Charleston, South Carolina

The City Market area, the Battery, and Rainbow Row are popular places to visit if you haven’t been to Charleston before. Downtown is always a moving target as to what’s fun and fresh. There’s a beautiful neighborhood around The Citadel called Hampton Park Terrace. There is a big park with huge palm trees and bike paths, and you’ll find plenty of local restaurants.

I love Park Circle as a great up-and-coming destination, too. It has a lot of trendy restaurants and is full of breweries and distilleries that are doing very well. Johns Island is another area that’s expanding. Along Maybank Road you’ll find wonderful independent eateries and development.

I always consider myself an expert on Kiawah Island. Our restaurant Jasmine Porch has an amazing buffet that’s a mainstay for breakfast on Kiawah.

Downtown, I would recommend Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit, with biscuits made fresh daily, and you can choose all sorts of combinations.

Millers All Day is wonderful on King Street for brunch, as is Amen Street, where you can try Lowcountry seafood, particularly raw oysters.

For dinner, my favorite place actually isn’t downtown – it’s The Royal Tern on Johns Island, with incredible steaks and a great selection of Atlantic seafood.

If you’re out on Johns Island, Low Tide Brewing is one of the top breweries in the city, making delicious craft beer. It makes the Ocean Course Ale that is specific to Kiawah Island.

King Street is Charleston’s main drag. I’m a big fan of the Orvis store because I love fly fishing. There’s a great shop for fashion at the end of the street, called Berlin’s, which sells old-school Charleston-styled attire for men and women. Berlin’s is near Bin 152, a little wine shop where you can pop in and get a great glass of wine and a cheese plate.

Last year, my family and I went over to Isle of Palms for the Barrier Island Eco Tours. You can catch a boat that drops you off on Dewees Island, and the captain will give you a little historic knowledge about the bay and the Lowcountry. This island is uninhabited and you hop right off the boat to explore the sandy beach.

My first go-to is always the Battery, a historic section of downtown. I love walking past the beautiful old mansions alongside the harbor. Then, of course, Rainbow Row – this is a famous stretch in Charleston, where you’ll find a dozen connected rowhouses painted in pastel colors. It’s one of our most photographed places. After exploring this area, I would hop over to Sullivan’s Island. It’s a barrier island community with quaint shops, great restaurants, and a beautiful beach with good views of Fort Sumter.

For breakfast, head to Acme Lowcountry Kitchen on Isle of Palms; it’s a locally owned spot that’s been around for a long time. Order the Southern omelet and the grits, which are unmatched. For lunch, our restaurant at Hotel Bennett, Charleston is Gabrielle, which offers a delicious variety of seafood, sandwiches, and burgers, and has an incredible atmosphere overlooking Marion Square. We also have two bars here: Fiat Lux and Camellias. Fiat is a rooftop bar with views down King Street, and Camellias is Insta-worthy, with bright pink accents and champagne.

Leon’s Oyster Shop is another favorite of mine downtown. It has an indoor/outdoor layout, is super laid-back, and is a classic option for fried chicken, cold beer, and raw oysters. I also enjoy The Establishment on Broad Street for a great dinner. The wine list is fantastic and the service very consistent.

Heading out of the city, Bowens Island is a must-visit for oysters. It’s a very rustic spot on the end of a long pier, perfect for sunset.

King Street just keeps going and going, with dozens of shops on both sides of the road. For gentlemen, locally owned Grady Ervin & Co. has classic Charleston clothing. It offers everything from formal and casual attire to accessories like bow ties. Croghan’s Jewel Box is another lovely spot with women’s fine jewelry; it is owned by two sisters. For art, I would advise walking along Broad Street. Along the eastern side, you’ll find a lot of galleries, mostly focused on coastal art.

It’s a beautiful drive along Highway 61, past live oaks covered in Spanish moss. They converge over the road as you head toward the plantations of Middleton Place, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, and Drayton Hall. The grounds of all three are beautiful, and the tours provide a wealth of information on the region. The small town of Beaufort (one and a half hours away) is a great place to visit. If you want something closer, Folly Beach is a popular, laid-back beach with a long pier and bohemian vibe.