Charleston, South Carolina is a lovely city with the charm that is quintessentially southern. The hospitality of the city evokes the feeling of a warm hug from a dear friend. Walking through the city where time has stood still from the 18th century. Charleston has the characteristics of a city on the path of gentrification with less developed neighborhoods with top notch restaurants, cafes, and juice bars. The rest of the city is made up of the archetypal architecture of grand antebellum mansions. Along with the architecture, great food, scenic beaches, lovely parks, and charming people, Charleston is a wonderful city to explore..........

EAT

SEE

The house we lived in during our stay in Charleston had this charming music nook with this record player and all kinds of fun nicknacks. My sister and I had many a cooking sections and night time poker lessons to the tune of Carole King, so I thought it was fitting that you get to hear not one, but two of our favorites as you discover Charleston, South Carolina!

EAT

Hominy Grill

Hominy Grill is a neighborhood brunch spot that is slightly outside of the Charleston city center, but it is worth the meager trek to eat at this locally renowned restaurant. James Beard Award winning chef/ owner, Robert Stehling, creates delectable Low Country classics with culinary innovations. The restaurant is a converted home and that ambiance really resonates.

Hominy is the coarsely ground corn that is used to make grits and there grits are some of the best. It has a very unique texture and is a must try. Another favorite is there Shrimp & Grits! with sautéed shrimp, scallions, mushrooms & bacon over cheese grits. The Charleston Nasty Biscuit and Fried Chicken Baskets are also delicious. They offer classic southern desserts like coconut cream pie and devil's food cake, which are decadent and delicious.

Hominy Grill // 207 Rutledge Ave. Charleston, SC 29403// Mon-Fri 7:30am–9pm, Sat 9am–9pm, Sun 9am–3pm// Website

Charleston Harbor Fish House

The Fish House is a beautiful, rustic seafood favorite on the Charleston Harbor Marina on Patriots Point. This beautiful space fits seamlessly in with the harbor. The driftwood floors and the wraparound floor to celling windows frame a breathtaking view of Charleston, the USS Yorktown, and the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. The restaurant focuses on local sustainable seafood with the fresh specials depending on what the fishermen are bringing in. All the seafood is fresh and unbelievably sweet. A great thing to try that is not on the menu are the fried oyster strips. They are crunchy, briny and go perfectly with he creamy sauce. The Charleston Harbor Fish House is a great restaurant to sample the South Carolina seafood and have a beautiful view of the skyline.

Charleston Harbor Fish House // 32 Patriots Point Road Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 // Mon-Sun 11am-10pm // Website

Pearlz

House Oysters

Southern Fried Oysters

bleu cheese, celery, buffalo sauce

Warm Crab Dip

spinach, bacon, grilled flat bread

Seafood Gumbo

Charleston Style Red Rice

Parmesan Potato Gratin

Lemon Herb Swordfish

petit arugula, cucumbers, tomatoes, mediterranean couscous tabuli, mint tzatziki, warm pita bread

Yellowtail Snapper

Mixed Seafood Grill

sea scallop, swordfish, speckled sea trout, mahi-mahi, herb goat cheese risotto, baby bella's, zucchini, green peppercorn demi glace

Cracklin' Crusted Catfish

sautéed chorizo, swiss chard, white beans, roasted red pepper- shellfish broth

Pearlz was my favorite restaurant on East Bay Street, Charleston's restaurant row; a hub for the best southern restaurants. Pearlz is unassuming, but the menu showcases both the beautiful seafood of South Carolina and classic southern dishes. The seafood is just off the boat and the menu features the specials that the local fisherman have brought in. The home-style food is prepared expertly and is so delicious. This restaurant is a must for anyone that comes to Charleston.

Pearlz // 153 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401 // Mon-Fri 4pm-1am, Sat-Sun 12pm-1am // Website

Husk

Husk is an restaurant in downtown Charleston run by James Beard Award-winning Chef Sean Brock. The restaurant is set in a converted charming Charleston mansion. The restaurant is homey with firewood stacks at the entrance, wood burning oven, hardwood floors, and a towering chalkboard with the names of all the purveyors. All the ingredients that are cooked are from the south. The restaurants goal is to transform the essence of Southern food by expertly utilizing and rediscovering the bounty of the area.

All of the food at Husk is extraordinary and extraordinarily gluttonous. The fried chicken skins are so deliciously decadent and the pig ear wrap that is remarkably crunchy. Another of my favorites was the catfish on Carolina Gold Rice, which has its own colorful history that has its roots in South Carolina. Husk showcases the foods of the south and of South Carolina in a creative, elevated manner.

Husk // 76 Queen St, Charleston, SC 29401 // Mon-Sun 11am-10pm, Sun 10am-10pm // Website

SEE

Charleston Museum

The Charleston Museum was founded in 1773 and opened to the public in 1824 making it America's first museum. The museum on Museum Mile displays artifacts pertaining to the storied history of South Carolina Lowcountry. The vast collection includes artifacts from the civil war and from other linchpin moments in America's history. The Museum is truly about the hisory of Charleston starting with the native peoples who first inhabited the land through the stories of slaves that worked the plantations up to now with the modern world today. The Charleston Museum is one of the most vital tools that there is to to keep fighting to keep alive the history and culture of Charleston.

Charleston Museum // 360 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29403 // Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 12pm-5pm // Website

DO

Charleston City Market

Charleston City Market is a tourist trap that is in every travel book. There is mostly tacky, overpriced souvenirs, bizarre clothing, and bad food. The only worthwhile souvenir is a classic Charleston handicraft, sweetgrass baskets. Sweetgrass baskets are of African origin and are one of the oldest handcrafts in America. These baskets, used in the Colonial Era by rice cultivators to separate rice from the chaff, are made from indigenous bulrush.

The reason I included the Charleston City Market is because right around there is the shopping center of downtown Charleston; King Street. King Street is separated by Lower King (from Broad Street to Market Street), Middle King (from Market Street to Calhoun Street), and Upper King (from Calhoun Street to Spring Street). Each of these three sections have their is the Antiques District, lined with high-end dealers; is the Fashion District, a mix of national chains like Banana Republic and Pottery Barn and locally owned boutiques; and Upper King (from Calhoun Street to Spring Street) has been dubbed the Design District, an up-and-coming area becoming known for its furniture and interior-design stores. Check out Second Sundays on King, when the street closes to cars from Calhoun Street to Queen Street. Make sure to visit the farmers' market in Marion Square throughout the spring and summer months.

Charleston City Market // 188 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401// Mon-Sun 9am-10pm // Website

Isle of Palms

The Isle of Palm is a beach town with a serene stretch of beach. A calm walk on the beach is a great detour from the city. The beach is pristine. It is a great place to take a stroll by the ocean discovering the resturaunts and shops around the area.

Isle of Palm // Charleston, SC 29451 // Website