March 3-5, 2019 (2D2N):  My first solo trip and I’m lovin’ it! Charleston has been on my radar for a while now, but the flight has always been on the high end for the time I wanted to visit. I got an RT flight for $153 with JetBlue departing on a Sunday and returning on a weekday in early March (off-peak time, but the flowers have already started blooming). While you can visit Charleston for two days, I’d recommend making it 3-4 days to appreciate what Charleston has to offer - southern charm, food, culture & history! 

 *covered by Charleston Heritage Pass

Day 1 am arrival at Charleston airport from JFK

• Middleton Place* (9-5 pm; $29 or $49 combo with EA House; suggested duration 3 hr)

  • 30 mins Garden Overview (10am; 11am; noon; 2, 3 & 4pm)

  • 1 hr Beyond the Fields guided tour (11 am; noon, 1 & 2 pm)

  • 30-minute Meet the Breeds guided tour (12:30 & 2:30 pm)

• Check-in to Belmond Charleston Place

• Lunch @ Maui Tacos Charleston

• Nathaniel Russell House* (10-5 pm; 45 mins guided tour depart on the hour, last tour at 4 pm; $12 or $18 combo with AR House)

• Heyward-Washington House (HW)* (10 or 12 on Sun to 5 pm; 25 mins guided tour departs every half an hour, last tour at 4:30 pm; $12 or $18 combo with JM House)

• Gibbes Museum of Art* (10/1-5pm; $13)

• Riley Waterfront Park & the famous pineapple fountain

• HH @ Kaminsky’sKaminsky'saily: $2 off wine; $6 dessert martinis; $1 off dessert beers)

• Swim/relax by the hotel pool

• Dinner @ Leon’s FinLeon'stry and Oysters (amazing fried chicken)

Day 2

• Breakfast @ hotel

• 9:30 am: Pay-as-you-wish walking tour with Free Tours by Foot (~2 hr)

  • St. Philip’s CPhilip'sree to go inside)

  • Dock Street Theater (free to tour the theater and patio)

  • Rainbow Row

  • Waterfront beach

  • Nathaniel Russell House (garden only)

  • St. Michael’s Michael's cemetery)

• City Hall (clean bathroom and free exhibition on the 2nd floor)

• Old Slave Mart Museum (9-5 pm; 45 mins self-guided; $4 if you mention Free Tours by Foot)

• Edmondston-Alston House (EA)* (1-4:30 pm; 30-minute guided tour departs every half an hour; $12 or $49 combo with Middleton Place)

• Battery & White Point Gardens

• Walk along King’s StrKing'sd admire all the beautiful houses

• A quick stroll through Charleston City Market

• Walk up King’s StrKing'sd enjoy some window shopping

• Aiken-Rhett House (AR)* (10-5 pm; 45 mins self-guided audio tour, last tour at 4 pm; $12 or $18 combo with NR House)

• The Charleston Museum* (9 or 12 on Sun to 5 pm; $12 or $25 combo with HW/JM Houses; suggested duration 2 hr)

• Joseph Manigault House (JM)* (10 or 12 on Sun to 5 pm; last tour at 4:30 pm; $12 or combo with HW/Charles Museum for $25)

• HH @ Prohibition (4-6pm M-F; $5 drink & food; $1 oyster)

• Swim/relax by the hotel pool

• Dinner @ Bar at Husk (fried chicken and/or cheeseburger)

Day 3

• Breakfast @ hotel

• Lyft to the airport (~20/car)

• AM flight to JFK

Other points of interest

• Historic carriage tours (the horses are humanly treated)

• Fort Sumter National Monument

• Sullivan'sSullivan'sd Exchange & Provost Dungeon‎

• Folly Beach

• Sailing & boating

Other food & drink recommendations

• Lobster roll @ 167 Raw

• Quick grab-n-go @ Callie’s HCallie'sit

• Poogan's PPoogan'sssom

• Slightly North of Broad

• Butcher and Bee

• Speakeasy @ The Cocktail Club

• Proof (strong drinks, try The Elephant’sElephant'sunset @ The Rooftop at the Vendue

Tips

• Renting a car is not necessary if you are staying downtown. To get around, take Uber/Lyft.

• If you can’t decide which house museum to visit or are planning for rainy days during your stay, purchase the Charleston Heritage Pass.

• Many restaurants allow reservations in advance, so take advantage of that!

• There are three plantations outside of Charleston. Based on all my research, Middleton Place had the best review. While the other two (Magnolia & Drayton Hall) also have beautiful gardens, Middleton is the only one with a working farm. Make sure you stop by and visit all the animals. If you do, pick Middleton.