Making The Best of A Rainy Day on Rainbow Row

Charleston, South Carolina

Last summer I was searching for a fun but quick trip with my mom and husband. I wanted to find a destination that was an easy drive from Chapel Hill, was known for great food, and would have a slower, more relaxing pace. Charleston, South Carolina met all of the criteria; it is only a 4-hour drive from my home and its foodie reputation is well known. I probably should have checked the weather forecast before we left for SC, it rained (HEAVILY) throughout our entire stay! While the weather in Charleston was yucky, we still had a fabulous time and ate some incredible food!

Rainy Day #1

We started our first day in Charleston with breakfast at the Early Bird Diner. The Early Bird Diner is a tiny little restaurant that is very well known to locals AND it’s been featured on Food Networks Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. The service was prompt and friendly and we all enjoyed our meals. It was a great kick-off to our “culinary tour” of Charleston.

After a very satisfying meal, we put on our ponchos and headed to Rainbow Row.

Rainbow Row

Located in the heart of Charleston’s historic district, Rainbow Row has been a popular destination for 3 centuries. Rainbow Row was originally built in the late 1700s as a series of 13 townhouses. Over time, the homes were used for various purposes, including as commercial and residential spaces. By the early 1900s, many of the homes were dilapidated and were in danger of being demolished. Local preservation Susan Pringle Frost stepped in to save the damaged homes. Frost purchased several of the homes, restored them, and painted them in their original pastel colors. The street became known as Rainbow Row, a nickname still used today.

Visitors to Charleston can experience the vibrant colors and storied history of Rainbow Row by taking a walk down this iconic street. We certainly enjoyed our time on Rainbow Row, rain and all!

Lunch Time is The Best Time!

After touring Rainbow Row and a few other Charleston sights, we were ready for lunch. We headed to Rodney Scott’s BBQ. Let me tell you, the BBQ was fantastic! We all enjoyed our meals and the smoked wings (and potato salad) were a real standout for me. My husband was a fan of the brisket and my mom loved the smoked turkey sandwich.

Be sure to check my Instagram to see a reel of the delicious food we enjoyed at Rodney Scott’s BBQ!

The Battery

After lunch, we took a drive over to The Battery. The Battery is a landmark defensive seawall and promenade, famous for its gorgeous antebellum homes (like the one pictured above). Fort Sumter is visible from parts of The Battery. Despite the terrible weather, the view of Charleston Harbor from the Battery was simply breathtaking.

Wrapping Up A Fun (But Wet) Day in Charleston

We finished our first day in Charleston with dinner at Hannibal’s Kitchen. Hannibal’s Kitchen isn’t the fanciest place but the food was great. I had heard that crab rice is a must-try dish in the low country and Hannibals DID NOT DISAPPOINT. The crab rice was delicious and flavorful! Because it was raining cats & dogs outside, we ordered our meals from Hannibal’s to go. Our food was served to us piping hot and we took them back to our hotel to enjoy. Hannibal’s should definitely be included on any Charleston must-eat list.

Rainy Day Activities, Part 2

We started our second day in Charleston with donuts and biscuits. We visited Glazed Gourmet Doughnuts for some freshly baked doughnuts, and then we went right across the street to Callies Hot Little Biscuit for some biscuit sandwiches and coffee.

After our morning bites, we once again put on our ponchos and headed to the Old Slave Mart Museum.

Old Slave Mart Museum, Charleston, SC

According to their website, the Old Slave Mart Museum is the first African-American slave museum. Charleston is a fitting home for the museum as at one point during slavery, 35-40% of enslaved people entered the United States through Charleston. The museum was built in 1859 and is considered the last surviving slave auction gallery in South Carolina.

Our visit to the museum was very informative but somber (as you can probably imagine). At the museum, you are able to tour actual spaces where enslaved people were held awaiting to be sold. There are some artifacts on display but not many. Since tickets were only $8.00 per person, a visit to the museum is a great value. I would not recommend the tour for children, certain aspects of the tour can be emotionally overwhelming. I personally think all adults should try and visit the Old Slave Mart Museum as a reminder of Charleston’s history and heritage (the good AND bad).

Time For Some Feel-Good Food

After our Old Slave Mart Museum tour, we headed to Johns Island for some fresh seafood, and Simply Seafood hit the spot! My family and I enjoyed fresh fried shrimp, clams, fish, oysters, and some great sides. Simply Seafood is a seafood market, so they have just about every type of fresh seafood you can imagine! They are known for their seafood boils and we’ll be sure to try one on our next trip to Charleston!

Final Thoughts

Charleston was a wonderful city to experience and explore with my family. Even though the weather was not on our side, Charleston gave us the relaxed, southern pace we were looking for and all of the food was delicious. I’ll definitely be back, but I’ll check the weather forecast first!

I hope this post has inspired your next trip to Charleston! Be sure to leave a comment and let me know what’s on your Charleston agenda!

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