We hit the road two days after summer break 2022 began. It was decided earlier in the year that no time would be wasted once school was out. Summer would kick off with a bang.

We deserved & needed that! And I needed time away with my fun-loving, silly girls!

Our road trip was around 4.5 hours. We drove down on an early Friday afternoon & arrived sometime that evening. Then, we checked into our hotel, marveled at palm trees, & proceeded to find dinner.

Hotel Information

The Hilton Garden Inn Charleston/Mt. Pleasant was home during our visit. There were two hotel rooms between the five of us. My daughters & I occupied one of them.

Our rooms were simple but cozy & had everything we needed. Suites are also available. The queen size beds were especially comfortable & appreciated.

A coffee machine (Keurig), small fridge, & microwave are included in each room for guest convenience. There’s an on-site restaurant from which you can pre-order breakfast/dinner. The cost was $10 per person during our stay. We didn’t order but considered it a great option if we wanted to eat in. Exploring the nearby food scene was our focus. Be on the lookout for an upcoming blog post about all the places we dined.

*All hotel photos (4) were obtained from the Hilton Garden website. I hold no rights to them. See more of their photos at this link.*

The outdoor (rooftop) pool was a great source of fun for my daughters. The depth only goes to 4.5 feet-which my oldest can stand in comfortably. The pool’s daytime environment & nightfall ambiance was a joy to experience. Smooth jazz & other tunes played consistently from the speakers. Seating was colorful & plentiful.

I have no complaints concerning our hotel stay. Staff members were extremely friendly & accommodating. That means everything to me! I would definitely stay here again. For more details about this hotel, its amenities, etc., be sure to visit their website linked above.

Day 1

The South Carolina Aquarium is a must-see. It’s located on the Charleston Harbor waterfront in historic downtown Charleston. The water, along with the Arthur Ravenel Jr. bridge, makes for a stunning view. See it in this Instagram reel.

The USS Yorktown can be seen from here as well. On the same property & adjacent to the aquarium is the Fort Sumter National Monument. We didn’t visit but plan to include military/maritime tours during our next trip to Charleston.

What I found most fascinating while researching this aquarium is its Great Ocean Tank. It’s the deepest in North America!

Getting to view ocean life up close but safely has always been exciting for us. The educational factors at each exhibit also can’t be beat. Another cool aspect of our experience is that although nervous, we touched sting rays & starfish.

View our entire South Carolina Aquarium experience in the vlog below. Find all pertinent information to plan your own visit at this link.

100 Aquarium Wharf Charleston, SC 29401 (800) 722-6455

Adult Tickets (13+) $34.95 / Child Tickets (3–12) $27.95 / Toddler (0–2) Free

Next up was a walk-through & tour of the The Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon. With its construction completed in 1771, this building holds more history than one would imagine. From presidential dinners, to the ratification of the Constitution & the domestic slave trade… a multitude of stories live within its walls.

An abundance of artifacts & information lie within the now museum for all to see. There’s also a gift shop with books & other items to learn from or gift as souvenirs. You can choose to walk through at your own pace, or, do what we did & join an additional 30-35 minute tour.

There are three floors within this building. Stairs & elevators are available. The second & third floors are areas in which you can do a self-guided tour. You actually enter on the second floor. The dungeon is the lowest level. It requires a guide because of its age & flooring. There are also parts with low ceilings.

Visit the website (linked above) for a full description & more information.

122 East Bay Street Charleston, SC 29401 (843) 727-2165

Adults: $12.00 Children (7-12): $5.00 Children (0-6): Free

For a look inside of this museum, watch the vlog below.

Day 2

All things water-related filled our second day. We hung out by the hotel pool for the first half. By late afternoon, we were headed to Isle of Palms Beach. The drive from our hotel was around 20 minutes. Another option was Folly Beach which was also close by. A sure stop for future visits.

Isle of Palms is a barrier island sitting comfortably between the Atlantic Ocean & the Intracoastal Waterway. There are miles of beautiful beaches with glistening white sand. Although we were only there for a few hours, it’s understandable why the area is a top tourist destination.

Isle of Palms is a resort community but beaches are open to the public. There are plentiful access points. A quick Google search will give you that information from where ever you are. Our visit was on a Sunday & we parked right off of the street (with other vehicles). You can see that in our vlog. There are public lots available, too, with parking fees. Hours are 8am to 8pm.

Next time around, we may hotel hop & stay on the island for a couple of days. There are many shops & restaurants we didn’t get to see as well as water activities to try. The list is vast & we’re always itching to see/learn/do MORE.

See our beach visit in the vlog below.

Day 3

After breakfast, we made our way back to downtown Charleston-specifically Concord Street. First on our list was Waterfront Park to see The Pineapple Fountain. And just a heads up…I’ve seen this location listed as both Joe Riley Waterfront Park & Charleston Waterfront Park.

The Pineapple Fountain sits in the center of the park. The plentiful walkways will lead you right to it. Pineapple motifs can be seen throughout Charleston & represent ‘hospitality.’ It’s a way of saying everyone is welcome & that’s evident by the number/variety of people visiting.

To take a clear photo of it (or with it), I suggest going early in the morning. Otherwise, expect photobombs. That’s typical, however, of any popular attraction. And whether or not you’re traveling with kids, wading in the fountain’s water is welcomed. We saw many people enjoying themselves.

While in the area, we also made our way to the pier to bask in the beauty of the Charleston Harbor once again. We clearly didn’t get enough during day one. The heat & humidity during warmer months are a force to be reckoned with but there are shaded seating areas occupying a large portion of the pier. It’s refreshing to cool off here, watch ships enter & exit the harbor, & take in the stunning view of the Arthur J. Ravenel bridge.

Last but not least was the historic Charleston City Market. Full of history from the past & bustling energy of today, you’re sure to find something new to excite your senses. It’s one of our nation’s oldest public markets & comes alive daily at 9:30am.

Local artists, entrepreneurs, & businesses showcase their goods/services for visitors to see & purchase. If you’re the type to take home souvenirs, there are plenty to choose from! If not, go for the experience alone.

188 Meeting Street Charleston, SC 29401

To see Day 3 (our last day) in its entirety, watch the vlog below.

Overall, we had such a good trip. It was a vacation we so badly needed. There were many more pros than cons but we experienced & learned. Now… we can’t wait to return & have all new experiences. If you’re familiar with my content, you know I can’t visit a place just once! Charleston won me over & gave me a little taste of the New Orleans, LA & Savannah, GA vibes I so fondly remember from years past.