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5 Small Businesses to Visit on Your Next Trip to Charleston

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by Amalee Brown

Charleston visitors have their favorite spots to visit, and newcomers frequently flock to places like Waterfront Park, The Battery and King Street. These hotspots are undoubtedly beautiful and interesting, but if you really want to get a feel for the heart and soul of Charleston, head to one of the local neighborhoods.

One such place is the Cannonborough / Elliotborough neighborhood, which is located just one block off King Street. Don’t miss the unique restaurants, shops and hidden gems.

Mac & Murphy

Mac & Murphy, Charleston, S.C.
photo by Mac & Murphy

Mac & Murphy is your one-stop shop for birthday cards, thank you cards and all celebrations. More than just a card store, it is also the perfect place to pick up a gift or trendy home decor items.

Tucked away in the back half of the shop is a custom stationary workshop and in-house graphic design studio for all your personalized needs.  74 ½ Cannon St., Charleston

Warehouse

Warehouse, Charleston, S.C.
photo by Warehouse

From the outside it would be easy to pass by this cold, grey building, but you will not want to miss what is inside. Warehouse is the Cannonborough/Elliotborough neighborhood’s favorite local bar.

Not too far removed from the hustle of King Street, the corner of Spring and St. Philip streets is the perfect place to grab a drink where cool and casual meets fun and trendy. 45 Spring St., Charleston

Sugar Bakeshop

Sugar Bakeshop, Charleston, S.C.
photo by Sugar Bakeshop

Everyone loves a sweet treat, and Sugar Bakeshop is the perfect place to pop in for a cupcake, cookie or coffee. In addition, Sugar is available to create unique and delicious desserts for special occasions and events.

Find Sugar on Cannon Street and make sure to check out the courtyard, the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle. 59 ½ Cannon St., Charleston

Flowershop

Flowershop, Charleston, S.C.
photo by Flowershop

Walking into Flowershop, you are instantaneously greeted by the sweet smell of fresh flowers. This small neighborhood spot is the perfect place to pick up a fresh bouquet of flowers for the dinner table or a gift for someone special.

The shop owner, Lily, is always happy to welcome you in and help you with all your floral needs and questions. 125 ½ Spring St., Charleston

The Eclectic Cafe & Vinyl

The Eclectic Cafe & Vinyl, Charleston, S.C.
photo by The Eclectic Cafe & Vinyl

This relatively new coffee shop is more than just a great place to grab a latte. Eclectic also offers a wide selection of vinyl records that bring you back to a nostalgic age. The vintage, retro vibe mixed with a kick of caffeine is the perfect place to chat with a friend or get some work done. 132 Spring St., Charleston

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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

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