4 Days in Charleston: Shem Creek Eats and Things to Do

We spent 4 days in Charleston, stayed over the bridge in Mount Pleasant, and ended up on Shem Creek every single day. Shrimp boats, waterfront decks, BBQ sauce on every table. I’m not mad about it.

In between meals we rowed a boat through a cypress swamp, stood under a live oak that’s around 400 years old, walked two beaches and watched the sun go down on Sullivan’s Island. Here’s our whole trip, day by day, so you can steal it. 🤍

We actually went to Charleston after our first fertility treatment! We wanted something warm and a lot of boils to celebrate this chapter of our life!

Lily pads and tall cypress trees in the swamp at Cypress Gardens in Moncks Corner — Lily pads everywhere

Woman in a green dress under the Angel Oak on Johns Island — Lily pads everywhere

Our 4 Days in Charleston at a Glance

Day 1, Sunday: Waterfront Park and the Pineapple Fountain downtown, over the Ravenel Bridge, dinner at Red’s Ice House on Shem Creek, ice cream at Ye Ole Fashioned
Day 2, Monday: a morning beach walk on Sullivan’s Island, the South Carolina Aquarium, lunch at Poogan’s Porch, dinner at Saltwater Cowboys, ice cream (again)
Day 3, Tuesday: a rowboat through the swamp at Cypress Gardens, the Angel Oak on Johns Island, Shem Creek for lunch and dinner, ice cream (yes, again)
Day 4, Wednesday: breakfast at Bodega, a marsh walk, Folly Beach, and sunset on Sullivan’s Island

Where We Ate in Charleston and Mount Pleasant

All in one place, for your notes app:

Red’s Ice House, 98 Church St, Mount Pleasant: seafood on Shem Creek with a view of the shrimp boats.
Saltwater Cowboys, 130 Mill St, Mount Pleasant: seafood and smoked BBQ on Shem Creek, dog friendly patio.
Poogan’s Porch, 72 Queen St, Charleston: Southern brunch and lunch in a Victorian house downtown.
Bodega, 414 W Coleman Blvd, Mount Pleasant: New York style breakfast sandwiches and bagels.
Ye Ole Fashioned Ice Cream & Sandwich Café, 1502 N Hwy 17, Mount Pleasant: 36 flavors, open until 10.

Favorite Things to Do

Things to Note:

Stay in Mount Pleasant. Shem Creek is 15 minutes from downtown and 10 from Sullivan’s Island, and it’s calmer than staying on the peninsula.
Shem Creek gets busy at dinner. Parking near the restaurants fills up, so go a little early and walk the Shem Creek Park boardwalk while you wait. If you want, do a shrimp boil cooking class
Go early to Cypress Gardens. It opens at 9, and the wait for a boat can get long by the afternoon. It gets hot quick on the water. Be prepared to see alligators and take tons of photos – like you are living your Notebook dream
The Angel Oak keeps short hours. It’s 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and only 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Bringing a dog? Sullivan’s Island needs a town dog permit for every dog, visitors included. From May through September dogs can be off leash from 5 to 10 a.m., not at all from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on leash in the evening. The town’s dog rules.

Where to Stay

Checkout the map that has hotels AND VRBOs so you get the best pricing, but if you are in a hurry, we have our top 3 hotels!

In a Rush? Here Are Our Top 3 Hotels in Charleston

⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Vendue: a downtown art hotel with a rooftop bar, steps from Waterfront Park and the Pineapple Fountain. Click here for rates & availability

⭐️⭐️ Shem Creek Inn: right on Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant, so you can walk to dinner. Every room has a balcony. Click here for rates & availability

⭐️ Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina: on the harbor in Mount Pleasant, with pools and views of the bridge and the city. Click here for rates & availability

These are affiliate links. If you book through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Day 1: Downtown, Then Dinner on Shem Creek

Two women taking a selfie in front of the Pineapple Fountain in Waterfront Park in downtown Charleston, South Carolina

Waterfront Park and the Pineapple Fountain

We started downtown at Waterfront Park, right on the Charleston Harbor. The Pineapple Fountain is the one everyone takes a picture with, so obviously we did too. It’s free, there are swings and benches facing the water, and it’s the easiest first stop in the city. We just wanted to get out of the car with the dogs and stretch our legs before we checked into our hotel.

From downtown we drove back over the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, the big white cable bridge between Charleston and Mount Pleasant. It has a walking and biking path across it if you want the view on foot.

Dinner at Red’s Ice House

Our first dinner was at Red’s Ice House, a laid back seafood spot sitting right on Shem Creek. You eat looking out at the shrimp boats and the docks. It rained on our first night and we didn’t care one bit. A window table did the job just fine.

We loved being able to see the local dolphin swim through. He has a pretty scuffed up fin- let us know if he is still there.

We ate oysters and fish our first night, because we were gearing up for the seafood.

Fun fact: we went when they were filming a tv show, you may have heard about it – Outer Banks. You will be able to spot tons of locations on Shem Creek that they filmed at.

You can watch it all on our YouTube

Address: 98 Church St, Mount Pleasant, SC
Phone: (843) 388-0003
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Woman at a window table at Red's Ice House looking out at Shem Creek on a rainy evening in Mount Pleasant

Ice Cream at Ye Ole Fashioned

Then ice cream at Ye Ole Fashioned Ice Cream & Sandwich Café on Highway 17. It’s a local family business that’s been scooping since 1972, with 36 flavors, sundaes, shakes and a classic ice cream parlor feel. We went three nights in a row. No shame in it, okay?

There is a reason we went every night. If you like the old charm of creameries, trust us. I am a Rocky Road girl, but Hannah loved the espresso.

Address: 1502 N Hwy 17, Mount Pleasant, SC
Phone: (843) 849-3698
Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

Day 2: Sullivan’s Island, the Aquarium and Poogan’s Porch

A Morning Beach Walk on Sullivan’s Island

Monday started on the sand at Sullivan’s Island, about 10 minutes from Shem Creek. In the morning it’s quiet, the light is soft, and the beach is full of locals walking their dogs. We had two pups along for it.

There were only 4 people on the beach with us. Our dogs love the sand but hate the water. It was really nice to just hang out, the water was way too cold to get in without a wet suit, but there were people surfing!

Small white and black dog in a pastel sweater on a leash on the beach at Sullivan's Island — Oliver gets cold

Fluffy doodle in a red harness on the beach on Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, in the morning — Oliver gets cold

The South Carolina Aquarium

Next we headed back downtown to the South Carolina Aquarium on the harbor. The Great Ocean Tank is the big one, with sharks, rays and huge schools of fish, and you can stand right up against the glass. Plan on about 90 minutes.

We loved this aquarium. It was a little expensive, but we could have spent all day in it.

Address: 100 Aquarium Wharf, Charleston, SC
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, last entry at 3:30
Tickets: priced by date, about $29 to $38 for adults, kids 2 and under free (plan your visit).

Once you finish, take a horse drawn carriage ride downtown to see everything

Lunch at Poogan’s Porch

Lunch was at Poogan’s Porch on Queen Street, a Charleston classic since 1976 inside an old Victorian house. It’s named for Poogan, the neighborhood dog who claimed the porch when the restaurant opened, and pups are still welcome. The menu is Southern comfort all the way: shrimp and grits, their famous fried chicken, banana pudding stuffed pancakes and peach cobbler.

It’s claimed to be haunted- FYI. But the only thing haunting me is not having more of these fried green tomatoes!

Southern lunch plate at Poogan's Porch on Queen Street in downtown Charleston

Address: 72 Queen St, Charleston, SC
Hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. daily
Website: poogansporch.com

Dinner at Saltwater Cowboys

Back on Shem Creek for dinner at Saltwater Cowboys, just down the creek from Red’s. It’s seafood and smoked BBQ, cooked over hickory and oak, and the shrimp come in off the boats on the creek. We sat out on the deck with a row of BBQ sauces and watched the boats come in. There’s a rooftop, a dog friendly patio and even a menu for dogs.

We love a good BBQ, but here you can get seafood and BBQ, so we were in heaven. Taste all the sauces!

Creekside deck at Saltwater Cowboys on Shem Creek with BBQ sauce bottles and boats on the water — The deck at Saltwater Cowboys

Woman smiling at a table with BBQ sauces on the deck at Saltwater Cowboys in Mount Pleasant — The deck at Saltwater Cowboys

Woman in sunglasses at golden hour on the deck at Saltwater Cowboys on Shem Creek — Golden hour on Shem Creek

Two women taking a selfie under the palms on Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina — Golden hour on Shem Creek

Address: 130 Mill St, Mount Pleasant, SC
Phone: (843) 856-0700
Website: saltwater-cowboys.com

And then? Ye Ole Fashioned. Night two.

Day 3: Cypress Gardens, the Angel Oak and Shem Creek

Row Your Own Boat at Cypress Gardens

If you only do one thing outside the city, make it this. Cypress Gardens is about 50 minutes north of Mount Pleasant in Moncks Corner, and the best part is a little flat bottom boat you row yourself through a blackwater cypress swamp. The boats come with your ticket. The water is so still the trees reflect like a mirror, there are lily pads everywhere, and a white footbridge that looks like a movie set. Fun fact: the rowboat scene in The Notebook was filmed here.

Front of a rowboat in the blackwater cypress swamp at Cypress Gardens in Moncks Corner, South Carolina — Rowing ourselves through the swamp

Woman sitting in a rowboat on the cypress swamp at Cypress Gardens — Rowing ourselves through the swamp

White arched footbridge over the swamp at Cypress Gardens near Charleston — The white bridge

Huge bald cypress trunk standing in the dark water of the swamp at Cypress Gardens — The white bridge

Two women hugging under the cypress trees beside the swamp at Cypress Gardens — Swamp date

Two women holding hands on the paved path through Cypress Gardens — Swamp date

After the boat, walk the path around the swamp. It’s flat and paved and shaded, and it loops right along the water.

Address: 3030 Cypress Gardens Rd, Moncks Corner, SC
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, last admission at 4, boats close at 4:15
Tickets: $10 adults, $5 kids 6 to 17, free for 5 and under
Tip: sign up for a boat at the gift shop as soon as you get there (Cypress Gardens)

The Angel Oak on Johns Island

From the swamp we drove about an hour south to Johns Island to see the Angel Oak. It’s a Southern live oak that’s around 400 years old, and its branches stretch out so far some of them rest on the ground. Photos don’t do it justice. It’s free, and you can walk all the way around it, just no climbing.

These types of trees are everywhere, but this one is special, being so old and the branches going all over. It’s a great place for photos, but can get busy!

The Angel Oak, a giant live oak with sprawling branches on Johns Island near Charleston — The Angel Oak

Woman standing under the giant branches of the Angel Oak on Johns Island, South Carolina — The Angel Oak

Address: 3688 Angel Oak Rd, Johns Island, SC
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday
Cost: free (donations help care for the tree)
Tip: tour buses tend to show up between 11 and 2

Lunch and Dinner on Shem Creek

We went back to Shem Creek for lunch, took the afternoon slow at the house, and then went right back for dinner at the Mill Street end of the creek. A big oak over the deck, string lights, and marsh as far as you can see. If you have time before dinner, Shem Creek Park’s boardwalk runs out over the marsh toward the harbor, and it’s free.

Though this one was a little back on the creek, we still saw Outer Banks filming and this was our favorite boil from the whole trip!

Restaurant deck under a big oak tree with string lights and marsh views on Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant — Tuesday night on Shem Creek

And yes. Ye Ole Fashioned. Night three.

Day 4: Bodega, Folly Beach and Sunset on Sullivan’s Island

Breakfast at Bodega

Our last morning started at Bodega on Coleman Boulevard, a breakfast and brunch spot inspired by the New York corner store. Think stacked breakfast sandwiches, bagels, benedicts, pancakes and good coffee.

Address: 414 W Coleman Blvd, Mount Pleasant, SC
Phone: (843) 891-6300

After breakfast we went for a walk out by the marsh. This is the Lowcountry view I’ll picture every time someone says Charleston: tall grass, tidal creeks and palmettos.

Marsh grass and a tidal creek seen from a boardwalk in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina — Lowcountry marsh

Palmetto tree and green marsh under a blue sky in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina — Lowcountry marsh

Folly Beach

Then we drove about 30 minutes south to Folly Beach, the laid back beach town on the other side of the city. It has a surf town feel and a main street full of shops and places to eat. Do not fly your drone here, learned the hard way. There is a natural reserve near by.

Sunset on Sullivan’s Island

We saved the best for last. After one more stop on Shem Creek and an afternoon by the pool, we went back to Sullivan’s Island for sunset. Pink sky, warm sand, our toes in the water. If you only catch one sunset in Charleston, make it this one.

Two women smiling together on the beach at Sullivan's Island at dusk — Sullivan’s Island at dusk

Woman with her hands on her hips smiling on the beach at Sullivan's Island in the evening — Sullivan’s Island at dusk

Two women in jeans on the beach at Sullivan's Island under a pink sunset sky — Pink sky over the Atlantic

Two women walking barefoot on the beach at Sullivan's Island at sunset — Pink sky over the Atlantic

We wanted to do some photos and the easiest way to do this is set your camera up on a tripod and record yourself or set an interval timer. I added a ton of photos so you can see- not all will be perfect, but some are SO GOOD.

Our Little Charleston Love Letter

Four days, a whole lot of seafood, two beaches, one swamp and three nights of ice cream. Charleston, we’ll be back.

Charleston is one of the top places in the U.S. I would recommend to anyone.

Planning more trips? Here’s what to eat in St. Louis, our perfect summer weekend in Saugatuck and our New Orleans travel guide.

Tell me if you go! Come say hi on Instagram and tell me your favorite spot on Shem Creek. 🤍

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