We visited Charleston, South Carolina last weekend with friends for the annual Charleston Wine + Food Festival.
Charleston is a favorite weekend destination for us festival or not, but the festival is a great excuse to visit! You can enjoy a variety of brunches and dinners and attend workshops and excursions, all while sipping and sampling wine from around the world. We’ve been fortunate to attend with friends several years in a row and it’s always a memorable and delicious experience.
If you haven’t been to the Charleston Wine + Food Festival, it’s best summed up here:
Fueled by a contagious passion for the people and places that make Charleston worth celebrating, the annual festival infuses homegrown flavor with top chefs, winemakers, authors, storytellers, artisans, and food enthusiasts from around the globe for a five-day event that spans the first full weekend each March.
No matter how many times we visit Charleston, I always enjoy taking a stroll in the early morning hours with my camera in an effort to walk off some calories and enjoy the scenery. . .
Stately homes. . .
Architecture. . .
Churches. . .
Palmetto trees. . .
Spanish Moss and Live Oaks. . .
Courtyard gardens. . .
Window boxes. . .
And decorative wrought iron that casts lacy shadows in the early morning hours.
We ran into a group of Guinea Fowl also out for an early morning stroll and strutting down the sidewalk.
I did an online search for ‘Guinea Fowl downtown Charleston’ and discovered they’re feral and famous for strolling along Lamboll and Legare streets in search of the tastiest breakfast, lunch and dinner spots, occasionally stopping traffic. . .
Just like all the other tourists. ;)
Signs of spring were visible everywhere from the flowering trees and shrubs, to Lady Banks Roses, and wisteria vines in bloom.
I always enjoy glimpses of the courtyard gardens with their tidy sculpted boxwoods. . .
And walls or stairs of perfectly manicured Creeping Fig.
The sight of palmetto trees always makes me feel like I’ve escaped to an exotic, tropical locale, just a short 3 1/2 hour drive away.
And it’s one of the few places where pink, salmon or coral are acceptable and welcome exterior colors!
I’ll leave with some waterviews and photos from our outdoor events from the CHSWFF, at Lowndes Grove Plantation and in Shem Creek in Mt. Pleasant, that float my boat!
You can see more of the beautiful and blooming window boxes of Charleston, here.
After an unseasonably warm and mild February, it’s been a cold and blustery week here. I hope you’re staying warm and cozy as we spring forward across the U.S. this weekend. ♥
Thank you for your visit!
Just what I needed after our terrible snow storm this week! Gorgeous photography!
You transported me, that’s for sure. What great pictures of such a great city. I especially love the early morning cast of light. Thanks. Happy weekend.
Your photos of the architectural details and blooming flowers of Charleston are breathtaking…as are all your beautiful pics. Reading your blog brings as much pleasure to the eye as it does to the soul. Thank you!
Thank you for the beautiful pictures. We will celebrate our 60 th anniversary in Late August, and are planning a week of activities in Folly Beach with 18 family members. Charleston is a short drive away.
There is no city or town that compares to Charleston, South Carolina. It is very walkable and I love peeking into the gardens, walking along the battery looking at the beautiful, well kept old homes. The likes we will never get to see in such large numbers, again. Thank you for letting us see such beauty through the eyes of your camera.
Beautiful photos! You captured the true beauty of the window boxes.
Mary! Awesome pictures! You really captured Charleston! Thanks for sharing!🤗
Beautiful just can’t wait to see it the end of March! Thank you for sharing!!
Thank you for taking me along on your visit of Charleston! Every photo inspired me to get busy in my gardens and the 2 window boxes I left vacant last year….thanks you too! They will be filled!
Oh,it’s a wonderfull town!Thank you so much!Have a nice week-end!
Love your pictures. Great ideas for a window boxes.
Love your beautiful photos. I went to Charleston once and these photos make me want to make another trip…Thanks
Thank you for sharing the beauty of Charleston! 😊Gorgeous photos!! ❤️❤️
Oh my gosh, what a WONDERFUL tour! Loved all of it! The stately homes, beautiful churches, blooming flowers and plants, wish it was Spring in MI! Maybe one day we’ll make it there. Hubby loves anything involving the Civil War so that may be my drawing card, hehe.
Mary, you have captured the essence of Charleston I believe and that is no easy task. This is my favorite destination on the East Coast and you have made my heart long to go there. It is a place like no other. I have a black and white picture of the Battery in my dining room that was given to Bob by one of his clients there. Thank you for sharing these beautiful photos. Happy weekend. Hoping it will warm up so we can play in our gardens!
Good morning from Utah. I lost my wonderful husband recently and we always wanted to visit Charleston, but never got to. I want very much to visit. When would you recommend the best time of year to go, when everything is in bloom? I am an avid fan of your’s. Thanks for bringing such color, peace and joy into my days.
Hi Kathy, I’m so sorry for your loss. ♥ April through June is the perfect time to go before the heat and humidity are off the charts. Fall too, in late September and through December when it’s typically mild.
Absolutely beautiful!! You captured Charleston perfectly!!! We were able to go this past week too and it was a perfect time to visit Charleston!!! Thanks for all your beautiful pics, I felt like I was there all over again!
Lucious pics, perfect flower therapy.
Thank you, we needed that….as always your photos are amazing.
Thanks for taking me along on your stroll, Mary. My favorite things to see are always the window boxes. I wish I could recreate them as pretty as you do at your home. I’m glad you were able to have a getaway to your favorite, Charleston! Happy weekend! 💕
Looks like you had a lovely and delicious visit! I was there once but was having bad back problems at the time and didn’t fully enjoy it. I need to go back. I especially love the window boxes and courtyard gardens!
*Sigh* I LOVE Charleston, such a magical place…your annual weekend with friends is such a lovely tradition, and what a treat to see Spring bursting out all over! Beautiful photos, thanks for the virtual visit to one of my favorite cities…
Jenna
Looks like you had a very nice visit Mary! The guineas crack me up:@) Thanks for the spring ahead reminder, I just emailed Ma. Have a great weekend:@)
You always manage to capture so much beauty through the lens of your camera and then share the experience with your fortunate followers. What a marvelous gift you give to each of us. Thank-you!
You’re “killing me softly” here…wonderful, wonderful photos, etc. (we’re predicted to get snow…gaaa…my peonies are up at least 6 inches…) franki
Gorgeous photos, as always! I’m lucky to have a sister who lives there on the water with a boat. We’ve had fabulous weather on several Thanksgivings when several family members run the Turkey Trot. They moved there hfter my niece attended college there. I also adore the restaurants and bed and breakfasts.
You always show Charleston well, and this is a great time to visit.
My favorite city in the whole of USA. I’ve always loved the idea of the courtyard gardens w/fountain! I still want one! One of our fav. restaurants – Poogan’s Porch – always make sure we have lunch there. Love all the history and the walkability of the town. My fav. plantation is Middleton Place – and love their gardens and water views. Thanks for taking us along on your spring trip (our fav. time to visit there).
A Beautiful City and you captured Charleston very well! I’ll be looking at your photos again and again! I love all the ironwork. I had custom iron put on my sunroom windows. Going to have French ironwork put over front door this Spring AND…love the courtyards too….I got a French fountain last year. As you can see I’m a Home and Garden person!
Beautiful photos. reminds me of Savannah. Our daughter lived there and we spent 4 or 5 winters there before she moved back North and home. We never made it to Charleston except for flying in and out. So pretty. Thank You for sharing.
It’s a rare foggy, drizzly day here in southern California and your pictures featuring spring blooms brought light and color to the day. Thank you.
Charleston is my hometown and you captured it beautifully. Thank you for visiting and come again, soon.
Susan
Your excellent photography made me feel like I was strolling along with you!
You never cease to amaze me with your delightful posts! Thank you my friend!
Thank you for sharing your beautiful photographs of one of my favorite cities. It brought back many wonderful memories of visits there with my cousins.
You started off my day with such remarkable beauty….Charleston is definitely one of my favorite places to visit..love everything about that enchanting city…the architecture, the true southern atmosphere, the gates, the window boxes, the pineapple fountain, the plantations…..I could go on and on…..I have always thought about how it would be to live in one of those most stately homes there…Glad you had a wonderful time!!
Beautiful post!
Going there in May and your beautiful pictures make me even more excited. What is your favorite street to photograph there, in addition to the Battery? and may I ask which camera you use for these amazing photos?
Hi Anita, My camera info is in this post.
I like to walk the whole area South of Broad, there is lots to see and photograph. :)
Fabulous Tour of Charleston in Perfect weather—–I just could almost smell the scents of the all the gardens awakening! Thank You so much for posting and sharing this!
Thank you for the tour!! It’s a beautiful place that I would like to visit someday..my favorite palm tree is the one that looks like a pineapple…everything is so manicured..so formal..I guess that’s what it’s supposed to look like!! Just beautiful..also got a couple ideas for planters…a friend of mine from SC, her brother in law has a shrimp boat which was used in the movie Forest Gump…also, several years ago, on my daily walk in a small park close to home, I ran into a flock of Guinea hens..I have/had never seen these birds here before…they were a hoot..they were there all summer and over time I noticed that one by one they disappeared…I would guess that some person got them or a coyote got them..I haven’t seen the hens ever again!! Too bad, because I so enjoyed watching them.. Again, thanks for sharing..❤️🌸🌺🌴
Mary, Charleston is such a grand and glorious city that I love. Your photos are beautiful. The ironwork, architecture, flower boxes, hidden gardens and the food makes it an ideal destination! I need to visit again soon!
Thanks for bring us along on the trip. The photos are awesome. Sure you don’t want to produce that coffee table book? I was in Charleston for a quick trip some years back. I loved the old homes and gardens. Takes you back in time. As far as those palmettos, no thanks. They are like weeds in Florida and pop up everywhere.
Quel dommage que cela soit si loin ! Magnifique !
Beautiful, I feel like i just had a mini trip to Charleston!! Thank you :)
I enjoyed the stroll very much this morning through your eyes in Charleston. Your photos are exceptional. Book worthy! How nice to make this trip each year with friends.
The guinea foul were interesting.Learned something today!
Delightful walking tour with beautiful flowers and architecture makes me yearn for a visit there in the spring, I hear they have spring garden tours. Every year, I wish I had planned ahead to go on the garden tours. The only time I’ve been to Charleston was in the fall.
Love – Love – Love Charleston. No matter how often you visit or what season, there is always something beautiful to see. Smiling Faces and Beautiful Places.
Bonsoir magnifiques photos….les bacs remplis de fleurs, les palmiers et les belles architectures des batiments font rever…superbe ! Avec le soleil en plus…!!!🌴🌞
Love your beautiful photos of Charleston. I feel as though I am really there. The architecture and flower boxes to brighten your day. One of my bowling teammates, Mary Meyers, grew up in Charleston. Mary loves going back to visit.