How I’d Redo my Trip to Charleston in South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina, really blew me away the first time I visited. I didn’t know what to expect because I had never been to a coastal town in the Palmetto State. It reminded me of Florida in many ways, from the sandy patches of dirt to the hanging Spanish moss on the trees, and yet it felt entirely different. I learned a lot while I was there and as much as I loved my time in the area there are a few things I would like to do differently the next time I go. Skipping the beach I would spend my time digging deeper into the history of Charleston. 

I have to admit when we went to Charleston, it was to appease my family. I can be pretty content with whatever adventures we end up going on, but the beach is not my first choice. My family, however, all love the beach. So the whole plan was to visit the area and spend the most amount of time on the sunny shores as possible. This turned out to actually be amazing, and I happened to think the beach at Isle of Palms may be the best beach in the country now. The shallow waters were warm, the white sand was powdery, and my dog was able to join us for a whole day of beach fun.

We allotted a little bit of time at the end of the trip to go into Charleston further and explore the area, which I learned was not nearly enough time at all. I was amazed by the preserved beauty found within this coastal city and fascinated by the buildings. So that being said there, are a few things I would do differently on a repeat trip. First I would ditch the beach (As great as that was) and spend time digging into the fascinating history found within the streets of Charleston, South Carolina.

The architecture alone was enough of a draw as I imagined what this old town would have looked like back in the day. I know it's a little “touristy,” but I would take a horse-drawn carriage ride through the city and hear the stories of the past as we trot by. A local told me this was one of the best things to do when visiting and after seeing the old-fashioned setup, I can see why it's considered so magical. 

I also love to see old forts so that would be a must for me. There is just something about them that brings out the childlike wonder in me as I picture myself in the heat of battle alongside other defenders of the city. The best place for this is the famous Fort Sumter, and it gets me excited just thinking about it.

I would also go back to see the Angle Oak Tree. I did go to see it when I visited Charleston but only through the fence. It helps to pay attention to the hours of operation. I had dreams of taking cool stylistic pictures and videos of this wildly cool tree only to be waiting outside of a fence, left only to imagine what it would be like to get a closer view. 

Another spot I would like to see is White Point Garden. As we drove by I longed to stop and see it further. Walking along the sea wall, exploring the cannons, and strolling under the large oak trees was an experience I longed for, but I just couldn’t find the parking to make the quick stop work on our trip.

There are many more places to explore in Charleston, South Carolina, but that would be how I would structure my time for a weekend upon a return visit. I loved the area and felt like you could easily spend a lifetime exploring the fascinating history as well as experience the boom in growth the area has seen in the last couple of years. I guess it is time for another road trip to South Carolina, so I might as well make my reservations for the Moxy Charleston Downtown Hotel now.