Let me tell you about 5 cool things we did recently on a quick weekend in Charleston, SC! There is an incredible amount of history in and around this city—you really need more than just a weekend to see everything. So, you want to spend your time wisely.
I spent hours researching and planning how to use the short amount of time best we would have in the Charleston area.
Our trip was not originally intended to be just a weekend. We were going to a wedding and planned to extend the trip into a 5-day vacation. Unfortunately, due to illness, we had to shorten our trip. I adjusted our itinerary for a short weekend getaway.
We hopped in the car and drove the 9 hours to Charleston for the first time! We didn’t let bad weather or a shortened visit ruin our fun! We know that adventures to new and exciting places keep your mind healthy and offer more than 30 benefits to your overall well-being.
5 Cool Things to Do on a Weekend in Charleston, SC
First, I will review the 5 cool things we did in Charleston. Then I will share where we stayed, some history of the city, what else we did and saw on the trip, and why we had to postpone the trip!
1. Boone Hall Plantation | Mount Pleasant | Charleston, SC
My husband and I spent a half-day at Boone Hall Plantation with some friends. It was a truly fascinating experience—from the plantation home tour; to the slave cabins, exhibits, and presentations; to the Gullah/Geechee presentation; and the 3/4 mile driveway lined with oak trees from the 1700’s (Avenue of the Oaks).
And don’t forget the Plantation Tractor Tour, Garden Tour, and Butterfly Garden. All of these experiences are part of a one-time entrance fee.
Boone Hall is one of America’s oldest working farms and the owners still live in the plantation home.
It’s the only plantation in the Charleston area to present a live presentation about the unique culture adapted by West African slaves in South Carolina. This was very informative and entertaining.
Jennifye, a descendant of Gullah/Geechee slaves from Western Africa, was the presenter the day we went to the plantation. She did a fantastic presentation about the lifestyle and culture of her ancestors. They were brought to South Carolina and Georgia hundreds of years ago.
She also shared how the descendants continue to maintain many of the traditions of their ancestors today, including their unique speech patterns, cooking, crafting, and music.
The Avenue of the Oaks has been used to film 8 movies and television shows, including Days of Our Lives, The Notebook, and North and South.
Boone Hall Plantation has been named the #1 Plantation in the Charleston Area by USA TODAY 10BEST.
2. Charleston Hidden Alleys and Passages |Lower Country Walking Tours | Charleston, SC
This is a very popular walking tour that gives you insight into some behind-the-scenes hidden places in the city of Charleston.
Since the city is fairly flat, it’s an easy walking tour that most people can do. They take smaller groups than most tour companies and this tour is consistently one of the top rated on Tripadvisor.
This is a 2-hour tour, and they offer them throughout the day. Check their website for availability when you are visiting. Our guide, Dan, was both entertaining and informative.
My favorite story passageway was the Philadelphia Alley. It’s beautiful and has an interesting history. Be sure to check it out!
3. Oak Angel Tree | Johns Island, SC
In my opinion, this is one of the most picturesque places in America. Being in the presence of this tree is awe-inspiring as you reflect on what she has seen in this part of the country over the past several hundred years.Â
The park around the Angel Oak is unassuming, small, and simple. The drive into the small park is a dirt and gravel road, with a few parking spaces located on the side of the road.
Most people park along the road and walk through the woods that surround the park to get to the tree. The Angel Oak is protected by a chain-linked fence.
The day my husband and I visited the Angel Oak it was pouring down rain. As soon as we parked, a park staff member knocked on our window and said they were closing early because of the rain.
We made a desperate plea to allow us a quick visit inside the fence because we’d traveled from Maryland—but NOPE! She wasn’t having it from us, or any others who arrived after us.
Soon, I noticed others walking up to the fence and putting their cameras through the chain links and snapping photos! I wish I had thought of that! So, I joined them!
I grabbed my raincoat (as soon as the park staff members left the area), pulled my hood over my head, zipped up, and hopped out with my camera.
Before long, there was a whole group of us standing in the rain snapping photos through the fence! I think I got some pretty good photos considering the circumstance—and thankfully, my raincoat kept me pretty dry!
Save time in your itinerary for the Angel Oak Tree! You won’t regret it!
4. Haunted Carriage Tour | Old South Carriage Company | Charleston, SC
I wasn’t so sure I wanted to do this tour! Yes, I’m a scaredy cat! I’m scared of my own shadow most of the time! The haunted tours are done after dark.
But everyone kept saying when you go to Charleston, you have to learn about the ghost stories and haunted history. So, I signed up!
I also wasn’t sure I wanted to do a carriage ride because I was concerned about the treatment of the animals.
But I did some research and learned that the horses from Old South Carriage Company are mostly draft horses that are bred for work and most of them come from Amish working farms in Ohio.
I did some more research and felt comfortable with the conditions in which the horses lived. We even went and visited the stables earlier in the day so I could be sure the horses were treated well. I was convinced staff worked hard to take good care of the horses.
We were exhausted by our 8pm tour, but it was lots of fun. Our host was informative and funny—and the tour was not really scary!
Since it was dark, I couldn’t take pictures, but we went back to some places the next day to get some photos.
5. Poe’s Tavern | Sullivan’s Island | Charleston, SC
You might think this is an odd choice, but my husband and I both thoroughly enjoyed Sullivan’s Island and Poe’s Tavern.
It was recommended by the bride and groom who were getting married this weekend. It’s about 15 minutes outside of Charleston right on Sullivan’s Island and it’s very easy to drive to.
The tavern is always busy though, so I suggest you arrive early unless you don’t mind waiting for a table. It’s a fairly small place inside, but it has lots of seating outside.
Unfortunately, it was raining when we went, so the outside tables were not available. We arrived at 5pm and were seated right away.
The restaurant is kind of dark inside, as you might expect a place that’s named after Edgar Allan Poe to be!
Yes, Poe’s Tavern is named after Edgar Allan Poe! THE INFAMOUS WRITER OF DARK AND SCARY STORIES AND POETRY! The walls are covered in Poe photos and memorabilia!
I was fascinated to learn WHY there was a place in Charleston named after Poe because I knew he was from the northeastern United States and died in Baltimore.
As it turned out, Poe spent 13 months on Sullivan’s Island when he enlisted in the army. Stationed at Fort Moultrie from November 1827 through December 1828, he used his personal experiences from the area to write “The Gold Bug.” This sealed his connection to Sullivan’s Island.
The food was some of the BEST we had while in Charleston. It was moderately priced and tasty.
My husband and I shared a plate of nachos to start. They were yummy! My husband had a specialized burger and fries which were very good, and I had the best chicken quesadilla I’ve ever eaten! They served it with fresh guacamole, too! How much better can life get, right?
The tavern sits on the main road in Sullivan’s Island. If you go early, you can enjoy many small shops like you’d find in any beach town.
Additional Information about Charleston
My husband and I stayed at the Hampton Inn in Mount Pleasant just outside of Charleston. It was affordable, clean, and only 10 minutes from the city. We were able to travel easily all over the Charleston area from this location.
Parking in downtown Charleston is very inexpensive, so if the weather is good, you can drive into the city, park and walk just about anywhere.
Related Article: 65 Epic Quotes about Adventure and Travel to Inspire Wanderlust
So, when we arrived at the desired location, I would hang out the window and take pictures! Or my husband would pull into an alley nearby and I would zip into my raincoat again and jump out to take photos!
I had already predetermined what I wanted to see—Rainbow Row, Charleston City Market, French Quarter, Battery Park and White Point Gardens, Joe Riley Waterfront Park (Pineapple Fountain), Historic Homes and Churches, Fort Sumter, Old Slave Mart Museum, Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, Patriots Point.
So, we were on a mission and had an agenda for the afternoon!
Did you know the Civil War began on April 12, 1861 at Fort Sumter in Charleston? The Confederacy attacked the fort. At the end of the war, the American flag was raised over the remains of Fort Sumter, exactly four years after the attack.
What’s the quintessential souvenir of Charleston that everyone should take home? At the city market, Gullah artisans can be found weaving beautiful sweetgrass baskets.
These intricate works of art are considered treasures. They are among the country’s oldest and most highly prized traditional crafts. The techniques and patterns originated in West Africa where the Gullah/Geechee slaves came from.
Traveling With Pain or Illness
Ironically, 3 weeks before our Charleston trip, I had written an article for Sassy Sister Stuff about traveling with chronic pain. Who would have ever thunk I would be using my own tips for our trip to Charleston?
I spent the day before we were supposed to leave for Charleston in the Emergency Room with a severe reaction to the flu shot, and a possible autoimmune flare-up.
That’s why we had to postpone our trip. I had vertigo the whole time we were in Charleston, but I moved slowly, held on to my husband, and got a little extra rest while at the hotel.
I also followed my own tips for traveling with pain, so be sure to bookmark that article and save it! It may come in handy for you someday, too!
That’s all for now, my friend! I hope the information I’ve shared here will help you know what to do in Charleston on your next visit!