In case you missed it, just yesterday afternoon I? introduced an amazing current promotion of various Staffordshire dogs, not to be missed, they are going fast but I do have some left, click here to see.
Also Phyllis over at A Ribbon in my journal is giving away a pair of my gorgeous blue and white Staffordshire dogs!! Click here to be in the running….
.
Hello…..thanks to all for your kind words and accolades over my sons graduation party. I really enjoyed having the last two days to revel and relive the wonderful night (and put my feet up)!? It was such a memorable and beautiful night…..I realized as much work as it was that I really do love planning parties and now am even starting to think just a little bit about my Christmas party, as crazy as that might sound:)
As the excitement of the last few weeks is dying down and I am finally having some much needed down time, I am really excited to announce my sister and I have yet again replanned our southern road trip! This is an abbreviated version than the last, with Charleston and Savannah being our two main destinations and if time allows we may be able to stop off elsewhere. As its been a long time since I have been to either, this is where you come in!
Over the years you have been amazing at offering all kinds of advice, tidbits and tips……and I remember the last time we were going to take the trip, so many of you generously emailed me with all kinds of wonderful ideas. So here is what we are seeking and though we have some ideas I would love your input so we can put the finishing touches on our trip!
Some of the things we would love to know your recommendations on……
Best hotels in Charleston and Savannah? Preferably not a bed and breakfast, something luxurious, well located and I am OCD clean:)
Restaurants…let’s face it a big part of this trip is the amazing food! I am not as concerned with a “hot spot” as I am an amazing dining experience and great food.
Shopping.….of course we have to do a little retail therapy!! Tell me your favorite shopping spots,antiques, clothing, fun stores, accessories,etc……
Travel tips….anything important we should know with regard to getting around?
Unique experiences to that area…..anything special whether it be historical or cultural that we should? not miss? Will be there late June.
So……..now it’s your turn to talk! I know you will come forth with all kinds of fabulous recommendations as you always do, please leave in comment section instead of? emailing me so this way the information can be shared and viewed by everyone. I just cannot wait, both because it’s a little getaway and because these are two iconic southern cities that I cannot wait to revisit.
?
Just putting this post together has me excited for our little adventure! So come on….it’s your turn to spill the beans on all of your southern favorites and if you happen to have a great idea for a few stops along the way from Charleston to Savannah, by all means do tell!? I have my pen and paper ready. If you missed the post on the big party, click here to visit. Thank you as always for stopping in, wishing you a fabulous afternoon.
Palmetto Bluff near Savannah is really nice. I hear Charleston Place hotel downtown is nice and the Sanctuary right outside of Charleston is perfect 🙂
I see you have already heard of HUSK. It is a favorite of ours. There is a hotel
I think Charleston Place. It is across from the Market. The Double Tree is nice and also
walking distance . Mills House and Francis Marion. We have stayed at all.
The rickshaws are great for getting around.
We live in Greenville (north of Charleston) we would love to have you visit our wonderful city if you
have time. Joye
In Charleston,the Charleston Place hotel is gorgeous,also the Market Pavillon Hotel is a great hotel,it has a pool on the roof and a famous rooftop bar!!!! they give you dollar coupons for drink and food,its nice to go shopping in the morning and sightseeing and then go sit by the pool with a drink in the heat and relax!!!!Phone #843-723-0500,great food at the Palmetto hotel,you have to make reservations!!! The slave museum is a very interesting place to visit!!!! Shops on King St are the best,and antique shops too !!!! when i think of more i’ll let you know!!!!!
Elizabeth’s in Savannah is nice and the Gryphon Tea Room is great for lunch. Also One Fish Two Fish is a great little shop. Also the Paris Flea Market.
There are quite a few shops on Whitker Street. The Telfair is always nice.
Sumets in Charleston is nice for lunch. The Charleston Place hotel is very nice.
Best Hotel – Planters Inn.
Dress is Casual – No ties are required
Bill Harris, Oyster Point Tours, is the go to guide (843)729-4662. Bill owns the company. If you like to ask questions, let him take them solo. If they like a little group participation, go with a group. We took the group tour but I asked most of the questions and then asked him to take lunch with us.
He chose CRU which was wonderful and a must. I had fried green tomatoes, pork belly and grits. It was beyond description. I am sure he will accompany you as well, if you ask in advance. Bill is fast talking, opinionated, and smart as a whip. Do ask him what he thinks of Lee and his high command as to their strategy and tactics during the war of secession.
Charleston is a foodies paradise.
Again, Bill gave us the low down on the new best spots in Charleston. I found Chez Nous on Payne Street and Macintosh on King (?) to be out of this world.
I did not take to Hank’s as much as my husband. We split a trigger fish and an order of grits and shrimp with a couple of side salads. All were primo but the place is too loud for me and a little rushed.
Ask that PI try to get you the driver named Wiley to do all of your driving to and from the Air Port and to Chez Nous. All of these service providers,
Concierge, Bill and Wiley, are graduates of College of Charleston and thoroughly vetted by PI.
After the first day, you can walk most places as the town is very simple to navigate. The Pedi cabs are also available, cheaper than a cab and fun. For the longer hauls use Wiley.
You can, for example, walk from PI to and from the wharf for your bay or Ft. Sumter tour. You must take one or the other.
Walk up Meeting Street to the Charleston Museum. The walk is 15 min. each way. An hour in the museum will orient you to the culture and the life
style of early Charleston.
As some of the roads and streets are cobblestone or brick, one should wear a flat soled shoe. The more heal the more the chance to catch it and turn an ankle.
I’m from NY but got married in Charleston, you will love it!
Charleston Place is definitely the place to stay. Best in the city. Book soon though, it fills up fast.
Get the coconut cake at Peninsula grill, it will blow your mind, so good. Cru Cafe, looks like a hole in the wall but amazing food. Get the shrimp BLT. S.N.O.B. is also excellent, need reservations or you won’t get in. Husk is what everyone will tell you to do, worth going once at least, get the pimento cheese.
Kiawah is 45 minutes away, you might want to spend a night at the Sanctuary. It’s beautiful, also a 5 star hotel.
Enjoy!
Just returned home from Charleston. We stayed at the Charleston Place which was extremely nice and right near everything. Here are some of the restaurants we enjoyed: lunch–Sermet’s, Rarebits, Virginia’s, Slightly North of Broad; Low Country Bistro; dinner–The Ordinary, Fig, Magnolia’s, Hank’s Seafood. Make reservations for dinner well in advance! The good ones book up early. Really enjoyed Bin 152 (wine and cheese!) after a day of shopping or golf. Highly recommend a carriage tour to hear the history of Charleston. Battery Park is beautiful. Would love to live in one of those historic homes. Buy a “buddy bag” from Lily of Charleston–too cute! Shop for your husband at M. Dumas (great service). Enjoy the Southern hospitality! Next trip is Savannah, so share your faves from there. Have fun.
Good afternoon, Tina! WOOO HOOO! You deserve a wonderful get-away for you have been working around the clock with parties and end-of-the-school-year activities. I wish you a fun and safe trip and from the looks of these photos, the south has much to offer. The farthest I’ve been is Virginia, to Williamsburg….OH MY….if you can, go there for some fabulous American history in reenactment. We will miss you, but have a blast! Anita
Sounds like a ton of fun! I’ve never been, so will be reading everyone’s suggestions and filing them away for a future adventure. Happy planning, Tina. Glad you got to put your feet up a bit! XOXO
I agree with Charleston Place to stay. Poogan’s Porch is a wonderful restaurant, the food is southern and 5 star.
The best seafood is on Shem Creek.
Enjoy!
We enjoyed our stay at Planter’s Inn a couple of years ago. Had an amazing dinner at S.N.O.B. We also really loved our walking tour of the many lovely gardens in Charleston.
The Hamilton-Turner Inn in Savannah is lovely! It’s impeccably clean and comfortable, definitely luxurious, with a lovely breakfast and other treats provided during the day. We’ve stayed a number of times and have never been disappointed. (You have a picture of it above!) The Old Pink House is one restaurant in Savannah NOT to be missed! Yum!
We’ve stayed at the Wentworth Mansion in Charleston, also a lovely and clean place with an adjoining restaurant that was quite a treat and delight.
Hi was just in Savannah stay at Inn at Palmetto Bluff, it is fabulous!
Loved Mrs. Wilkes dining room and Old Pink House also dined at Paula Deens restaurant and had a delightful meal. We love it there, its really like going back in time. Great antique shops too, wish I could remember the name.
Charleston Place or Planters Inn for Charleston. Husk is wonderful and so is Fig and The Grocery. We love the south and though we live in CT. we get down often as both our kids are in school there. Enjoy Tina, sounds like a really fun trip!
The Ordinary for seafood on King St. in Charleston is amazing. Also had a nice brunch at the Charleston Grill. We stay with my sister in law when we go so cannot say much about hotels but Charleston Place and Planters Inn seem to be the two popular high end places to stay.
Dress cool…its very humid and wear comfortable shoes and a hat. There are many who do private tours which you and your sister would probably love. It is a wonderful and very hospitable city. I cannot wait to hear how you like it.
We have been to Charleston three times and Kiawah twice. Love them both. We stayed at Charleston Place hotel and it was so nice, and close to great shopping right across the street. And although, we did not stay at The Sanctuary, we have eaten there and have good friends that just stayed there and said it was absolutely their favorite place on their trip across the country. The beach there is amazing and we were able to go to river separating Kiawah and Seabrook Island and watch dolphins strand feeding. It is spectacular to watch and one of only a couple places to see it.
Tina – If you want to enjoy wonderful food in a Charleston garden, visit 82 Queen (the address as well as the name of the restaurant). It’s as if someone invited you into their garden for dinner. It’s tucked away from the main restaurant areas, but it is well worth finding!
I was fortunate enough to visit my girls at the College Of Charleston for 16 semesters as there is 7 years between them. I love it there and go back with them on occasions for alumni events and weddings. The two new, really hot, on trend restaurants this year are “The Ordinary” a fabulous oyster menu amoung other delights and “Xiou Bao Bisquit” which is a truly incredible Asian restaurant. It is only open for dinner and does not take reservations, so unforgettable. The grilled shredded cabbage pancake and Brussel sprouts were amazing! Both of these are north of Calhoun so take the ricksha ride. My favorite times to go are March and October for all the home and garden tours, a different street every night. It will be incredibly hot and humid in late June. Shop in the air conditioning during the day, take a ghost tour at night when it cools down, a little spooky fun mixed with history. Planters Inn has my vote for most elegant lodging. What a fun trip! You will love it.
I live an hour and a half from charleston and we go there frequently. The Charleston Place is beautiful and nice if you stay in one of the upper levels, but the service there is terrible. It definitely has the best location, and the restaurants there are fabulous. But they really have terrible service. They treat you like they are entitled to your business. A much more beautiful and charming place that we have lately frequented, since our bad experience at CP is the Wentworth Mansion. Its a B and B but you would never know its classified that way. Its more like a tiny hotel with huge beautiful rooms. It is seriously gorgeous and I believe has a five star rating. The canap?s in the afternoon are great but I haven’t visited their restaurant.
In between Savannah and Charleston is one of the most beautiful places I have ever stayed. It’s called Sanctuary. The restaurants there are great and there is so much to do. Charleston gets old after a day or two, especially in this heat, and Sanctuary is a half out drive to downtown Charleston, so its a great place to go and stay. There is a private beach that’s great for bike rides and they have amazing seashells and sand dollars all over the place. It’s really a special place. Reminds me of Terra Nea in California if you have ever been there. My husband loves to golf there too.
Oh, my gosh! I’ve never been there but the pics are beautiful! Can I be your stowaway? 🙂 What a fun sisterly-girly-girl trip you will have! Is Lady & Son’s Paula Deen’s restaurant?
Andaz Savannah Hotel is currently my favorite place to stay in Savannah. It is near the riverfront, and is within walking distance to many restaurants, shopping, etc., and is kind of urban-hip too! It also has a great organic breakfast! I love eating at Vic’s on the River. The food is good and looking out the huge windows on the streetside is part of the charm for me. I would also recommend Garibaldi’s Restaurant. The Crystal Beer Parlor is a local favorite and one of mine too for casual food and peach cobbler. The ShopSCAD has interesting things made by the students at Savannah College of Art and Design and is worth a visit to shop and see what young designers are creating – and it is in a pretty neighborhood. Also, northeast of Savannah is Beaufort, SC., kind of halfway between Savannah and Charleston. It is a quaint old Southern town with antebellum homes. Enjoy your trip!
The Bohemian Riverfront in Savannah is my first choice always! Love laying in bed and watching the ships navigate the river…..within walking distance to great shopping and restaurants and then there’s the Riversteet vibe. No trip to Savannah is complete without a side trip out onto Tybee Island…….especially the lighthouse and there are some great diners. Hope you enjoy your trip South! Maybe you can make it back some fall and can make it up to the North Georgia Mountains…your blog followers up here would love to show you some southern hospitality.
Since we just returned to Los Angeles from a fabulous trip hitting both those lovely spots and Hilton Head in between, I must share our fav spots!
1. Savannah-dinner at Old Pink House. Their signature fish was fabulous! The Paris Flea Market is not to be missed. Felt like I was in Niece.
2. Working up the coast, you MUST at least drive thru Palmetto Bluffs. GORGEOUS. The restaurant there was incredible for lunch. Best flatbread w/chicken, BBQ sauce, caramelized onions ever! Great fish tacos.
3. Just north of Palmetto Bluffs, before Hilton Head is the most charming town, Bluffton. On a whim and someone’s urging, we stopped by Calhoun St and LOVED the shops! The most fun shop we have ever been in (and considering my friend Cathee’s shopping resume that is a huge compliment to the owner!) is Eggs “n” Tricities. LOVE IT! The outside is cute but it is absolutely nothing like the inside!!! We had to go back a second day to see if we saw and bought everything!!!!
4. HiltonHead- A must is riding bike on the sand along the water! You could never do that in CA! Best activity we did!!
5. Charleston is wonderful, charming. You must see the buddy bags at Lily of Charleston. Their black grosgrain bow with white camellia is my favorite summer bag!
savannah and charleston would be my two favorite choices….i’ve been to both several times and loved every minute! you’ve got some great suggestions and if you need more amanda from dixie delights lives in atlanta but is from savannah and could give you wonderful suggestions! enjoy your trip and practice saying “ya’ll”!
I am a native of Savannah, GA. While I love my hometown, I recommend 82 Queen Street in Charleston as well as Magnolia’s for dining.
While you are visiting Savannah, GA please make a point to visit Mrs. Wilkes Boarding House on Jones Street. This is Savannah’s original
southern style home cooking where you will be ushered in at 11:30 where the blessing will be said by Mrs. Wilkes granddaughter, you will eat
a fabulous home cooked meal prepared by and overseen by Mrs. Wilkes great grandson Ryan. You will thoroughly enjoy sitting at a table
and passing the delicious food and homemade biscuits in traditional boarding house style!!!!! Garibaldi’s is a definite must for dinner. If you happen to venture out to Tybee Island you will want to make a reservation and eat at Sundae Cafe. I forgot to mention while in downtown
Savannah dining at The Pink House is another must and walking over to Leopold’s Ice Cream for a delicious ice cream treat. Make sure to
make time to go for a stroll through our beautiful squares and especially the beautiful Forsyth Park!!!! Enjoy our southern hospitality while
visiting our beautiful city!!!!!
We’ve enjoyed a couple of visits to the wonderful city of Charleston. We ‘ve enjoyed staying at the beautiful Wentworth Mansion, which is a 21 room inn ,totally restored. Beautiful chandeliers, stained glass windows and antiques are throughout. Although quite ornate, there is a coziness that welcomes you. The Circa 1886 restaurant is on the premises, where we have enjoyed many meals. Shrimp and grits recommended! I am sure you would totally enjoy your stay at the Wentworth!!
I just had so much fun reading all these posts I am inspired to plan a trip there myself! LOL Have fun Tina and please give us a review when you get back.
In SAVANNAH…there are several great B&B’s..but for a hotel I love The Mansion on Forsyth. It was a Kessler Hotel but now understand it is owned/run by Marriott. Great location, restoration, decor and artwork.
For shopping..I love One Fish Two Fish on the corner of East Jones and Whitaker, Goucho at E. Liberty and Bull(I believe)..cati-cornered from the DeSoto Hilton, and Daedulus Art Gallery. There is also a great antique shop on Washington at, I believe, Abercorn.
The Pink House and Garibaldi’s are special for fine dining..as well as 1790 Historic buildings, beautiful decor and great food and have been for many years. For a casual restaurant..we love the historic Crystal Beer Parlor.
DONT drive. Park and then walk. BUT do get into your car and take a drive out to Bonaventure Cemetary. Also.. a fun day trip is to explore Tybee Island..quirky and fun. IF you have time, also drive out to Wormsloe…very beautiful and historic.
Tina,
You will LOVE Charleston! I prefer going before June or after August. The heat in the summer with the humidity is like trying to breathe through cream soup, especially in Savannah LOL. I have been to Charleston many, many times. Favorite hotel – The Vendue, favorite lunch spot – Amen Street. Favorite place for dinner – Magnolias, must have reservations. Antiques – Kings Street. Shopping straight to the market and buy a sweetgrass basket. They are gorgeous and you can watch them being made.
Have been to Savannah 3 times. Sorry, but it just doesnt measure up to Charleston in my opinion. And the homeless people are very aggressive. Paula Deens was my favorite restaurant. Good ole southern food.
Cant wait for your post and to see what your favorites are!
If you are going to savannah you should definitely visit the Inn at palmetto Bluff. It’s absolutely amazing! It’s not actually in Savannah but the drive is not bad!
You are going to have such fun. Walking down King St. and dining at Husk were highlights for me (though my husband didn’t care for Husk and felt it was overrated) we stayed at Charleston Place and loved it, would go back. There are many restaurants there and this is a foodie town, our favorite meal was at a casual place but the food was incredible, called Slightly north of broad. There are many great places to dine and shop.
Was only in Savannah for one day but had lunch at Olde Pink House and dinner at Paula Deens and loved both, they were really southern and a treat for this northern girl. Seeing the pictures and reading all the comments makes me want to go back. Have fun Tina.
While it is not Savannah or Charleston you are way too close to Sea Island to miss out on such a wonderful
experience. Sea Island is only an hour and a half from Savannah and so worth the drive. The Cloister
Hotel is so lovely. I know you will appreciate the natural beauty, history, architecture, design, wonderful resturants, service, and beautiful homes on the island. It is truly a must see. You will want to make arrangements
for a night’s stay or reservations for dinner as it is now a gated island. The Lodge on St. Simmons Island (Sea Island’s Golf Club) is also lovely. It has a beautiful setting with fine dinning as well. St. Simmons Island is adjacent
to Sea Island.
Can’t wait to see your post on this vacation. Have been to Savannah several times and to Charleston many times. Charleston is one of my favorite places for a vacation. The shopping, dining and just walking around viewing the beautiful homes and gardens is wonderful. Mrs. Wilkes Boarding House for lunch if you want to partake of real southern food. Charleston Place is nice, but to get a feel for the southern culture, a stay in one of the older beautiful hotels would be a good choice. Have a wonderful time and try some She Crab Soup. Yummy! PattyB
Don’t miss the chance to dine at Old Pink House in Savannah, it is a must do. I also loved taking a private tour of the city and a few antebellum homes, that is such a “southern treat”. If you love antiques which I believe you do, you will be in heaven, so many great shops. We bought several chandeliers and a gorgeous French mantle on our last trip there. Have fun Tina, the graduation party pictures were spectacular!
Who needs a travel agent when you have blogging friend?!!! I know they you will have a marvelous time. Try to meet the crazy cast of Southern Charm!
I entered the giveaway! Keeping my fingers crossed.
Teresa
xoxo
Love The Sanctuary which is a little drive from Charleston but worth it. Take it from a southener, it will be very hot and humid from now through mid October.
You are SO lucky! I am going through a little bit of Dixie withdrawal right now!
In Charleston – Fig, Husk, Two Boroughs Larder, The Ordinary and my personal favorite, Hominy Grill, are all not to be missed restaurants in Charleston. My niece who lives in Charleston says Martha Lou’s has the “best damn chicken”. Make sure you hit up the antique stores along King Street, as well as the Historic Charleston Shop for pretty reproductions. Make sure you visit a couple of the houses that are part of Historic Charleston to see absolutely stunning antiques “in situ”. You can spend hours just wandering the streets “South of Broad” and along the Battery. Don’t miss visiting one of the gorgeous nearby plantations such as Middleton Place (beautiful gardens) or Drayton Hall.
Charleston is such a fabulous place to visit – I would skip Savannah altogether and spend all my time in Charleston. Have fun, Tina!! xoxo
I think your road trip sounds amazing, Charleston and Savannah are two of my favorite places to visit.
As with several other comments, I love The Pink House, it is quaint and delicious, have a cocktail in the basement in front of the fireplace even if it is hot. And make sure to visit, Back in the Day Bakery…quaint and delicious treats to eat.
Visit the French Market and Once Fish Two, bother great stores with beautiful merchandise.
We love to stay at the Forsyth Inn.
Have a great week Tina, if I think of any more I will come back
How I would love to visit Charleston and Savannah one day! Thanks so much to you for the beautiful pictures, and to your readers for the tips and recommandations!
The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island is perfectly lovely! It is all Southern Charm and quite beautiful facing the water! Its quite stunning! Have a fantastic time…I cannot wait to read all about it!
I adore Charleston! Hope you walk by Carolyne Roehm’s remodel – ooh that would be exciting, to see what she is up to! Walk walk walk and look at all the fabulous homes – peak in the courtyards at the gardens. Take a trolly or bus tour (must be a/c! Its HOT down here now!) In Charleston, our hotel of choice is the Mill House. Must get on a high floor, corner room to see the water. The Planters Inn is recommended too, but I prefer Mill House. Savannah – Though everyone recommends Mrs. Wilkes – you will not want to stand in line in the heat to get in for lunch, and then you have to eat at communal tables. Not for me, though it could be fun for those who like that. Try Zunzi’s for lunch – kids love it. I wrote about a GREAT restaurant on my blog today. In Savannah you are going to LOVE 700 Drayton Restaurant. LOVE! It is also really fun to eat at Vic’s on the River. River Street is very touristy but can be fun, but at night Vic’s is wonderful, especially if you get a table overlooking the River and a big ship goes by! The Olde Pink House is a treat, but eat on the first floor or downstairs. The second floor is very large, not intimate, and more like a reception room, though decorated well. Everybody says to go to Tybee, but it is no Nantucket. ANd if you’ve been spoiled by the Hamptons beaches, you are not going to think Tybee is first rate. But, you have to get into the vibe. This is Southern living – casual, laid back, beachy! It is not the Hamptons – and some love it just for that reason! You would love Kiawah Island. I have so much to say, sorry! But you know I just moved down here, so I am still pinching myself that we are here!
We travel to Kiawah Island from Florida once a year. It is one of my favorite places ever! I never get tired of it. The Sanctuary Hotel is amazing! You would love the decor.
The Penisula restaurant in Charleston is delicious as well as Poogan’s Porch.
Enjoy!
The Peninsula Grill in the Planters Inn is the unabashed champion of the quintessential southern cocktail — Planters Punch — and the main dining room is decorated by Amelia Handegan, a renowned Charleston designer whose rooms have the old-world elegance you seem to love. The six-layer coconut cake, the signature dessert, is a southern classic with a perfect crumb. (The coconut cake was the carefully selected “opponent” of Bobby Flay on “Throw Down” when Bobby wanted to see if he could surpass THE best coconut cake.) The Peninsula Grill has been hosting the same Charleston families for years and is truly a Charleston institution beloved by Charlestonians in the same way that old established restaurants like Galatoire’s, Arnaud’s, or Commanders Palace are loved in New Orleans. The restaurant is elegant and lovely…and not to be missed.
Hi Tina, we were just in a Charleston and stayed at Zero George. It was a lovely small boutique hotel. We ate at Fig and Husk and had a cooking lesson at the Zero with their resident Chef Vinson Petrillo who won Chopped. We then headed over to Kiawah Island and stayed at Sanctuary. We ate at The Atlantic a Room, Ocean and Jasmines Porch.
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In case you missed it, just yesterday afternoon I? introduced an amazing current promotion of various Staffordshire dogs, not to be missed, they are going fast but I do have some left, click here to see.
Also Phyllis over at A Ribbon in my journal is giving away a pair of my gorgeous blue and white Staffordshire dogs!! Click here to be in the running….
Hello…..thanks to all for your kind words and accolades over my sons graduation party. I really enjoyed having the last two days to revel and relive the wonderful night (and put my feet up)!? It was such a memorable and beautiful night…..I realized as much work as it was that I really do love planning parties and now am even starting to think just a little bit about my Christmas party, as crazy as that might sound:)
As the excitement of the last few weeks is dying down and I am finally having some much needed down time, I am really excited to announce my sister and I have yet again replanned our southern road trip! This is an abbreviated version than the last, with Charleston and Savannah being our two main destinations and if time allows we may be able to stop off elsewhere. As its been a long time since I have been to either, this is where you come in!
Over the years you have been amazing at offering all kinds of advice, tidbits and tips……and I remember the last time we were going to take the trip, so many of you generously emailed me with all kinds of wonderful ideas. So here is what we are seeking and though we have some ideas I would love your input so we can put the finishing touches on our trip!
Some of the things we would love to know your recommendations on……
Best hotels in Charleston and Savannah? Preferably not a bed and breakfast, something luxurious, well located and I am OCD clean:)
Restaurants…let’s face it a big part of this trip is the amazing food! I am not as concerned with a “hot spot” as I am an amazing dining experience and great food.
Shopping.….of course we have to do a little retail therapy!! Tell me your favorite shopping spots,antiques, clothing, fun stores, accessories,etc……
Travel tips….anything important we should know with regard to getting around?
Unique experiences to that area…..anything special whether it be historical or cultural that we should? not miss? Will be there late June.
So……..now it’s your turn to talk! I know you will come forth with all kinds of fabulous recommendations as you always do, please leave in comment section instead of? emailing me so this way the information can be shared and viewed by everyone. I just cannot wait, both because it’s a little getaway and because these are two iconic southern cities that I cannot wait to revisit.
Just putting this post together has me excited for our little adventure! So come on….it’s your turn to spill the beans on all of your southern favorites and if you happen to have a great idea for a few stops along the way from Charleston to Savannah, by all means do tell!? I have my pen and paper ready. If you missed the post on the big party, click here to visit. Thank you as always for stopping in, wishing you a fabulous afternoon.
Palmetto Bluff near Savannah is really nice. I hear Charleston Place hotel downtown is nice and the Sanctuary right outside of Charleston is perfect 🙂
I see you have already heard of HUSK. It is a favorite of ours. There is a hotel
I think Charleston Place. It is across from the Market. The Double Tree is nice and also
walking distance . Mills House and Francis Marion. We have stayed at all.
The rickshaws are great for getting around.
We live in Greenville (north of Charleston) we would love to have you visit our wonderful city if you
have time. Joye
Planter’s Inn for lodging.
Peninsula Grill and Oak for dining.
Bob Ellis for shoes!
In Charleston,the Charleston Place hotel is gorgeous,also the Market Pavillon Hotel is a great hotel,it has a pool on the roof and a famous rooftop bar!!!! they give you dollar coupons for drink and food,its nice to go shopping in the morning and sightseeing and then go sit by the pool with a drink in the heat and relax!!!!Phone #843-723-0500,great food at the Palmetto hotel,you have to make reservations!!! The slave museum is a very interesting place to visit!!!! Shops on King St are the best,and antique shops too !!!! when i think of more i’ll let you know!!!!!
Elizabeth’s in Savannah is nice and the Gryphon Tea Room is great for lunch. Also One Fish Two Fish is a great little shop. Also the Paris Flea Market.
There are quite a few shops on Whitker Street. The Telfair is always nice.
Sumets in Charleston is nice for lunch. The Charleston Place hotel is very nice.
Best Hotel – Planters Inn.
Dress is Casual – No ties are required
Bill Harris, Oyster Point Tours, is the go to guide (843)729-4662. Bill owns the company. If you like to ask questions, let him take them solo. If they like a little group participation, go with a group. We took the group tour but I asked most of the questions and then asked him to take lunch with us.
He chose CRU which was wonderful and a must. I had fried green tomatoes, pork belly and grits. It was beyond description. I am sure he will accompany you as well, if you ask in advance. Bill is fast talking, opinionated, and smart as a whip. Do ask him what he thinks of Lee and his high command as to their strategy and tactics during the war of secession.
Charleston is a foodies paradise.
Again, Bill gave us the low down on the new best spots in Charleston. I found Chez Nous on Payne Street and Macintosh on King (?) to be out of this world.
I did not take to Hank’s as much as my husband. We split a trigger fish and an order of grits and shrimp with a couple of side salads. All were primo but the place is too loud for me and a little rushed.
Ask that PI try to get you the driver named Wiley to do all of your driving to and from the Air Port and to Chez Nous. All of these service providers,
Concierge, Bill and Wiley, are graduates of College of Charleston and thoroughly vetted by PI.
After the first day, you can walk most places as the town is very simple to navigate. The Pedi cabs are also available, cheaper than a cab and fun. For the longer hauls use Wiley.
You can, for example, walk from PI to and from the wharf for your bay or Ft. Sumter tour. You must take one or the other.
Walk up Meeting Street to the Charleston Museum. The walk is 15 min. each way. An hour in the museum will orient you to the culture and the life
style of early Charleston.
As some of the roads and streets are cobblestone or brick, one should wear a flat soled shoe. The more heal the more the chance to catch it and turn an ankle.
I’m from NY but got married in Charleston, you will love it!
Charleston Place is definitely the place to stay. Best in the city. Book soon though, it fills up fast.
Get the coconut cake at Peninsula grill, it will blow your mind, so good. Cru Cafe, looks like a hole in the wall but amazing food. Get the shrimp BLT. S.N.O.B. is also excellent, need reservations or you won’t get in. Husk is what everyone will tell you to do, worth going once at least, get the pimento cheese.
Kiawah is 45 minutes away, you might want to spend a night at the Sanctuary. It’s beautiful, also a 5 star hotel.
Enjoy!
Just returned home from Charleston. We stayed at the Charleston Place which was extremely nice and right near everything. Here are some of the restaurants we enjoyed: lunch–Sermet’s, Rarebits, Virginia’s, Slightly North of Broad; Low Country Bistro; dinner–The Ordinary, Fig, Magnolia’s, Hank’s Seafood. Make reservations for dinner well in advance! The good ones book up early. Really enjoyed Bin 152 (wine and cheese!) after a day of shopping or golf. Highly recommend a carriage tour to hear the history of Charleston. Battery Park is beautiful. Would love to live in one of those historic homes. Buy a “buddy bag” from Lily of Charleston–too cute! Shop for your husband at M. Dumas (great service). Enjoy the Southern hospitality! Next trip is Savannah, so share your faves from there. Have fun.
Good afternoon, Tina! WOOO HOOO! You deserve a wonderful get-away for you have been working around the clock with parties and end-of-the-school-year activities. I wish you a fun and safe trip and from the looks of these photos, the south has much to offer. The farthest I’ve been is Virginia, to Williamsburg….OH MY….if you can, go there for some fabulous American history in reenactment. We will miss you, but have a blast! Anita
I have no experience to share, but will LOVE experiencing it through your post-trip posts : )
Your readers will have you perfectly prepared and visiting all the right spots. Can’t wait to hear about it!!
Sounds like a ton of fun! I’ve never been, so will be reading everyone’s suggestions and filing them away for a future adventure. Happy planning, Tina. Glad you got to put your feet up a bit! XOXO
The NYT just had a wonderful article on the best restaurants in Charleston. There were some great restaurants on the list!
I agree with Charleston Place to stay. Poogan’s Porch is a wonderful restaurant, the food is southern and 5 star.
The best seafood is on Shem Creek.
Enjoy!
We enjoyed our stay at Planter’s Inn a couple of years ago. Had an amazing dinner at S.N.O.B. We also really loved our walking tour of the many lovely gardens in Charleston.
The Hamilton-Turner Inn in Savannah is lovely! It’s impeccably clean and comfortable, definitely luxurious, with a lovely breakfast and other treats provided during the day. We’ve stayed a number of times and have never been disappointed. (You have a picture of it above!) The Old Pink House is one restaurant in Savannah NOT to be missed! Yum!
We’ve stayed at the Wentworth Mansion in Charleston, also a lovely and clean place with an adjoining restaurant that was quite a treat and delight.
Hi was just in Savannah stay at Inn at Palmetto Bluff, it is fabulous!
Loved Mrs. Wilkes dining room and Old Pink House also dined at Paula Deens restaurant and had a delightful meal. We love it there, its really like going back in time. Great antique shops too, wish I could remember the name.
Charleston Place or Planters Inn for Charleston. Husk is wonderful and so is Fig and The Grocery. We love the south and though we live in CT. we get down often as both our kids are in school there. Enjoy Tina, sounds like a really fun trip!
The Ordinary for seafood on King St. in Charleston is amazing. Also had a nice brunch at the Charleston Grill. We stay with my sister in law when we go so cannot say much about hotels but Charleston Place and Planters Inn seem to be the two popular high end places to stay.
Dress cool…its very humid and wear comfortable shoes and a hat. There are many who do private tours which you and your sister would probably love. It is a wonderful and very hospitable city. I cannot wait to hear how you like it.
We have been to Charleston three times and Kiawah twice. Love them both. We stayed at Charleston Place hotel and it was so nice, and close to great shopping right across the street. And although, we did not stay at The Sanctuary, we have eaten there and have good friends that just stayed there and said it was absolutely their favorite place on their trip across the country. The beach there is amazing and we were able to go to river separating Kiawah and Seabrook Island and watch dolphins strand feeding. It is spectacular to watch and one of only a couple places to see it.
Tina – If you want to enjoy wonderful food in a Charleston garden, visit 82 Queen (the address as well as the name of the restaurant). It’s as if someone invited you into their garden for dinner. It’s tucked away from the main restaurant areas, but it is well worth finding!
I was fortunate enough to visit my girls at the College Of Charleston for 16 semesters as there is 7 years between them. I love it there and go back with them on occasions for alumni events and weddings. The two new, really hot, on trend restaurants this year are “The Ordinary” a fabulous oyster menu amoung other delights and “Xiou Bao Bisquit” which is a truly incredible Asian restaurant. It is only open for dinner and does not take reservations, so unforgettable. The grilled shredded cabbage pancake and Brussel sprouts were amazing! Both of these are north of Calhoun so take the ricksha ride. My favorite times to go are March and October for all the home and garden tours, a different street every night. It will be incredibly hot and humid in late June. Shop in the air conditioning during the day, take a ghost tour at night when it cools down, a little spooky fun mixed with history. Planters Inn has my vote for most elegant lodging. What a fun trip! You will love it.
I live an hour and a half from charleston and we go there frequently. The Charleston Place is beautiful and nice if you stay in one of the upper levels, but the service there is terrible. It definitely has the best location, and the restaurants there are fabulous. But they really have terrible service. They treat you like they are entitled to your business. A much more beautiful and charming place that we have lately frequented, since our bad experience at CP is the Wentworth Mansion. Its a B and B but you would never know its classified that way. Its more like a tiny hotel with huge beautiful rooms. It is seriously gorgeous and I believe has a five star rating. The canap?s in the afternoon are great but I haven’t visited their restaurant.
In between Savannah and Charleston is one of the most beautiful places I have ever stayed. It’s called Sanctuary. The restaurants there are great and there is so much to do. Charleston gets old after a day or two, especially in this heat, and Sanctuary is a half out drive to downtown Charleston, so its a great place to go and stay. There is a private beach that’s great for bike rides and they have amazing seashells and sand dollars all over the place. It’s really a special place. Reminds me of Terra Nea in California if you have ever been there. My husband loves to golf there too.
Hope these help!
sorry I have not been to Charleston lately + sounds like a wonderful trip. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
Oh, my gosh! I’ve never been there but the pics are beautiful! Can I be your stowaway? 🙂 What a fun sisterly-girly-girl trip you will have! Is Lady & Son’s Paula Deen’s restaurant?
Andaz Savannah Hotel is currently my favorite place to stay in Savannah. It is near the riverfront, and is within walking distance to many restaurants, shopping, etc., and is kind of urban-hip too! It also has a great organic breakfast! I love eating at Vic’s on the River. The food is good and looking out the huge windows on the streetside is part of the charm for me. I would also recommend Garibaldi’s Restaurant. The Crystal Beer Parlor is a local favorite and one of mine too for casual food and peach cobbler. The ShopSCAD has interesting things made by the students at Savannah College of Art and Design and is worth a visit to shop and see what young designers are creating – and it is in a pretty neighborhood. Also, northeast of Savannah is Beaufort, SC., kind of halfway between Savannah and Charleston. It is a quaint old Southern town with antebellum homes. Enjoy your trip!
The Bohemian Riverfront in Savannah is my first choice always! Love laying in bed and watching the ships navigate the river…..within walking distance to great shopping and restaurants and then there’s the Riversteet vibe. No trip to Savannah is complete without a side trip out onto Tybee Island…….especially the lighthouse and there are some great diners. Hope you enjoy your trip South! Maybe you can make it back some fall and can make it up to the North Georgia Mountains…your blog followers up here would love to show you some southern hospitality.
Since we just returned to Los Angeles from a fabulous trip hitting both those lovely spots and Hilton Head in between, I must share our fav spots!
1. Savannah-dinner at Old Pink House. Their signature fish was fabulous! The Paris Flea Market is not to be missed. Felt like I was in Niece.
2. Working up the coast, you MUST at least drive thru Palmetto Bluffs. GORGEOUS. The restaurant there was incredible for lunch. Best flatbread w/chicken, BBQ sauce, caramelized onions ever! Great fish tacos.
3. Just north of Palmetto Bluffs, before Hilton Head is the most charming town, Bluffton. On a whim and someone’s urging, we stopped by Calhoun St and LOVED the shops! The most fun shop we have ever been in (and considering my friend Cathee’s shopping resume that is a huge compliment to the owner!) is Eggs “n” Tricities. LOVE IT! The outside is cute but it is absolutely nothing like the inside!!! We had to go back a second day to see if we saw and bought everything!!!!
4. HiltonHead- A must is riding bike on the sand along the water! You could never do that in CA! Best activity we did!!
5. Charleston is wonderful, charming. You must see the buddy bags at Lily of Charleston. Their black grosgrain bow with white camellia is my favorite summer bag!
Enjoy!! We certainly did!
savannah and charleston would be my two favorite choices….i’ve been to both several times and loved every minute! you’ve got some great suggestions and if you need more amanda from dixie delights lives in atlanta but is from savannah and could give you wonderful suggestions! enjoy your trip and practice saying “ya’ll”!
I am a native of Savannah, GA. While I love my hometown, I recommend 82 Queen Street in Charleston as well as Magnolia’s for dining.
While you are visiting Savannah, GA please make a point to visit Mrs. Wilkes Boarding House on Jones Street. This is Savannah’s original
southern style home cooking where you will be ushered in at 11:30 where the blessing will be said by Mrs. Wilkes granddaughter, you will eat
a fabulous home cooked meal prepared by and overseen by Mrs. Wilkes great grandson Ryan. You will thoroughly enjoy sitting at a table
and passing the delicious food and homemade biscuits in traditional boarding house style!!!!! Garibaldi’s is a definite must for dinner. If you happen to venture out to Tybee Island you will want to make a reservation and eat at Sundae Cafe. I forgot to mention while in downtown
Savannah dining at The Pink House is another must and walking over to Leopold’s Ice Cream for a delicious ice cream treat. Make sure to
make time to go for a stroll through our beautiful squares and especially the beautiful Forsyth Park!!!! Enjoy our southern hospitality while
visiting our beautiful city!!!!!
We’ve enjoyed a couple of visits to the wonderful city of Charleston. We ‘ve enjoyed staying at the beautiful Wentworth Mansion, which is a 21 room inn ,totally restored. Beautiful chandeliers, stained glass windows and antiques are throughout. Although quite ornate, there is a coziness that welcomes you. The Circa 1886 restaurant is on the premises, where we have enjoyed many meals. Shrimp and grits recommended! I am sure you would totally enjoy your stay at the Wentworth!!
I just had so much fun reading all these posts I am inspired to plan a trip there myself! LOL Have fun Tina and please give us a review when you get back.
In SAVANNAH…there are several great B&B’s..but for a hotel I love The Mansion on Forsyth. It was a Kessler Hotel but now understand it is owned/run by Marriott. Great location, restoration, decor and artwork.
For shopping..I love One Fish Two Fish on the corner of East Jones and Whitaker, Goucho at E. Liberty and Bull(I believe)..cati-cornered from the DeSoto Hilton, and Daedulus Art Gallery. There is also a great antique shop on Washington at, I believe, Abercorn.
The Pink House and Garibaldi’s are special for fine dining..as well as 1790 Historic buildings, beautiful decor and great food and have been for many years. For a casual restaurant..we love the historic Crystal Beer Parlor.
DONT drive. Park and then walk. BUT do get into your car and take a drive out to Bonaventure Cemetary. Also.. a fun day trip is to explore Tybee Island..quirky and fun. IF you have time, also drive out to Wormsloe…very beautiful and historic.
Tina,
You will LOVE Charleston! I prefer going before June or after August. The heat in the summer with the humidity is like trying to breathe through cream soup, especially in Savannah LOL. I have been to Charleston many, many times. Favorite hotel – The Vendue, favorite lunch spot – Amen Street. Favorite place for dinner – Magnolias, must have reservations. Antiques – Kings Street. Shopping straight to the market and buy a sweetgrass basket. They are gorgeous and you can watch them being made.
Have been to Savannah 3 times. Sorry, but it just doesnt measure up to Charleston in my opinion. And the homeless people are very aggressive. Paula Deens was my favorite restaurant. Good ole southern food.
Cant wait for your post and to see what your favorites are!
If you are going to savannah you should definitely visit the Inn at palmetto Bluff. It’s absolutely amazing! It’s not actually in Savannah but the drive is not bad!
No suggestions, sweet Tina. Just best wishes for a wonderful trip!
You are going to have such fun. Walking down King St. and dining at Husk were highlights for me (though my husband didn’t care for Husk and felt it was overrated) we stayed at Charleston Place and loved it, would go back. There are many restaurants there and this is a foodie town, our favorite meal was at a casual place but the food was incredible, called Slightly north of broad. There are many great places to dine and shop.
Was only in Savannah for one day but had lunch at Olde Pink House and dinner at Paula Deens and loved both, they were really southern and a treat for this northern girl. Seeing the pictures and reading all the comments makes me want to go back. Have fun Tina.
All I know is after reading this post and all these comments, I need to plan a trip down south SOON!
While it is not Savannah or Charleston you are way too close to Sea Island to miss out on such a wonderful
experience. Sea Island is only an hour and a half from Savannah and so worth the drive. The Cloister
Hotel is so lovely. I know you will appreciate the natural beauty, history, architecture, design, wonderful resturants, service, and beautiful homes on the island. It is truly a must see. You will want to make arrangements
for a night’s stay or reservations for dinner as it is now a gated island. The Lodge on St. Simmons Island (Sea Island’s Golf Club) is also lovely. It has a beautiful setting with fine dinning as well. St. Simmons Island is adjacent
to Sea Island.
Can’t wait to see your post on this vacation. Have been to Savannah several times and to Charleston many times. Charleston is one of my favorite places for a vacation. The shopping, dining and just walking around viewing the beautiful homes and gardens is wonderful. Mrs. Wilkes Boarding House for lunch if you want to partake of real southern food. Charleston Place is nice, but to get a feel for the southern culture, a stay in one of the older beautiful hotels would be a good choice. Have a wonderful time and try some She Crab Soup. Yummy! PattyB
Don’t miss the chance to dine at Old Pink House in Savannah, it is a must do. I also loved taking a private tour of the city and a few antebellum homes, that is such a “southern treat”. If you love antiques which I believe you do, you will be in heaven, so many great shops. We bought several chandeliers and a gorgeous French mantle on our last trip there. Have fun Tina, the graduation party pictures were spectacular!
Who needs a travel agent when you have blogging friend?!!! I know they you will have a marvelous time. Try to meet the crazy cast of Southern Charm!
I entered the giveaway! Keeping my fingers crossed.
Teresa
xoxo
Love The Sanctuary which is a little drive from Charleston but worth it. Take it from a southener, it will be very hot and humid from now through mid October.
You are SO lucky! I am going through a little bit of Dixie withdrawal right now!
In Charleston – Fig, Husk, Two Boroughs Larder, The Ordinary and my personal favorite, Hominy Grill, are all not to be missed restaurants in Charleston. My niece who lives in Charleston says Martha Lou’s has the “best damn chicken”. Make sure you hit up the antique stores along King Street, as well as the Historic Charleston Shop for pretty reproductions. Make sure you visit a couple of the houses that are part of Historic Charleston to see absolutely stunning antiques “in situ”. You can spend hours just wandering the streets “South of Broad” and along the Battery. Don’t miss visiting one of the gorgeous nearby plantations such as Middleton Place (beautiful gardens) or Drayton Hall.
Charleston is such a fabulous place to visit – I would skip Savannah altogether and spend all my time in Charleston. Have fun, Tina!! xoxo
Hello Tina,
I think your road trip sounds amazing, Charleston and Savannah are two of my favorite places to visit.
As with several other comments, I love The Pink House, it is quaint and delicious, have a cocktail in the basement in front of the fireplace even if it is hot. And make sure to visit, Back in the Day Bakery…quaint and delicious treats to eat.
Visit the French Market and Once Fish Two, bother great stores with beautiful merchandise.
We love to stay at the Forsyth Inn.
Have a great week Tina, if I think of any more I will come back
How I would love to visit Charleston and Savannah one day! Thanks so much to you for the beautiful pictures, and to your readers for the tips and recommandations!
The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island is perfectly lovely! It is all Southern Charm and quite beautiful facing the water! Its quite stunning! Have a fantastic time…I cannot wait to read all about it!
Mrs. Wilkes restaurant in Savannah!
I adore Charleston! Hope you walk by Carolyne Roehm’s remodel – ooh that would be exciting, to see what she is up to! Walk walk walk and look at all the fabulous homes – peak in the courtyards at the gardens. Take a trolly or bus tour (must be a/c! Its HOT down here now!) In Charleston, our hotel of choice is the Mill House. Must get on a high floor, corner room to see the water. The Planters Inn is recommended too, but I prefer Mill House. Savannah – Though everyone recommends Mrs. Wilkes – you will not want to stand in line in the heat to get in for lunch, and then you have to eat at communal tables. Not for me, though it could be fun for those who like that. Try Zunzi’s for lunch – kids love it. I wrote about a GREAT restaurant on my blog today. In Savannah you are going to LOVE 700 Drayton Restaurant. LOVE! It is also really fun to eat at Vic’s on the River. River Street is very touristy but can be fun, but at night Vic’s is wonderful, especially if you get a table overlooking the River and a big ship goes by! The Olde Pink House is a treat, but eat on the first floor or downstairs. The second floor is very large, not intimate, and more like a reception room, though decorated well. Everybody says to go to Tybee, but it is no Nantucket. ANd if you’ve been spoiled by the Hamptons beaches, you are not going to think Tybee is first rate. But, you have to get into the vibe. This is Southern living – casual, laid back, beachy! It is not the Hamptons – and some love it just for that reason! You would love Kiawah Island. I have so much to say, sorry! But you know I just moved down here, so I am still pinching myself that we are here!
Charleston…..French Quarter Inn
Dinner…Hall’s Chop House
You won’t be disappointed … Take a pedicab. Fun ride !
We travel to Kiawah Island from Florida once a year. It is one of my favorite places ever! I never get tired of it. The Sanctuary Hotel is amazing! You would love the decor.
The Penisula restaurant in Charleston is delicious as well as Poogan’s Porch.
Enjoy!
The Peninsula Grill in the Planters Inn is the unabashed champion of the quintessential southern cocktail — Planters Punch — and the main dining room is decorated by Amelia Handegan, a renowned Charleston designer whose rooms have the old-world elegance you seem to love. The six-layer coconut cake, the signature dessert, is a southern classic with a perfect crumb. (The coconut cake was the carefully selected “opponent” of Bobby Flay on “Throw Down” when Bobby wanted to see if he could surpass THE best coconut cake.) The Peninsula Grill has been hosting the same Charleston families for years and is truly a Charleston institution beloved by Charlestonians in the same way that old established restaurants like Galatoire’s, Arnaud’s, or Commanders Palace are loved in New Orleans. The restaurant is elegant and lovely…and not to be missed.
Hi Tina, we were just in a Charleston and stayed at Zero George. It was a lovely small boutique hotel. We ate at Fig and Husk and had a cooking lesson at the Zero with their resident Chef Vinson Petrillo who won Chopped. We then headed over to Kiawah Island and stayed at Sanctuary. We ate at The Atlantic a Room, Ocean and Jasmines Porch.
Definitely, Savannah GA is the best trip ever! Try to look for nice or the best hotels in the area here, https://www.visitsavannah.com/hotels-motels. Hope it helps!