How to Spend A Day In Mount Pleasant SC: Tourist Edition
Want to spend a day in Mount Pleasant? It's just over the Ravenel Bridge from Charleston, so getting there is easy.
Start your day in Mount Pleasant with coffee and a light breakfast.
Vintage Coffee is located in a white cottage with a rustic and beachy ambiance. It's cozy inside but has an expansive outdoor area with a playground, a vintage truck, and a relaxing vibe.
Start with the turmeric ginger chai latte or its seasonal lavender latte. Be sure to ask for it to be served in a mug. Try an acai bowl, the whipped feta toast, a scone, or the avocado toast. The wraps are delicious as well.
USS Yorktown at Patriot's Point: Legendary History and Stories
Get tickets online for the USS Yorktown at Patriot's Point in Mount Pleasant, and spend at least a couple of hours exploring. There is a lot of history, and you could spend all day in the museum on a rainy day. Start by walking through the area below deck, including the engine room, barracks, and mess hall. It gives you a perspective of how tight those quarters really are.
My favorite part is exploring the flight deck to see fighter jets and helicopters and stunning views of Charleston Harbor. Then, tour the bridge and the captain's quarters to see the control room. Check out the Medal of Honor Museum for moving personal stories and artifacts. If you have time, visit the submarine and destroyer as well. This exhibit provides an appreciation for the men and women who served there.
Mount Pleasant's Nationally Acclaimed Page's Okra Grill
For lunch, indulge in Southern comfort at Page's Okra Grill. This Mount Pleasant family-owned restaurant has been featured on the Travel Channel and the Food Network. It's known for Ashleigh's Shrimp and Grits, which are made with grit cakes, shrimp, and andouille sausage. My favorite is the PBT—a pimento cheese, bacon, and fried green tomato BLT served on grilled buttery Texas toast. It was featured on the Travel Channel, and there's a reason for that.
Spend your afternoon exploring the Old Village of Mount Pleasant, a charming neighborhood with historic homes, boutique shops, and the picturesque Pitt Street Bridge. It's a perfect spot to soak in panoramic views of the Charleston Harbor.
Who doesn't love an Ice cream cone and a beautiful view?
Take a walk through Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park. There is a War Memorial, a Sweetgrass Cultural Arts Pavilion, and a 1250-foot-long pier. I enjoy getting an ice cream cone at the River Watch Cafe, walking down the pier, and sitting on one of the benches or swings. The views are magnificent. The gift shop also has some cute local merchandise.
Shem Creek for marsh views & dolphins if you're lucky
Before dinner, head to Shem Creek for a beer at Red's Ice House, a waterfront restaurant and bar on Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant. The building was once an actual icehouse for local shrimping boats, but it is now a laid-back spot for panoramic views of Shem Creek. Go to the top deck to see the best marsh views and watch the boats go by.
Have dinner at Saltwater Cowboys next door. This Shem Creek favorite often has live music, and the atmosphere is festive.
Order a few items to share, as Saltwater Cowboys' appetizer menu offers a nice variety. Get the deviled eggs and the fried green tomatoes, which are topped with pimento cheese, bacon, and strawberry jam. Try the Boal's family crab dip, which is loaded with crab and not mayo-based at all. It's served old-school, with Ritz crackers, because it's a 50-year-old family recipe. We like the fried grouper fingers with lemon dill tartar sauce, which are delicious and not at all greasy.
Or try the trash can nachos. They are sort-of famous in Mount Pleasant because they are served in a metal canister. The server lifts the can to reveal a towering stack of nachos. They come with a pitcher of queso to pour over them, which makes the whole process entertaining. We'd also recommend anything with seafood, such as the grouper sandwich, a shrimp po'boy, or one of their salads.
If it's nice out, sit outside by the water for more creek views.
After dinner, take a leisurely walk along the Shem Creek boardwalks, look for dolphins, and enjoy the sunset. Who knew there was so much to do in the 'sleepy' little town of Mount Pleasant? It's undoubtedly not sleepy!
If you have time to spend more than a day in Mount Pleasant, book a room at the Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina at Patriots Point. This waterfront retreat has gorgeous views of the Charleston skyline and harbor.
