The perfect day in Charleston
Spend a Day in Charleston in the fall or winter when the humidity drops and the air is cooler (at least a little).The Charleston Farmer’s Market is the perfect place to start your day in Charleston. It opens every Saturday in Marion Square from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. through the end of November.
Enjoy sipping a cup of coffee from Coastal Cowgirl Coffee while pursuing the tents. Not to be clichéd, but your day in Charleston in the fall is not complete without a pumpkin vanilla sweet cream cold brew. If it's December, try one of their holiday special coffees.
In addition to the fresh local produce, the Charleston Farmer’s Market has art vendors, food vendors, and live music. A cooler day in Charleston provides the perfect weather for browsing.
I love the fresh sourdough bread from the Bright Light Bakery. Don’t miss building your own bouquet from The Sweet Jessamine Flower Truck. It’s super-cute too!
A day in Charleston in the fall or winter should include lunch in a cozy spot. Sit at the bar at Beautiful South and have the bartender make you one of their specialty cocktails that pair well with the spice of the Asian food. I had the … which was served in a coupe style martini glass. My fave. I love sipping a fancy cocktail from a beautiful glass. Even if it had no alcohol in it. Which mine actually did.
Order a few appetizers or a stir-fry meal. I like the dumplings, which were served with a spicy sauce. The side of cucumbers was generous, super-hot, but really delicious with a sesame oil sauce.
I love a little 'makers' activity on a cooler day in Charleston. Spend a couple of hours at Candlefish, where you can create your own candles. You begin by blind smelling the featured scents to pick your favorite. If you are really curious, you can peek behind the card to see what the scent formula contains. Still, the idea behind it is that you don’t let the ingredients influence what you like; you choose it purely for the smell.
You also have the option of creating your own mix by selecting a combination of three individual scents and making it your own. That was my favorite part. The good thing is that if you smell it once it’s mixed and you don’t like it, they will let you choose a pre-made scent. Since it was winter, I chose a woodsy, pine, and an earthy scent. Not overly creative, but seasonal.Then, label and name your scent, put on your safety goggles, and measure out the hot wax. Adjust your wicks, mix your scents into the wax, and pour your candles. Leave them there for a couple of days and go back to pick them up.
After candle making, end your day in Charleston with a cocktail and an appetizer at The Gin Joint. It is moody and cozy, and perfect for a cool day in Charleston. They change their menu seasonally, so in addition to classic cocktails, you’ll find something that suits your mood. If you are adventurous, try the ‘Bartender’s Choice.’ Choose two adjectives from their list that describe the drink you are looking for, and they will surprise you. Super-fun! I chose ‘botanical’ and ‘refreshing’ and received a drink that was precisely that! It was a botanical gin with lime and simple syrup, served in a coup with a spring of mint. Perfect! They make an excellent old-fashioned, so if you prefer a classic, try one of those.
The Gin Joint offers a selection of reasonably priced food items, most of which are delicious, although some of the serving sizes are small.
The salmon was perfectly cooked but is served as an appetizer portion.
The burger was hearty and the topping change with the seasons. They also offer a seasonal salad, which is always a good choice.
The fall and winter is the perfect time to spend a day in Charleston because the weather is still pleasant. With fewer tourists the sidewalks and restaurants are less crowded.
