Our first instate trip since moving south took us to Charleston, the oldest city in South Carolina. Charleston, known as “The Holy City” because of its steeple dotted skyline, is also famous for its historic charm, waterfront views, and friendly people- what more could we ask for? Although only a three hour drive from our home in Greenville, the low country of Charleston is in stark contrast to the upstate. While we love our mountain views, we were happy to leave behind the rainy weather and welcome beach vibes in January.
Upon arrival, we crossed the Ravenel bridge into neighboring town Mount Pleasant in hopes of some waterfront dining and drinks. Our first stop was Saltwater Cowboys, a seafood bar and restaurant situated on Shem Creek. Not only did they feature must-haves like pickled fried okra and dockside frozen lemonade, but the complimentary views of Charleston Harbor and the surrounding marsh really made the experience. SWC also offered a dog treat menu, and even gifted Wrangler a SWC bandana!
After taking in some R&R, we headed over to Charles Towne Landing, the first permanent English settlement in the Carolinas. Here, the grounds feature a multitude of walking and biking trails, a tall ship replica, animal forest, gardens, and much more. With Wrangler in tow, we decided to do the history walk, while taking in the Nicholas Spark-esque views wrapped in the twisted branches of live oaks draped in Spanish moss. It was breathtaking!
Next, we ventured downtown to see some favorite CHS landmarks. We visited rainbow row, battery park, and the pineapple fountain. Of course, we couldn’t help but gawk at all the beautiful architecture and daydream about the house we would buy if we ever hit the lottery. While we loved the bustling downtown, we opted for a more relaxed feel and headed to Sullivan’s island for dinner at Poe’s Tavern.
Although we had previously been to PT’s in Atlantic Beach, FL a few years back, we had to visit again after drooling over their insta posts ever since. PT’s features a unique menu of burgers (that can be customized with beef or chicken) all named after Poe’s writing, in addition to salads, fish tacos, appetizers, and an extensive drink menu! While there we learned that E.A. Poe spent part of his life on Sullivan’s Island when he joined the army under the name “Edgar A. Perry.” Before calling it a night, we grabbed a drink at Dunleavy’s Pub and chatted with some locals. We met a man who lives on his boat year round (jealous!), visited with some fellow dog-lovers, and even learned Bill Murray is known to steal a fry from unsuspecting S.I. diners! Finally, we decided to call it a day and headed back to the hotel for some much needed shut-eye.
While it was only day one, we managed a sneak peak of Charleston’s history as well as their modern foodie scene. Stay tuned for day two of our Charleston trip in a future post, but in the meantime check out links to some of our favorite spots we visited in this post!
Take Paws + Adventure 