What is it about Charleston, South Carolina that makes a visitor feel at home?
This is an infinitely walkable city. Charleston is more than The Battery, more than the tourists, more than the colorful, majestic, historic houses. Maybe it could be the open welcoming of the people.
We spent two nights in Charleston and only nipped the top of seeing this city that continues to retain its character decade after decade. When walking, keep a wary eye on fellow tourists and their sometimes erratic driving.
We stayed at the Courtyard Marriott on Calhoun Street, which was an easy location for walking and navigating the city. The staff was very helpful, the hotel quiet, and our view was colorful.
You Won’t Go Hungry in Charleston
King Street boasts dozens of restaurants and a wide variety of cuisines. We found Pane e Vino by wandering into The Hidden Countship, an Italian Boutique. Donatello, the owner, is from Italy so we asked her for an Italian Restaurant recommendation. Pane e Vino had a relaxed atmosphere with delicious, delicate food.
al fresco dining in Charleston 
Golden, aged grappa versus yellow limoncello
Our other evening meal was at Rue de Jean with the entrance tucked down a narrow alley. Other than the waiter seeming a bit frazzled, we couldn’t have had a better experience. The ambience, sitting outside, was quiet and comfortable.
If you haven’t guessed, Alex is a foodie. Not being a cook, I pretty much look at food as nutrition, not that I don’t care about the taste, but I’d rather eat and keep on with my hike or being a tourist. That said, even breakfast is an event for Alex. We found two delightful, decidedly different, places. Jack’s—a casual diner with great staff and simple, but yummy food and Breizh Pan Crepes—authentically made in the truest French manner.
Our weekend was full of rain, sometimes light, sometimes torrential. Despite that, Charleston was a unique experience that bears a return trip sometime very soon.
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Read: Charleston plantation houses and take a trip over to Greenville
In the South? Check out Tampa
My husband is a foodie too. Too bad for him that he is married to a food coach. 🙂
Looks like you enjoyed lots of great food. Charleston seems like a great city. I’ve perhaps driven through there in the past but I’m not sure I’ve ever stopped. I hope to get there someday.
That’s funny, Erica! How does foodie balance against food coach? Charleston is sure the place to eat well and see the sights! Hope you get there, too.
Rose Mary, I’ve never been anywhere “in the South,” and if I did go, Charleston would definitely be on my to see list. It has a lovely alluring aura. One day, just maybe!
Charleston and New Orleans both leave a delightful aftertaste, Ramona. You experience while you’re there, fully and deeply, then days and weeks afterwards, it seeps into your heart and beckons you back.
Charleston looks like a nice city. I can’t believe that I didn’t take the time to visit it when I lived in Savannah.
One more city to add to your travel list, Jason!
Rose, I’ve read many books about Charleston and in my mind it was always the way you pictured it here. Wonderful historical buildings, excellent food beautifully presented, even the gaslights.
I’m looking forward to your next post about the plantation houses.
Glad to hear that the blog did your imagination justice, Lenie. I love the gaslights. Can you believe Alex said no to installing one out front? HA HA.
What an absolutely gorgeous town! That’s the second time Charleston has come up in my day in less than a week. Someone I know visited there and raved about the beautiful, stately architecture and grand homes. And the food photos made my mouth water! Looking forward to hearing about the plantation houses.
Uh oh, Krystyna, that usually tells me that I’d better do that thing: Get thee to Charleston!
I love posting (and seeing) mouth watering pictures. Yum!
The food looks as good as you describe it! Real Italian food rather than a meal trying to pass itself off as Italian.
I am yet to travel to this part of the world.
You’ve got that right, Phoenicia. We have a chain in the USA that pretends to be Italian (it shall remember nameless here…), but they just created some weird dish that has a tortilla or a pita shell in it. Horrors to the real Italian places!
I lived in Charleston, but that was over 30 years ago when I was in the Coast Guard. I loved it there, and the food was great.. I remember going to the Spoleto Festival, that is something you do not want to miss.
Thanks for sharing this with us.
I’m definitely going to look up the Spoleto Festival, William. Sounds like grand fun!
Oh, I love Charleston! It’s probably a decade since my last visit, but I remember it well and the only complaint I had was my time there was far too short. Thanks Rose Mary for the lovely photos and walk down memory lane. 🙂
Happy to prompt good memories, Marquita!
Love Charleston. What’s not to love? Id visit there again in a heartbeat. :-). Its too bad, especially since It’s such a great town to walk around, that you were there during rain. You’ll have to visit again sometime. Glad you enjoyed it though.
Exactly, Susan–what’s not to love about charming Charleston! I sure hope to get to go again and enjoy some non-rainy time.
Excellent review of our fair city! I am so glad you made it to Rue de Jean…one of my favorites. Sorry the weather was so dismal while you were here, and I hope when you return that I will be in residence:)
Whew, Jacquie! I am glad to hear that I did Charleston some justice! And Rue de Jean was a delight–the food was very, very tasty and I love any opportunity I get to sit outside. It’s a great spot for watching passers-by.
Next time, both you and good weather will be there! I’m sure of it.
From all of your travel posts, Donna, I think you would enjoy the culture of Charleston very much.
I fell in love with Charleston when I was living in Charlotte. I was able to spend two different long weekends there. The food is so great and the people really are about the friendliest ones to be found in the states.
They really are friendly folks, Jeri. They make you feel welcome. We chatted with a photographer outside his shop for a bit–he was explaining his love of photography the area because he’s helping preserve it and share it at the same time.
I am also a lover of Charleston and one fo the big reasons is the food. The regional southern cusiine is one of my favorite types of food. Your can’t get better shrimp and grits than what they make in Charleston. I also vividly remember the fried chicken at Justine’s. The architecture is pretty awesome too. I’ve often gone there in the spring for the Spoleto Festival. It’s been a while though, so maybe I should be looking into that.
Glad to entice you to get back there, Ken. I want to hear more about Spoleto Festival. That’s news for me! My husband enjoyed the shrimp and grits. I’m not a grit fan. Tried it once and said okay: been there, done that. Ha!
Your descriptions of these places always makes me want to visit!
Come on over, we’ll hit the road, Seester.
I’ve never been to Charleston but I think it would be a city I’d enjoy visiting. The food in your photos looks delicious.