When I told friends and family that we were celebrating Radhika’s 60th birthday with a getaway to Charleston, the reaction was almost always the same: a curious pause followed by, “Why Charleston?”
I’d visited years ago and remembered a city layered with beauty and complexity. For Radhika, it was a completely new adventure. Five days later, we had our answer—one offered with a smile every time: Why not Charleston?
Charleston, nestled in the heart of South Carolina’s Lowcountry, is one of America’s most captivating destinations. Founded in 1670 as Charles Towne, it became the South’s leading port city, a cradle of both prosperity and profound contradiction. It was home to America’s first public college, first theater, and first museum—yet it also played a central role in the transatlantic slave trade and later became the spark that ignited the Civil War. Today, Charleston carries its complex past with honesty and reverence while radiating creativity, culinary excellence, architectural splendor, and pure Southern charm.
Our long weekend in early November revealed a city that invites reflection, celebration, and discovery in equal measure.
A Birthday Surprise to Begin the Journey
We arrived on a crisp Wednesday evening and walked into Eleve, the chic restaurant inside the Grand Bohemian Hotel. Before we could settle in, Radhika’s jaw dropped—our best friends from Texas, Dave and Kathy, were waiting for us with glasses raised. Mission accomplished.
The Grand Bohemian, part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, felt less like a hotel and more like a curated art exhibit. Bright modern pieces filled every hallway, and the rooftop bar offered panoramic views that set the tone for a weekend of wonder.
Day One: Boone Hall Plantation — A Beautiful and Difficult Truth
Our first full day led us to Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant, one of the nation’s oldest working plantations. Visiting a plantation can be profoundly unsettling—and it should be. The beauty of its oak-lined avenue and sprawling farmland cannot be separated from the suffering that took place there. Slavery is not an abstract concept in Charleston; it is woven into the land, the culture, and the collective memory of the community.
Inside the preserved slave cabins, powerful presentations told the stories of the enslaved people who lived and labored here, including the Gullah Geechee community—descendants of whom still live on nearby islands, carrying forward a rich and distinct cultural heritage. Boone Hall today spans nearly 800 acres and remains a working farm where Black and white farmers work side-by-side, a symbol of a shared future on land that once represented only division.
Before leaving, we purchased a stunning Sweetgrass basket handcrafted by a local Gullah Geechee artisan who has been weaving for nearly forty years—an heirloom of living history.
That evening, we returned to downtown Charleston and strolled through boutiques, wine bars, and lively restaurants. Charleston, fun fact, is second only to Nashville for hosting bachelorette parties—and the twinkling streets certainly felt like a celebration.
Radhika’s birthday dinner at Magnolia’s was a highlight of the trip: impeccable service, beautifully executed dishes, and warm Charleston hospitality.
Day Two: A Carriage Ride Through History & Sullivan’s Island Serenity
The next morning, we explored the city the old-fashioned way—aboard a horse-drawn carriage. Our guide expertly wove together stories of Charleston’s meticulously preserved architecture, from Georgian and Federal-style homes to the intricate ironwork balconies crafted by the city’s early Black artisans. Charleston takes preservation seriously; nearly 40% of its buildings predate the 1900s.
In the afternoon, we crossed the sweeping Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge to Sullivan’s Island, a relaxed beachfront community rich in Revolutionary War history and home to Fort Moultrie, where a young Edgar Allan Poe once served.
Dinner that night was at The Obstinate Daughter, an acclaimed coastal-inspired restaurant where the menu is as warm and inviting as the staff. With an open kitchen, creative dishes, and a friendly buzz in the air, it became our favorite meal of the trip. Book early—if you’re lucky enough to get a reservation, you’ll understand why locals guard this gem closely.
Day Three: Fort Sumter & Patriots Point — Standing in the Middle of History
Day three brought us into one of the most defining moments in American history. A short ferry ride carried us to Fort Sumter, the sea fortress where the first shots of the Civil War were fired on April 12, 1861. The fort was still unfinished when Confederate forces attacked the Union-occupied stronghold. Standing within its walls, the weight of that moment feels immediate—reminding visitors how fragile, powerful, and consequential history can be.
After returning to shore, we spent the afternoon at Patriots Point, home of the USS Yorktown, a World War II-era aircraft carrier turned museum. Alongside it rests the destroyer USS Laffey, the submarine USS Clamagore, the nuclear-powered NS Savannah, and the USCGC Comanche. It’s a remarkable tribute to American maritime history—and a paradise for anyone who loves ships, engineering, or stories of courage.
Dinner was a cozy Italian escape at Vincent Chicco’s, tucked down a charming alleyway that looks like it was plucked straight from a film set.
Day Four: Bluegrass Brunch & Farewell to a Southern Treasure
Our final morning brought us to High Cotton for its beloved Bluegrass Brunch—a lively blend of Southern comfort food and live music. Dishes ranged from crab cakes benedict with Creole hollandaise to shrimp and grits, blackened tomato-saffron gravy, twin filet mignon steak and eggs, and an indulgent brunch burger crowned with a sunny-side-up egg and béarnaise. This is not the place to order lightly, and no one seems interested in doing so.
Then it was time to head home—grateful, full, and forever changed by Charleston’s ability to blend beauty, reflection, and joy.
Why Charleston? Why Not.
Charleston is a city that invites you to celebrate, to learn, and to connect with a past that shaped America. Its charm is as real as its history; its cuisine as vibrant as its coastal sunsets. It is, simply, one of the most unforgettable destinations in the country.
We left with memories of laughter, learning, friendship, and the privilege of celebrating Radhika’s 60th birthday in a city as remarkable as she is.