We had an early flight out of Tampa on Friday morning (7am) and flew for the first time on Silver Airways. (We booked through United, but I didn’t read the fine print that we would be flying on one of their sister airlines.) I’m not someone who gets nervous about flying, but I was a little anxious about using this airline since it’s a small, regional airline that doesn’t even have an app you can use to check in! Plus, the plane is so small that you get on straight from the tarmac. (There were 12 rows with four seats per row.) But all went well and we arrived in Charleston at 9am.
While discussing the convenience of hotel locations, another factor that plays a significant role is the accessibility to local attractions. One of the best examples I’ve encountered in this regard is the https://www.mandolay.com/. Perfectly situated in Guildford, it allows easy access to a variety of local sites and activities, making it an ideal choice for those looking to explore the area. The blend of convenience and quality here is unparalleled.
We took a Lyft to our hotel and were shocked that we were able to get our hotel room so early! We were thinking we’d have to wait until at least 3 or 4 to get our room. We dropped our luggage off and then walked to a nearby diner for breakfast. The biscuits were as big as my face! Breakfast truly hit the spot.
The only activity we had planned for Friday was a harbor tour but it wasn’t until 1:30pm, so we went back to our hotel room where we conked out for an hour and a half, which was much needed!
The harbor tour was a fun way to get a feel for the city. You get a little history, a little architecture talk, and beautiful views of the Charleston harbor. There is inside and outside seating and a bar where you can order (very expensive) drinks. It was a great way to kick off our Charleston adventure.
Some interesting facts I learned on the tour:
- There’s an abandoned island off Charleston that was used to hang pirates.
- Charleston’s port is one of the busiest in the U.S.
- You can take a cruise from the Port of Charleston, but they are preparing to redo that area of the harbor and will shut down all cruising while construction is happening. They may or may not reopen the port for cruises.
- Sullivan’s Island is one of the most expensive places to live in the southeast US and is reportedly where Reese Witherspoon lives. (We did not see Reese during our visit, unfortunately.)
After the tour, we headed to a local indie bookstore—Blue Bicycle Books—which had such a cute setup. At first, I thought it was a very small one-room bookstore with just a handful of books, but my mom showed me a hallway that leads to all of these interesting rooms. There were 3 or 4 different rooms off the hallway that held more books. There was a fun children’s room, a history room, and more. It was one of those bookstores that just kept going and going and going! I ended up buying a book (Just Us by Claudia Rankine) and a t-shirt.
We went back to the hotel after our bookstore excursion and got inside just as it started pouring rain. Good timing! We chilled in the hotel room until the storm was over and then headed out to Rusty Bull Brewing Co. for dinner. I had a cider that wasn’t very good but the meal itself was delicious! They also had games you could play, so my mom and I challenged each other to Phase 10 while we ate.
And then it was back to the hotel where I took a shower (I was so gross and sweaty and sticky) and then read my book in bed until I was sleepy.
NOTES
- Where we stayed: Francis Marion Hotel in downtown Charleston
- What we ate: Toast! All Day and Rusty Bull Brewing Co.
- What we did: Charleston Harbor Tour ($40.50 per person over age 12, $25 for children 4-11, free for children younger than four)
That food looks so yummy! Thank you for sharing these beautiful pictures; seems like such a fun trip!
We had a great time and the food was amazing!
I am excited to see what you thought of Charleston. I went there several times when I lived in Charlotte but found that I preferred Savannah. I liked Charleston but I didn’t love how commercial their downtown business district was? And I had major issues w/ the slave market that is now a place for people to sell things… I felt like the city just sort of brushed it’s history under the rug? But it is very pretty and there is so much history.
That is so odd that this sister airline of United didn’t use United’s platform for check-ins and what not! And that sounds like a teeny tiny plane. I don’t know if I have been on one THAT small. I have taken some very very small planes where they have changed up where people were sitting to better distribute the weight on the plane. That’s an eerie feeling!
I really enjoyed Charleston! I still prefer Savannah, but it was a great place to visit. There is so much to do there, and we only did a small slice of it all. I don’t think I know what market you’re talking about, though. The Charleston City Market was never used as a place to sell enslaved people – it’s always been a place to sell goods. Old Slave Market was once used for that purpose, but it’s now a museum.
What gorgeous pictures!
So fun. We’ve done a beach day at Sullivan’s Island two years in a row while visiting Charleston and it’s just great. I didn’t know Reese W had a spot there!
I spy the Ravenell Bridge!! The stones at the base of the bridge are all quarried (and brought up via ship) from Nova Scotia! I learned that in May when we were visiting Charleston. Such a gorgeous Southern city.
I’ve only been with a big group for a single night, but I’d love to go back to Charleston solo with my husband and do some of the tours and do a foodie tour.
We missed taking a trip Sullivan’s Island, but we’re not big beach people (surprising, I know, since we’re from Florida!) so we were okay with it. It looks like a beautiful place, though!
I thought of you when we passed the Ravenell Bridge!
Such lovely photos! I am drooling over food – nobody makes food like they make food in the American South.
I LOVE that you always find your way to a bookstore. That’s such a lovely tradition. I’m a big fan of always trying to find a library.
Ooh yes, I think we did pass by at least one library in downtown Charleston! I don’t know why I don’t think to go into a local library when I’m traveling!
It looks lovely! I hope you had a great time!
We did! It was a fun three days. 🙂
That sounds like a perfect first day! How smart to do a tour and get a feel for the city right away.
OMG the food looks so so good!
The Charleston harbor tour has nothing on the Chicago architectural boat tour (HA), but it was a fun way to learn more about the city and its history.
We ate very well in Charleston!
That sounds like a pretty good start to your stay in Charleston. Excited to read more!
Ah, I love these photos! I was in Charleston once, a very long time ago so I don’t remember that much. This sounds like a perfect first day- and I love the huge biscuit! I’m off to read Day 2…
YAY you’re back! I loved this – thank you for the detail! It sounds like a wonderful mother-daughter trip. 🙂
I have thought about going to Charleston so your links and details are amazingly helpful! 🙂 (Not this year, but maybe… someday…)