Bursting with Southern charm and hospitality, historic Charleston city delivers perfect romantic vibe in a relaxed oceanfront setting.
Fun facts
- Charleston Was Once Part of Barbados.
- George Gershwin Wrote Porgy and Bess in Charleston.
- Pineapples are a symbol of hospitality in Charleston, a tradition that goes back to Colonial days.
- Charleston has about 230 days of sunshine each year and has an average daily temperature of 65.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
Travel tips
- In the downtown area, restaurants, shops, and attractions are incredibly close to one another, not to mention there are too many confusing one way streets. Taking the sidewalks and walking around is the best way to explore downtown.
- Buy Sweetgrass Basket Souvenirs in Mount Pleasant.
- Watch out for rip currents in IOP beach.
Recommended daily itinerary
Estimated cost: $1000-$1550 per person (Excluding Airfare)
Day 1
First day of the trip, check in to your hotel, and get settled.
- Fly into Charleston International Airport.
- Check in to Hyatt Place Charleston. Located in the heart of the Upper King Historic District, this hotel offers spacious retreat and access to downtown’s best dining and attractions.
- Take your time exploring downtown Charleston. You can stroll through old city market and then make your way to Waterfront Park. The old market building is a prominent landmark in the historic district. Lively and colorful, it is a good place for shopping and just absorbing the local atmosphere. The 12-acre Waterfront Park stretches along more than 1,000 feet of waterfront and offers excellent views of Charleston harbor.
- Enjoy classic & contemporary Southern seafood fare, regional favorites, burgers, salads & more with waterfront views at Fleet Landing Restaurant.
Day 2
Cypress Gardens and pampering massage.
Cypress Gardens is a 170-acre preserve and gardens with a blackwater bald cypress/tupelo swamp, surrounded with both boat and foot trails. Popular movies as The Patriot and The Notebook were filmed here for its unique romantic setting.
- Enjoy breakfast at your hotel. Breakfast is usually included with your hotel stay. Check your reservation to confirm.
- Make your way to Cypress Gardens. Cypress Gardens is open from 9am – 5pm daily. Parking at the gardens is free and you can use self guided boats for free or you can take a guided boat ride for $5. Revel in the reflections of the tall bald cypress and tupelo trees mirrored in the dark, black water. Paddle along a marked trail looking for alligators, birds, turtles, lily pads and other swamp life.
- Head over to Willie Jewell’s Old School Bar-B-Q for a classical southern barbecue lunch.
- After your lunch, make your way to SoCa Day Spa, an organic spa that provides a variety of traditional and specialty massages. Couples can opt in for couples massage or mom to be can get pampering soCa Momma prenatal massage. Make advanced reservations.
- Enjoy incredible Italian dinner at Indaco. We recommend making advanced reservation as they get very busy during dinner time.
Day 3
Battery park and White point gardens
Battery park is an iconic landmark at the tip of the Charleston peninsula. It used to be a defensive seawall but it has now been converted in a peaceful park with a promenade. White point gardens lies at the southern end of the Battery and provides beautiful views of Fort Sumter and of the Charleston Harbor. The park features lots of grass space, shaded by beautiful old oak trees.
- Enjoy authentic Brittany crepes and excellent coffee at Breizh Pan Crepes & Deli.
- Make your way to Battery park. Along the way to The Battery, make a pit stop at Goat. Sheep. Cow. cheese shop on Church Street to pick up picnic supplies for a romantic picnic lunch. Stroll through the park, learn about the city’s foundational history, enjoy the views of the harbor. Once you reach White point gardens, find your ideal picnic spot and enjoy your afternoon picnic. Enjoy the views or take an afternoon nap at the park.
- Head over to 82 queen for an authentic Lowcountry cuisine like award-winning She Crab Soup, Lowcountry jJambalaya and Shrimp & Grits. Enjoy your dinner in their 19th-century dining rooms or heated brick courtyard underneath a breathtaking Southern magnolia tree.
Day 4
Cooking class and Sullivan’s island
Expand your culinary repertoire with an intimate cooking class and enjoy exploring Sullivan’s island, a two and a half-mile long barrier island near the entrance of the Charleston Harbor that is well known for pristine beaches, award-winning restaurants, and close-knit community.
- Enjoy breakfast at your hotel. Breakfast is usually included with your hotel stay. Check your reservation to confirm.
- Head over to Zero George Hotel to join a cooking class. Make your advanced reservations as tickets get sold quickly. This intimate cooking classes led by Executive Chef Petrillo and Sous Chef Tyler Chavis are an epicurean experience you’ll not soon forget. The class includes a courses lunch and paired wine.
- Make your way to Sullivan’s island. The pristine white sand and wide beach area is perfect for an afternoon stroll and amazing photo ops. Sunset views here are completely mesmerizing. If you want to explore more, you can make your way to isle of palms.
- Head over to The Obstinate Daughter for an incredible Italian dinner. Make advanced reservations as they get pretty busy during dinner times.
Day 5
Last day of the trip
- Enjoy breakfast in your hotel. Explore downtown or head over to Mount Pleasant for last minute shopping until your flight time. Pack up your bags and make your way to the airport with your rejuvenated partner.
