Happy Saturday! I hope everyone is having a safe, relaxing, and overall blessed weekend so far!

It’s been a week since I got back from my vacation in South Carolina and I’m still recovering from the post-vacay blues 😭 My parents, Lauren, Lauren’s husband Jordan, Jordan’s family and I took a trip to Isle of Palms for a relaxing and fun getaway. It was one of the best vacations I’ve had in a long time, especially with how weird and insane this year has been!

Due to COVID-19, we didn’t go out too much or do too many touristy things compared to pre-pandemic trips. However, we still made the most out of it and enjoyed the presence of one another! We did manage to sneak in a few activities that didn’t require staying in the beach house all day long (while wearing masks and social distancing, of course). It was definitely the biggest (and only 🤣) highlight of 2020. A much needed getaway!

I figured it would be a good idea make a list of my recommendations for things to do, places to eat, and so on for a trip to Isle of Palms and Charleston to share with all y’all. If you’re planning an upcoming trip, I hope this travel guide can come in handy!

Where We Stayed

We stayed at a rental beach house in the Wild Dunes Resort, along the northern tip of the island. It’s a very nice and peaceful area. The house we stayed in was a short distance from the beach and happened to also be on a mini golf course (good thing for my dad!). It was a perfect fit for all of us. One of my favorite things about the house was our screen-in porch and upstairs balcony! It was a great way for me to wake up in the morning and watch the sunrise on the beach while drinking my coffee and reading my Bible 😊If you’re looking to travel in Isle of Palms, I definitely would recommend checking out Wild Dunes Resort for a place to stay, especially if you want to be on the beach!

What To Eat

We didn’t eat out that much and spent the majority of days cooking meals at the beach house. However, a few days we took advantage of local restaurants and tried them out! Here’s a list of the restaurants we went to and what I would recommend:

High Cotton: This is a restaurant we ate at for dinner in Charleston on our second day. It is pretty expensive I will admit, but it’s also worth it. The service was awesome and the food was amazing! And if you’re like me and aren’t a seafood fan, the cheeseburger and fries is a must! The chocolate caramel tarte is also worth sticking around for dessert 😋

Poogan’s Porch: Another restaurant we stopped at for lunch during one of our trips to Charleston. It’s located in a Victorian townhouse on South of Broad Street and is known for their traditional Southern cooking. My sister and I both got the Summer a Breeze sangria to drink which was very good. I got the country fried chicken meal with a side of mac & cheese and collard greens for lunch. It’s the perfect place to go if you are all about the traditional Southern style!

Obstinate Daughter: This was my favorite restaurant we went to! I highly recommend the gnocchi and Sergeant Jasper cocktail. They’re SO good! They also have a mini gelato shop with so many different flavors. I got hazelnut and dark chocolate on a waffle cone!

Poe’s Tavern: We stopped here for a quick lunch after a kayaking trip. The service is super great, as well as their chicken cheese quesadillas, fries, and nachos with queso and guacamole!

The country fried chicken, mac & cheese, & collard greens at Poogan’s Porch — The country fried chicken, mac & cheese, & collard greens at **Poogan’s Porch**

The Summer Breeze Sangria at Poogan’s Porch. Very tasty! — The Summer Breeze Sangria at **Poogan’s Porch**. Very tasty!

Lauren, Ally (Jordan’s sister), and I drinking the Sergeant Jasper drinks at Obstinate Daughter — Lauren, Ally (Jordan’s sister), and I drinking the Sergeant Jasper drinks at **Obstinate Daughter**

What To Do

Besides going to the beach, we managed to include a few activities outside the resort. We explored the famous city of Charleston for two days, as well as one night out for dinner. The first full day we spent exploring the famous streets and areas, including Rainbow Row, Broad Street, Battery Park, etc. Unfortunately, it started POURING down rain mid-afternoon, so bad to the point that there were actually flash flood warnings! Though the day was cut short, it was still fun to explore the charming (and Instagrammable) city of Charleston. We went back a few days later for a shopping trip (you always gotta have one day planned for shopping while on vacation!). Lauren and I bought adjustive crystal bracelets from Grit and Grace Studio (such a cute place and has the cutest merchandise and products!), as well as stopped at a few other boutiques. I loved every minute of our time in Charleston and I’m already eager to go back someday!

Towards the end of our trip, we went on a kayaking adventure with Coastal Expeditions out in Shem Creek. Not only did we explore the creek like the website said we would, but we also went out into the ocean. That’s right, the ocean! I love kayaking, and that was definitely the best kayaking trip I’ve been on yet! We saw some dolphins, birds, and learned a lot about the history of Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island, Mount Pleasant, and Charleston. Our tour guide named Liz made the trip even better. Her personality was so outgoing and she knew so much about the wildlife and environment. I definitely would recommend looking into Coastal Expeditions if you want a good adventure in Isle of Palms!

Overall, we had a wonderful time and it so nice to have a change of scenery after being in quarantine for so long!

Let me know what your favorite spots are in Isle of Palms and Charleston or if you have any questions in the comments!

Travel Guide: Isle of Palms and Charleston