Charleston, SC/Isle of Palms - Places to eat, things to do?

• arnie palmer

  

  I will be taking the family and the in-laws to vacation there next week. I am golfing at both Wild Dunes golf courses, plan to do Fort Sumter Tour, kids want to go to Aquarium, wife wants to go to the Downtown Charleston markets and Tanger outlets, and maybe catch a Charleston Riverdogs baseball game. I need some good restaruants and anything else I should do. Any suggestions - mainly dining? Thanks.
• Iliketurtles

  

  I just got back 2 weeks ago from honeymooning in Charleston. I stayed downtown in the historical district and it was really awesome.
  
  Things to do you pretty much listed them. I don't know if you/your kids would be interested but check out a ghost tour. Also go on a carriage ride.
  
  As for Dinning I'd check out:
  
  Tommy Condon's- Just a normal pub but they have a house mustard that was the best I've ever had it made a delicious burger even better.
  Swamp Fox- Food was really good they have a very nice breakfast buffet at a decent price too.
  39 Rue De Jean- Probably the best steak I've ever had. I'd definitely go there. My wife's seafood pasta was really good too.
  O-Ku - It's Japanese place. Very good Sushi. If you don't like sushi try the Chicken Teriyaki it was fantastic.
  Pizzeria Di Givoanni- Decent pizza but I've heard there is better.
  Anson's Steakhouse- Food was alright service was terrible seemed like our waiter didn't care at all since we were probably 20-30 younger than everyone else there.
  
  I went to some other places but these are the only ones I really remember haha. It is a really great place though I'm sure your family will enjoy it.
• wkfan

  Hominy Grill in Charleston.
  
  RB's at Shem Creek out toward the Isle of Palms
• bases_loaded

  

  Have a mint julep at poogans porch
• vball10set

  My niece is getting married there in October-this is from her wedding website:

  So you’re in Charleston for the weekend. We can fill up your time Saturday late afternoon and evening, but that leaves a lot of time to explore one of the most beautiful cities in America. Don’t worry, we’ve got plenty of suggestions of things to do or places to go while you’re visiting!
  Angel Oak Tree: The oldest live oak tree east of the Mississippi, this majestic tree is awe-inspiring. It’s big and beautiful and old and has such a southern essence to it. Don’t miss this.
  Charleston Farmer’s Market: Sample jams, buy fruits and veggies, check out beautiful jewelry and handmade furniture, try local ice cream with flavors like sweet corn and cinnamon, bourbon-peach, chocolate pluff mud, blueberry buttermilk, and more! They’ve got plenty of food stands too, from coffee to pretzels to our favorite, crepes!
  Stand Up Paddleboarding: A relatively new Charleston favorite, rent a giant board and go on an instructor-led tour or go off solo! A great activity for getting up close and personal with the dolphins.
  Football: Yes we realize there is some of that foosball business happening the day we get married. For those night games…. well, sorry friends. For the afternoon games that you can catch before hopping on the boat to support us in our vows, we recommend The Roost in West Ashley’s Avondale area, Kickin Chicken in any of their locations, King Street Grill for a billion tvs with any game you can imagine on (where you can order a mountain of nachos), or Angie’s personal favorite, Mueller’s Pub: $5 bottomless beer, and more importantly, THE Spartan alumni bar. All green and white, and the fight song plays nearly constantly from the juke box. It’s a little slice of heaven for my friends that bleed green.
  South Carolina Aquarium: They have fish! And an albino alligator! And lemurs! It’s a super cool place that’ll keep you busy for a couple hours, and it’s right on the water so you can go have a picnic afterward with some amazing views!
  Carriage tour: Charleston is chock-full of civil war history. Go get you some! Cost more than you’re willing to part with? Put on those stylish sneakers, park at the Battery, and walk around! Go by Rainbow Row, Battery park, up and down Church Street (among others) and see the pineapple fountain. It’s all so very lovely.
  Shopping: King Street is sort of famous for their shopping. I wouldn’t know the stores that are there, but I promise there are good ones. Someone that is good at shopping will tell you.
  Eating: You can see our Food page for some recommendations, but Eating and Drinking, or thinking, talking, or planning on doing either of these things, are pretty much what Charlestonians spend 75% of their time doing. You should join them.
  Beaches: the beaches will still be beautiful and the waters will probably still be warm enough to swim (fingers crossed) in October. Folly is a funky little beach town, Sullivan’s Island is more family oriented, and Isle of Palms is also nice and more family oriented.

• iclfan2

  

  This thread seems to pop up from time to time. I went to school in downtown charleston for 3 years. IOP doesn't have much in terms of food ( don't eat at coconut joes). However on Sullivan's Island, Poes is pretty solid. In Mount Pleasant, anything along Shem Creek is good. My gf's favorite restaurant is just beyond Shems Creek at the Boulevard Diner. I'd have to agree, it's fantastic southern food. Also on mt p is the Yorktown and patriots point, which is interesting area, and there is also a pier right under the ravenel bridge that you could fish or crab from.
  
  Downtown- carriage tour is fun, as is civil war or ghost walking tour. Check groupon!! I'm going on the 19th and have been checking and they have river dog games on there as well as walking tours. They also have minor league soccer on Daniels island if that's your thing. For food, stay away from Hymans. Hanks for seafood or pearls for oysters during happy hour. Mcradys, coast, husk, SNOB, Magnolias, east bay deli, bocci, are all good restaurants (and expensive mostly).
  
  My favorites from James island and west Ashley are home team BBQ, Melvin's, glass onion, sesame burgers and beer, and early bird diner (was on DDD). For cheap downtown eats, east bay deli, grouchos, andolini's pizza.
  
  From above, angel oak is cool to see but really far from you. Only tea plantation in America is out that way too. The farmers market is really good. Walking around the battery and the college are interesting, as most stuff was built around civil war time. King street is also good to walk around. Poogans porch n hominy grill are both good. Another DDD visit was to Fuel, and also has decent food.
  
  If nothing else, make sure you eat some shrimp and grits, drink sweet tea, and be prepared to not find any parking in downtown. If it rains, it will also flood.