As you would come to expect, most of Charleston’s nightlife takes place in historic downtown. A favorite among locals is the Blind Tiger Pub. Although it’s often frequented by the college crowd, it accommodates to all groups of people with its different offerings. Live music can usually be found at the Blind Tiger Pub on Friday and Saturday nights. Unlike many small pubs, guests can head to the adjacent room and grab a table or belly up to the bar and still enjoy conversations without the threat of loud music overtaking them. On cool spring and fall evenings, the outside patio is a popular gathering spot.

The Music Farm is one of the largest Charleston venues for attracting larger musicians, such as regional and national acts. Located in downtown Charleston, the Music Farm is housed in an old train depot, which is actually on the National Register of Historic Places. Musical acts that have appeared at the music venue have included national reggae, jazz, blues and rock bands. There’s typically at least three shows per week.

Moe’s Crosstown Tavern is making a reputation for itself as one of the best bars in Charleston. During the daytime it’s often frequented by local business people, as it has delicious offerings for both breakfast and dinner. During the evenings it transforms into a fun dive bar with a relaxing atmosphere and friendly staff. As the name suggests, the Charleston bar is located across town, closer to the Citadel. Weekend evenings usually consist of live music from local acts.

[Photo courtesy of skyliner72]

Historic downtown Charleston is filled with grandiose bed and breakfasts. Each offers their own unique character, as you’ll find different characteristics and features at each one. Most of these are conveniently located, typically within walking distance of such Charleston attractions as shopping on King Street, Marion Square and the Charleston Market. The John Rutledge House Inn is one of only a handful of bed and breakfasts in South Carolina that are of AAA four diamond distinction. A few blocks away is Two Meeting Street Inn, the oldest inn in Charleston. Two Meeting Street Inn is one of the more cozy bed and breakfasts in Charleston, as it offers a nice garden area and porch where guests can enjoy a pleasant afternoon in the inn’s rocking chairs.

Following similarly in line with Charleston’s bed and breakfasts, many of the hotels in downtown feature historic architecture. Charleston Place may be the city’s most popular hotel, as it combines historic, French architecture with first-class luxury. Guest rooms are some of the largest in Charleston and are well-appointed with amenities like marble bathrooms. Features of the hotel include a fully-equipped fitness center, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, two restaurants and a bar and lounge that often include live entertainment.

Another one of Charleston’s stately hotels is the Francis Marion. The 12-story hotel is located right in the midst of historic downtown Charleston on King Street. The hotel was recently renovated to upgrade the guest experience. Weekend evenings are often lively at the Charleston hotel’s restaurant and lounge, The Swamp Fox, which typically has live jazz music on Friday and Saturday nights.

Charleston has a couple luxury resort-style accommodations that are a short drive out from downtown. The closest is Wild Dunes, which is a hotel and resort and is just 15 miles from downtown. Kiawah Island Resort is a 30 mile drive from downtown Charleston, featuring some of the best golf in the southeast. Kiawah Island offers a resort hotel, along with villas and homes scattered around the island.

[Photo courtesy of pocketwiley]

Charleston’s seafood restaurants are typically divided into two groups, the deep friend tourist seafood restaurants, and the more fine local establishments. Follow the crowds during vacation season, as they’re likely to be heading to Hyman’s, which has made a name for itself in the Carolinas as a hallmark of deep fried, family style seafood. For a more local, fresh flavor, there’s Coast Bar and Grill. Located a couple blocks from the Charleston waterfront in historic downtown, Coast features fresh, locally grown food, emphasizing the Low Country style that’s so popular in Charleston.

Fig is one of Charleston’s most eclectic and culturally diverse restaurants. Renowned among locals, Fig features a unique mixture of cuisine that you’re not likely to find elsewhere in Charleston. Located in historic downtown on Meeting Street, Fig is a simple, neighborhood bistro, but with a very unique menu that stretches across multiple cultures, including Caribbean and Mediterranean. Using locally grown vegetables and produce to compliment main dishes, some of the entrees include roast suckling pig, hanger steak and pork shank.

Joining Fig as another one of Charleston’s international restaurants, is the Cajun Kountry Kitchen Cafe, which is located outside of downtown in North Charleston, but worth the drive. Just a small cafe, it goes beyond many Charleston restaurants by offering cuisine you can hardly find in the south, such as gator, crawdads and cuban pork sandwiches. This is casual dining at its best.

Another Charleston restaurant that is worth the drive is Red Drum Gastropub, which is across the Cooper River Bridge in Mt. Pleasant. Featuring a European ambiance, it draws on a variety of flavors, including southwestern in delivering unique entrees. The award winning restaurant, like so many Charleston restaurants, wins people over with unique dishes like barbecued sweet potatoes, wood-grilled salmon and molasses-grilled quail.

[Photo courtesy of skyliner72]

Hank’s is a favorite both among tourists and locals. The award-winning restaurant is located in an old-style fish market offering traditional and contemporary seafood dishes. Located in a warehouse that’s over 100 years old, the Charleston seafood restaurant over looks historic downtown. One of Hank’s most popular dishes is the Shrimp and Grits, which has its place as a hallmark of Charleston seafood. Its ambiance and decor is reminiscent of what you would expect to find at a restaurant in New York City. Hank’s is also good for a pre-dinner drink.

Located just off Meeting Street Coast Bar and Grill is one of Charleston’s best low country restaurants. Unless you make reservations ahead of time, you can expect to wait one to two hours to get a table on the weekend. Coast’s chefs work with local farmers and fishers to choose fresh, local ingredients to create dishes that are unlike many seafood restaurants. Guests can begin with low country starters like fried green tomatoes or bacon-wrapped scallops. Like most Charleston seafood restaurant, shrimp and grits is a crowd favorite, though a unique dish of Coast is the Lobster and Crab Gratin.

[photo courtesy of skyliner72]

1. The Wentworth Mansion. One of the oldest inns in Charleston, the Wentworth Mansion dates back to the late 1800s. Though it has been restored, it features much of the same intricacies and decor of the original owner. The 21-room inn includes marble fireplaces and complimentary breakfast and afternoon tea and wine.

2. Market Street Inn. Located on downtown Charleston’s historic Market Street, the Market Street Inn is conveniently located within walking distance of most of downtown’s attractions. The Charleston inn is European in style and offers but five rooms, featuring a homely ambiance that many other larger inns don’t offer. Complimentary afternoon happy hour is a good way to spend an afternoon at the inn before heading out to downtown Charleston for the evening.

3. John Rutledge House Inn. A Select Registry, Distinguished Inn of North America, the John Rutledge House Inn offers the look of a historic bed and breakfast, but with the hospitality of a luxury hotel. It gives new meaning to breakfast in bed, as guests can enjoy a large complimentary breakfast brought right to their rooms. It is one of only a few AAA four diamond inns in South Carolina.

4. Two Meeting Street Inn. The oldest inn in Charleston, the inn is a museum in and of itself with its antique furniture and beautiful decor. The exterior is one of the highlights, as guests can enjoy rocking on the porch while enjoying the beautiful landscape of the property. It includes breakfast, afternoon drinks and is just a couple blocks from the Charleston waterfront.

5. The Governor’s House Inn. The Governor’s House Inn is an award-winning inn in Charleston and the former governor’s mansion. Amenities of the inn include stately rooms with fireplaces, private porches, whirlpool baths and hardwood floors. The Charleston Battery and market are both within walking distance.

[photo courtesy of skyliner72]

The Charleston Battery is one of the most famous attractions in the city. Located right on the water, it’s a can’t-miss any time of year. It captures the essence of historic Charleston, with its grand oak trees, scenic views across the water and artillery. This is one of the most photographed areas of Charleston. It offers views of Fort Sumter and the Sullivan Island Lighthouse. Swings line the waterfront area of the park, making it a pleasant late afternoon or evening spot with your family or significant other.

Though you’ll have to ride the ferry or take a boat over to it, Fort Sumter is one of the best free attractions in Charleston. It’s worth the visit just to see the views of historic downtown Charleston from the fort. One of the most famous Civil War forts, it offers a storied history, as it marks the beginning of the Civil War. Visitors can enjoy learning more about the Civil War and the fort itself by walking around the fort.

Charleston is quickly becoming a fine arts center of the south. The Spoleto Festival during the summer has become one of the largest art festivals in the U.S. Although Charleston offers art galleries around the city, most of them can be found in the French Quarter district. These galleries and free and open daily, with art for sale. Charleston also offers gallery walks regularly on weekends.

[Photo courtesy of cseeman]

The Tomato Shed is a Charleston restaurant that captivates the essence of the south. It’s nothing fancy from the outside, but inside features some of the freshest fruits and vegetables in the area. The main draw is its farmers market which features fresh local produce from area farmers. The Tomato Shed Cafe takes the local produce and uses it to make fresh sandwiches and warm, southern classics.

Surprisingly, there are several items you can get at the Charleston cafe for less than $5. Although you could get a PB & J with chips for $5, I recommend going with a sandwich that features some of the homegrown items like the Egg Salad Sandwich. For just $4.95, the Egg Salad Sandwich comes with chips or a side, and water, tea or coffee. Available side items include potato salad, fresh fruit, cole slaw, rice and gravy, mac and cheese and several other items. There are also several bread choices for your sandwich, including white, wheat and rye.

Although The Tomato Shed’s best option for under $5 is the sandwich, side and drink combination, the Charleston restaurant offers several other mix and match options that can bring a total under $5. Guests can get a side item for $2.25 to mix with a soup of the day for $2.25. The Tomato Shed is open only for lunch Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

[Photo courtesy of Charleston's The Digitel]