Charleston is a gorgeous southern city with the best of both worlds: a fun downtown and the beach!

CHS Tips:

As with anywhere in the deep south, it is HOT in the summer, so plan ahead (or visit between September-May)
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Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations:

The Whale: A fantastic craft beer bar with great taps and a cans/bottles to choose from. It is beautifully designed and has both indoor and outdoor seating.
Westbrook Brewing: A large brewery a bit outside the hustle and bustle in Mt Pleasant. They have a large variety of tasty beers, specifically their Stouts!
Edmund’s Oast Brewing Company: Edmund’s Oast has two locations in Charleston—the brewery and the restaurant Both are great spots—they have chill vibes, nice patios, a wide array of taps, and tasty eats.
Wine & Company: Seriously the best cheese plates I've ever had in my life (& I’ve had a lot of cheese plates). They have an extensive wine selection and a can/bottle list with select beers!
Taco Boy: A fun Mexican restaurant with three locations—one on Folly Beach, one in downtown CHS, and one in Summerville. Get the Frozen Screwdriver, you won’t regret it!
Folly Beach: A large beach and a cute strip of bars and restaurants—a great place to spend a day!
Lewis Barbecue: A delicious spot for eats and drinks! They have a nice patio and very popular BBQ alongside superb sides and nachos.
Revelry Brewing: Such a fun brewery with a rooftop and a wide variety of beers for every palate
Brown Dog Deli: Mouthwatering sandwiches! Pro Tip: Grab a sandwich to go and eat it on the waterfront just a few blocks away
The rooftop bar at Stars: a fantastic place to enjoy the outdoors and relax with a cocktail. Conveniently located right on King Street
Baker and Brewer: From Evo Pizza and Holy City Brewing, this pizzeria and brewery has phenomenal pizzas and delicious beers! They also have nice outdoor seating options.
Bowens Island Restaurant: A fantastic spot for fresh-off-the-boat seafood with lovely views and chill vibes! Get here early to avoid the line.
Bodega: Such a cute spot for coffee, breakfast and lunch. They have great indoor/outdoor seating and are in the heart of downtown.

The Classic Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting:

King Street: You could wander up and down King Street for hours on end popping into shops, restaurants, bars, and people watching
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens: Gorgeous grounds and a lot of history to soak in
College of Charleston: A beautiful campus in the heart of downtown, it is definitely worth wandering through!
Charleston City Market: Historical site filled with several shops full of good finds
Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens: Gorgeous grounds & a ton of history
The Battery: The park at the end of the peninsula on the water—a perfect spot for a picnic!
Rainbow Row: Just a quick stop, but the houses are gorgeous!
Firefly Distillery: An awesome Firefly spirits tasting experience alongside fun cocktails and frequent live music and events!

Other ideas:

Sullivan's Island: Another beautiful beach!
Low Tide Brewing: Located on John’s Island, this brewery has a variety of beers and a great outdoor space
Charles Towne Fermentory: A brewery with solid IPAs in West Ashley. They’ve also got a food window and board games!
Graft: A cute wine shop and wine bar that also has a small food menu
Home Team BBQ: A delicious BBQ restaurant with locations downtown, in West Ashley, and on Sullivan’s Island. Their famous cocktail The Frozen Game Changer is delicious!
Leon’s Oyster Shop: A fun restaurant set in an old garage specializing in fried chicken, oysters, and unique drinks.
- Pro-tip: You can only make a reservation if you party is larger than 6, so if there is a long-ish wait, head around the corner to Graft for a glass of wine while you wait!
Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit: A delicious biscuit shop located both on Upper King Street and in the City Market.
Five Loaves Café: A tasty spot for brunch, lunch and dinner. They have locations in Mt. Pleasant and Summerville!
The rooftop bar at the Vendue Hotel: Another great rooftop, highly recommend when it is dark outside so you can admire the well lit Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge.
Frothy Beard Brewing: Tonssss of beers on tap here. Located in the West Ashley neighborhood.
Azul: A solid spot for Mexican eats with multiple locations around town!
Charles Town Landing: The original Charleston. Lots of history, lots of beautiful outdoor space
Brunch at Shelter: cheap carafes of mimosas and a deep fried peanut butter french toast…. need I say more?
Freehouse Brewery: Organic brewery in a scenic setting on the Ashley River. Very chill vibes
Holy City Brewing: Solid beers, full food menu, and a large space.
LoFi Brewing: A warehouse style brewery with a small tap list but solid brews!
Ghost Monkey Brewing: Classic taproom vibes with a variety of beers available
Fort Sumter: For the history geek, be sure to check out this famous battle site
Munkle Brewing: Belgian-style brewery with Trappist beers
Kudu: A nice spot for coffee and craft beer just off a King Street.
Palmetto Brewing Co: Solid beers and nice patio seating with frequent food trucks
Pawley’s Island Brewing: A small brewery with solid beers—close to Freehouse Brewery
Rusty Bull Brewing: A fun brewery in North Charleston with ax throwing connected to it as well!
Tradesman Brewing: A brewery with extremely unique beers and an abundance of outdoor seating
Isle of Palms is another great beach to check out! There is less parking and it’s a little less built up than the other beaches but still a gorgeous beach!
Kiawah Island is less crowded than Folly, Sullivan’s, or IOP, but it is also a longer drive from downtown. If you’re up for the hike it’s definitely more peaceful!
- Seabrook Island is located right next to Kiawah but it is a gated community—you have to have a pass to access the island or any of the beaches.