Weekend Recap: Charleston Day Trip

Earlier this week, I talked about planning an unplanned day. Well, that’s just what this Charleston trip was. We don’t get to travel enough just the four of us, and Charleston is only 3 hours from our home, so we said, ” what the heck! Let’s just go!” So, off we went for the day. I packed some snacks, and of course lots of pieces to take photos of 😏 What would a normal day be around here without a side of photos to go with it?

We only made one stop on the way there for gas and a potty break (since Hallen likes to hold her pee until noon almost every day). We got there at 11:30. Perfect timing for a little site seeing before lunch break. Hallen was in love. She couldn’t stop talking as soon as she stepped onto the sidewalk (not that she ever stops talking anyways!).

And Hazel was just as excited. She kept squealing and pointing at everything. I was also ooohhhing and ahhhhing at everything. I LOVE the architecture there. I love the cobblestone streets. I love the atmosphere. And the fact that it was 70 and sunny didn’t hurt either.

We started down King Street where all the shopping is. It was packed since it was St. Patrick’s Day, but I didn’t even care. We were just excited to be in the city and able to walk everywhere. After being in a suburb for a while, you miss the walkability that a city offers (we used to live in Baltimore where we could walk to so many places…even Target!). We didn’t pop into too many stores. We were there more to site see than to shop (unfortunately…I’ll be back with my shopping game strong, though). So, down King Street we went, right to the Battery. Hallen kept thinking we’d be able to build sand castles and walk I the sand. Much to her disappointment, we weren’t able to go to the nearby beaches. Luckily, she still had a blast.

Next, we turned the corner and headed towards Rainbow Row. If you’ve never been to Charleston, this is a small row of homes that are all beautifully painted colors. Hallen kept saying, ” take my picture in front of this one! Now take my picture here! Now here!” I’ve never seen her so photo happy!

At about this time, it started to sprinkle, so we made our way to a cute spot for lunch. We ended up at a little restaurant called McCrady’s Tavern. It’s off of a main road, so it was kind of hidden. We ran into two women on the street that recommended it, and we wanted to get out of the rain so bad, we were like “sure! Let’s go!” And it turned out to be delicious. I had some AMAZING avocado toast that was on special at the time. Perfect lunch! And if you’re looking for some great handcut fries, this is your place! It was a super cool interior. It had a little wine cellar up top and it seemed like it was created out of a few old row homes. The archways were really pretty. I don’t know if it’d be my first place to go as a kid friendly restaurant, but I’m glad we went.

I think we were both in such a food coma after lunch, and our legs were so tired from walking everywhere that we didn’t really know what to do! But we kept walking. Just admiring the architecture and being together as a family. Like I had said, this is what we were doing to just relax and explore and have no plans. That’s honestly why I can’t remember all that we did. It wasn’t planned! We just wanted to wander around unfamiliar places. So, of course, the next obvious thing to do was grab some coffee at Bakehouse Bakery Cafe. I got my normal chai latte and Hallen got her coffee cup full of whipped cream! My chai was on point! And I’m a pretty finicky chai drinker.

We walked out to the pier and waterfront fountains after the girls woke up from an amazing stroller nap! I didn’t know what to expect with naps, because we planned on just skipping it, but both of them fell asleep at the exact same time and woke up about an hour later. And then they were both good to go! While they slept, we walked through the Old Market. It felt like a mini date! As soon as we got to the waterfront, they woke up! They were ready to play a little more. I was hoping for warm weather the whole day, but it had cooled down a little too much for the girls to play a lot in the fountains. That didn’t stop them from dipping their feet in, though! And we actually saw dolphins from the pier! Wasn’t expecting that at all, but it was a sweet little surprise. It was two big dolphins and a little wee babe.

And of course, there was a stage for dancing and some yoga!

Y’all. Our trip was so fun. I want to go back tomorrow. That’s how much fun it was. We ended our day with a little appetizer and drink at the Gin Joint. We shared some soft pretzels and the spring vegetable panzanella. Both were perfect. We headed out, packed up the car at 7 and got home at 10. It was perfect.

Right now, go plan an unplanned day trip. Just do it. Pick a spot that’s a couple hours from you guys. And do whatever the family is feeling. If everyone wants to shop, shop! If you want to go to an aquarium or do touristy things, do it! And if everyone gets there and just needs to run around, just go to a park and play! Make it be as stress free as possible. If you’re like me and totally a type A. Have to plan. Have to be organized…do the complete opposite. My soul was refreshed. Meldowns didn’t seem like meltdowns and stress was so far removed from my body, I felt like I lost 10lbs.

Tell me…where will you be going? Where’s somewhere you want to go that’s close by or love to go as a refresher? Talk to your partner and plan that date!

The girls’ matching rainbow dresses: Mitz Kids