Traveling to Charleston, SC soon with 17-year-old son. Staying for a few days after several college visits. Any tips, insights or recommendations on lodging, things to see and/or places to eat? Looking at a bit of beach time and visiting Patriots Point and Fort Sumner. What else should we include. Thanks!
Edit to add:
Visiting UNC, Clemson, University of Georgia and University of South Carolina if anyone has any recommendations for these as well. Or anything cool to see along the way (route is listed above).
Greenville is a lovely city! We moved here 2021. Downtown is safe and beautiful if you want somewhere to visit pre/post Clemson.
Fort Sumter is on my list for the fall.
Isle of Palms is one of the nicer beaches near Charleston if you want ocean time.
We love to eat at Coconut Joe’s. My DD19 just went down there yesterday with 2 friends.
It’s always hot. Very very hot.
The old public market and slave market are excellent visits.
I have not been to Charleston in ages, but aside from what everyone has shared I’ll add the SC aquarium to the list. It’s great! I don’t know anything about Clemson or USC,and honestly not UNC either other than that’s near our state capital which has some cool museums.
Thank for tagging me @QwertySC. As a NCSU fan, I don’t know how I feel about you tagging me related to UNC.
Do a food tour if you get a chance. We loved Charleston Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours for the culture, history and, of course, the yummy food. (Full disclosure: that’s my travel agency affiliate link so I will get credit if you book through that specific link.)
Emeline was a great hotel. One of the more moderately priced ones in a great location.
Agree. There’s the university and not much else. It’s hot! And, I say that as a native southerner.
DD considered USC but we weren’t impressed with it. Could have been out tour guide but it was all Greek life focused which isn’t our thing.
UNC. Gives me hives. I’m a NCSU graduate and fan. Depending on what he wants to study, I may find a few positive words. Or, can provide other college recommendations. (ahem- NCSU) … Chapel Hill is a college town. However, it’s in the Triangle area so there’s lots nearby Durham and Raleigh (where NCSU is) are 30-45 mins. About 3 hours from NC coast or mountains.
Coming from Columbia or Clemson, you’ll go through Charlotte area. UNC- Charlotte is a great school. If you are looking for an activity and you are active, check out the US National Whitewater Center.
This is all alphabet soup to me. Unless you’re talking about the giant paw print or the big chicken I couldn’t tell you what any of the other ones are.
Thanks for chiming in you have much better suggestions than I do
Full disclosure: We’re from Missouri. DS17 is 99.5% going to Mizzou. He’s a high achiever academically (high GPA, great ACT score). He will qualify for the highest automatic scholarship Mizzou has to offer + Bright Flight. And is talking about going to school for a long while (orthodontist). He’d have to receive an amazing package to head anywhere else. But….
We feel like he’s earned the trip. This also explains why the focus is largely on cool things to do in the area when not on tours.
We were just down there. We didn’t get to do as much as we wanted because it was just so hot - so keep that in mind and the UV is insane - 5 minutes outside with no sunscreen and you will burn. One of the things we had planned but skipped was Fort Mountie - everyone said this was better than Sumter since you actually see more (been through many wars) and you go at your own pace rather than book the boat to Sumter.
Definitely check out a plantation - there are many. We did Boone Hall since it was closest to where we were staying. The mansion isn’t original but the slave quarters is and is very interesting. They have a huge line of oaks when you enter too which is very impressive.
I agree with @Flutegarden, not in most of Mount Pleasant. The historic downtown Charleston is built for coolness from back in the day when AC wasn’t a thing. The houses and streets are built to allow the breezes from the ocean to flow through the streets and the houses (which is why the houses are shaped sideways like they are). It’s the breezes that can make it cooler, and you have to be pretty close to the ocean. Is it like tons cooler? No, it’s still hot, and you still need to be careful with the sun and hydration. However, the ocean breezes do make it livable down there.
Is he your oldest?
I’d just take the vacation and maybe see 1 school. There is no way I could listen to the whole “best school ever” spiel day after day. (I have six kids and have done more college visits than I care to enumerate right now.)
No way I would want to see 4 dorms and eat in 4 dining halls and listen on and on.
