Getting the MOST out of Charleston
Lowcountry History
The United States' history textbooks are FULL of Lowcountry facts. These landmarks are how/where The Macchio Family suggests for our guests to start relearning about these moments in-person!
Fort Sumter National Monument
3.8m to the ferryboat
Charles Pinckney National Historic Site
1214 Middle St4.4m
Fort Moultrie
1214 Middle St5m
Boone Hall Plantation
1235 Long Point Road5.3m
7.8m - Looking to learn about the history of Charleston, SC? These horse-drawn carriage rides will help do just that, while also giving you the pleasure of simply sitting back and learning!
67 locals recommend
Palmetto Carriage Works
8 Guignard St7.8m - Looking to learn about the history of Charleston, SC? These horse-drawn carriage rides will help do just that, while also giving you the pleasure of simply sitting back and learning!
Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon
122 E Bay St8.2m
14.1m - Charles Towne Landing is a great place to have a picnic, see their mini-zoo and/or soak up the history that had happened there, on-site!
123 locals recommend
Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site
1500 Old Towne Rd14.1m - Charles Towne Landing is a great place to have a picnic, see their mini-zoo and/or soak up the history that had happened there, on-site!
Middleton Place
4300 Ashley River Rd24.2m
Eye-Catching Architecture
The Charleston area is littered with noteworthy architecture, whether it be seen on a historic site OR in modern-day new building!
United States Custom House
200 E Bay St8m
Unitarian Church in Charleston
4 Archdale St8.1m
The Williams Mansion
16 Meeting St8.4m
Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist
120 Broad St8.5m
Drayton Hall
3380 Ashley River Rd20m
Mepkin Abbey
1098 Mepkin Abbey Rd35.1m
Maritime
If you enjoy getting your feet wet and/or jumping on a boat then this list has you covered!
2.1m - Looking to kayak and/or paddleboard? Coastal Expeditions is the closest and BEST option to help take care of BOTH of those urges!
69 locals recommend
Coastal Expeditions
514 Mill Street2.1m - Looking to kayak and/or paddleboard? Coastal Expeditions is the closest and BEST option to help take care of BOTH of those urges!
Schooner Pride
360 Concord St7.2m
8.6m - Take Barrier Island Ecotours' ferryboat to explore Isle of Palms' surrounding, undeveloped, islands
29 locals recommend
Barrier Island Ecotours
50 41st Ave8.6m - Take Barrier Island Ecotours' ferryboat to explore Isle of Palms' surrounding, undeveloped, islands
Breakfast/Brunch
Looking to grab a bite after rolling out of bed? Here's a list of The Macchio Family's go-to Breakfast and/or Brunch restaurants!
Vintage Coffee Cafe
219 Simmons St1.7m
2m - Lunch and Dinner most of the week...but their Sunday brunch earned them a spot on this category! :)
61 locals recommend
Old Village Post House Inn
101 Pitt St2m - Lunch and Dinner most of the week...but their Sunday brunch earned them a spot on this category! :)
Metto Coffee & Tea
354 W Coleman Blvd2.6m - The Macchio Family's FAVORITE local coffee shop!
The Refuge
1517 Palm Blvd6.4m
Sea Biscuit Cafe
21 J C Long Blvd6.4m
Acme Lowcountry Kitchen
31 J C Long Blvd6.3m
Lunch/Dinner
Last but not least, here's a list of the BEST dining options to help you through the day and even for a worthy day's end finale!
.7m - Hungry, but in a rush? Come Back Shack's TOP-notch drive-thru food has you covered!
Come Back Shack
.7m - Hungry, but in a rush? Come Back Shack's TOP-notch drive-thru food has you covered!
1.1m - BEST thing Steel City has to offer is their A+ pizza on delivery!
10 locals recommend
Steel City Pizza Company
1440 Ben Sawyer Blvd1.1m - BEST thing Steel City has to offer is their A+ pizza on delivery!
Cuoco Pazzo
1035 Johnnie Dodds Blvd1.6m - Looking to get your Italian fix? Cuoco Pazzo has you covered!
1.7m - A gourmet restaurant that specializes in sandwiches & soups sounds a little hard to believe...until your taste buds have a go!
191 locals recommend
Five Loaves Cafe
43 Cannon St1.7m - A gourmet restaurant that specializes in sandwiches & soups sounds a little hard to believe...until your taste buds have a go!
NICO | Oysters + Seafood
201 Coleman Blvd2m - French cuisine is authentic as can be!
2.2m - A great way to soak in the Lowcountry weather, please your eyes with Shem Creek and fill your belly with some grade-A fixings!
138 locals recommend
Tavern & Table
100 Church St2.2m - A great way to soak in the Lowcountry weather, please your eyes with Shem Creek and fill your belly with some grade-A fixings!
2.3m - CPH's hamburger options make for a GREAT pairing with their rotating draft beer options!
26 locals recommend
Coleman Public House
427 W Coleman Blvd2.3m - CPH's hamburger options make for a GREAT pairing with their rotating draft beer options!
2.4m - The same goes for Vickery's as Tavern & Table, with a different menu, so we'd suggest checking Shem Creek's menu options before choosing which one to go with...but you'll probably revisit this landmark, for the view AND food's sake!
53 locals recommend
Vickery's Bar & Grill
1313 Shrimp Boat Ln2.4m - The same goes for Vickery's as Tavern & Table, with a different menu, so we'd suggest checking Shem Creek's menu options before choosing which one to go with...but you'll probably revisit this landmark, for the view AND food's sake!
3.7m - Poe's hamburger game is on point...to say the LEAST!
205 locals recommend
Poe's Tavern - Sullivans Island
2210 Middle St3.7m - Poe's hamburger game is on point...to say the LEAST!
High Thyme Cuisine
2213 Middle St3.7m
The Obstinate Daughter
2063 Middle St3.9m
6.4m - Wanting dinner on Isle of Palms? Long Island Cafe is a shoo-in!
42 locals recommend
Long Island Cafe
1515 Palm Blvd6.4m - Wanting dinner on Isle of Palms? Long Island Cafe is a shoo-in!
39 Rue De Jean
39 John St7.5m - French cuisine at its FINEST!
R.B.'s Seafood Restaurant
97 Church St7.9m - One of Charleston's MOST iconic restaurants!
Poogan's Porch
72 Queen St8.2m - Another one of Charleston's paramount restaurants!
8.2m - FUN FACT: 82 Queen is EXACTLY 8.2 miles away from The Mallard's Nest. :)
10 locals recommend
82 Queen St
82 Queen Street8.2m - FUN FACT: 82 Queen is EXACTLY 8.2 miles away from The Mallard's Nest. :)
CHS Beer Scene
Charleston, SC's craft beer scene is continually growing, but these are The Macchio Family's TOP choices if one is looking to begin exploring this niche!
1.7m - Looking to grab some booze, in a two birds manner? Bottles has you covered, on both the beer, wine AND liquor fronts!
12 locals recommend
Bottles Beverage Superstore
610 Coleman Blvd1.7m - Looking to grab some booze, in a two birds manner? Bottles has you covered, on both the beer, wine AND liquor fronts!
3.4m - Planning to visit Westbrook Brewing? Might as well peek into Two Bloke Brewing too, seeing as the two are not even a stone's throw apart from one another!
260 locals recommend
Two Blokes Brewing
547 Long Point Rd3.4m - Planning to visit Westbrook Brewing? Might as well peek into Two Bloke Brewing too, seeing as the two are not even a stone's throw apart from one another!
4.2m - If you're a beer n3rd then we'd suggest getting a pint of whatever stout they have on draft. If you're not a fan of HEAVY beer offerings then Westbrook has you covered with a few of their mainstays and MORE!
286 locals recommend
Westbrook Brewing Co
510 Ridge Rd4.2m - If you're a beer n3rd then we'd suggest getting a pint of whatever stout they have on draft. If you're not a fan of HEAVY beer offerings then Westbrook has you covered with a few of their mainstays and MORE!
Revelry Brewing
10 Conroy St6.5m - Great people, great vibes AND great beer!
7.3m - Not ONLY are their beer offerings on point...but, their bar food comes in a close second!
62 locals recommend
Edmund's Oast Brewing Co.
1505 King St7.3m - Not ONLY are their beer offerings on point...but, their bar food comes in a close second!
12.9m - 10 craft beers on tap, 100s of bottles & cans to crack on-site OR take home and GREAT staff. The PERFECT reason to check out Charleston's version of "Five Points", Park Circle!
28 locals recommend
The Brew Cellar
1050 E Montague Ave12.9m - 10 craft beers on tap, 100s of bottles & cans to crack on-site OR take home and GREAT staff. The PERFECT reason to check out Charleston's version of "Five Points", Park Circle!
14.1m - COAST Brewing Company helped Charleston's craft beer scene take off and they'll ALWAYS be a must-visit, drink and grab some to take home vacation pitstop, in our eyes!
30 locals recommend
COAST Brewing Company
1250 2nd St N14.1m - COAST Brewing Company helped Charleston's craft beer scene take off and they'll ALWAYS be a must-visit, drink and grab some to take home vacation pitstop, in our eyes!
Nature
3.6m - If you haven't ventured on to Sullivan's Island and its beaches then you haven't used your vacation for all that it's worth!
64 locals recommend
Sullivan's Island Beach
3.6m - If you haven't ventured on to Sullivan's Island and its beaches then you haven't used your vacation for all that it's worth!
Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park
99 Harry M. Hallman Jr Blvd4.5m
Isle of Palms
5.3 - The beach, shops and food!
5.7m - Looking to enjoy some of this top-notch Lowcountry weather with your guests on a bike, paddleboat, fishing and/or a waterpark? This is your one-stop-shop for all of those activities PLUS some!
57 locals recommend
Palmetto Islands County Park
444 Needlerush Pkwy5.7m - Looking to enjoy some of this top-notch Lowcountry weather with your guests on a bike, paddleboat, fishing and/or a waterpark? This is your one-stop-shop for all of those activities PLUS some!
7.6m - Marion Square makes for a GREAT place to plop down on the field and rest your feet amidst your touristing ventures walking around Downtown Charleston!
379 locals recommend
Marion Square
7.6m - Marion Square makes for a GREAT place to plop down on the field and rest your feet amidst your touristing ventures walking around Downtown Charleston!
11.9m - Love birds? This is for you!
28 locals recommend
The Avian Conservation Center & Center for Birds of Prey
4719 N Hwy 1711.9m - Love birds? This is for you!
14.9 - As the name implies, this is a park located right on the Cooper River and is an ideal location for any sort of park activity one can think of. Not to mention the cool river breeze flowing through 99.9% of the time!
91 locals recommend
Riverfront Park
1061 Everglades Ave14.9 - As the name implies, this is a park located right on the Cooper River and is an ideal location for any sort of park activity one can think of. Not to mention the cool river breeze flowing through 99.9% of the time!
18m - If you are a Mother Nature lover then the famous Angel Oak is a MUST-see during your stay!
440 locals recommend
Angel Oak Tree
3688 Angel Oak Rd18m - If you are a Mother Nature lover then the famous Angel Oak is a MUST-see during your stay!
18.1m - Tired of visiting the nearby beaches of Isle of Palms and Sullivan's Island and looking to mix it up? Folly Beach is a little further away, but its vibes are sure to add a little something to your vacation!
581 locals recommend
Folly Beach
East Ashley Avenue18.1m - Tired of visiting the nearby beaches of Isle of Palms and Sullivan's Island and looking to mix it up? Folly Beach is a little further away, but its vibes are sure to add a little something to your vacation!
29.6 - Caw Caw is a little bit of a drive, but your eyes, mind and heart will say, "thank you," once there!
46 locals recommend
Caw Caw Interpretive Center
29.6 - Caw Caw is a little bit of a drive, but your eyes, mind and heart will say, "thank you," once there!
30.6m - It doesn't get more outdoors than visiting here!
17 locals recommend
Francis Marion National Forest
2967 Steed Creek Rd30.6m - It doesn't get more outdoors than visiting here!
49.3m - If you LOVE birds and have already been to the Center for Birds of Prey then this is your next stop!
14 locals recommend
Audubon's Beidler Forest Sanctuary
336 Sanctuary Rd49.3m - If you LOVE birds and have already been to the Center for Birds of Prey then this is your next stop!