Name

Location

Description

Ms. Rose’s Fine Food

and Cocktails

1090 Sam Rittenberg Blvd

A spot for traditional Southern comfort-food favorites, this space is relaxed and inviting, with an outside deck, funky-cool décor and a vintage feel. Sip on specialty cocktails like their Beetneck, made with house-infused beet vodka, lemon, basil and garnished with mint. Dinner specials change nightly (traditional dishes like jambalaya, fried-green tomatoes, pimento cheese fritters and shrimp and grits, for starters). End your meal with one of their delicious desserts.

Charleston City Market

188 Meeting St

One of the oldest markets in the U.S. is located right in the heart of the city. It’s open year-round, with more than 300 vendors selling everything from antiques to jewelry, artisanal goods, art and clothing. The market includes three open-air sheds with hundreds of small local businesses offering their best-seller items. Grab something tasty from one of the restaurant stands.

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens

3550 Ashley River Rd

Founded in 1676, this is one of the oldest plantations in the South: Its beautiful gardens were opened in 1870. The plantation house has been completely restored and turned into a museum dedicated to African-American history. Other attractions on the plantation include a marsh boat tour through the waterways, a ride on the nature train and a wildlife area for viewing. The collection of gardens also includes Cypress Lake with 100 year old trees, bird observations and the Barbados tropical garden, which is one of the 10 best places to visit in Charleston, SC.

Dock Street Theatre

135 Church St

Visit the Dock Street Theatre, first opened in 1736, and watch one of their amazing performances. Newly renovated theatre, the historic theatre held the first-ever opera performance in America and now showcases more than 100 performances a year with shows such as The Little Mermaid, To Kill a Mockingbird, Shakespeare In Love and Avenue Q the musical.

The Spa at Belmond Charleston Place

205 Meeting St

The Spa at Belmond Charleston Place is the perfect escape for relaxation and restoration. The spa offers a variety of services, from massage therapy to body wraps, facials and a full-service fitness center. The space also features a 50-foot horizon-edge saltwater pool with a retractable roof, a sauna, steam room, and a relaxing jacuzzi. Guests can hang on the rooftop deck and enjoy a cocktail and a full-menu while looking over King Street.

The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island 

1 Sanctuary Beach Dr

Golfers can spend a day at the beautiful Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, which hosted the 2012 PGA Championship. The course is routed through the Atlantic dunes of a barrier island with beautiful ocean and river views. Guests can a play a few rounds on one of the five public courses. The resort also has a spa, swimming pools, tennis courts and dining from Southern barbeque to Italian and steaks.

Waterfront Park

1 Vendue Range

Waterfront Park has some of the most spectacular views of the Charleston Harbor. Stretching more than 1,000 feet along the coastline, it’s so long that you can watch sailboats float by or stroll through one of the park’s walkways and gardens. Make sure to visit the famous ornate pineapple fountain that glistens with lights during the evening.

Rainbow Row

83 E Bay St

One of the most visited attractions in Charleston, the  row houses near the historic waterfront are painted in pastels lining the west side of East Bay Street between Tradd Street and Elliot Street. Rainbow Row dates back to around 1740, when some citizens thought painting homes in lighter colors would lower the temperatures from the hot Charleston sun. Others say they were painted to capture the attention of drunken sailors or to help merchants sell goods.

Husk Restaurant

76 Queen St

If you want to dine at Husk Restaurant, make a reservation three weeks in advance. One of the most popular places in the city, it serves Southern classics like fried chicken and grits, Carolina catfish, heritage pork and peas and their infamous skillet cornbread with a bacon crust. The menu changes often, as it is sourced from local farms and with seafood sustainably caught. Head next door to Husk Bar for its award-winning bourbons and extensive wine list.

Marion Square Farmers Market

329 Meeting St

The Charleston Farmers Market takes place every Saturday from April through November, 8AM to 2PM, with select Saturdays in December. Artisanal vendors sell homemade pastas and bodycare products as well as locally grown produce and sustainably farmed meats and seafood from right outside of the city. In addition to the fresh produce, visitors can enjoy a bite from one of local food trucks.