This blog post is part 2 in the itinerary for a Girls Weekend Trip to Charleston.
- Magnolia Plantation. Before you go– check Groupon for admission deals. I recommend the general admission for 2 + swamp tour (which is more of a self-guided tour but still beautiful, regardless).
- GO EARLY. We were there just shortly after they opened and noticed the crowds coming in right as we were leaving. You can plan to spend a good 2-3 hours or more there depending on how much you plan on walking. I've been to many gardens in the U.S. and this one takes the cake!
- I think the petting zoo was one of my favorite parts of the trip. I've never had a deer come up to me like a dog looking for a good back scratch and belly rub. I'd recommend any kind of gym shoe or outdoor boots, too. Although it wasn't muddy for us, there were a ton of rocks/gravel and grassy pathways on the plantation and gardens.
- If you know anyone who likes tea, make sure you get their preferred flavors in mind to bring back some deliciously beautiful souvenirs from the plantation.
- I had some recommendations to head over to Boone Hall Plantation just down the street and regret not going. This is where they filmed a few scenes in the Notebook!
- Callie's Hot Little Biscuits: SO delicious. They have a couple different locations in the south and lucky for us, one of the locations was just a short walk over from our Airbnb.
- I'm more of a sampler eater. I love trying a little bit of everything so naturally I gravitate towards any kind of drink flights, passed apps, small bites, etc. The Choose 3 Biscuits was perfect– I recommend the cheese & chive, country ham and blackberry. A little sweet and a little savory.
- Folly Beach: Uber is recommended here. We drove and had to scope out the parking for awhile. There are a couple guys that manage the lots so be sure you're not paying an absurd amount to park for only a few hours. ALSO the beach was so. cold. There were maybe 2 or 3 other people on the beach because it was probably 50 degrees. If you're headed to Charleston for beach weather, it's definitely recommended to go in late summer when the water is already pretty warm.
- We had originally planned to eat at the Lost Dog Cafe, but didn't make it in time before close. Instead we had lunch at Pier 101. Nothing amazing but we were pretty hungry and wanted to sit out in the sunshine.
- If you're headed to the beach during times of better weather, definitely check out all of the amazing beach side bars and renting bikes to ride along the beach and streets of the little island. A couple on our list that we didn't get to: Surf Bar, Loggerhead’s, or Snapper Jacks
- Lewis Barbecue: If you're in for some amazing BBQ, look no further. We had brisket, pulled pork, mac & cheese, corn pudding and beans. I think I just listed off the whole menu...
- If you're looking for a true Charleston swing jazz bar with amazing drinks, definitely check out Prohibition and try the Castle Sour. Sundays are Swing Dance Nights– lessons start at 7pm! We showed up a little too late to join in with some the regulars but had a blast watching them and listening to the live music.
- On my Do Not Recommend list: Eating an entire coconut cake by yourself at Carmella's. You will ralph all of it up on your birthday the next day.
