Babymoon in Charleston, SC

Before our fourth child was born, my husband and I went on a Babymoon to Charleston, South Carolina. Our mornings were spent at the beach and the pool, and our evenings were spent wandering around town and trying out a few restaurants that we hadn’t been to in years.

I spent weeks agonizing over the perfect place to stay, originally determined to find a beach front hotel in Florida, but changing course and going back to our tried and true, well-loved destination of Charleston. We ultimately settled on a hotel at the beach, the Sweetgrass Inn (I highly recommend it), located at the end of the Isle of Palms, a thirty minute drive to downtown Charleston.

It was our fourth trip to Charleston. On our three previous trips we stayed in the city center (before kids - more on that Charleston trip here), a beach bungalow rental on Folly Beach (also before kids), and a hotel in Mt. Pleasant (with our two oldest and with one on the way).

Below are my top tips for how to spend a relaxing, but vibrant, babymoon in Charleston.

My Top Tip

For me, the optimal relaxing vacation in Charleston is composed of days spent with a routine of “beach, pool, and city for dinner”, with a day trip thrown in here and there.

On this trip, we enjoyed getting up and taking a walk and exploring the beach before the sun was too high in the sky, then heading back to our hotel room for breakfast (we travel with homemade snacking granola).

Then out to the pool with sunscreen, water, and books in hand before lunch poolside (or back at our room). The afternoon was spent freshening up at a relaxing pace and heading into downtown Charleston for dinner and a walk around the city.

Deciding Where to Stay

While there is plenty to do in Charleston, I’m always happy to stay outside of the city near the beach, and then take the opportunity to travel into the city for short stints and delicious food.

Downtown Charleston: If it is your first time visiting Charleston, or if you are only staying for a couple of nights, it may be worthwhile to stay in the city and spend your time exploring different parts of the city.

Barrier Islands: There are several barrier islands with wonderful accommodations close to Charleston. I’ve stayed on both Folly Beach, which has a much more laid back, surfer kind of vibe, and Isle of Palms which has a lot of luxury home rentals (lots of families) and the Wild Dunes Resort (where we stayed, also family friendly) towards the end of the island.

I absolutely loved the Sweetgrass Inn. I wasn’t totally convinced by the website and reviews before booking, but our stay was incredible. We really felt like we were being taken care of and doted on, and everyone was so warm and welcoming, not just friendly, but acting like a friend. It was so nice to have the hotel staff looking after us while we were there.

At one point in the trip, on the way from the beach up to our room, I spotted a really comfortable lounge couch beyond the pool close to the hotel entrance, and I sat down. I soaked up the warmth under an umbrella, took in the view of the plants and landscaping, and just layed out in the shade for close to two hours. Despite having other plans, I didn't want to move. So I didn't. No music, no book, and no sleeping. Just sitting, just being. Just what I needed.

Our room was immaculate with a large sliding glass door with a view of the pool and the ocean. It was super clean, spacious, and had a beautiful, large shower.

Where to Go For a Walk

There are plenty of beautiful streets to walk down in Charleston, but here are a few of my favorites.

East Bay Street: Lined with lots of shops and restaurants (including Magnolias and Poogin’s Smokehouse) and people mulling about. Stroll down East Bay Street and then turn down towards the water to enjoy Waterfront Park.

Waterfront Park: This is right up on the water including a long dock with the famous porch swings overlooking the water. We used to get an ice cream nearby and then walk down here, eating our ice cream and sitting on the swings, but the last time we went, the quality of the ice cream seemed to go down. Check out the Pineapple Fountain while you are here.

Rainbow Row: Rainbow row is a historic landmark in Charleston with 13 townhouses painted in bright colors. While it is beautiful and worth seeing, be sure to not end your walking tour here.

Meander past Rainbow Row: Walk beyond Rainbow Row to the neighborhood behind it to take in all the incredible architectural detail of the homes in the neighborhood. This was my favorite part of being in the city of Charleston on our babymoon trip.

We spent at least an hour, if not two, wandering down these streets, taking in the old trees growing around the homes, the light shining through the leaves and Spanish moss, the window boxes with flowers overflowing. The old homes, some falling apart, some magnificently repaired and refinished, tiny but grand gardens, and details that show that people care about making the place they live in beautiful and intentional. It reminded me of our time living in Europe, where things are a little slower, but thoughtfully done.

Start on Elliot Street and walk inland towards the center of the peninsula. Work your way roughly south, meandering this way and that, and head towards the Battery, another beautiful place for a walk.

Visiting a Plantation

We’ve been to both Magnolia Plantation and Gardens and Middleton Place on two separate trips. I’d recommend choosing a plantation to visit during your stay. It’s a really nice half day outing, and they offer various types of tours.

If you visit in April, you may be able to see the plantations when the azaleas are at peak bloom. If so, the Middleton Place gardens are lined with azaleas, and the effect is quite impressive.

Where We've Eaten

Restaurants I Recommend:

Poogin’s Smokehouse: Casual BBQ. We’ve eaten here each time we’ve visited Charleston. It’s all delicious. There’s very limited outdoor seating, but it’s my favorite spot to sit and watch everyone walking by while munching on melt-in-your-mouth BBQ.

82 Queen: This place has a really beautiful outdoor courtyard. There are strung lights, trees with branches reaching this way and that, brick walkways, and lots of architectural features on the surrounding buildings. We’ve eaten here for both brunch and dinner, and the food and ambiance were spectacular both times. It is, however, quite expensive.

We’ve been to a few fancier restaurants in town (see list above), but I’ve been a bit disappointed with the food, spending a lot of money, with small portions and leaving hungry (wanting to order pizza on the way home), and not overly impressed with the taste of the food. That has not been the case with 82 Queen. It’s expensive, but the food has been great, delicious and nuanced, and filling.

Additionally:

Mercantile and Mash: This is a great low key place for lunch. Order at the register and pick a place to eat. The food was fresh and healthy (we had salads), and it’s a great spot to refuel. It’s not in the heart of Charleston, but very close by.

Summary:

I’d highly recommend a trip to Charleston for a babymoon, weekend getaway, or if going for a longer trip, a stay on one of the barrier islands by the beach.

• Where to Stay
  • Shorter trips, stay downtown Charleston
  • Longer trips consider the Isle of Palms - Sweetgrass Inn (great with kids) or Folly Beach. There’s also Kiawah Island, but it is very expensive.
• What to Do
  • Walk around downtown
  • Bring a treat to eat on the swings at Waterfront Park
  • See Rainbow Row
  • Explore the architecture in the neighborhood behind Rainbow Row
  • Walk along Battery Park
  • Visit a Plantation
• Where to Eat
  • There are tons of great places to eat. The two below are my favorites, but there are many, many more worth exploring.
  • Poogin’s Smokehouse
  • 82 Queen (expensive)