Overview
** CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA **
Read travel tips for Charleston, South Carolina from our amazing community of BLACK AND BROWN TRAVELERS that will help you find some of the best places to visit Charleston, South Carolina. Our variety of travel tips will definitely help you plan your next trip. Our tips range from best places to visit in Charleston, South Carolina, affordability, nightlife, local food, where to stay and even what it is like Traveling While Black. Lastly, we are working diligently to create a comprehensive city guide for Charleston, South Carolina. Stay tuned! But in the meantime, scroll down to read tips below!
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Halls Chophouse Sunday Gospel Brunch in historic district Charleston was a beautiful and delicious way to spend my birthday long weekend in South Carolina. My husband and I have visited, just the two of us, as well as with our young son. No matter how we travel to Charleston, we have an amazing time in the “low-country”. There is some sensitive history for anyone of African descent, but with that in mind you can still have an enjoyable time exploring restaurants, museums, plantations, and shopping. If you love city and beach-fun, it’s a great destination, because it includes both! Folly Beach, Isle of Palms, and further ones on James or Kiawah Island to name a few are so beautiful. They keep me and my family coming back to make more memories.
While visiting downtown Charleston we visited the marketplace which is a long road filled with a lot of African American history. I purchased a couple pieces of African art. Not sure the name of the restaurant but they served good down home soul food.
This is home to the Emanuel A.M.E Church where the young man attended a Bible study and then opened fire on members of the congregation. I happened to visit in the anniversary of the shooting. It was a solo trip. At no time during my visit did I feel uncomfortable. During my visit there was also a protest for the removal of a confederate statue. Charleston is a beautiful city with lots of history to offer.
If you’re interested in history, Charleston is deeply rooted in slavery and the civil war. It’s a heavy history and you can definitely feel the energy of the ancestors. So, if you’re an empath be sure to ground yourself. The atmosphere can be heavy, especially at night, which is probably a reason everything in Charleston closes early. The best places to visit for a historical trip are as follows:
Boone Hall Plantation – There are original slave quarters onsite, a cotton field, and cotton loading dock. It is also the only Plantation that has a Gullah Geechee presentation with actors of that ancestry. And it’s one of the filming locations for ‘The Notebook ‘
https://www.boonehallplantation.com/
McLeod Plantation – The most authentic Plantation tour. No whitewashed commentary, just the honest truth of a slave labor camp.
https://www.ccprc.com/1447/McLeod-Plantation-Historic-Site
Slave Mart Museum – The actual site where slaves were auctioned has now been turned into a museum. It is small, with a lot of information.
https://www.charleston-sc.gov/160/Old-Slave-Mart-Museum
Aiken Rhett house – This historical home and slave quarters was the most extensive of all of the historical homes in the city center. If you can only visit 1 during your trip, I suggest this one.
https://www.historiccharleston.org/house-museums/aiken-rhett-house/
Nathaniel Russell House – this historical home is also worth visiting. It is one one the best preserved and lavishly furnished homes in the city center.
https://www.historiccharleston.org/house-museums/nathaniel-russell-house/
There is also a fantastic Gullah Geechee tour I recommend. There are 2 tour companies that offer them, but this one is the best and the tour director is from Charleston and of that ancestry.
https://gullahtours.com/
If you’re interested in a good Gullah Geechee Soul Food meal I suggest:
Hannibals Soul Food Kitchen
https://hannibalkitchen.com/
Nigels Good Food
https://nigelsgoodfood.com/
We didn’t experience any issues traveling while Black in Charleston. The locals were friendly. It’s definitely more of a quiet and laid back city. There is not a lot of nightlife and excitement. It’s a beautiful city that is worth 1 visit.
Lots of history especially with the Gullah Geechee Community. Eat only where the local Geechee people say. There are alot of imitators!
Things to do: Downtown Charleston. Visit the market. Take a stroll down East Bay street and walk along the battery. If you have kids, the Waterfront park is a must stop. 2. Visit the Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka distillery in Wadmala (about 30 min outside of Charleston). 3. Visit the Angle Oak Tree on john’s Island. 4. Run (or walk) the Ravenel Bridge. 5. I almost forgot. Fort Sumter. 6. Patriot’s point. 7. Boone Hall Plantation. There is so much more you will uncover when you visit.
Food: Seafood-Hank’s and Fleet Landing. Steak-Oak. BBQ-HomeTeam. There are so many non-chain restaurants with amazing food you cannot go wrong. Here is a quick list: Halls Chophouse, Hominy grill, Husk, and Cotton.
Drinks: 1. Gin Joint. They shave their own ice. 2. Vendue Roof top. Grill 225 has a nice rooftop with amazing with of the sunset and Customs house. There are so many establishment on upper king and east bay street.
Beaches: Folly Beach for the majority of party-goers and tourists. Isle of Palms for a more relaxed time.
Traveling while Black: I honestly have to say that true Charleston folks pride themselves on Southern hospitality and treating people nice. You should have zero concerns visiting Charleston. I lived there for two years while in college and it was great!