South Carolina (Charleston)
Trip Summary
At the end of the year, my husband and I were burnt out and needed to go somewhere, so we started looking for beach destinations. We also wanted to bring our dogs to save on boarding costs (and I am so glad we did as this trip ended up being the last one we took with our pups before our bulldog passed away suddenly just a few months later).
Charleston fit the bill for us, because we also wanted to see the beach (Folly Beach was close by, and we also stayed there for a few days–see my post here for reviews and suggestions!). Charleston was a city we hadn’t been to before, and we had actually planned to come here before Covid, but then the trip kept getting postponed.
However, we had 50,000 Hyatt points to use (awarded to us after a terrible stay at a Hyatt property–more on that in my Los Cabos post!), and what better place than Charleston to use these points for a free vacation?
Hyatt had a property downtown, was pet-friendly, and very close to all the restaurants and attractions, so we booked the Hyatt House Charleston / Historic District and set off for our workcation! We got a room whose window faced the entrance, and our pups loved people watching from the window.
Restaurants were just across the street, and you could easily walk to the docks to catch the ferry/water taxis, and the famous landmarks like the Pineapple Fountain were an easy stroll away.
So for its location, the hotel gets points.
…but true to our previous frustrations with Hyatt, the chain’s faults started showing themselves pretty quickly. The staff at the front desk was exceptionally rude, and every time we went to the front desk, we were completely ignored and at one point, we were even talking directly to a staff member, and she looked straight back at us, and then ignored us like we weren’t there. It was honestly just the oddest thing, and my husband and I looked at one another, thinking, is this a prank? Is there a camera watching us or something, because this is just the weirdest thing ever.
Also, the hotel was old and things seemed to be falling apart. The doors were the biggest problem as they had swollen in the humidity and had a very hard time opening and closing. Honestly, you had to throw your body into it to open or close it, so that made entering and exiting your room an adventure. The doors in other areas of the hotel had difficulty opening and closing, too, and the gym’s door was so bad that the entrance was blocked off completely. The only way that you could go inside the gym was to go downstairs, cross the lobby, then go back upstairs on the other side of the gym and enter that way. So that made things irritating–not to mention unsafe as I imagine sticky doors are not the best in an emergency situation.
The shower also wouldn’t drain, the television signal kept going in and out, the wifi was slow, and the hot water didn’t seem to be working. The air also seemed to be stuck on heat as the whole building seemed to be steaming. The gym was the worst place for it as the vents were blasting hot air into the room, so that definitely hampered the experience.
We still have 5,000 Hyatt points left, so we’ll have another Hyatt experience sometime in the future, but yeah, this chain hasn’t been impressing me so far. We used to love it as we have had amazing stays before, but things have been slipping lately, so I’ll leave this one with a subpar rating–there are definitely better places to stay in Charleston.
Hyatt House Charleston / Historic District: C+
But enough about subpar things–let’s talk about what makes Charleston amazing! The food! The sights! The history! There are actually a number of things you can do for free/cheap, so I’ll start with those. By far, the best free thing to do is visit the Angel Oak Tree. It’s a massive tree with enormous branches that just stretch on forever. It’s also a great picture spot, so bring your camera and be prepared to just stand in awe at this tree’s complete and utter majesty!
There are a number of rules to follow at the park (and dogs are allowed but only in a designated section away from the tree), so my husband and I took turns seeing the tree while the other stayed with the pups. They also don’t allow things like tripods, food, drink, blankets, and so on, so it’s more like a visit and go spot versus a stay and have lunch by the tree spot. But that visit is really so nice, because the tree is quiet and peaceful, and you can find so many good angles just walking around the tree and exploring its size and grandeur.
So if you only see one thing in Charleston, let it be the Angel Oak Tree! A magnificent sight that you will remember forever!
Angel Oak Tree: A+
Another great attraction of Charleston is Patriots Point and the USS Yorktown. You can either drive over there and see the museum or you can take the Charleston Water Taxi, and it will go all over the harbor and make a stop at Patriots Point/USS Yorktown. The latter is what we decided to do as we had our dogs, and the museum is not dog-friendly (understandably, of course). Our fur kids also hadn’t been on a boat in a long time, so we thought it would be a perfect way to see the harbor and enjoy the sights as the sun began to set.
While the water taxi place was a little difficult to find initially, the water taxi ride was lovely and a great bang for your buck as you could get an all-day pass for a very reasonable price. They also allowed pups, so we brought ours on board and enjoyed the views as we floated along the coastline and took in the sights. When going to Patriots Point, the water taxi actually gets quite close to the USS Yorktown, so you have the chance to get up close and personal with the vessel as it towers overhead.
On the way back to town, the water taxi takes its time moving in and out of coves where dolphins are frequently spotted and sure enough, we spotted a few! It was such a cool sight to see them in the wild. The captain also talked to us and shared stories about the city, so all in all, it was a fantastic way to spend the evening. Highly recommend!
Charleston Water Taxi: A+
If you want to spend some more money, you can take a ferry all the way out to Fort Sumter and see the historical battle fortress on its own island. That trip is a bigger time investment as the boats are scheduled for the trip out to the island, a tour while there and time to browse the sights, and then the return trip, and that all took up an afternoon. It was one of the big things I wanted to see while there, though, and I was able do that and leave the pups with my husband while he finished up his work meetings.
The journey out and back were smooth, the tour at For Sumter was well-run, and the museum was interesting. I like museums where you can freely wonder and explore the sights without a lot of restrictions, and this place fit the bill with open grassy areas, cannons, and little nooks and crannies everywhere that held so much history!
So I highly recommend Fort Sumter Tours. The boat tour is a great way to see the harbor (though it can get chilly in non-summer months, so bring some layers!) and the historical sights were intriguing and fun to explore. Ticket prices are a bit pricy, especially if you are taking your whole family, but it is a nice way to spend the afternoon.
Fort Sumter Tours: A
But you know that there is more to Charleston than tours, right? The food! There are so many places here to try, and honestly, they are all so good!
One of our favorite spots was in Mount Pleasant nearby. We had originally planned to eat at Page’s Okra Grill, but they were closed (a lot of eateries are either closed or have limited hours post-pandemic), so we changed course and decided to eat at Coleman Public House….and it was so good that we have been trying to recreate the meals at home since….to no avail as the food was just that delicious!
Our hands-down favorite was their Aloha Fries, and my husband exclaimed that we had been eating French fries wrong our entire lives…fries had to be enjoyed Aloha style with spicy aoli, soy glaze, scallions, and furikake!
It was such an unusual mix that we asked the waitress how the cooks came up with it, and she said they just experimented with ingredients they liked…and viola! Viola indeed, because it was one of our favorites from the whole trip!
And the food here was even better than the famous Page’s Okra Grill where we went the next day when they were actually open. But oh! Coleman Public House is where the food is AT!
Coleman Public House: A+
So as you know, we eventually came back to enjoy Page’s Okra Grill, and that was good, too, but after those fries, it’s hard for anyone to top that! But Page’s is excellent and they do, indeed, have good food as we tried their pimento cheese fries and entrees–my husband trying his first ever oyster there!
The staff was also excellent, and our waiter was happy to suggest good entrees and even let my husband try a single oyster without us ordering a whole plate. My husband actually likes oysters a lot now–thanks to this place!
The outside area is also very spacious and they let in pups, so our dogs were happy to enjoy the sights and smells as they patiently waited at our feet.
Page’s Okra Grill: A
Another place we stopped at was Bohemian Bull Tavern and Beer Garden, and that was a nice place to hang out, because it had a big open outdoor space with tables, a stage for outdoor music, and even games set up outside. It seemed like a great place to spend summer evenings, so I recommend that as a hangout spot!
Their food was good, too, and I enjoyed their cheesesteak. They had friendly staff and a big beer selection, too, so if you are in the area, this is a good place to stop!
Bohemian Bull Tavern and Beer Garden: A
One other stop we stopped at was Chucktown Brewery. It was close to our hotel and was a good stopping point as we walked our pups downtown and to and from the water taxi. They had an area out back where they let in dogs, and the staff was nice, the drinks tasty, and the decor was cute.
They also serve snack foods, and their pretzel was delicious and perfect alongside a brewski!
Chucktown Brewery: A
Now, I know that there are a lot of eateries missing from this list–like Husk, Poogan’s Porch, The Ordinary, Fig, Magnolia’s, and so many others! With only a few days in town (and our dogs with us), we had some limitations on where we could go (and many places were booked up anyway, so make your reservations early!), but if you go, make plans as soon as you can, and enjoy the culinary wonderfulness that is Charleston!
There are so many great things about the city, it felt safe walking even at night, and there was a lot to see, so make sure to put this place on your vacation list! I am certainly glad that we visited!
Favorite Experiences
The evening we spent out on the water taxi was probably my favorite while we were in Charleston. It was such a quiet, relaxing experience that it almost felt like a private sunset cruise. We took it at just the right time as the light was starting to change and watching the dolphins, the sun setting on the shoreline, and the water glide past as we saw the bridge, Patriots Point, and the highlights of Charleston was a nice way to spend the evening.
While one of our dogs had been on a boat before, our rescue dog (and very nervous golden retriever) had not, so he wasn’t sure what to think of this boat that he was supposed to get on. So he did what he does in all scary situations….and played dead, haha, so we had to carry him on board, but it made for a funny scene as the whole boat was watching while my husband carried this big, limp Wookie on board. He eventually warmed up to the boat, but it is still a funny memory and one that I look back on fondly as it was one of the last times we would go somewhere with a dog pack of two.
What I Wish I Knew
Having already postponed our trip to Charleston due to the pandemic, there was already a lot of anticipation for exploring a new place, and Charleston did not disappoint! The Angel Oak Tree, Fort Sumter, Patriots Point, and the sights of Charleston were lovely to explore, and it was an extra bonus to be able to do this while working and enjoying our pups, too.
Granted, the dogs were a small hindrance when wanting to try out the fancier places in town (or the ones that had only inside seating), but had we stayed longer, I might have tried to go orders or UberEats or something to say that we tried some of these spots even though we couldn’t go inside. We also typically don’t eat at fancier places when we vacation, but Charleston is known for its food, so you don’t want to miss out on the experience! Yet even though we didn’t go to some of the more famous spots, the food we did have was excellent, and we had a great time.
We had so much fun that we are already talking about where our next beach vacation should be! Charleston set the bar pretty high for a fun place to work and have fun! If you go, be sure to check out travel forums such as this one to help plan your trip–and have a blast!
I also post reels and TikToks regularly of all the places I’ve reviewed on here, so if you want to see some videos of what to expect, check out my social media here:
TikTok: @touristyteacher
Instagram: @touristyteacher
Facebook: @touristyteacher
Happy travels!
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