<p>Traveling with another couple … Arriving Friday around noon, departing Sunday afternoon.
What weather to expect, what itinerary should we follow (we will not have a car), restaurants to recommend? We are staying in the historic district so looks to be within walking distance of everything.</p>
<p>The other couple wants to go to a place called Poogan’s Porch one night. Other suggestions? Is Sticky Fingers BBQ worth going to? Any ideas for a nice brunch on Sunday?</p>
<p>Pizzagirl,
I visited Charleston for the first time in my life last week. My daughter and I toured the College of Charleston and it was the most gorgeous campus I have ever seen. The temperature was in the nineties and the humidity was high. We walked everywhere but we took it very slowly with lots of breaks for water and air-conditioning. I can’t tell you much about the restaurants because we ate pb&j sandwiches in our hotel room to conserve money. But Charleston was the most beautiful city. I loved the hidden gardens around every corner and the architecture. All the people we encountered were warm and gracious. We loved it and I hope you have a great time!</p>
<p>We had a very nice meal at Poogan’s Porch several years ago and I believe they also have a Sunday brunch. We also liked 82 Queen and High Cotton. Two great spots for pre or post dinner drinks are the rooftop bars at the Market Pavillion Hotel and the Vendue Inn. You may need to make reservations before you go. Have a great time, we just love Charleston.</p>
<p>yorkie-S goes to USC, if your child is interested in College of Charleston maybe they would also like USC main campus in Columbia?
pizzagirl-We have visited Charleston and H does business there occassionally. It will be hot and humid.Walk slowly! The waterfront area is just beautiful (Battery I think its called?) The adjoining streets are filled with wonderful houses, courtyards,etc. I could be happily ensconced in one of them,lol.Theres lots of good eating.we fell into (or up to) the market pavillion hotel rooftop by accident…we were walking and saw couples going up and the sign for it… it was wonderful with cooling breezes lovely views(sunset over that gorgeous bridge… and very decent food…we wound up staying and eating there off of the bar menu which is serviced by the very fine ground floor restaurant.
Consider some kind of city tour,especially if you feel its a one time trip.Some people like the high-end shopping on King Street…some of it quite ritzy…theres a wonderful covered central market right in the area,if you want to look for any local crafts, like Gullah baskets,thats the spot…Too bad you wont have a car, there’s beautiful beaches about 20 minutes away.</p>
<p>Last summer, H and I spent a long weekend in/on (?) Isle of Palms and spent a day in Charleston. I loved my time there. What a beautiful area. I can’t remember any places we went, but we spent the day walking, taking pictures and stopping for cool downs! Enjoy!</p>
<p>We stayed in a double at the Days Inn in the historic district of Charleston at 155 Meeting street. The room was clean and adequate; air-conditioning worked well! The staff was polite and very helpful. There is free parking at the Days Inn so we left our car there and wandered around historic Charleston on foot. There is an outdoor pool as well.</p>
<p>So for our purposes the Days Inn was fine. I thought the price was reasonable ($100 for the double) considering the location.</p>
<p>we’ve stayed at the Renaissance Hotel in the historic district (wentworth street) its a Marriott Brand hotel. Walking distance to all, parking was across the street.It might be a little pricier than a few other chains, but was still reasonable for a “city” hotel.All the major chains have hotels in the area.I seem to think a Hampton Inn was right down the street.H uses Marriott extensively for business so we add to the points or sometimes can use points.</p>
<p>Any of the ‘non-chain’ restaurants downtown are pretty good. Magnolia’s and 82 Queen are among my favorites. I wouldn’t recommend Sticky Fingers (it’s a chain), while it has good ribs, there’s nothing ‘Charlestonian’ about it. If you want good BBQ, look for places that look like ‘dives’. In SC, those are the best BBQ places - nothing fancy about them but great BBQ.</p>
<p>Charleston is known for its humidity. It will be hot! Be sure to visit the market and the horse and buggy rides are a nice way to get an overview of the city.</p>
<p>I wish I could get my son to consider College of Charleston. We’re in SC, so he would probably get some good merit aid. It does have a reputation as being the biggest party school in SC - that’s the reason son doesn’t want to go there. But we’ve known quite a few people who went there and it seems like a a good school.</p>
<p>My family also visited Charleston a couple of times, as a day trip from Myrtle Beach, and loved it. Ate at Poogan’s Porch and that was fun. After doing the walking tour on our own (I believe the centrally-placed visitor center has guides) we visited Fort Sumter the first time, and the aquarium the second time. The most memorable part, however, was the flooded streets which kept us from reaching our car in a public garage for a couple of hours during our second visit. Apparently, any torrential rainstorm results in what seemed like a foot of water in the waterfront area. So I hope you have a great time but manage to avoid such a rainstorm!</p>
<p>eadad - hello- thanks for taking d out to dinner btw…she enjoyed the visit.</p>
<p>Just wanted to mention that we stayed at the Holiday Inn Historic District and it was wonderful and fairly priced. It was walking distance to everything we wanted and had free parking. It was so much nicer than your typical Holiday Inn. I would highly recommend it. </p>
<p>We were also at Isle of Palms of few months back and really enjoyed that as well…
We went with folks who vacation in Charleston frequently and they took us to a great place for barbecue…I wish I could remember the name because it was delicious. </p>
<p>I envy all of you going to visit- it is a wonderful city!</p>
<p>Looked up the restaurant…it was Melvins. Not fancy but yummy!</p>
<p>Debbie does not know ribs about Sticky’s. It is now a small chain but started in the Charleston area in Mt Pleasant. I’d call that local. I have been to MANY rib joints and for every good hole in the wall there is a crap one. Some of them are just holes. </p>
<p>Do Poogan’s for the brunch. Jim & Nick’s BBQ on King Street. Coast for seafood. Hominy Grill is wonderful. For a good overview, go on a city tour out of the visitor’s center. Do visit the city Market, Saturday AM go to Marion Square’s farmer’s market…you can eat your way thru that. Take a walking ghost tour one night. Stroll the art galleries. Way more to do than one weekend allows…have fun!</p>
<p>Well, we ate at several of those highly rated Charleton places–Hominy Grill, Jestine’s, SNOB and all were OK but disappointing. At least Sticky gives good value with good service. In my opinion you are wrong and did not even know they were local.</p>
<p>Thank you to all. We leave Friday. We are doing Poogan’s for one meal and 82 Queen for another. My real motivation in Sticky Fingers is because I want to see the Stephen Colbert portrait (and no, I’m not kidding). We plan on doing a carriage ride. I’m packing as we speak. Thanks again!</p>