Travel Tuesday: Charleston, SC

Charleston has always been a city close to my heart: my parents went on their honeymoon there, I took my first beach vacation there, and my uncle and his family live there so we've always had a personal tour guide to show us all the best places to visit. But Sean has never visited, and I would love to take him there sometime soon.

What to do:
Charleston is full of history and beautiful colonial architecture, and right now is prime blooming season for camelias, azaleas, and roses. (According to my book 1,000 Places to See Before You Die... but I'm wondering if it might have been a little earlier this year with all this warm weather!)

This photo of Charleston is courtesy of TripAdvisor

In fact, the city is in the midst of its annual Festival of Houses and Gardens which offers tours giving visitors access to more than 150 beautiful private homes and gardens that date as far back as the 18th century. Check out the festival's "Morning History Walks" to start the day exploring the Old & Historic District.

Image via www.charlestonmuseum.org

While in the historic district, check out The Charleston Museum which was founded in 1773 and is regarded as our country's oldest museum. The collections they feature including furniture, silver, costumes, needlework/quilts and ceramics focus on the natural and cultural history of the Charleston area and the surrounding region. Two current fashion-centered exhibits caught my eye: the rotating Seasonal Fashion: Spring running through April 15 features lace and embroidered dresses and hats from the 1900s - 1920s, and Charleston Couture which features the finest garments worn by stylish Charleston residents from the 1770s all the way through the 1970s.

If you love shopping, check out the Charleston City Market for handmade and unique items to take home, or check out the upscale shops and boutiques along King Street between Calhoun and Market.

Image via www.travelchannel.com

And if you just feel like spending a day at the beach, I'd recommend heading over to Isle of Palms. We've stayed here on a previous trip, and it was relaxing and not too crowded.

This photo of Isle of Palms is courtesy of TripAdvisor

What to eat:
Located downtown on Meeting Street, Jestine's Kitchen offers traditional southern food like fried chicken, shrimp and grits, and green tomatoes and comes highly recommended by my Mom!

The last time I visited, we ate lunch at Hominy Grill which serves classic, made-from-scratch southern dishes as well. All of their ingredients are fresh and sourced locally, and just looking at the brunch menu is making me hungry!

For something a little more upscale, check out Husk which was voted Bon Appetit's 2011 Best New Restaurant in America among numerous other awards and praises. Their menu changes daily and they use only the best Southern suppliers for their ingredients.

Where to stay:
And just for fun, I found a place to stay on Jetsetter:

The Harbourview Inn is one of the few hotels in (downtown) Charleston that faces the water. It offers historic charm along with a laid back atmosphere and beautiful views. It's close to the hustle and bustle of the historic district but just far away enough for some relaxation too!

Image via www.harbourviewcharleston.com/