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Charleston SC was one of our favorite vacation destinations. We stayed at a beautiful waterfront resort just across the bridge from downtown Charleston. We would definitely recommend the Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina. It is actually located in Mount Pleasant SC but it is situated on the Charleston harbor. There is also a water taxi that will escort you right across the harbor into Charleston. Our last visit was in August / September of 2017 and we can’t wait to go back!
The Beach Club at the Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina is impressive to say the least! We loved the beautiful and luxurious décor from the lobby, to the rooms, to the restaurants and the outdoors.
The Beach Club Lobby
Poolside
The Beach Club Harbor Deluxe Room
Poolside
If you don’t want to go far for breakfast, lunch, dinner or just cocktails there are a variety of options within the resort. The Bridge Bar is a rooftop bar overlooking the Ravenel bridge over the harbor, The Reel Bar, The Beach Club Tiki Bar which is poolside or The Charleston Harbor Fish House. The food and the drinks are as phenomenal as the accommodations! I do have to specifically recommend the Frosé which is a frozen cocktail that includes rose wine, strawberry vodka and strawberries but you will have to verify exactly what is in it with the bartender. It is to die for!
We recommend a private horse drawn carriage tour through historic Charleston to see the sights. We chose Palmetto Carriage. It is an hour long and I believe the cost was approximately $200 (plus a $40 tip for our excellent tour guide) which was well worth every dollar? The tour consists of 25 – 30 blocks of historic sites. The city regulates these companies to control the tourist traffic flow, so you will not know which area of Charleston the tour will take you through if you purchase your tickets in advance. I am an advanced planner and always purchase my tickets in advance to ensure we are able to do everything we want while on vacation. Of course, you can always choose to take the public carriage tours which will cost you much less, but it won’t be as personal or romantic while taking in the sites of Charleston.
Want to book your stay at the Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina?
Another must do is a harbor boat tour on the Carolina Belle. It is a 90 minute narrated tour along the Charleston harbor. The captain and the crew were extremely entertaining and hilarious. We even had dolphins following along the boat along our way to pass by Fort Sumter National Monument and other Civil War sites and landmarks along the waterfront. At the time the cost per person was under $30 and we utilized the water taxi from the resort to cross the harbor to get to this event.
Want to book your stay at the Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina?
Bonus! When we booked the Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina, we had no idea that the USS Yorktown (CV-10) and the USS Laffey (DD-724) are docked right there in the Charleston bay. You can purchase tickets on site or by visiting Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum – Charleston Harbor. The ticket purchase includes access to USS Yorktown, USS Laffey, USS Clamagore, The Vietnam Experience Exhibit, Cold War Memorial and Medal of Honor Museum. All for under $30 per Adult or child (Adults $26, Senior Citizens $19 or Children 6 -11 $16) of course prices listed here are subject to change. You can easily spend 5-6 hours to go through all the exhibits, so plan accordingly. There is also limited access for handicap accessibility.
Below are some random photos of our trip!
Want to book your stay at the Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina?
I do have to note two places we dined at for dinner during our stay. Both are exceptional. The Peninsula Grill is a fine dining establishment that will not disappoint. You MUST have a piece of coconut cake before you leave, but if you don’t they will ship one for you at a cost of course! The other restaurant we absolutely loved was Pawpaw and I am sure all of their menu items are delicious but I could only choose one and it was Pawpaw’s Recipe #89 Free-Range Fried Chicken which was the best fried chicken I have ever tasted! So if you make it to visit Charleston SC one of these days, these are two must go to places for dinner!
What a wonderful stay in Charleston (Mount Pleasant) SC! There is so much more to do but that is all we had time for this trip. We will be back to see more and do more in the future.
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We visited Charleston for our second wedding anniversary, but didn’t get to explore as much as we would have liked. Here’s hoping we get the chance to visit again – with the boys this time around – and see more of what Charleston has to offer!
Sounds like a great place to visit. And I love that huge chess board! 🙂
So much to do there! I’ve never visited Charleston. Looks like I definitely need to go!
There is so much to see and enjoy and appreciate in Charleston. We have not been there in some time now, though, and your post is reminding me that it would be a treat to return. I will admit that driving over that bridge makes me nervous. Haha. Thank you for bringing some good memories to my mind.
The bridge looks a lot like a bridge we have here in Boston MA; The Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge!
Riding a horse carraige in Charlotte is something I’ve always wanted to do! And now that I’ve seen that resort, I’m adding it to the list!
This looks amazing and definitely is telling me a visit to Charleston is in order. Thanks for sharing.
Love all of your great photos, Charleston is one of my favorite places to visit there’s a ton to do! Such a beautiful resort too, thanks so much for sharing 🙂
That lobby looks gorgeous!!!
This looks like so much fun. I’ve never been to South Carolina.
Charleston is only a few hours from us but we’ve never taken the time to visit. I think we need to change that!
So many places to explore in our great country – this is one of them!
Charleston is one place I’ve always wanted to see. The only drawback for me to staying at this resort would be having to choose between just hanging out and swimming or going on the sight-seeing. If I truly want to see Charleston, I cannot have the resort beckoning me to be lazy. Thanks for all the pictures!!!!
The best of both worlds! Go sightsee and then relax!
Charleston is my second favorite city in the United States. San Francisco is my first. LOVE going to Charleston. One of my bff’s lives there. Such a beautiful city.
I grew up in Charleston and reading this makes me want to go back!
Wonderful post! Thank you for all the beautiful photos!
I’ve only been to SC once for a Marine Corp mud run – didn’t really get to do much exploring. I would love the horse drawn carriage tour of the city!
This place looks so relaxing and peaceful, but yet with a lot to see and do! I love the aesthetic of the hotel. Our family always tour warships when they are in the area, so much to learn!
Looks like a beautiful city! Thank you for sharing!
We’ve been to the naval & maritime museum in passing by on our way to Virginia. My husband is a huge history buff so we made the stop and I was impressed! That hotel looks gorgeous! Great photos!
The carriage ride looks amazing! I have got to find a way to do one soon!
What a great retreat. We will surely consider going there and staying at that resort. Thank you for sharing pictures and your experience there!
Looks stunning! I’ve only been to Charleston once, but your post takes me back 🙂
How absolutely beautiful! And coconut cake??? Now I really want to go! Loved reading this!
Thanks Maureen! Yep the coconut cake puts it over the top right?
I spent a quick weekend in Charleston a few years ago, but this makes me want to back and really explore the city! 🙂
I agree – I need to go back real soon!
Charleston is a place I am hoping to visit soon! It honestly isn’t far from me….the last time I was there I was a lot smaller…too small to appreciate! Your pictures are gorgeous….truly southern charm!
I loved it and can’t wait to visit again!
Girl, this sounds sooooooo good I may just order a piece of that coconut cake right now for myself!!! I def wanna go stay there…it looks so dreamy and relaxing…I can’t believe how the pool is right on top of the marina…looks ideal! Thanks for sharing!
Coconut cake is a specialty must have if you visit! I love Charleston!
That place is super cool! The room is gorgeous. And that chess set is super fun! My son would love it
Very family friendly! Super nice!
Your photos make me want to visit this area even more. I’ve been to NC but not SC…unless you count the airport 🙂 The property you pictured looks amazing! Definitely on the list!
Very nice resort…a must visit
SC is totally on my bucket list! Thanks for sharing your experiences! The Carolina Belle tour looks so fun!
Carolina Belle was amazing!
That beach harbor deluxe room is soooo cozy looking! And I’d love to go on a horse drawn carriage ride! I guess a trip to Charleston is in my future!
You will love it 😍
I want to go! I have heard great things about it. It looks beautiful. The hotel is stunning.
It was truly a great trip!
I visited NC for the first time last summer. SC is on my list, especially Charleston and Savannah. What a great post.
Thanks Angela!
Charleston is such a great town! Thank you for sharing!
Loved Charleston
OMG, I actually miss the horse carriages! My fiance and I used to live in Savannah, GA so seeing that there are carriages also in Charleston are major points added!
The private carriage ride was so amazing!
I never got on the carriage, but the ladies who took care of them would let me pet the horses during the water breaks since their stations were close to my job downtown!
I love horses – they are majestic creatures!
It really looks like a lovely place to visit! I haven’t been to SC in YEARS, and your post definitely makes me think about visiting again. 🙂