traveler of charleston logo

2017 Charleston Holiday Gift Guide

Table of Contents

Take advantage of your next visit to Charleston to do some holiday shopping . We’ve selected a few favorites for our 2017 Holiday Gift Guide we think would make great presents. And be sure to pick up a little something for yourself! Need more inspiration?  Read our blog post on 10 Distinctively Charleston Holiday Gifts.

Clean-cooking marinades

The New Primal cooking marinadesFounded in Charleston, The New Primal has been creating delicious meat snacks and jerky made with grass-fed beef and wholesome ingredients for several years. If you have a foodies who loves clean eating on your gift list, choose from a new line of marinades and cooking sauces. These sauces are free of refined sugars, soy, dairy or oil and feature healthy ingredients such as coconut aminos and apple cider vinegar. Price: $7.99; order online at thenewprimal.com/marinades.

Welcome to Charleston

Historic Charleston Foundation OrnamentThe pineapple is used in architecture and décor all around Charleston as a welcoming symbol of hospitality. According to the Historic Charleston Foundation, seafaring captains from East Coast ports, including Charleston, would impale fresh pineapples – souvenirs of their travels to tropical ports – atop the porch railings of their homes when they returned. It was a sign the man of the house was home and receiving visitors. Take some hospitality home with a Charleston Pineapple Brass Ornament available from the Historic Charleston Foundation Shop, 108 Meeting St. Price: $20 or order online at historiccharleston.org.

Majestic jewelry

Angel Oak PendantThis pendant is fashioned after Charleston’s majestic Angel Oak Tree located on Johns Island. Dacuba’s Fine Jewelry also carries rings, earrings, bracelets and charms inspired by the ornate gates found throughout downtown Charleston. Price: Pendant $19 – $59, Rice Bead Necklace $39 – $47. Available at 84 N. Market St. in Charleston (dacubasjewelry.com).

Eating and preserving

Toadfish OutfittersGet ready for oyster season with the put ‘em back oyster knife from Charleston-based Toadfish Outfitters. This knife combines the elements of a traditional oyster knife with a modern look at ergonomics and the physics of shucking an oyster perfectly and safely. All Toadfish products are made from environmentally responsible materials and a percentage of every purchase is donated to oyster habitat preservation. Price: $48 (engraved). Order online at toadfishoutfitters.com or purchase locally at Grady Ervin & Co., Haddrell’s Point Tackle or at Charleston Angler.

Raise a glass

Deep Water VineyardAt Deep Water Vineyard on Wadmalaw Island, you’ll find vines filled with muscadine grapes, a fruit native to the Southeastern United States. Those grapes are turned into authentic muscadine wine – five different labels from four varieties of grapes. Pick up a few bottles for friends or as a holiday party hostess gift. Deep Water Wine is available at retail locations around the Charleston area and at the vineyard; see deepwatervineyard.com for details (tours and tastings also available).

Sweetgrass jewelry

Sweetgrass Basket BangleThe charming sweetgrass baskets of the Lowcountry – a symbol of Charleston’s heritage – are available as pieces of jewelry. Choose from bracelets, earrings, a pendent or a ring. These pieces make a truly unique gift sure to receive plenty of compliments. Available at Gold Creations, 74 Market St., Charleston or at goldcreationschas.com.

Be Adventurous

Charleston Zipline Adventures GiftcardWhy not give the gift of adventure and excitement this holiday season? Put your climbing and balance skills to the test at Wild Blue Ropes Adventure Park, featuring 72 suspended obstacles up to 35 feet in the air.

For more high-flying adventure, check out Charleston Zip Line Adventures, located just north of Mount Pleasant. Zip from a 65-foot tower through the trees, going between tree platforms, towers, three swinging bridges and a grande finale zip of 750 feet.

For the water-loving people on your gift list, check out Charleston Speed Boat Adventures. Take the wheel and become the captain of your very own speed boat on this adventure tour through the Charleston harbor.

Charleston Tour Pass

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

Visit TourPass

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.