Things To Do
LoLA
Our favorite restaurant in Katie’s neighborhood, Park Circle. This spot has the best New-Orleans/cajun-style dishes. We recommend the caesar salad and gator bites (a MUST), gumbo, or shrimp po' boy. Bonus: there’s a second location recently opened near the venue at 1036 Chuck Dawley Blvd.
Ruby's New York Style Bagels, LLC
Need a morning-of or day-after pick-me-up? Ruby’s has the best New York-style bagels in town and this location is less than 5 minutes from the hotel block. (Seriously, though. Charleston is lacking in the bagel scene and we would die for Ruby’s. Tried and true by our friends from New Jersey.)
Fleet Landing Restaurant & Bar
This seafood spot on a historic Naval landing is the only waterfront restaurant on the downtown peninsula. We enjoy watching the turtles from the outside bar!
Church and Union Charleston
Ideal for a nice night out downtown. The tall, church-like ceilings have the entire Art of War hand-painted on them.
MOMO riverfront park
Grab some brunch and a delicious cocktail at the waterfront park where the couple's proposal took place. You have to try the hush puppies with honey butter.
Hobcaw Brewing Company
If you're looking for a beer near the venue, this brewery has expansive indoor and outdoor areas and typically has a local food truck.
Pitt Street Bridge
Located in Mount Pleasant, this historic bridge is home to the most beautiful park on the water. We recommend grabbing takeout and enjoying a sunset picnic.
Shem Creek
This nook of bars and restaurants on Shem Creek is one of Katie's favorite places in Charleston. Located near the venue, it has lively nightlife and unbeatable views on the water. Pro tip: rideshare to the general area as parking is very limited (Red’s or Tavern and Table are a good drop off stop if you want to be on the waterfront side).
Folly Beach
If you need help choosing a beach to visit while you're in town, Folly Beach is a personal favorite. It has the best food/bar scene (Taco Boy, Chico Feo, Jack of Cups, and Revelry Brewing are some of our top recs), a beautiful public pier, and a great beach town vibe. Bonus: Bowens Island Restaurant is right at the entrance to Folly Beach and is the best fresh-caught seafood restaurant in Charleston. It's on the water, so we recommend going during sunset!
USS Yorktown CV-10
Charleston is FULL of history, and this historic aircraft carrier docked on the Charleston Harbor is one of the most unique spots to tour.
Charleston City Market
This historic indoor/outdoor market is full of local vendors and goods. The heart of downtown is very walkable, so we suggest adding Rainbow Row and Waterfront Park to your adventures.
Plantations
To see some of the most beautiful scenery in Charleston, we recommend visiting Magnolia Gardens or Middleton Place. If you want to explore areas The Notebook was filmed, we recommend taking a tour of Boone Hall (Allie's childhood home) or going on a free canoe ride at Cypress Gardens to relive one of the movie's most iconic scenes.
South Carolina Aquarium
Make sure to pet some stingrays while you're in town! We fed them for the first time while on a date together and it was hilariously fun. If you’re looking for a Charleston keepsake: one of Katie’s favorite gifts from Holden is a "paw" painting done by a pair of otters at the aquarium as part of their enrichment program.