The Obstinate Daughter

The Proper Stays Charleston Guide

Charleston Beaches and Day Trips

Every island has its own personality. Pick your day trip, and we will tell you where to eat when you get there.

20 local picks7 categoriesInteractive mapUpdated October 2026

Poe's Tavern

Mex 1 Coastal Cantina

Our picks (numbers match the list below)Proper Stays homes nearby

Sullivan's Island

4 picks

Quiet, residential, and 15 minutes from downtown. Wide beach, no hotels, and a short strip of very good restaurants.

Reservations recommended

The Obstinate Daughter

2063 Middle St

Inventive coastal cooking upstairs; gelato downstairs at Beardcat's.

Reserve on Resy Map

Poe's Tavern

2210 Middle St

Burgers and beers in honor of the island's most famous soldier, Edgar Allan Poe.

Map

Mex 1 Coastal Cantina

2205 Middle St

Baja tacos and margaritas after a beach day.

Map

The Co-Op

2019 Middle St

Grab-and-go sandwiches and frose for the sand.

Map

Isle of Palms

3 picks

A classic family beach town with a livelier boardwalk. About 25 minutes from downtown.

Reservations recommended

The Boathouse at Breach Inlet

101 Palm Blvd

Local seafood and sunset views over the inlet.

Reserve on OpenTable Map

Live music

The Windjammer

1008 Ocean Blvd

Beachfront bar with volleyball courts and live bands.

Map

Acme Lowcountry Kitchen

31 J C Long Blvd

No-frills shrimp and grits a block from the sand.

Map

Folly Beach

3 picks

The bohemian one. Surf shops, food trucks, and a fishing pier, 20 minutes south of downtown.

Live music

Chico Feo

122 E Ashley Ave

Open-air island cooking with live music and a festival feel.

Map

Lost Dog Cafe

106 W Huron Ave

All-day breakfast and a wall of dog photos.

Map

Taco Boy

15 Center St

Tacos and frozen screwdrivers steps from the pier.

Map

Mount Pleasant

3 picks

Across the Ravenel Bridge. Shem Creek shrimp boats, waterfront decks, and easy parking.

Walk from our homesReservations recommended

Post House

101 Pitt St

A charming Old Village inn with a New American menu.

Reserve on OpenTable Map

Walk from our homes

Red's Ice House

98 Church St

Dockside seafood and cold beer over Shem Creek.

Map

Walk from our homesReservations recommended

Tavern & Table

100 Church St

Rustic-chic plates on the creek. Watch the dolphins at dusk.

Reserve on OpenTable Map

Park Circle

3 picks

North Charleston's most walkable neighborhood, built around a mile-wide 1912 circle. Breweries and front porches.

The Codfather

4254 Spruill Ave

Proper British fish and chips from an unassuming specialist.

Map

King BBQ

2029 Carver Ave

Chinese barbecue traditions meet Carolina smoke.

Map

Madra Rua Irish Pub

1034 E Montague Ave

A proper pint and a proper pour.

Map

Kiawah & Seabrook

3 picks

Forty-five minutes south: golf, tennis, bike paths under the oaks, and ten miles of protected beach.

The Sanctuary at Kiawah

1 Sanctuary Beach Dr

Resort dining, spa days, and ocean-view cocktails open to visitors.

Map

Freshfields Village

165 Village Green Ln

Shops, restaurants, and green-space concerts between the two islands.

Map

The Salty Dog Cafe

1882 Andell Bluff Blvd, Johns Island

Waterfront seafood at Bohicket Marina on the way home.

Map

Places to Swim Downtown

1 picks

No pool at your home? The Ryder Hotel downtown welcomes Proper Stays guests at its pool: just tell the front desk you are staying with us. It is also a lovely first stop if you arrive before check-in. Drop your bags, order a cocktail and a bite, and enjoy a little hotel scene before settling into your own private home.