After spending the first part of our babymoon in St. Lucia, we took a flight to Atlanta and drove to South Carolina to spend the second part of our babymoon in Charleston. Charleston is a cute and charming town with so much history and amazing food. We had such an incredible time and I can’t wait to visit again with our baby girl. In this travel guide, I will be sharing all the details of our babymoon in Charleston and the ultimate four day itinerary – where we stayed, best restaurants, and fun things to do!
Best Time to Visit Charleston
The best time to visit Charleston is from March to May or from September to November. The temperature during this time is perfect for exploring the city. The summer months can be hard because of the heat and humidity. Carl and I went at the end of May and the weather was perfect!
If you are wondering when the best time during pregnancy to visit for a babymoon in Charleston is, I recommend going during your second trimester. Usually during that time, your morning sickness has completely gone away, your energy levels are back to normal, and your bump is not that big yet making it easier to walk around. I went on my babymoon to Charleston when I was 25 weeks pregnant.
Where to Stay in Charleston
On our babymoon in Charleston, Carl and I stayed at two hotels. We stayed at French Quarter Inn and Harbourview Inn.
French Quarter Inn has a cozy and elegant vibe. It is located right in the downtown and we were able to walk everywhere. The staff was super nice and friendly and even helped us get a dinner reservation at a fully booked restaurant.
They offer complimentary European continental breakfast that features fresh fruit, bagels, petite quiches, eggs, and more. They have a sound sleep program where you have a choice of seven extraordinary comfortable pillows, sleepy tea, and even a complimentary sleep assessment. The hotel has complimentary bikes and we loved stopping by the hotel lobby in the evening for milk, cookies, and port wine (for Carl lol). During the day, the lobby has a selection of flavored iced teas, infused waters, snacks, and coffee.
Harbourview Inn has a coastal cozy vibe. It is also located in the downtown and right near the water so you get great views of the harbor. The staff was super nice and friendly and it’s cool that the hotel has a rooftop terrace.
They offer a gourmet continental breakfast that can also be delivered to your room. You can borrow their complimentary bikes to explore the town. They also serve wine and cheese in the afternoon and milk and cookies in the evening.
Best Restaurants in Charleston
Charleston has such AMAZING food! We loved all the meals we had. Even if typical Southern food like shrimp and grits, pimento cheese, and fried chicken isn’t your thing, Charleston has something for everyone and you will not be disappointed. I highly recommend booking reservations way ahead of time because restaurants are booked up and the waiting times are long.
Here are my Charleston restaurant recommendations:
Callie’s Hot Biscuits – This is a must-stop on your trip to Charleston! There are two locations – Upper King Street and in the Charleston City Market. It is a grab and go place and their biscuit breakfast sandwiches are so yummy!
Poogan’s Porch – This was one of our favorite restaurants. We ate here twice (brunch and dinner) on our trip because we loved it so much. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. You have to order their fried green tomatoes with bacon jam and pimento cheese as an appetizer. For your entree, you must order the chicken fried pork chop. I’m still dreaming about the food at this place!
Taco Boy – This is a great lunch spot where they serve tacos, small plates, and quesadillas.
82 Queen – This is an amazing restaurant located in the historic French Quarter. The restaurant consists of three beautiful buildings and eleven charming dining rooms. They serve brunch, lunch, and dinner. We came here for dinner and loved it! I highly recommend trying their she crab soup and crab cakes!
Magnolia’s – This was another one of our favorite restaurants in Charleston. They serve brunch, lunch, and dinner. We ate here for dinner and everything was delicious. Their crab cake was the best crab cake I’ve ever had and you have to try their down south egg roll. They also have the best southern pecan pie!
Church + Union Restaurant – We heard so many amazing things about this place, but we were unable to get a reservation during our trip. They also serve brunch, lunch, and dinner!
Harken Cafe – This was our favorite cafe in Charleston. They had an amazing chai latte and Carl loved their coffee. Their pastries are also so yummy. We didn’t try their food, but they also serve breakfast and lunch here!
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams – This is a popular ice cream shop in Charleston. They have fun flavors like sweet cream biscuits + peach jam, banana bread, and maple soaked pancakes.
Four Day Charleston Itinerary
Day 1 : Explore the City + Shopping
On your first day in Charleston, you will be starting off the day with a delicious brunch. The first brunch we had in Charleston was at Poogan’s Porch and it was the best start to our trip! After a full belly, I recommend walking and exploring the town.
King Street
King Street is one of the main streets in downtown Charleston and is known for its shops, boutiques, restaurants. You can spend countless hours walking up and down this street and going in all the different shops. King Street is divided into three zones: Lower King is the Antique District, Middle King is the Fashion District, and Upper King is the Design District.
Charleston City Market
Charleston City Market is located at the southern end of King Street and it is a must-visit destination for shopping and exploring local crafts and goods. It is an indoor marketplace that is home to countless stands selling souvenirs, food, artisanal crafts and more!
Day 2 : Cypress Gardens + Waterfront Park
Cypress Gardens
For your second morning on your babymoon in Charleston, I recommend visiting Cypress Gardens. It is a historic garden and swamp located in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, which is about a 35/40 minute drive from Charleston. Cypress Gardens is known for its beautiful landscapes, walking trails, and swamp areas. They even filmed a scene from The Notebook here. Tickets are $10 per person.
There are a bunch of different things you can do at Cypress Gardens. They have a butterfly house where visitors can observe different specifies of butterflies. You can visit their aquarium and reptile center. You can check out the different fish, amphibians, and reptiles.
Cypress Gardens is famous for its swamp gardens. You can rent a boat or take a guided boat tour where you can paddle along the tall bald cypress and tupelo trees. The swamp is filled with wildlife like alligators, birds, turtles, and more. Paddling through the swamp looked so beautiful and peaceful, but we didn’t rent a boat since I was nervous about running into an alligator!
If you don’t want to rent a boat, they also have different walking paths you can explore around the swamp and gardens. Please be mindful that alligators and other animals can be found on the trails so make sure to keep a safe distance. I was so nervous the entire time lol but luckily we didn’t see any alligators on the trail.
I recommend visiting Cypress Gardens in the morning while the weather is still cooler. Carl and I went during the week in the morning and we basically had the entire place to ourselves.
Waterfront Park
For the rest of the afternoon, I recommend taking a stroll through Waterfront Park. This is a popular public park located in the historic district of downtown Charleston. It is situated along the Cooper River and offers scenic views of the water. The park also features beautiful landscaped gardens and some historical monuments. One of the park’s iconic features is the Pineapple Fountain. It is a symbol of hospitality and it is a popular spot for photos.
Rainbow Row
When people think of Charleston, they usually think of Rainbow Row. Rainbow Row is a row of pastel-colored historic homes located on East Bay Street. You will find shades of pink, blue, yellow, and green. It is just a two minute walk from Waterfront Park so it is perfect to do on the same day. The houses date back to the 18th century and it is a great photo spot. It can get pretty busy, especially on the weekend so if you want to get a good photo, I recommend going during the week or early in the morning.
Day 3 : Day Trip to Savannah
Did you know that Savannah is only a two hour drive from Charleston?! It is such a great day trip idea from Charleston if you are interested in exploring another charming town. Savannah is filled with beautiful parks, squares, and streets that you can spend an entire day wandering through. To take advantage of a full day in Savannah, I recommend leaving first thing in the morning and coming back in the evening.
Here are some of the things you can see on your day trip in Savannah:
- Forsyth Park
- East Jones Street
- River Street
- Chippewa Square
- Savannah History Museum
If you have more time or decide to stay overnight, here are some other things you can do in Savannah:
- Wormsloe Historic Site – a beautiful estate that is a 15 minute drive from Savannah
- Bonaventure Cemetery – recognized as one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the world
- Ghost Tour – learn about Savannah’s most haunted sites and eerie legends
Savannah also has many great restaurants, but here are the places you have to check out on your day trip to Savannah:
- Breakfast at Collins Quarter
- Lunch at Olde Pink House (make sure to book a reservation way in advanced)
- Ice Cream at Leopold’s (worth the wait!)
Day 4 : Magnolia Plantation and Gardens + The Battery
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
On the fourth day of your babymoon in Charleston, you will be visiting the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. The Magnolia Plantation dates back to 1676 when it was established by the Drayton family. It is one of the oldest plantations in the South and is renowned for its beautiful gardens, historic house, and rich history.
In the gardens at Magnolia Plantation, you will find a diverse collection of flowers and plants. They even have an iconic long white bridge spanning the Ashley River. A unique aspect of the Magnolia Plantation is the Audubon Swamp Garden, which features boardwalks and bridges through a cypress and tupelo swamp. Visitors can encounter wildlife such as alligators, turtles, and a variety of birds.
There are two types of admission tickets : regular admission ($35 per person) and admission + house tour ($47 per person). For the regular admission ticket, it includes access to the 66 acres of public gardens, Audubon Swamp Garden and boardwalk, the “From Slavery to Freedom” tour, Nature Train tours, the Wildlife Center, and walking and biking trails. The admission + house tour includes all that plus a guided tour of the historic Magnolia House.
Carl and I bought a regular admission ticket and and loved our visit. It was interesting learning about the history of the plantation in the “From Slavery to Freedom” tour. We loved strolling through the gardens and walking through the boardwalks and bridges around the Audubon Swamp.
The Battery + White Point Garden
To end the last day of your babymoon in Charleston, I would check out The Battery and White Point Garden. The Battery is a historic promenade and defensive seawall located in the southern part of the historic district. You can take a leisurely stroll and get stunning views of Charleston Harbor and the Ashley River. Within the Battery, you will find White Point Garden. This public park is known for its beautiful oak trees, historic monuments and cannons.
In addition to the historic sites, my favorite part about The Battery is the gorgeous row of Southern mansions. I also recommend wandering through the side streets in that area to see more of the beautiful homes.
We had such a wonderful time on our babymoon in Charleston. It was the perfect destination for a couple’s getaway and to celebrate our growing family.
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