My go-to Charleston weekend: pastel houses and harbor breezes South of Broad, biscuits and oysters up King Street, then a hop over the Ravenel Bridge to Mount Pleasant, Sullivan's Island, and Folly Beach. These are the spots I actually send friends t...
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I always start with a slow walk past the pastel houses on Rainbow Row, and it never stops being pretty.
Rainbow Row
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I sit under the live oaks at White Point Garden and watch the boats where the two rivers meet.
White Point Garden
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I cool my feet in the Pineapple Fountain at Waterfront Park and grab a shady porch swing on the pier.
Waterfront Park
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I browse the sweetgrass baskets at the City Market and always end up taking one home.
Charleston City Market
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I tour the Nathaniel Russell House just to stare up at that famous free-flying spiral staircase.
Nathaniel Russell House Museum
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I head down into the Provost Dungeon here for a quick, slightly spooky dose of Revolutionary War history.
Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon
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I duck into the Gibbes for its Charleston Renaissance paintings when the afternoon heat gets to be too much.
Gibbes Museum of Art
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I catch the ferry from Liberty Square out to Fort Sumter, where the Civil War actually began.
Fort Sumter Visitor Center
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I grab a seat at the bar and patio at Husk for bourbon and that famous Southern cooking without a reservation.
Husk
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I go to Poogan's Porch for brunch and order the buttermilk biscuits with fried chicken every single time.
Poogan's Porch
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I order the shrimp and grits at S.N.O.B., and it's my benchmark for every other version in town.
Slightly North of Broad Restaurant
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I put my name in early at 167 Raw for the lobster roll and a dozen oysters, and the wait is worth it.
167 Raw Oyster Bar
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I end most nights at Kaminsky's with a giant slice of cake and a glass of port.
Kaminsky's Dessert Cafe
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I book FIG for a special dinner because the seasonal Lowcountry cooking is as good as it gets.
FIG
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I treat myself to a steak at Halls Chophouse, where the hospitality makes everyone feel like a regular.
Halls Chophouse
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I hit the Saturday farmers market in Marion Square for local produce, boiled peanuts, and crepes.
Marion Square
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I grab a warm ham biscuit and a cinnamon one from Callie's to eat while I window-shop King Street.
Callie's Hot Little Biscuit
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I come to Leon's for the fried chicken, char-grilled oysters, and a soft serve cone in that old garage.
Leon's
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I order Texas-style brisket by the pound at Lewis Barbecue and eat it at the picnic tables out back.
Lewis Barbecue Charleston
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I love that the Aiken-Rhett House is preserved, not restored, so you see the peeling walls and slave quarters as they were.
Aiken-Rhett House Museum
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I spend an hour at America's first museum for the Lowcountry history and old silver collection.
The Charleston Museum
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I do a lap around the pond at Hampton Park when I want a quiet, local break from downtown.
Hampton Park
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I walk the Ravenel Bridge path at sunrise for the best view of the harbor and the peninsula.
Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge
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I climb around the USS Yorktown at Patriots Point and could spend hours on the flight deck.
Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum
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I stroll the Shem Creek boardwalk at sunset to watch the shrimp boats and dolphins roll in.
Shem Creek Park
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I wander the old fort at Fort Moultrie and then walk straight onto the beach next door.
Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
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I get a burger and a cold beer on the porch at Poe's Tavern after a beach day on Sullivan's.
Poe's Tavern
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I make the drive out to see the Angel Oak, and its huge sprawling branches are unreal in person.
Angel Oak Tree
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I go for the shovel-dumped steamed oysters at Bowens Island while the sun sets over the marsh.
Bowens Island Restaurant
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I spend lazy afternoons at the quieter end of Folly Beach looking for shells and watching the surfers.
