Road Trip: Charleston, South Carolina

Hubby and I took a road trip to Charleston, South Carolina, just a couple of weeks ago — in November 2025. This was not a random destination. I lived near Charleston — in the town of Summerville — as a child in the 1970s. My stepfather was stationed at the Charleston Air Force Base. So, for me, this road trip was more about taking a walk down memory lane.

Taking the Back Roads

We live in the northeast Georgia mountains and decided it would be fun to travel the back roads instead of jumping on the highway. Our route took us through small South Carolina towns like Aiken, Denmark, and Branchville. We caught a glimpse of “rural America,” as Hubby called it. Actually, it felt like we were transported back to the rural 1940s and ’50s.

We arrived in Summerville at the height of rush hour, and my, how the town has changed. When I lived there as a child, it was much like living in Mayberry. The downtown consisted of a Ben Franklin Five and Dime and a Piggy Wiggly supermarket. Now, it looked more like a busy Atlanta suburb. Everything was concrete and asphalt with chain restaurants and stores galore.

Seafood Heaven

Hubby made an official decree before we left the house. He wanted fresh seafood at every meal. In northeast Georgia, fresh wild-caught seafood is hard to come by. So, we discovered a restaurant near our hotel in Summerville that looked promising: Page’s Okra Grill. We were not disappointed. I had the blackened sea bass, and I honestly don’t remember a meal tasting that good in many years.

To our delight, every restaurant where we dined was better than the next. The highlights were Hyman’s Seafood and The Darling Oyster Bar in downtown Charleston. When I say the food was good, I am really saying that our souls were nourished just as much as our bodies. That is the only way I can describe it. Of all the things we experienced in Charleston, the food stands out above it all. And we’re not foodies by any means!

About Downtown Charleston

For our road trip to Charleston, South Carolina, we booked a stay at Hyatt Place-Hyatt House in downtown Charleston. I asked for an upper-floor room with a view and was not disappointed. From our bedside window, we could see tiny cars and trucks traveling on the Arthur Ravenel bridge across the Cooper River. The USS York aircraft carrier was on the opposite shore.

There are things to know about Charleston if you have never been there. The streets are very narrow, and many are one-way only. It can be challenging to find your way around. We heavily depended upon Google maps even while walking. Also, we took advantage of the shuttle tours located in the Charleston Visitor’s Center to tour the downtown historic sites. This made things so much easier.

Parking Etiquette

It’s important to note that there is no free parking in Charleston. In our case, not even at the hotel. We spent over $150 in parking fees during our two-night stay, including $48 per night for overnight parking. The hotel offers valet service for the same price, not including tips. However, the wait for valet service during peak hours was inconvenient. It was easier and less expensive to take advantage of the public parking garage next to the hotel.

Once you decide to take a road trip to Charleston, South Carolina, take time to Google the locations of public parking garages. Definitely scope out the garages nearest the venues you would like to tour. You will sometimes have to walk quite a distance from the garage to your destination. This is not a problem when the weather is pleasant, and you enjoy walking.

We had plenty of good exercise while we were there and enjoyed it. However, it gets very hot and humid in Charleston during certain times of the year. It was easy to see how a close-by parking spot could make all the difference.

Another tip is to be sure to book a place that includes breakfast if you’re a breakfast person. There were few restaurants that were opened for breakfast. During peak tourism season, going out for breakfast might present a problem.

Favorable Destination for Seniors

The last thing to mention is that Charleston seems to attract the over-50 crowd in terms of tourism. At least, it was that way during our visit, which was in the middle of the week. Consequently, the tour groups, venues, and restaurants accommodated the older crowd. Being seniors ourselves, it made us feel seen and cared for.

The highlights of our trip included a shuttle tour of the historic homes on the southern peninsula, including the homes along The Battery. We also toured the interior perimeter of The Citadel grounds.

On our last day, we took the ferry across the Charleston Harbor to Fort Sumter. We spent an enjoyable afternoon learning its history.

All in all, we enjoyed our vacation and our two-night stay in Charleston. We did not get a lot of rest and relaxation because we were on the go, by choice. After all, there was a lot to see during our short stay. I personally do not have a desire to return. However, I was very glad to experience Charleston again, as an adult. I truly appreciated the history and seeing familiar sights from my childhood.

Have you ever been to Charleston? What was the most memorable part of your trip? I’d love to hear!

~ Susan “Honey” Williams