We’ve got everything you need to plan a girls' weekend, romantic getaway, or honeymoon in the Holy City.
By: Hillary HoffowerSome destinations have earned a reputation as the place for a bachelorette, honeymoon, or wedding. But Charleston, a jack of all trades, is known for them all. Its Southern charm makes it an enchanting spot to tie the knot, but that’s also what makes it the perfect place for a girl’s weekend, a romantic getaway, or a honeymoon.
Here’s a three-day itinerary for each.
Girls' Weekend
Day 1: Check in at the HarbourView Inn, a luxury boutique hotel located in the heart of downtown Charleston. With the only private rooftop in town, overlooking the historic harbor, it's the perfect place for a girls' weekend. Before you start exploring, head over to Basic Kitchen, where you can sip on a beet margarita and munch on sweet potato wedges. It's the fuel you'll need before a tour of the Nathaniel Russell House, a 200-year old antebellum townhouse that is now a museum. Top off the day in the courtyard at Frannie & the Fox, a wood-fired eatery.
Day 2: Today is a true girls; day. Stop for breakfast at Husk, which has an ever-evolving menu, before strolling heading over to King Street to shop at all of Charleston's trendiest boutiques. Here, you'll find Candlefish, where you should definitely make an appointment for one of their candle-making classes so you can go home with a custom scent of your own. In the late afternoon, unwind with mani pedis and a massage at Woodhouse Day Spa. Head to Felix after for a house cocktail and French-inspired fare.
Day 3: Kick off the day with Bloody Marys and oysters for brunch at The Darling Oyster Bar. Another way to explore is via a customized guided walking tour with Bulldog Tours. Just make sure to see Rainbow Row, the city’s famous pastel-colored homes. Cheers to your last night in Charleston with a craft cocktail at The Rooftop Bar at The Vendue for panoramic views of the city.
Romantic Getaway
Day 1: Drop off your bags at Zero George, a collection of carriage houses with a private courtyard for some true Charleston vibes. They offer complimentary bicycles, so you can zip around the streets to sight see Antebellum mansions. Keep things local on day one and head to dinner at Zero George’s Caviar Bar, which Forbes has dubbed "The Coolest Reservation in Town." On the menu: Regiis Ova caviar, house-baked brioche, and champagne.
Day 2: Nab a buttermilk biscuit from Callie's Hot Little Biscuit for a quick breakfast. Then, spend the rest of the morning at Cypress Gardens, where The Notebook was filmed, and walk one of its many trails or take a peaceful boat ride through the swamp. Spend the afternoon back at Zero George, where you can curl up with a book in its oyster shell garden. It's the perfect way to relax before heading to dinner at Brasserie la Banque for mussels and escargot.
Day 3: Do brunch at Park & Grove, where you can have a fried chicken biscuit, buttermilk pancakes, and fresh seasonal fare. Meander along King Street before heading back to Zero George for a fun cooking class. Finish your last night in Charleston with a sunset sail on the Schooner Pride, which will give you gorgeous views of the Lowcountry.
Honeymoon
Day 1: Get in early and head to The Spectator, where you’ll be staying in wedded bliss. They are the only hotel in Charleston with butler service, and you deserve the best. Since you’ll likely be ready for a bite to eat, pick up pastries from La Pâtisserie and a bottle of wine — now, you’re prepared for a picnic under the Angel Oak, one of the oldest oak trees in the U.S. After, take a carriage ride with Old South Carriage Co. downtown to soak up all of Charleston’s charm. Finish the evening with a dry-aged steak and creamed spinach at Hall’s Chophouse.
Day 2: Get the day started early and head over to nearby Kiawah Island to soak up some rays on its 10 miles of beaches. Quiet and tranquil, it's easy to find some peace and alone time here. Head back in the late afternoon to freshen up before grabbing a pre-dinner drink at Holy City Brewing, which is known for some of the best craft beers in Charleston. For dinner, enjoy prime beef tenderloin to the sounds of live jazz at Charleston Grill.
Day 3: Start the day with fried green tomatoes and the down home breakfast at Poogan’s Porch. You'll need the fuel for your morning horseback ride at Middleton Place Equestrian Center. Afterwards, stroll through Middleton Place's landscaped gardens, some of the oldest in the country. You might be sore after this adventure, so enjoy a couple's massage at The Spa at Hotel Bennett. Close out the night with dinner Circa 1886, located in the historic Wentworth Mansion’s carriage house, which boasts fresh Southern cuisine.
