Let's Go: Charleston, SC

A few months ago we took a girls trip up to Charleston, SC for a long weekend getaway. I love Charleston's charm, atmosphere, history and all of the amazing places to eat, shop and drink. If you have never been before, do yourself a favor and make it your next vacation. It's perfect for a long weekend because there is plenty to see, but it is a small town so you might not need an entire week. If you do go for longer, I highly recommend taking half the trip to visit one of the islands nearby for some beach time (Isle of Palms, Folly Beach, Sullivan's Island).

Check out what my friends and I got up to in the beautiful city of Charleston!

The Hotel

Renaissance Charleston Historic District Hotel

Location Location Location. Charleston, SC is a walking city so make sure where you decide to stay is near where you want to be. It may cost more to be within walking distance, but it is well worth the extra cost.

The Renaissance was a perfect location, just a little off to the side, right by the College of Charleston. We were able to walk just about everywhere we needed to. The accommodations were pretty standard, nothing too extravagant and our group was able to get joining rooms so that was nice. The only annoyance was having to pay for parking at the parking garage across from the hotel, but at least the lot was close I guess.

I would definitely recommend this hotel if you are looking for a good location and just planning on using the hotel as a place to rest your head at the end of the day. It's not right in the thick of things, but it's easy enough to walk anywhere you want to go.

The Drinks

Stars Rooftop

We spent our fist night at Stars, a restaurant that becomes more of a bar after the dinner crowd is gone. They had a great DJ, a rooftop bar and wine on tap. It was pretty packed, but super fun. We danced the night away to 90s tunes and drank our fair share of Riesling on tap served by some very friendly bartenders. I would highly recommend this place for a night out with the girls.

The Rooftop Bar at Vendue

I had been here before, so I was excited to bring my friends back to this beautiful rooftop bar the second night. It was a great place to hang out as we were aiming for more of a chill night. The views really are great, but it was actually pretty chilly while we were in Charleston so we didn't venture onto the patio much because of the wind. We stayed by the bar near heat lamps under the covered tent they had set up for warmth. When the weather is nice, there's nothing better than this rooftop bar with twinkle lights. Don't miss it.

The Food

Queology

This award winning BBQ place was our first stop when we made it to Charleston around lunch time. Our hotel wasn't ready and we were starving, so it was a great find. The pulled pork was amazing and the drinks were pretty awesome for a bbq place. The service was super friendly and we loved the location right by the City Market. If you're tired of seafood and craving some great BBQ, check out Queology!

Toast

Another award winner, Toast served up some amazing breakfast. The wait was actually pretty long, but we walked around to kill time and they served coffee and mimosas and Bloody Mary's while we waited so it wasn't too bad. Also, it's not just a breakfast place. Apparently Toast is named after glasses toasting, not the slice of bread. However, their breakfast food was delicious so the name made sense to me either way.

Southend Brewery & Smokehouse

 

This place is just neat, when you walk inside it's all brick and iron and beautiful. We had dinner here the first night and their food is just as good as their drinks. I got a flight to sample all of the beers they brew in house and it was the perfect compliment to a delicious burger. Go inside for a drink at the very least, it's worth seeing inside the building.



Oyster House On Market

 

Our last meal in Charleston was one of our best. We were dying for some seafood being so close to the ocean so we found this oyster house right by the City Market. The service, the atmosphere and the food were all top notch. Most people got oysters, but there were plenty of other items on the menu and nobody was disappointed.

Sassyass Coffee

The name alone was enough to sell us on trying this coffee cart. The people running it were so friendly and very conversational with all of us. The coffee was also delicious! They had a huge selection and the ice cold lattes were just what we needed to pick us back up after walking around the city. Make sure you look out for them on your visit there! We found them right by that park with the obelisk

Carmella's Café and Dessert Bar

This place was adorable. I actually didn't eat anything there because I wasn't hungry, but my friends did and said the food was pretty good. Some of them also got an alcoholic shake or something and said it was pretty amazing. It's a little tight in the space, but the windows open up into the street and give the shop an airy vibe. It seems like the perfect spot for drinks and dessert.

Christophe Artisan Chocolatier

Right next to hotel we were staying in was this tiny chocolate shop. The chocolates were beautiful and they had such a huge selection! My friends got a few and said they melt in your mouth. If you need a chocolate fix, check this place out.

The Sights

Kings Street Shopping

You will find a ton of high end stores on Kings Street and a few local shops. You could easily spend a day walking around shopping in Charleston. There are also a lot of art galleries around the city that you should peak into. It's always a little awkward since we clearly were not going to buy million dollar paintings, but all of the store owners we encountered were very friendly.

Battery Park

With beautiful views of the water and the famous bright houses, taking a walk around Batter Park is a must. You can see historic Fort Sumter from the raised pathway along the water and we even caught a glimpse of a wedding happening right in the park. It's a nice place to stroll and get a bit of shade on the hotter days.

Historic Charleston City Market

If you've never been to Charleston before, this is definitely something you need to check out. It's a huge open air (except for a small closed in part) market place where people sell everything from crafts to food to all those touristy souvenirs you want to bring home to your friends. The closed in part is probably the nicest with a few permanent shops. They have a small barbeque place and sandwich/coffee shop that you can take a quick break at, because the market is pretty long. Once you've gone to it a few times though it kind of loses it's appeal and it's always packed with tourists.

 

Walking Around Charleston

 

Honestly, I love just walking around Charleston. There is beauty on every corner, from the brightly colored homes to the churches to the parks. I love a good cobblestone road and the private gardens that you can peak into from the street are impossible not to swoon over. It's such a historic city and a lot of it has been left intact and renovated with so much love. I could wander around this city for hours and not get tired of the little treasures I find. Do yourself a favor when you visit Charleston, get lost. Turn down street after street and then find you way home.

 

Charleston is a place I would return to time and time again. It's beauty and atmosphere are so unique and so refreshing. There's history, architecture, entertainment, restaurants, bars, shopping, art and so much more. Charleston is one of my favorites, and I think it would be one of yours too.



Have you been to Charleston before? I'm always looking for new places to explore in one of my favorite cities! Share you recommendations below!

xx Kristen

Let's Go Chicago

Chicago has been on my lists of cities to visit for a while now, so I jumped at the opportunity when my friend Jessie invited me on a long weekend getaway to the windy city this past March (only 4 months late).

The Accommodations

The Godfrey Hotel

Our hotel was in a great location; we were able to walk to most places we had to get to. I felt very safe, even with a few shady people walking around at night. The hotel itself was a modern boutique hotel with a restaurant in the lobby and bar a few levels up. The staff was nothing but kind and when my friend and I had some issues with our hotel room they moved us over to another one.

We enjoyed a night at the bar they had in the hotel and it was both convenient and a good time. There is a dress code and they are serious about it. My friend’s sister went to check it out when we first got there in sweats and they didn’t mind her taking a look, but she wasn’t welcome to stay. We made friends with the bartender and some of the other bar patrons, it was a very friendly environment. Everything is very posh and dark, but in a good way. The music is loud and upbeat and the crowd was a fun mix of people. They had a really pretty balcony with nice city views, but it was the beginning of March and pretty cold so we didn’t last long out there.

Overall a great hotel, I would definitely recommend The Godfrey Hotel to others visiting the city.

The Food

Wildberry Pancakes and Café

This was hands down one of my favorite meals of the trip. This pancake house is right across from Millennium Park so it is the perfect place to start a day in the city. I love breakfast food and this place had it all. The wait was a little long, but they serve coffee while you wait and it honestly went by pretty fast. You get so much food for the money and it’s all delicious. Seriously, if I could only recommend one place to eat in Chicago, this would be it.

Gibsons Steakhouse

Gibsons is one of the most well know steakhouse in America apparently. Our waiter gave us a beautiful rehearsed story about how amazing and famous the steakhouse is. The steak was good, not the most amazing, but I think my issue might have been the cut I got. The French fries though, those I will recommend to everyone. Also, be careful if you order dessert. A slice of cake is the size of basketball, no joke. It was really good, but four of us couldn’t even put a dent in it. Basically, it’s worth a go, but I’m not sure if it’s quite worth the hype especially for the prices.

Giordano's

You can’t go to Chicago and not eat deep-dish pizza so we hit up Giordanos after the brewery. Personally I like a lot of sauce on my pizza so I loved the deep dish, it was amazing. It’s a chain so there might be much more authentic Chicago pizza, but Giordanos certainty hit the spot.

The Drinks

The John Hancock Center 96th Floor Bar

We didn’t go to Sears/Willis Tower, but we did take a ride up to the top of the John Hancock Building which had such amazing views of the city and Lake Michigan. We had a drink at The Signature Lounge at the 96th. My friend Gabrielle said that the views at night are just as breathtaking if you’re looking for a cool spot for drinks or dinner.

Streeters Tavern

Sometimes the best places are the ones you just happen upon. We had been walking around for a long time and we just wanted to grab a drink before we headed off to get ready for our first dinner. We found this adorable Irish pub (maybe it just seemed Irish because of all of the St. Patrick's Day decorations) that reminded me of MacLaren's in How I Met Your Mother. It was such a hole in the wall, you walked down some stairs and entered a dark room with pool tables, a bar and some great character. We grabbed some beers, some bar snacks and enjoyed a bit of time reminiscing on our adventures in Chicago.

Half Acre Beer Company

The brewery has tours every Saturday at 11:00am, but we had to get this brewery super early because they only allow so many people in due to its size. We were literally the last people in line, but we made the cut. It’s a fairly small space with room for some brewing and then a small gift shop. They had 4 beers on tap and you got 3 tickets for samples.

The best part of the brewery was the owner. While we were drinking he was just up there telling us his story and talking about his love of beer. I really liked the Pony Pilsner and  the IPA they had. If you love beer and exploring breweries then I would definitely recommend making the short drive just outside the downtown area to visit Half Acre.

Three Dots and a Dash

We didn’t go out much since it was a short trip and we were pretty tired from a lot of exploring, but we did make it out one night. We went to Three Dots and a Dash and it had a super sketchy entrance in the back alley. It was so worth it though, the place was packed and the drinks were expensive, but it’s definitely an experience. The music was good and the drinks were beautiful.

Things to Do

Millennium Park

You cannot visit Chicago for the first time and not go to the Bean. So that’s exactly what we did and I loved every single touristy moment of it. It really was a sight to see and a very fun place to take pictures.

The rest of the park was actually pretty cool too though. There was an ice skating rink that was still open. There was this cool art instillation that apparently spits water when it’s warmer. Walking around we saw other cool art pieces and some great views of the city.

The Navy Pier

If you want a picture perfect shot of the Chicago skyline, head over to the Navy Pier. I love a good view and a good skyline and Chicago’s was top notch. The Navy Pier was a bit of a hike from our hotel so we took an Uber on our last day in the city. We walked along the water and looked for a lunch spot.

The Navy Pier was worth the visit for the view alone, but for the most part it was kind of shut down. I have a feeling that it is much more lively during the summer when it is not as cold. There were a ton of restaurants (although we didn’t eat at the Pier). There was a beer garden that looked super cool, but it was closed. There was a stain glass window mini museum, a closed Ferris wheel, a greenhouse space, a theater that was closed and a gift shop or two. 

Howl at the Moon

My first time at a piano bar was quite the experience. We reserved some great seats right by the pianos and the performances were amazing. All the people up there had so much talent and could not only play the piano, they could play the guitar and the drums and they could sing! The tables were super small and the food wasn’t the best, but I feel like you go for the experience and not the food. This is also apparently a piano bar chain? So if you've been to one before it's probably pretty similar, but still a fun way to spend a night in Chicago.

Chicago is a HUGE and beautiful city. I loved how walkable everything was and it seemed like there was always something to do. A long weekend simply wasn't enough time to fit everything in. I look forward to a return to the windy city. Below are five things that I would love to do next time I'm in Chicago!

Art Institute Chicago

Sears/Willis Tower Sky Deck

Lollapalooza

Blackhawks Game

Chicago Cubs Game

Let me know what else I missed in Chicago that I need to check out next time I'm in the city!!

xx Kristen

California Love: Day 4

Alfred’s Coffee

We started our day on Melrose Ave at a cute coffee shop. The line was out the door and it was super hard to find a spot to sit, but it was really good. We’ve heard stars love to go here, but we didn’t see any. Then we walked around Melrose, but everything was closed because it was still so early.

The Grove

We walked to the Grove, an outdoor shopping mall and went in and out of more shops. It had most of the basic mall finds, what looked like some nice restaurants and a HUGE Barns and Noble store. We were told that it was best not to try and eat at The Grove since everything is so expensive, instead you can head next door and get great food for a better price at the Farmers Market.

Farmers Market at The Grove

The Farmers Market was a little strange, very low ceiling and it stretched out much further than we originally expected. There were way too many choices and we were way too hungry. We ended up just grabbing burgers and fries, but they were delicious. We took another lap and saw that it had stands for foods and produce too. They also had random little toy shops throughout. It was a very strange place, but definitely worth seeing.

LACMA

I was so upset we didn’t get to go to the Broad Museum, but I finally got my museum fix at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. We didn’t have a ton of time there since we had to go back and get ready for the James Cordon show. The set up was a little strange, there were so many buildings for the exhibits. I did find some Monets though to my delight. One thing we weren’t able to do that would have been awesome was the Rain Room. You had to buy separate tickets and they sell out pretty fast, but it would have been so awesome. You get to walk around a room that’s pouring down rain, but it never touches you. Wherever you go, it doesn’t. I would for sure have needed a full day at the museum to see everything they had to offer, but I liked what small part I did see.

The Late Late Show with James Cordon

This was probably one of the things I was most excited for when we decided to visit Los Angeles. I love The Late Late Show and James Cordon and I’ve always wanted to go to a taping of a show. We registered for the free tickets online, but had to get there super early to get in line. After waiting for hours and being hoarded like cattle Jessica and I were seated toward the very front. The stage is so much smaller than I thought it would be.

There was a hype guy who told us what we needed to do and instructed us on how and when to cheer. It was slightly exhausting, not going to lie. My hands were red from clapping, but it was seriously so much fun. I got to high five the two guests as they came down the stairs to the couch. It was Nathan Fillion from the TV show Castle and Randall Park from the TV show Fresh Off the Boat. They were both very funny and great guests.

James Cordon is hilarious; I really enjoyed watching him work. It’s also so weird to see him do promos between takes, but it was cool to see how everything comes together. It takes so many people behind the scenes to make the show look so good and natural on TV.

The performers were Cirque du Soleil Curious. At the end of the show they did a short performance and it was insane. They are so talented and I can’t even imagine how their bodies contort like that.

The other star of the show is definitely Reggie Watts. He’s so talented and hilarious; he works really well with James and rounds out the show with humor and energy. I would recommend attending a taping of the Late Late Show to anyone; it was such a cool experience.

The Fat Dog

After the show taping we were dead tired, we did not want to get ready or travel very far for food. We ended up finding the Fat Dog super close to our apartment; we just walked there and had a quick but delicious meal. The best part was the first date conversation we overheard. We were eating at the bar and the couple next to us was telling each other all about their lives. It was amazing, the woman was a production assistant and the guy was in casting. I guess everyone in Hollywood really does work in show business?

The Surly Goat 

We finally rallied after a nap and took an Uber to The Nice Guy. We heard that celebrities hang out there and that it was a cool, chill lounge. Sadly, we had no idea that you needed reservations. We showed up and couldn’t get in so we went to The Surly Goat, a bar I had found on Thrillest or something. It was a Monday night so it was super empty, but it ended up being kind of nice just hanging out and talking about the trip all night. It was a little bit of a hole in the wall, but I really liked it and the bartenders were awesome.

In conclusion, we saw no celebrities in their natural habitat, it rained when we went to the beach and we were too tired to go out most nights, but it was one of the most amazing trips I’ve ever been on. I can’t wait to go back, hopefully when it’s a little warmer and I can stay a little longer.

Until next time west coast.

xx Kristen

California Love: Day 3

Café Primo

We got chicken and waffles, this place was amazing. We sat on the covered patio while it rained. It was our first look at Sunset Boulevard, which was a really cool area. We wish we had had time to come back to that area and explore more.  

Venice Beach

It never rains in California except when we try and go to the beach. It was raining when we got to Venice Beach. We tried to walk over to the boardwalk but the wind was so bad and there was literally nobody out there. Took a quick picture of the Venice sign and walked to Abbot Kinney. 

Abbot Kinney Blvd: Such a cool area, filled with a lot of cool shops (that we couldn’t afford) and what looked like some delicious restaurants. We stopped off at the TOMS flagship store, which was really cool. They have a coffee shop along with the shoe store and a casual place to hang out.

Santa Monica

Santa Monica Pier: The rain kind of ruined the pier for us. The wind was insane and the sand was blasting us while we walked. I thought it would get better if we made it past the sand part, but then we just got hit with ocean spray. It was too much, we had to turn around. On the bright side, the pier was super empty because of the weather.

Blue Plate Taco: We really wanted tacos and this place was right by the pier. It was delicious; we both had an assortment of tacos. The best part was the margarita though. It tasted so fresh and was the perfect compliment to the tacos.

3^rd Street Promenade: This shopping area was huge! It has every shop you can imagine and we were there for hours and didn’t even make it in every shop. The ladies in Victoria’s Secret were kind enough to let us change in their dressing room before we caught a ride to dinner.

Nobu Malibu

It’s really sad that we couldn’t see the water while we drove up the coast to Malibu. I love looking at the ocean. We made it to Nobu early for our reservations and got one of the best seats in the house. The place was packed; we had a nice table looking out over the crashing waves illuminated by a spotlight.

If I could choose one last meal to eat before I die it would be this meal. We shared shrimp covered in a spicy aioli sauce and filet mignon in truffle oil. We had the best Riesling I’ve ever tasted and a chocolate souffle for dessert. Absolute perfection.

Even with the rain, the California coast quickly became one of the best parts of the trip. We decided we would definitely have to come back when it was summer and we could enjoy the beach more, hopefully without the rain.

xx Kristen 

California Love: Day 2

Toast Café

We woke up at like 5am LA time since our bodies hadn’t adjusted yet so we had to wait to leave for breakfast since nothing was open yet. We ended up taking a scenic walk to Toast and it was amazing. Seriously, I probably could have eaten there every single morning. The food was delicious, the service was great and the place was so cute. A must go if you love breakfast foods or being happy.

Runyon Canyon

One of my favorite parts of the trip was hiking Runyon Canyon. I like hiking and being outdoors anyways and this trail was a little challenging. I did end up slipping and falling, but only once, which is impressive for me. I also love a good view and boy did this hike have some good views. It was stunning. Sadly it was a little overcast and the Hollywood sign was a lot farther away than I thought so we couldn’t get any good pictures of it.

Downtown Los Angeles

I did not like downtown at all, it was just boring and dirty and there wasn’t really anything going on there. I much prefer the other parts of LA we visited.

The Broad Museum: I really wanted to go to the Broad, sadly the line was wrapped around the building when we got there and before we left. It was insane, it’s a new museum and literally the only thing that actually looked fun to do downtown so that’s probably why.

Grand Central Library: Absolutely gorgeous, a bright spot in the middle of a big city. It was beautiful inside and out and it was huge! 

Grand Central Market: It reminded me of a bigger, busier Krog Street Market. We grabbed lunch there at Olio Pizzeria and it was delicious. Honestly we picked the shortest line, we were starving and there were lines everywhere. 

Mumford Brewing: I love breweries and so I was super excited to try and LA one. I wasn’t super impressed, we walked the arts district and the space was super cute. The people that worked there weren’t the friendliest and the beer was just oaky. 

Skid Row: Well after the brewery we went to grab the closet bus back to our apartment and made the mistake of walking to skid row. It is apparently the largest population of homeless people in a block and it’s not a place you want to be. We immediately turned around and walked to the next closet bus stop.

The Wiltern STS9 Concert

We really wanted to go to a concert while we were out there, but there wasn’t really anyone preforming that we wanted to see. So we ended up getting tickets to STS9 since they’re from Georgia and we’d heard the Wiltern was cool. The place was amazing, absolutely beautiful inside. STS9 was great too; the light show that accompanied their performance was just as impressive. We didn’t make it the entire show though because we were so tired, the jet lag was real.

Don't miss tomorrow when we head to the coast and experience the rare sight of California rain! 

xx Kristen