traveler of charleston logo

Things to Do Valentine’s Day Weekend in Charleston

Table of Contents

Don’t you love it when Valentine’s Day falls on the weekend? It’s the perfect excuse for a full-blown romantic celebration – and Charleston is just the place for it. Whether you’re visiting from out of town or looking for a love-filled staycation, Valentine’s Day weekend is brimming with events, fun and plenty of ways to express your deepest affections.

To get you started, we’ve put together a few suggestions.

Table for Two

Circa 1886 Dinner
Circa 1886

Eager for a romantic dinner for two? We could put together a lengthy list of great Charleston area restaurants where the food is sublime and the ambiance is sheer romance. Situated in the former carriage house of the Wentworth Mansion (another ultra-romantic spot), Circa 1886 offers up a special Valentine’s Day menu with mouth-watering items like lobster flan, blackened snapper and pear tarte tatin for dessert plus a glass of champagne.

Reserve a quiet table for two at McCrady’s and choose from a menu selection that boasts fresh, local ingredients from Lowcountry farmers, artisans and fishermen. The dining room’s brick walls, heart pine floors, beamed ceilings, original fireplaces and chandeliers all add to the charm of the restaurant.

Nothing says “I love you” like an extensive beer, wine and cocktails list. If your sweetie wants something more casual but with a terrific menu and big beverage list, try Edmund’s Oast. Opened just two years ago, Edmund’s Oast is a combination of brewery, farm-to-table restaurant and craft cocktail bar. The seasonal menu includes small plates, housemade charcuterie and entrees.

Romantic Escapes

Edmond's Oast
Edmond’s Oast

If you want plenty of time to hold hands and snuggle, book a private carriage tour with Palmetto Carriage Works. Soak up the sights and sounds of Charleston with a guided tour in one of the elegant vis-a-vis carriages.

Weather permitting, there’s nothing more romantic than a walk on the beach. Stroll one of Charleston’s beaches at sunset and you’ll feel like the last two people on earth. Or grab one of the swings at Waterfront Park in downtown Charleston and take in views of the Charleston harbor while swinging hand in hand.

If you’re looking for a more active weekend, don’t miss the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition from Feb. 12-14. This annual event is a celebration of wildlife and nature through fine art, conservation, sporting demonstrations. Don’t miss the retriever demos or the presentation by Jack Hanna.

Valentine’s Day also falls on 2nd Sunday on King Street, always a fun afternoon in the heart of downtown. From 1 to 5 p.m., King Street is closed to vehicular traffic from Queen Street North to Calhoun Street. Pedestrians – and plenty of pets – stroll the street. Pop into one of the many restaurants for lunch, do some shopping and enjoy the entertainment.

Gift Your Love

Go beyond the flowers and heart-shaped box of chocolates for something a little more heartfelt. Why not book at couple’s massage at The Spa at Belmond Charleston Place. Swedish, deep tissue, warm stone … one of each, please!

Angel Oak pendant
Angel Oak pendant

Located on King Street, Croghan’s Jewel Box is filled with unique finds, including the Gold Bug Collection, estate jewelry and more. Or stop off at Dacuba’s Fine Jewelry on North Market Street for jewelry inspired by the Angel Oak Tree on Johns Island.

For him, pick up a tie from Charleston Krewe, a King Street boutique with a collection of ties and bowties in prints like palmetto trees and sea turtles.

We’d love to know how you celebrated Valentine’s Day in Charleston. Share photos of your romantic dinner, shopping or beach sunset using hashtag #travelerofcharleston.

 

 

Visiting Charleston Just Got Way Easier!

TourPass includes all the top tours and attractions & historic sites. Save up to 40% or more on admissions + skip the lines

Charleston FAQ's

Choosing a hotel and where to stay in Charleston all depends on your budget and goals. Do you want to stay Downtown, at the beach or in the outer areas such as North Charleston where you have to drive to get everywhere? For more help on deciding: https://travelerofcharleston.com/articles/hotels/

Charleston has 3 main public beaches which are: Folly, Isle of Palms and Sullivans. Each beach has it’s own atmosphere. The most common beach that people visit is Folly Beach and then Isle of Palms followed by Sullivans Island. For more info on Charleston’s beaches visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/guide-charlestons-beaches/

Charleston, SC is full of historical things to do. Everything from museums, to public sites and free landmark sites such as Rainbow Row and the Battery can be seen. For more info on Charleston’s top historical sites visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/places-to-learn-about-charleston-sc-history/

There are many things that will keep the kids and family entertained and educated in Charleston. There are historic sites such as Fort Sumter, a Children’s Museum, Aquarium and the USS Yorktown…a WWII era aircraft carrier you can tour. For more info visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-family-fun-activities/

There’s so many  things you could do in Charleston it can be overwhelming. We recommend that first time visitors, checkout the ultimate first-time visitor guide here: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-first-time-visitors-guide/

Spring in Charleston, SC is an amazing time of year to visit. The flowers are blooming and the weather is mild and sunny. For more info, check-out our spring guide to Charleston here: https://travelerofcharleston.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-springtime-in-charleston/

Summer in Charleston is a great time to visit. There’s plenty of things to keep you busy and visiting the beach will probably….or should be on your short-list. Also water-based activities and tours are popular. Checkout this summer guide to Charleston for more info: 

Our 10 Favorite Summer Activities in Charleston

Fall is one of the best times to visit. The weather cools down a bit and the skies are typically blue and clear. In addition there are many great events, festivals and the large crowds of summer have gone back to school or work. For more info on visiting in the fall, checkout this article: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-12-things-to-do-fall/

There are so many great things to do that it’s difficult to narrow the list down. This article does a great job with figuring out the must do things to do in Charleston

7 Can’t Miss Reasons to Visit Charleston, SC Now

The consensus is a minimum of 3-days is needed to settle in and experience Charleston. For instance, many people take 2 days exploring downtown and another day visiting sites outside of downtown such as the plantations, Angel Oak Tree or beaches. Checkout this page for a list of tours and attractions: 

Charleston’s Top Tours & Attractions | Things to do

Downtown Charleston was made for walking and for sure one of the best way to soak up and experience the history first-hand. This article goes over getting around Charleston with and without a car as well: 

Getting Around Charleston, SC

We’re of course partial to Charleston, but here’s the truth. There are many similarities however there are some differences in our opinion: 

  • Both cities are historic and beautiful. 
  • Both cities are extremely walkable. Savannah, with it’s park-like squares maybe more walkable than Charleston. 
  • Charleston has a more established and food scene with many more options. 
  • Charleston has better hotels and shopping.
  • Both cities have equally good tours.
  • Charleston has better beach options. Savannah has Tybee which is great, however it’s 1 beach vibe versus Charleston which has 3 beaches with different vibes. Checkout this Charleston beach guide article: https://travelerofcharleston.com/guide-charlestons-beaches/
  • In Savannah you can walk with alcoholic beverages on the street. This is not allowed in Charleston. This can be good or bad depending on your stance. 
  • Savannah is more affordable.
  • TourPass offers all-inclusive passes in both cities: https://tourpass.com

There are always great and world-class events happening in Charleston. For a calendar of events and things to do in Charleston, checkout our online calendar of events: https://travelerofcharleston.com/events/

Of course there are free money-saving coupons that you can use. Visit the coupons page for a bunch of ways to save: https://travelerofcharleston.com/coupon/

Charleston has some fantastic can’t miss tours such as Fort Sumter, carriage, ghost, harbor, historic and culinary tours. For a full list with more info visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/attractions/

Checkout the Charleston Relocation Guide page which will guide you during your move: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-sc-relocation-guide/

Additional Places to Explore

Traveler Mag Icon
Receive Charleston Updates

Get the First Timers Guide...it's free

We’ll email our online magazine, map, helpful articles. Unsubscribe at anytime.