How to Spend Your Winter Babymoon in Charleston

Our winter babymoon in Charleston, South Carolina in January turned out to be just what we needed in the aftermath of a busy holiday season and in preparation of the big life changes that lie ahead in the coming months. Planning a babymoon is exciting and admittedly, a bit bittersweet. Planning a babymoon during the winter season comes with its own set of caveats to consider. If you’re like us and left the trip a bit late you may be limited to destinations within driving distance. In our case, that meant excluding any island paradises that would have avoided the winter chill. Still, that doesn’t mean you can’t find a lovely location closer to home that encompasses all you envision for your last getaway as just the two of you!

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Things to Consider for Your Winter Babymoon in Charleston

Weather

It goes without saying that if you’re visiting in the off season you’re likely aware of the less than ideal temperatures. For many, that does little to dampen the fun, but it is always a good idea to check the weather forecast just before your trip so you can pack accordingly. Winter in Charleston is normally quite mild, but if you happen to visit during a particularly cold spurt like us, packing layers can make all the difference.

Seasonal Specials

In the absence of peak season traffic, many destinations offer specials to locals and those visiting in the off season to avoid the crowds. There are certain perks to braving the less than ideal temperatures. Check the local visitor center to see if there are any specials while you’re in town that align with stops on your itinerary. You can find information regarding Charleston’s visitor centers here.

Seasonal Hours

While there are many pros to visiting in the off season like avoiding crowds, there are also some cons to bear in mind when planning to make the most of your time. Many locations have limited hours in the off season, so it is always important to check each respective attraction’s website for the most up to date information.

What To Do On Your Winter Babymoon in Charleston

• Visit a Plantation
• Explore a Museum or Museum House (or multiple!)
• Stroll through White Point Garden
• Take in the colors of Rainbow Row
• Take the Ferry to Fort Sumpter
• Discover the USS Yorktown
• Enjoy a romantic dinner

How We Spent Our Winter Babymoon in Charleston

Day 1: Exploring the Museum Mile

One major perk of visiting Charleston in January was that we got to take advantage of Museum Mile Month. As self-proclaimed history buffs, these passes offered great savings on many museums and houses we planned to tour during our visit. In fact, there was so much included in the passes that we really wished we had a few more days so we could see more. That being said, I’ll list the locations that did make our short list.

After a leisurely morning, we made our first stop at the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon. It is regarded as one of the three most historic buildings in the US and is definitely a quick stop you won’t want to skip. When we arrived, we explore the upper levels of the museum on our own while waiting for the next guided tour of the dungeon to begin. We spent about an hour and half for both. You can find information about their current hours and tour prices on their website.

We’ve toured a lot of historic homes over the years, but we simply couldn’t pass up a visit to the Heyward-Washington House Museum where George Washington himself actually spent some time. We loved that the home offered an audio tour that allowed you to explore at your own pace. You can find information about their current hours and tour prices here.

Our last stop on the Museum Mile for the day was the Aiken-Rhett House Museum. This historic home was an absolute gem to tour. What made it so special was that rather than restoring the home to a certain time period, restoration efforts have been made to preserve it as is. It was incredible to glimpse all the different layers of influence from the various generations, and it may have very well earned the Aiken-Rhett House a spot among our favorite house museums we’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting. The audio tour was immersive and enjoyable. You can find information about their current hours and tour prices on their website.

Day 2: Drayton Hall, Fort Sumpter, White Point Garden & Rainbow Row

On our second day, we decided to visit some of the spots on our list outside of the city. We knew we wanted to tour a plantation home while we were in Charleston, and among the many options, we were intrigued again at the chance to explore a home that was preserved as-is. Our tour of Drayton Hall and the surrounding landscape was a combo tour that included a guide for the home portion and an audio tour of the grounds. We recommend about 2.5-3 hours for both. Located under 30 minutes outside of downtown, it was one of our favorite stops on our trip. You can find more information on the tours available and current hours here.

After a quick lunch, we headed back into town to catch the ferry to Fort Sumpter. Fort Sumpter Tours is the only ferry way to visit Fort Sumpter. They have ferries leaving from Patriots Point and Liberty Square at various times. We left out of Liberty Square and enjoyed a round trip experience lasting about 2.5 hours. You get about an hour at Fort Sumpter to explore, visit the small museum, and stop in at the gift shop. You can check tour availability and reserve tickets here. Note that it can get quite chilly on the water so a jacket is recommended.

Once we were off the ferry, we decided to check out White Point Garden which was absolutely stunning at sunset. On the way there, we passed right by Rainbow Row so of course we made sure and got some photos in front of the iconic pastel colored homes. It was the perfect leisurely end to an otherwise busy day.

Day 3: Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum & Nathaniel Russell House Museum

On our last full day, we spent our morning at the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum. Ticket include access to both the USS Yorktown and the USS Laffey. If you have an interest in miliary history, this is a great stop to include. Even with the cold temperatures, we were able to enjoy our visit as most of the self-guided tours take you below deck allowing for plenty of time to thaw out before braving the flight deck. Make no mistake, there is a lot to see here so you’ll want to have the whole morning free. We spent about 4 hours here.

In the afternoon, we decided to make one more stop on the Museum Mile at the Nathaniel Russell House Museum. The stunning high-point of this audio tour is a look at the three-story flying staircase, but the entire home was truly a marvel to visit. In other seasons, the gardens would surely wow as well. You can find information about their current hours and tour prices here. To see all that is included with the Museum Mile pass check here.

Where To Eat During Your Winter Babymoon in Charleston

Gluten free eating in a new city is never easy, but we found some great gems in Charleston sure to impress all. While in town, we had a lovely lunch at Magnolias. We managed without a reservation, but we’d suggest making one if you can at all. Even in off-season, the place was packed, but once you taste the food you’ll understand why.

For a romantic dinner option, we really enjoyed our visit to Hank’s Seafood Restaurant. The shrimp and grits were some of the very best I’ve ever had and the ambiance was the perfect blend of low-key and elegance that made you feel right at home.

We stopped in at the Mudhouse Specialty Coffee Roasters location on King Street to warm up a bit and really enjoyed it. The coffee was great and the space was cozy. All the things you hope to find in a coffee shop.

What To Do If You Have More Time For Your Winter Babymoon in Charleston

• Stroll along Waterfront Park
• Take a ghost tour
• Go on a romantic carriage ride
• Browse the Charleston City Market
• Enjoy some shopping on King Street

Where to Stay During Your Winter Babymoon in Charleston

Choosing whether to stay in downtown Charleston or near the beach is an important consideration. If you plan on only exploring within the historic district, a stay downtown that includes parking may be a good option. We knew we wanted to explore beyond the city a bit, and for that reason, choose a stay on James Island as a good midpoint between the locations we would be visiting. We found there were ample parking garages available when we did venture into downtown. Consider your itinerary and choose whichever option is more convenient for you. Because it was the off-season, we also found that a stay near the beach was an appealing choice for our budget as well.

Stays in Downtown Charleston

While we didn’t end up choosing a stay in downtown Charleston, these were the hotels that made our short list for consideration. Maybe someday soon we’ll return and experience them ourselves!

• The Restoration Hotel
  • With a location that can’t be beat and various onsite amenities like a coffee shop, rooftop bar, and restaurant, The Restoration Hotel is certainly a splurge stay to consider.
• The Spectator Hotel
  • A 1920s-inspired boutique hotel in a convenient location.
• Mills House Charleston
  • Located in the city center with on site restaurant, coffee shop, and beautiful courtyard area.

Beachside Stays

We considered several options near Folly Beach as there were several condos offering off-season rates. In the end, we decided this adorable bungalow on James Island made the most sense for us, and it really did end up being the perfect base for our trip. As a bonus, there was access to a beach park pass included in case we did decide to venture to the beach. The weather was a bit colder than we expected so we didn’t fully get to take advantage of the lovely screened in dining area out front or the fire pit, but these would have been amazing at other times of the year.

What Does Your Perfect Babymoon Look Like?

If you’re wondering where to start when planning your perfect babymoon, first answer one vital question. What does your perfect babymoon look like? For some, that means all-inclusive resorts. For others, they want adventure (or at least as much as can be managed during pregnancy). There are many aspects to your trip to consider: budget, how far along you are in your pregnancy, time of year, etc. For a look at what went into our decision on Charleston, South Carolina, check out our post on planning the perfect babymoon!