Charleston Coastal Charm
We immersed ourselves in Charleston’s unique blend of historic charm and coastal beauty during our four-day adventure. From the colorful Georgian houses of Rainbow Row to the Civil War significance of Fort Sumter, we connected with centuries of American history at every turn. Charleston’s celebrated food scene became a highlight in itself—from upscale dining at FIG and Lenoir to charming spots like Babas on Cannon and The Obstinate Daughter, each meal showcased the innovative ways local chefs transform Lowcountry ingredients. With comfortable accommodations at The Iris serving as our stylish home base, we experienced the perfect harmony of historical significance, architectural beauty, and culinary excellence that defines this remarkable city.
Our Trip Map
Having our rental car gave us the freedom to create a journey that extended well beyond downtown. While Charleston’s historic district captivated us with its colonial architecture and walkable streets, we were equally drawn to the surrounding coastal areas. Our explorations took us east to Sullivan’s Island, where we discovered Fort Moultrie and pristine beaches, and west to Kiawah Island with its natural shoreline and abundant wildlife. These short drives revealed how Charleston sits at the center of a diverse Lowcountry landscape where urban history and natural beauty complement each other perfectly. This map helps visualize the geographic spread of our four-day adventure.
Activities
Accommodations
Daily Journal
We arrived pretty late at The Iris after our travels, but the stylish boutique hotel made for a perfect landing spot in Charleston. Our room has this great modern design but still feels comfortable and welcoming—exactly what we needed after a day of travel. Nice to have such a contemporary retreat in the midst of this historic Southern city.
We spent the morning exploring Charleston’s historic district, which is absolutely filled with architectural treasures. St. Michael’s Church with its white steeple against the blue sky was particularly striking. We also visited the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, which has all this Revolutionary War history embedded in its walls. The tour wrapped up at the Pineapple Fountain in Waterfront Park—apparently it’s a symbol of Charleston’s hospitality, which seems fitting for how welcoming the city feels.
We stopped for lunch at Millers All Day, which turned out to be a great spot to recharge. The place has this bright, lively atmosphere, and they’re known for serving breakfast all day alongside other Southern-inspired dishes. It was the perfect way to sample some local Charleston flavors before continuing our explorations.
The afternoon took us through some of Charleston’s most picturesque areas. We walked along Rainbow Row with its colorful Georgian houses and stopped at The Tavern, which we learned is the oldest building in the city. Then we continued along the High Battery seawall to White Point Garden, where we found the Washington Light Infantry Monument surrounded by these amazing old oak trees. We also passed the Edmondston-Alston House, an elegant antebellum home that offers a glimpse into Charleston’s plantation era architecture. The harbor views along the way were a constant backdrop to all this history.
For dinner, we headed to The Ordinary, a seafood restaurant housed in a beautifully restored old bank building. We tried some fresh oysters and local Lowcountry specialties. There’s something really special about enjoying such fresh seafood in a space that balances historic architecture with contemporary design elements.
We made our way back to The Iris as evening fell. The hotel’s thoughtful lighting really highlights its architectural details at night. After a full day of exploring Charleston’s historic charm, it felt good to return to our comfortable room and reflect on everything we’d seen.
We saw the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, which is quite an impressive sight with its modern cable-stayed design. The bridge spans the Cooper River and connects downtown Charleston to Mount Pleasant. We took some time to appreciate not just the engineering feat itself but also the spectacular views it offers of the harbor below. It’s definitely become an iconic part of Charleston’s skyline.
Visiting Fort Sumter National Monument was truly a step back in time. We explored the sea fort where the first shots of the Civil War were fired in 1861. The preserved fortifications, historic cannons, and informative displays really helped us understand this crucial moment in American history. The coastal views from the fort gave us a sense of its strategic importance, with Charleston Harbor spreading out all around us.
The harbor cruise gave us a completely different perspective of Charleston. From the water, we could appreciate the city’s historic waterfront while watching all the maritime activity happening around us. There was everything from large commercial shipping vessels to elegant sailboats moving through the harbor, all with Charleston’s distinctive skyline serving as a beautiful backdrop.
Our visit to Patriots Point centered around the USS Yorktown, which is incredibly impressive up close. From certain vantage points on the carrier, we enjoyed panoramic views of the surrounding marina and Charleston Harbor.
We ended our day at FIG Restaurant (which apparently stands for “Food Is Good”), and it certainly lived up to its reputation as one of Charleston’s culinary highlights. Our meal progressed beautifully from handcrafted cocktails through several seasonally-inspired courses and finally to some artful desserts. The restaurant really embodies Charleston’s celebrated farm-to-table dining scene, with dishes that showcase local ingredients in thoughtful ways.
We started our day at Babas on Cannon, this really charming café tucked away in Charleston. The place has this welcoming atmosphere that immediately drew us in. They serve breakfast with a bit of European influence, which made for a refreshing change. It was just what we needed to fuel up before heading out to explore more of the city and surrounding areas.
We spent the afternoon at Kiawah Island Beach, which turned out to be everything a coastal retreat should be. The shoreline seems to stretch forever, with such pristine sand and clear waters. We took our time just walking along the beach, watching seabirds gliding overhead and occasionally diving into the water. The gentle rhythm of the waves created this perfectly tranquil backdrop for unwinding and simply appreciating the natural beauty around us. It felt worlds away from the historic streets of Charleston we’d been exploring earlier in our trip.
For our evening meal, we headed to Lenoir, where we got to experience some of Charleston’s celebrated culinary creativity firsthand. The restaurant serves up Southern cuisine with an innovative twist that really showcases local ingredients and regional flavors. Each dish felt like a modern take on traditional Lowcountry cooking—thoughtfully prepared and beautifully presented. The blueberry BBQ chicken wings and roasted tomato pie were particularly memorable. It was a fitting way to round out our day of experiencing both the natural and culinary highlights of the Charleston area.
We spent some time exploring Fort Moultrie National Historical Park on Sullivan’s Island this morning. The fort sits in this perfect strategic position along the coast, offering really impressive views of the shoreline. Walking among the historic cannons and patriotic displays gave us a good sense of its important role in American coastal defense over the centuries. It’s fascinating to see how military engineering evolved as we moved through different sections of this well-preserved fortification.
For lunch, we headed to The Obstinate Daughter on Sullivan’s Island. This place definitely elevates coastal dining with its sophisticated approach to local seafood. We tried their Triggerfish Crudo, which seems to be something of a signature dish here. The restaurant itself has this lovely atmosphere—a well-designed bar area and stylish décor that somehow manages to feel upscale while still capturing the island’s relaxed character.
We wrapped up our day with some time at Sullivan’s Island Beach. There’s this charming wooden boardwalk that winds through native coastal vegetation before opening up to the shoreline—it creates such a perfect transition to the beach. Once there, we just took our time strolling along the water, enjoying the sound of the waves and the refreshing ocean breeze. It was exactly the kind of peaceful coastal experience you hope for when visiting South Carolina’s barrier islands.
