founded in 1670, ‘Charles Town’ (Charleston circa 1783) was named in honour of King Charles II of England. It is known for it’s pre-Civil War, ‘antebellum’ spirit and has been ranked ‘America’s Most Friendly [City]” (2011) and “World’s Best City” (2016) by Travel + Leisure. It has many great restaurants, rooftop bars, breweries and museums to explore. In other words, it is a must visit for your list of places to see this year! You can definitely do this city justice with just a weekend in Charleston.

Bring Your Bike

Charleston is absolutely a biking town. It’s a walking town too, but if you want to cover some ground in a short timeframe, bring your bike! There is SO MUCH to explore here. Historic monuments, wooded parks, antebellum era mansions, fountains, shopping and so much more! Below is a map of the route we explored over a two hour time frame (we parked the car in a metered spot at Colonial Lake). We first ventured South toward Murray Boulevard and the strip of waterfront mansions. Following the water east, we then stopped at The Battery and White Point Garden. This park filled with massive live oaks. We tied the bikes up here to take a quick walk through the neighbourhood and take in some more of the beautiful mansions. Several of the houses offer tours (for a fee).

Next, we rode our bikes north along East Bay Rd towards Rainbow Row. This is a popular photo spot for the pastel coloured rowhouses that stand at #83. We headed east again towards the water and Waterfront Park, where the famous Pineapple Fountain stands. One of the most characteristic sights of the downtown, waterfront Charleston scene. The fountain represents new life after a hurricane, as it was revealed after Hurricane Hugo. Hugo is on record as the most devastating storm to hit the area. At the northern end of the park is a slightly less popular fountain that is also worth checking out.

From the park, we headed west again and made our way over to the Historic Charleston City Market. We parked our bikes and took a stroll through the open air market which is also partly covered (likely a beautiful reprieve of A/C in the dead of summer). There are MANY basket weavers here if you are looking for a traditional (but expensive) souvenir from your trip. You’ll also find several other touristy type stops where you can pick up postcards, bumper stickers, t-shirts and most other typical souvenir items.

Rooftop Bars

Before jumping back on our bikes to head back to the car, as our two hour time limit was nearing, we decide to take in the [GORGEOUS!] afternoon from a rooftop bar with a refreshing beverage. We set our site’s on Henry’s on the Market, a jazz and seafood restaurant and night club with a vintage rooftop bar. This historic building is a feast for the eyes both on the outside and in. Upon entering, guests are taken back to the early 1900s by the décor. The second floor is an eclectic collection of furniture and paintings and the roof top, a multi-level furnished space complete with mirrors, an outdoor projector and various seating options.

We LOVED this spot! Our order consisted of a local beer and a rum based Old Fashion (rum has a history in this town). We find a spot overlooking the street where we watch as the horse drawn carriages come and go on tours as we soak in the warm sun.

Delicious Food

Charleston offers up a delectable smattering of food options for every palate and budget! It truly offers one of the greatest varieties we’ve seen, per capita and we made every effort to take full advantage! It’s honestly tough to pick a favourite from all of the restaurants we explored, but Hominy Grill was definitely one of the front runners. They offer brunch along with appropriate beverages (Bloody Mary’s and Mimosas). Just outside the restaurant is a quaint little patio on which to enjoy your meal and their list of ‘veggies plates includes mac & cheese! How could you not love this place?! The menu has many delectable, southern style items but we settled on the jalapeno hushpuppies and their ‘Nasty Biscuit’ (picture below, right). If you’re feeling adventurous,we also recommend checking out Huriyali, Bon Banh Mi, Stella’s and BKeDSHoP.

Breweries

If there’s one thing Charleston doesn’t have a shortage of, it’s breweries. On the northern end of town, there are nine (NINE!) breweries in just over a two mile stretch. And they are dog friendly too! (that’s Chopper our road warrior pooch in the middle there). Head over to our Pups & Hops Brewery Tour for a breakdown of the fur friendly breweries in town. This is the perfect addition to your weekend in Charleston!

Night Life

Whether you are looking for some live music or a ghost tour, there’s a little bit of everything in the ‘Holy City’. If you’re in the mood for something a little different, you’ll want to check out ‘The Black Fedora‘. This joint serves up murder mystery with a comedic twist! Located just around the corner from the City Market, they perform live, hilariously unpredictable shows five days a week. We purchased tickets for ‘Murder Aboard the Starship Fed Ora’, a plot involving aliens and a murder most foul, in space!

The entertainment is family friendly with an interactive audience performance. You can even volunteer to be one of the characters in the show on our weekend in Charleston! The guest involvement during our show was incredible. Each of the volunteers completely immersed themselves in their assigned role, adding so much to the experience. This truly makes for a unique experience in that you’ll never have the same experience twice.

We would absolutely love to have the opportunity to return to Charleston, and if we do, we plan to spend some more time exploring the outskirts, Isle of Palms and John’s Island more specifically.

Have you spent a weekend in Charleston? What was your favourite part? We’d love to hear from you below!