Charleston (November 2016)

My spouse and I spent a long weekend in Charleston in mid-November 2016 over the Veteran’s Day holiday weekend. We used frequent flyer miles for two one-way tickets home from Charleston, and we paid for two much-less-expensive one-way tickets to Charleston. We were also able to “fly” right from our home airport; catching the United Express bus from Allentown to Newark and then a flight from Newark to Charleston. Newark’s Terminal A has few amenities as compared to United’s Terminal C, our usual departure spot. (The only benefit of Terminal A is when you have an early morning flight, you can order a Bloody Mary to begin your day, because Terminal A is located in a different county than the other terminals, permitting it to serve liquor early in the morning.) We ate lunch at the Earl of Sandwich (which was surprisingly good!) before we boarded our flight. 
 

We arrived in the early evening in Charleston and took an Uber to our hotel, the Doubletree. After we relaxed a bit, we bought some beverages at the local grocery store (Harris Teeter). Then we enjoyed drinks at Hyman’s Seafood before we ate a great dinner at FIG (Food Is Good). 

On Friday, we took an informative 3-hour history and architecture walking tour with Sue Bennett. Next, we ate lunch at Poogan’s Porch, followed by dessert and drinks at the Peninsula Grill. Afterwards, we were so full that we cancelled our dinner reservations, instead walking around the city (to investigate the night market and King Street) and finally stopping at the Oyster House for a nightcap. 

On Saturday, we visited the farmer’s market in Marion Square, then the Aiken-Rhett House and the Slave Mart Museum. After lunch at Minero, we tried to visit the Calhoun Mansion, but because we had to wait for over an hour for an available tour, we visited the Edmondston-Alston House instead. Afterward, we enjoyed drinks at both Lagunitas and Queology. We ate our final splash-out dinner at McCrady’s tasting counter. 

On Sunday, we had time for a quick breakfast at the hotel before Ubering to the airport, where we enjoyed a few drinks at Jack Nicklaus’s Golden Bear Grill.

It was great to return to Charleston after our first visit nearly 16 years ago; this time we were able to stay in the Historic District and sample more restaurants. What a great city in which to spend a long weekend!

Hotel:

·         Doubletree Historic District Link to my review

Restaurants:

·         Earl of Sandwich Link to my review

·         Hyman’s Seafood Link to my review

·         FIG (Food Is Good) Link to my review

·         Lighthouse Café

·         Poogan’s Porch Link to my review

·         Peninsula Grille (at the Planter’s Hotel) Linkto my review

·         The Oyster House Link to my review

·         Minero Link to my review

·         Lagunitas Tap Room and Beer Sanctuary Link to myreview

·         Queology Link to my review
*       Pearlz Oyster Bar Link to my review

·         McCrady’s Link to my review
*         Jack Niklaus Golden Bear Link to my review

Activities:

·         Walk Charleston with Sue Bennett Link to myreview

·         Aiken-Rhett House Link to my review

·         Old Slave Mart Museum Link to my review

·         Edmondston-Alston House Link to my review

·         Old City Market (day and night) Link to myreview
          Charleston Farmer's Market Link to my review