Charleston, South Carolina /// City Guide

Hi guys! So sorry for the late post, I thought that I had scheduled it to post early this morning, but after a late night(go hawks!) & I didn't think to check before I started running errands for the day! 

Ever since I visited Charleston, South Carolina a few years ago it has consistently stayed on my favorite places list,  so I thought it would be fun to post a quick guide to visiting the city. It's is a city full of southern charm. As soon as you cross Calhoun Street, its like you’ve stepped into a southern fairytale. We were only there for a short time, but it was a beautiful place that I’m very much looking forward to visiting again.

Eats:

I loved everywhere we ate. The first night of our trip we went to Poogan’s Porch, a local restaurant that opened in the 1970s. The restaurant is named after a dog that used to call the porch of this house his home, the “neighborhood dog,” if you will.

The menu had so many great options!  We started with what we learned to be the local favorite “she-crab soup” and fried green tomatoes.

Four of us got drinks, I ordered a apple bourbon crush, and it quickly became my favorite cooler weather drink! 

Places to Visit Nearby:

As an Art History Major in undergrad, I had the opportunity to take a class dedicated to American Architecture. My favorite section was the chapter dedicated to southern architecture, and one of the homes that stuck out to me was Drayton Hall.  

Drayton is a beautiful Georgian plantation home built in the 1742. The home was influenced by English styles, and is built in Palladian style, a style that emerged in Renaissance Italy in 1551. I added a few pictures in the gallery on the left, some of them are just little details that I loved!  

The beauty of present-day Drayton is that it is a preservation site, not a restoration. The building is being preserved in it’s current state, as it looked when the family sold it to the preservation society. The grounds are lovely, with huge trees and Spanish moss blowing in the breeze.  We took a guided tour of the house, and then took time to walk around the grounds on our own.

 But back to closer to downtown Charleston...

I really loved all the amazing church architecture that was walking distance to where we were staying, so we went on a walking tour one afternoon and visited several of the old churches that were founded by some of the early citizens of Charleston. 

The French Huguenot Church was my favorite, I loved the interior architecture and the beautiful blue chandelier that contrasted with the bright & light walls. 

The original French Huguenot Church was built in 1687, but was destroyed in 1796 during a fire. It was rebuilt in 1800, and then completed in 1845. 

PACKING:

For the last few years, when I’ve traveled, I’ve made it my goal to fit all my belongings into a carry-on sized suitcase. I’m most proud that I was able to do that for a two-week trip through Northern Europe a few years ago, but it’s also a fun challenge whenever I’m not sure what the climate in a place will be.

As for what I wore in Charleston, we visited in mid-March and it was pretty chilly outside for springtime in the South, so I was happy to have packed some sweaters. My navy blue peacoat was basically essential, especially on windy days, or during the evening.  Skinny jeans are a good staple for any wardrobe, so I was sure to pack a pair of those, along with a pair of longer boot cut jeans so I could switch things up. I wore mostly flats that week, but I think a pair of ankle boots would be nice to pack as well, as long as it’s a pair you’re comfortable walking in.

LAUREN: 1 –  LUGGAGE: 0

Next week I will be out of town, and am hoping to visit some fun thrift stores! Fingers crossed for some awesome furniture finds, I'll be sure to keep y'all updated! 

Have a great weekend!

xo, Lauren