Charleston Travel Guide ▫️ The Pastel-Colored Southern Town

In early September, Charleston still lingers with warmth, and the air feels damp—reminding me I’ve arrived in the South. Two contrasting elements define its uniqueness: the history of plantations and slavery, and the pastel-hued streets. Day 01 ▫️ Magnolia Plantation and Gardens My first stop was Magnolia Plantation. Plants grow in a messy, natural order, the chirping of insects fills the air, and alligators lounge lazily in the ponds—it’s hard to imagine this was once a rice plantation. Admission to the main plantation house costs extra, and since it would take quite a while, I skipped it. The garden offers many free tours: hop on a tractor to learn about the plants, or take a walking tour for historical insights… My favorite part was the section along the Ashley River—feeling the breeze while gazing at the river views 🌬️. ▫️ Charleston Downtown In the afternoon, I wandered around Downtown, soaking in the small-town vibe on a casual city walk. ① The Battery: A historic park with lush greenery and white pavilions. Unfortunately, the seaward side was under construction 🚧. ② Rainbow Row: The stretch with the most beautifully colored houses. But honestly, you don’t need to seek it out specifically—this pastel charm permeates the entire town 🏠. ③ Church St: There are several churches along this street, including one that’s entirely pink 💖. ④ Waterfront Park & Pineapple Fountain: The iconic Pineapple Fountain is right here! It’s such a cozy public park, with the ocean nearby 🌊. ▫️ Folly Beach This was a last-minute decision, and it was so worth it! I finished exploring Downtown faster than expected, so I decided to head to the beach. It was a cloudy day, so the views weren’t as stunning, but I still loved it—white sandy beaches, a long pier, and the option to sit at an open-air beach bar for a drink 🍹. I tried the pineapple ice cream at The Pineapple Hut—it’s sweet and tangy, though a bit too sweet for my taste 🍍. For dinner, I picked a random spot on the beach called Chico Feo. The outdoor bar has a cool full-wall graffiti backdrop, but it’s more of a drinking spot—the food was just average 🎨. Day 02 ▫️ Cypress Gardens Famous as a filming location for The Notebook, this garden has a wetland area where you can go boating. The outer areas also have greenhouses with birds and butterflies, perfect for kids 🐦🦋. Renting a boat to paddle yourself is free, but the line is super long. If you want a staff-guided boat tour, you need to buy tickets at the gift shop—only $5 per person, with tours leaving hourly (max 10 people per tour). I went with the guided tour, and it was more fun than paddling alone! The guide shared little stories, like how the “most powerful alligator” in the wetland doesn’t actually live here—it just comes from other areas to “patrol” from time to time 😂. ▫️ Charleston Downtown Today’s plan was to visit museums. ① Charleston City Market: A semi-open-air market filled with souvenir stalls—great for browsing 🛍️. ② Old Slave Mart Museum: This was once an actual slave auction house, now turned into a museum that tells the horrific history of that era. It was a deeply moving, somber experience 🕯️. ③ Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon: This used to be a hub for the city’s administrative activities. They offer a dungeon tour that dives into its history 🔍. Day 03 ▫️ USS Yorktown CV-10 This decommissioned aircraft carrier has been turned into a museum. You can go down to multiple levels of the ship’s interior to see the living quarters and facilities used back then ⚓. ▫️ Gibbes Museum of Art I lucked out—it was the monthly BOA Free Admission Day! The special exhibition featured works by Cuban artist Reynier Llanes, and I absolutely loved his piece Festive on to Spring 🎨. #Charleston #CharlestonSC #SouthCarolina #AutumnVibes #SouthCarolinaTravel