Charleston, SC Part 1: Family Fun
Charleston, South Carolina consistently ranks as one of the best cities to visit in the US. It's got rich history, beautiful beaches nearby, friendly Southern hospitality around every corner and some of the best food you'll find anywhere in the country, hands down. It's a great spot to take the whole family for a relaxing vacation, with things to do for every age group.
We visited Charleston over the 4th of July week, and let me tell you, it's hotter than the hinges of Hades...which if you're not Southern and need translation just means it's flipping hot. And humid. And this is coming from people that lived in Florida for a decade. So in order to make sure we had access to water activities, we chose to stay at the beach which was a short drive away from downtown Charleston. There are a lot of beaches close to the city: Sullivan's island, Folly Beach, Kiawah Island and Isle of Palms to name a few. We chose Isle of Palms and it was perfect for our family. It was clean, quiet and calm and made for an excellent stay.
We drove back and forth into downtown Charleston on several days to check out some sights. We really enjoyed the South Carolina Aquarium. It's located right on the harbor so you can take in the gorgeous scenery before or after your visit. The aquarium is large, clean and has a ton of interactive activities for the kids. They even got to pet a baby alligator (a highlight for them, scary for mama). They also house the Sea Turtle Care Center where they rehabilitate injured sea turtles. Overall, it was an enjoyable time, especially as it gave us a break from the blazing sun.
We also took time to stroll down Historic King Street for some souvenir shopping and a stop at a cute little ice cream shop. We found the Charleston City Market where local merchants displayed arts and crafts for purchase.
After all the walking in the sun, we boarded up on a horse and carriage ride through Palmetto Carriage. It was a nice break from walking and we got a narrated tour around some of the historical landmarks from a friendly and knowledgeable guide, complete with deep Southern accent and dressed in bow tie and seersucker for authenticity.
There are plenty of other attractions in the city to keep a family busy for days. Fort Sumter, where the Civil War began, has daily tours. The Magnolia Plantation has beautiful gardens, a petting zoo and mazes. And for the older kids that don't easily get scared, there are ghost tours that run in the evenings (don't know about these, I want my kids to continue to sleep through the night!)
I can't leave a post without some good food recommendations. Now Charleston is a foodie's dream come true, especially if that foodie (me) is into seafood. We are actually returning next week for a food-filled adventure for adults only, so that will be part two of my Charleston series. For some good bets with kids, we found several spots worth stopping by. In downtown, we found Hyman's Seafood. It's over a hundred years old and has a cute little market attached to it. Fleet Landing is a great spot right on the water. It has some solid Southern seafood staples. Try to get a patio seat if the wait's not too long, it's worth it. Other notable spots are a short drive away on Sullivan's Island. Poe's Tavern is a quirky literary themed restaurant named after Edgar Allen Poe who lived on the island for some of his life. The craft burgers and bacon coleslaw are amazing! Right down the street is Beardcat's Sweet Shop. They have tons of delectable desserts to try, but I was partial to the red velvet ice cream. Yum!!
Charleston is a fantastic getaway spot that will have you longing to return. Join me next week for my second part: adult-style Charleston getaway!
