Traveling with kiddos is a different ball game, especially when it comes to Charleston. Normally Nick and I treat Charleston as our holy grail of parent getaways. We booze and eat our way through the town. Our regular diets out the window, we just go hard and it's fantastic. With kiddos, we're like OK what do we do in this town? Here is our adventure!
Stay in a place with separate bedrooms and a kitchen if you are going to be in town for more than two days. The kitchen is great so you can buy the kiddo food, if they aren't into raw oysters and you don't want to spend an insane amount, this alone will save you. Our kids aren't foodies like we are just yet sooo might as well save a bit. Stop by the Harris Teeter on Meeting St and grab snacks and food for the little ones! At the Restoration Hotel, they have a Grocery service, where you can have them deliver and stock up the fridge in your room when you arrive!
We stayed at The Restoration Hotel this trip, first time staying there, and boy did they not disappoint. Everything you need in one spot. Yes we had a massive suite, but the regular rooms have excellent space as well. The kitchen in the room was ideal for us, most rooms don't have a full kitchen as a side note, but kitchenette type ordeal. They have a cute coffee shop downstairs - I always need a cappuccino to start the day. A full rooftop restaurant upstairs open for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. Also if you sign up for their Insider Program, you get free wine and a cheese board from 5 to 6pm up at The Watch!
Speaking of the Insider Program: If you sign up, besides the cheese board and wine, in the morning you have a Breakfast basket delivered to your door each which we all loved! You also receive 10% off at the coffee shop and boutique.
Another great reason to stay here is that they have a heated outdoor pool. It’s great during the off season when not many guests are staying and the kiddos can play around.
Normally when it's just Nick and I, we are on the go nonstop with little down time, taking the hotel bikes and off we go. Having the kiddos, it was nice to just slow down a bit. We would go do some exploring whether it was dining or walking around and seeing the houses. Then heading back to the hotel and letting Hayes nap or play in the suite and then off we go again.
One fun place we went to was the SC Aquarium. Another great thing about the Restoration is they have a golf cart that will take you where ever you need to go! The aquarium books off time slots currently so you know it won't be crowded, and truly was like a private tour. The Restoration booked this for us and it was a super cool Aquarium!
Ok our FAVE Food Spots! I’ve added these to this separate Post as well to reference easier!
Ok our FAVE Food Spots! I’ve added these to this separate Post as well to reference easier!
Our all time fave fave is 167 Raw. Typically our lunch/snack/whatever time of day it is spot. Best restaurant if you love seafood & a killer atmosphere. They moved from the tiny location which will be opening soon as their sushi spot to a larger location on King. What’s cool is they have a bar area inside with seating and outside covered as well. A very cool inside outside vibe. Also their food is phenomenal no matter what you get.
Musts: Going into some detail here...
•Oyster shooters (it’s a homemade green juice with of course alcohol) and the oyster on the side. Best Damn Thing Ever.
• Oysters!! Because duhhh
• Lobster Roll (We always order one to split, it comes with chips but you can do salads if you know to ask!) They split it for you!
• Crispy Oysters. I could lick the plate and order again. That good.
• If they are running a dessert special you better freakin order it! They had a Mexican chocolate pudding the day we went and it was so incredible
I wish so had now taken more food pictures butttt next time.
Basic Kitchen: This spot is super cool because they make everything healthy for you taste out of this world. We tried corn on the cob bbq ribs, sounds bizarre (no meat) and Nick and I were both trying to recreate this so we could make back home. Their cauliflower wings and cashew dipping sauce.. it’s all so good and anyone will love this isn’t a vegan only spot. Also amazing cocktails!!
The Darling. Top name to go too, and if I had to choose I’d go with 167 Raw, butttt for a change of scenery and still super yummy oysters and oysters shooters this is a great go too. I know so many that this is their spot!
Dinner Spots
We’ve been to the classics, Magnolia’s for example is good but the food is hearty and there is only so much fried green tomatoes I can eat. Our fave dinner spot is Indaco which is Italian! Obsessed with this place is more my feel. The bread, the black ink pasta with crab, even the boys devoured their pasta! Also their espresso martinis are everything. Cool happenin' atmosphere.
(Crazy picture, once again from a boomerang haha but had to share!)
One other Italian spot we love is Trattoria Lucca. I know you don’t think Italian when you think Charleston but we always make one night Italian bc it’s so good there! This place is a little off the beaten path but we walked their easily! It’s a very intimate setting over Indaco, in a little house, and the food is so so good.
CO. This is not typical Charleston food either and is actually in a few other locations but if you are feeling Asian fusion it is a drool fest. The blackberry smash to drink, kiddos get the pho, and share a bunch of apps and have curry with noodles for dinner!
The Watch. This is the hotel restaurant to The Restoration. It's cool because the food and drinks are delicious - hello adult juice boxes and their truffle fries.... but also they have a gorgeous roof top that looks over downtown and great views of the bridge! 
Other dinner spots that I've heard are musts..
((sorry we stick to our faves because are typically there for one or two nights))
The Ordinary - I've been for dessert and its actually sister to Fig which I've heard excellent things! Leon Oyster Bar, Poogans Porch, Halls Chop House, Magnolias, Coast, and 82 Queen.
When you are heading home..
I highly suggest grabbing a coffee from The Daily.
This is a cute quick grab breakfast place right before the bridge North on King. Such a cool area and great food you can eat there or grab to go. 100% try their whipped feta toast with a slow scramble!
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