Plan A Fall Trip to South Carolina Lowcountry

The idea of walking the historical streets of Charleston, South Carolina and lounging on the laid-back beach nearby just as the weather starts to turn cold in Ohio was thrilling. We planned a long weekend getaway to South Carolina in early November and had the BEST time. An awesome mixture of history, culture, food, and beach life made this trip stand out as one of my top fall destinations. Check out our trip details below for ideas while you plan your next adventure!

Day 1

Driving from the Myrtle Beach airport, we took a short detour to Isle of Palms beach to dip our toes in the ocean and take a long walk on the beach....because, who doesn't love long walks on the beach?! Next up was a stop near the Shem Creek area for lunch. We loved this area so much and wished we would have had another afternoon to explore….maybe one day! We ended up eating lunch at fun little spot called Red’s Ice House. Not only was our seat waterfront, but the whole vibe was the perfect introduction to the Lowcountry lifestyle we were about to experience over the next few days.

A dear friend of ours grew up in Charleston and recommended we check out Coleman Public House if we were in the Shem Creek area, so from lunch we took a 10 min stroll to grab a cold craft brew.

It was finally time to check into our hotel and after doing so quickly, headed downtown for a historical walking pub tour that Matt had planned as a surprise. The great thing about a tour like this is that you learn a few things, go to a few landmark pubs, and get to try a variety of food and drinks wherever you go! We loved the small group size and had a blast learning from our tour guide. Our favorite stops were The Blind Tiger (for the history and the courtyard) and The Griffon, which claims to be “unapologetically awesome” and we would agree. Finally, to end the night we had made a late dinner reservation at High Cotton where we experienced delicious local lowcountry fare and had a wonderful dining experience.

Day 2

With Folly Beach being only 20 minutes away and our check in time at 4 pm, we decided to start day 2 with a trip back to downtown Charleston for one last taste of the city. We brunched at Another Broken Egg (can you say grits please) and strolled through the King Street Market. Next stop: Rainbow Row to see the pastel-colored historic homes on East Bay Street. One great thing about visiting Charleston during the fall is that the streets were practically empty, and it felt like we were able to wander street after street of eclectic homes as if we had booked a private tour! We made it back to our car after clocking in quite a few miles on foot and off we went to Folly Beach!

Like anyone would do, the first thing we did was hit the beach upon arrival on Folly Island. With the sun out and ocean breeze in our hair we soaked in that laid back island vibe all afternoon. A highlight of our time at the beach; meeting a golden retriever puppy named... FOLLY! The beach was super dog friendly (be sure to always check local pet restrictions) and it was so fun to watch all the dogs play in the ocean waves.

Day 3

After a beautifully sunny day on day 2, we woke up to an overcast sky and windy conditions on day 3 for our first full day on Folly Beach. Even with the less than ideal “beach conditions”, we had a blast exploring the island by foot, by bike, and by boat – all in the same day! We walked to the The Lost Dog for breakfast (I can’t recommend this place enough, we loved it here!) and checked out the beach afterward.

Our less than ideal beach conditions on Day 3

We decided to rent bikes for a bit more island exploration and rode from one side of the island to the other, daydreaming about which beach house ours would be. We were even able to ride on the beach! After a few hours, we landed at The Crab Shack for lunch.

Matt had one last surprise up his sleeve and about two hours before sunset we hopped on a boat for a Morris Island Lighthouse tour. Morris Island is only accessible by boat and has a very interesting history dating back to the Civil War. Our captain pulled right up to the island and we had the entire place all to ourselves. We found sand dollars, crabs, and so many beautiful shells, not to mention dolphins literally followed us the entire way! After our quick boat ride back we grabbed Woody’s Pizza for dinner, followed by Taco Boy for a marg and called it a night.

Our Morris Island Lighthouse Tour

Day 4

It was already time to head home, and we were left with a feeling of “maybe we should just stay one more day”. Unfortunately, we had a flight to catch so that wasn’t going to work out for us. Another morning stroll on the beach followed by a 2nd breakfast at The Log Dog – yes, we really loved that place, and we were headed north. Strategically picking a later flight, we were able to make one more stop before heading home. We decided to visit the Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens for a quick history lesson and to check out the famed “Avenue of Oaks”.

The "Avenue of Oaks" at Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens

After a tour of the grounds, we explored the Black History in America exhibit and toured the garden. I must admit it was a sobering feeling walking around casually in a place of such historic gloom, but I’m glad we made the stop.

Our quick fall trip had come to an end, but as usual, it left us wanting more. One day we will make it back to the Charleston area and I can’t wait to see what new fun things we will discover!