A few weeks ago I got to go to Charleston to watch one of my closest friends get married at the beautiful Magnolia Plantation. I was only there for the weekend so I only got one day to explore the city but since I was returning there for the second time, I knew where I wanted to go. Also, staying downtown helped as most the places I wanted to visit were within walking distance of the hotel. There are a few things that I still haven’t gotten to see in Charleston that I would have loved to get to visit but there’s always next time!

Local Coffee Shop Recommendation:

Kudu Coffee – If you are staying in downtown Charleston (or even in the area and need a coffee break) this is a great place to visit. I asked several people who used to live in this area where to go and this place was the number one answer. The coffee here is great and they have tons of breakfast options. They also have an adorable courtyard covered in vines and different plants (which is also shaded which helps in the Charleston heat).

Restaurant Recommendation:

Taziki’s Cafe – This is a great place for lunch downtown. Very affordable and amazing Mediterranean food. They actually catered the lunch for the wedding I went to and I was very happy to try it.

Coast Bar and Grill – This place is amazing for seafood and has hands down the best mojito I’ve ever had in my life (they’ve also been voted the best mojito in town by several sources). The restaurant is in a super cute spot in the city and would make a great dinner spot while in town.

Places to Visit:

Waterfront Park – If you only visit one place in Charleston, this should be it. Home of the famous Pineapple fountain (and several other fountains) this is a great place to get some gelato and sit on a bench to hang out. There are also beautiful trees everywhere under which you can catch some shade and hang out.

Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge – This is a great place to get a workout while still getting to explore. A walk or a run along this bridge would make for a great workout as it’s about 2.5 miles in length so definitely consider checking this out. This happens to be the third longest among cable-stayed bridges in the Western Hemisphere.

Rainbow Row – This isn’t a main attraction or anything but on your way to Waterfront Park I would recommend walking by Rainbow Row which is a street with very colorful houses and beautiful trees.

Shopping on King Street – For those who love shopping, King Street is a great place to go. Many authentic little boutiques that are only found in Charleston along with designer boutiques as well. There are also many places to eat on this street (like Taziki’s ).

Magnolia Plantation – This is a bit outside the city but it’s worth the trip. My friend got married here and the wedding set up looked straight out of a fairy tale under a gigantic oak tree. The best place to go is at the end of April when the azaleas are blooming but it’s pretty much beautiful year round still.

Folly Beach – If you’re in Charleston for the beach, this is where you go. There are many restaurants along the beach as well so you can spend all day there! The parking situation there isn’t ideal but if you get there early enough it shouldn’t be a problem.

As always I hope this was helpful and don’t forget to follow me on Instagram @styleprn