Things To Do in Charleston, SC

Looking for a weekend getaway trip that won't totally break the bank? You're in luck. We've put together a little weekend travel guide to Charleston, South Carolina. Amanda and a friend spent Friday-Monday in Charleston and it was the perfect amount of time to see, do and eat everything for a great girls' weekend away. Okay, maybe not everything, but a heck of a lot of stuff.

Charleston food (clearly the first thing you want to know all about) 

• Breakfast/Brunch Spots 
  • The Park Cafe — Cutest little cafe with great natural light, PLANTS everywhere (seriously my inner plant lady was jumping for joy) and really great food that's locally sourced. We ate inside, but they had a cute little patio if outdoor dining is your jam. The frittata is highly recommended. 
  • The Daily — A neighborhood market with really great coffee and a well-crafted breakfast menu selection. We sat and watched the line cooks in action and enjoyed the laid back vibe before we headed to the beach for the day. 
  • Poogan's Porch — Amazing traditional Charleston brunch spot. Be sure to get there early or make reservations as they fill up really quick. Pimento cheese fan? Try the lowcountry omelet. 
• Dinner 
  • The Darling Oyster Bar — Into oysters? You need to make a stop here at some point during your visit. Not a huge fan? No worries, they have a full menu of other seafood and meat. This space is, well, darling and extremely Instagrammable. 
  • The Crab Shacks — Hanging out in the Folly Beach area and looking for some casual dining? Make a stop here. We got the crab platter and grilled shrimp to share. It was more than enough food and was the perfect night to sit out on their large patio.
  • Slightly North of Broad (SNOB) — Looking for an elevated dining experience? Make sure to stop by SNOB. Their prime steaks are cooked to perfection and despite the name, it's not a stuffy atmosphere. 

Places to grab drinks in Charleston

• Prohibition — No password required. This speakeasy-inspired spot is a great place to grab a drink (or two). We ended up getting the house-made charcuterie and cheese board as an after dinner snack and were happy we did. 
• Bin 152 Wine Bar — Not only did they have an amazing selection of wines, but they also had more than 40 different cheeses and charcuterie to select from. You better believe we had a late night snack and some wine at this place. Perfect spot to people watch and engage in some great conversation. 
• The bar and outdoor patio at Husk — Couldn't get reservations at Husk for dinner? We couldn't either. But luckily we stopped by their cute little patio for a few post-dinner drinks. They've got some famous handcrafted cocktails and a great wine and beer selection. The atmosphere alone is worth the stop. 

Things to see and do in Charleston

• Beach day at Isle of Palms — looking for a more chill/relaxed beach spot in Charleston? Isle of Palms is a little further out, but beyond worth the drive. We spent an entire day on the beach and have never felt more relaxed. However, learn from our mistake and pack extra sunscreen. And reapply often. 
• Shopping on King Street — King Street offers a mix of cute little boutiques and more well known shops. You'll also see the movie theater from The Notebook on King Street (sadly, we didn't see Ryan Gosling). 
• Visit Rainbow Row — that cute little colorful row of houses you see all over the 'gram? Yeah, that's Rainbow Row. Make sure to bring your camera. 
• Walk around the Charleston Historic District — We didn't end up doing a tour of any plantations or houses (which we did hear good things about but couldn't fit it into this trip), however, we walked the streets of the Charleston Historic District and were amazed by the beautiful homes. Worth a stroll if you have time. 

If you've been considering booking a trip to Charleston or it's been a while since you last visited, we highly recommend adding it to the list. We felt incredibly safe the entire time and didn't worry for a second when walking around at night.

Have any additional recommendations? Leave them in the comments below for others to check out! 

Weekend Getaway in Toronto

Amanda's day job recently sent her to Toronto for a professional development conference over a long weekend, which Jeff saw as the perfect excuse to tag along with his cameras to capture the Canadian locals and all that the great White North had to offer. Even though been dating for close to two years and living together for 9+ months we have never escaped on a trip all by ourselves. Yes really. Obviously this visit was long overdue and we couldn't wait to get some time alone together and to explore a new city. The poutine and Canadian beer are just as good — if not even better —  than they say, and those things alone are well worth the visit. If the food and drink aren't enough to draw you in, the people are so darn nice and the city is beyond safe and walkable. We literally only took an Uber once so we could visit Bellwoods Brewery  — well worth the 13CAD ride to get there. At the end of this short visit we found ourselves dreaming about never leaving, but we would miss our beloved pup, Walter, and working with our clients too much so we decided to return home. For now. If you're into good food + beer keep scrolling for a ton of photos from our trip and some solid recommendations if you ever find yourself in this amazing city. We can't wait to plan our trip back soon. 

Food + Drink Recommendations 

• Bar Hop (both locations) — great selection of local craft beers 
• Bellwoods Brewery — for brews and amazing food 
• Tim Hortons — because, when in Canada (and really great coffee!)
• Le Petit Déjeuner — for some great breakfast. Jeff highly recommends the croque madame 
• Bannock— good for a quick bite, friendly staff and some tasty poutine 
• Hunters Landing — get yourself a landing cure caesar and thank us later 

Things to See + Do Recommendations 

• Hockey Hall of Fame — obviously 
• Graffiti Alley — amazing street art and photo opportunities 
• Distillery District — cute shops, the Toronto LOVE lock sign and some good people watching
• St. Lawrence Market — if you need fresh food and some good people watching 
• Kensington Market — stop at the Blue Banana for some great unique gifts (thanks, Kate!)