Andrew and I are just getting settled back in after our week-long anniversary trip. Last year, we got married on top of the Harbour Town Lighthouse on Hilton Head Island and knew that we wanted to make the trip back for our first anniversary.

This time, we would not have the stress of wedding packing/planning and could enjoy more R&R. We decided to spend the week traveling and eating our way around charming South Carolina and Georgia cities. 

Our first stop: Charleston, SC

Known for it’s pastel painted townhomes, delicious dining and rich history, Charleston exudes southern charm. There really is something for everyone here. The foodie, history buff, beach dweller, shopaholic and (especially) the photographer will have a blast. 

Where to Stay

I would definitely recommend staying downtown to get the full experience. We stayed at the Hyatt Place Charleston Historic District. It was clean, modern and the staff were extremely helpful. It also happens to have a DryBar! Next time, we might try one of the many inns with a little more history attached though. We’re thinking The Vendue is a great option for our next stay. 

What To Pack 

My biggest piece of advice: wear comfortable shoes. That Instagram shot is not important enough to ruin your feet as much as I did. 😊 I wore my new Jack Rogers sandals thinking that they’d be like my last pair and not need breaking in… I was terribly wrong. But then again, walking 8 miles in any sandal is probably not the best idea. My feet were so swollen, I couldn’t fit them into anything but flip flops for the rest of the trip. Parking is very limited and expensive when you do find it so walking is going to be your main mode of transportation. Make sure to bring light, breezy linens to wear because the heat and humidity can be intense. 

These outfits kept me cool during the hottest part of the days! 

Find my top here, tote here and denim skirt here. 

My dress is from E. Leigh’s Boutique, my tote here, sandals here and a similar hat here.

For the Foodie

Andrew and I LOVE food and trying new restaurants. For all of you with a sweet tooth like me, I cannot recommend Cupcake on King Street enough. I had the BEST red velvet cupcake of my life here and felt the prices were really reasonable.

We also made a stop at Jeni’s Ice Cream on King Street. We’ve been to the Jeni’s in Nashville but the atmosphere is just as great here!

Lastly on my dessert recommendations– Italian Shaved Ice from the sidewalk vendors– we don’t know if it was the heat making us a little crazy or what but this Italian Ice was kind of the best thing either of us had ever had.

As for other food options, we really enjoyed the Brown Dog Deli for lunch. Andrew loved their Chicago style hotdog! Just make sure you have some time to spare here because it’s quite popular. My only complaint is that many of the cafes around town seemed to only have fans around. Maybe A/C was on and it was just how many people were in the small spaces but just make sure to dress with fabrics that’ll keep you cool! We also LOVED the Charleston Crab House. The atmosphere was great– we ate on the roof here!

For the History Buff 

We stopped into Charleston last year too but only for the night meaning I had only seen Rainbow Row at night. I was SO excited to finally see it during the day. For me, the highlights of my stay were the pretty pastels, outdoor hanging lanterns and plentiful flower boxes in the windows. I could’ve strolled along these streets forever.

For the Photographer/Instagrammer

Not only are there colorful homes, buildings and flowers EVERYWHERE but there’s also an entire building made of marble. There’s photo inspiration as far as the eye can see.

For the Shopaholic
King Street is your friend. 😉 There are numerous local boutiques to stroll through for unique pieces but you can also find stores like West Elm, Lilly Pulitzer, Louis Vuitton, Gap and Sephora. (did some major damage here for items I forgot to pack 🙄)

For the Beach Dweller

The harbour area was beautiful. I only wish we had a little more time to spend here.

We loved our time in Charleston and are already looking forward to our next trip. If you have any other questions, feel free to email me or contact me on Instagram!