Charleston Recs

LINK

Never stayed at the other one but the Vendue is my favorite hotel in Charleston.

Besides FIG, I like SNOB, Anson and the Peninsula Grill.

I lived there for a short period of time many years ago and downtown was nice, but are you saying downtown is now sketchy and gross?

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but are you saying downtown is now sketchy and gross?

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No, just really really touristy. It caters to tourists. Fat yankees with fanny packs that tip the tour guide extra if he kneels at the battery to atone for the city's first shots of the Civil War. But I digress...

Going downtown was cool the first 6 months of living there, but it got old quick. I suppose it's convenient if you live or stay downtown, but it's for the birds if you are in Mt Pleasant, James Island, etc.

The guy above mentioned Bowen's Island, I absolutely recommend that oyster "shack" for the town's only true oyster roast vibe.

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The Mills hotel.

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My girlfriend is one of the sales leads there. They just finished a massive renovation. It’s really nice now, great location, the pool deck is excellent and it might still be warm enough to swim in Oct.

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Would also appreciate any other recommendations for things to do during the day and places to hit for cocktails. Any food tours or pub crawls worth doing?

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Palmetto Breeze catamaran sunset cruise out of Shem, hang around there after (the Carolina Belle that leaves from downtown is also good and you’ll see more dolphins), horse carriage tour, walk/run from White Point Gardens to the Pineapple Fountain along the Battery, you can also walk across the Ravenel Bridge...great view from the top. If it’s still running the Charleston Eco Tours Morris Island Lighthouse trip is awesome.

If you're here on a Saturday and want to hit a bunch of breweries on the upper side of the peninsula, there's a free trolley that runs between 9 of them. The breweries aren't all that great, but it's a fun way to spend an afternoon.

I'd also just suggest you walk around the south of Broad area of the peninsula. The architecture is stunning, the history is amazing...pick random streets (Tradd, Legare, King south of Broad are awesome), check out the houses, walk the graveyards, stop at random shops, it's a great way to see it all.

Charleston Farmers Market on Saturdays at Marion Square is fun.

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As a former resident, my opinion of downtown Charleston is much like many New Orleans residents would say of the French Quarter.

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I respectfully disagree.

If you haven't been over to Sullivan's Island, take a trip out there and try to eat at The Obstinate Daughter and Poe's Tavern. There's also a place to get wine slushies that women seem to really like right down the road from those two restaurants.
The beach is really nice as well. They let dogs on the beach in the morning so there's dogs everywhere until 10am.

Just be careful trying to drink on Sullivans. And the place you’re thinking of is Coop. Don’t walk around with the slushies in the container they give you.

It’s a $1,000 fine so figured it was worth mentioning.