HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

On the opposite side of Frannie’s fireplace is a general outdoor courtyard, very common in Charleston. There are 15 rooms called Masonnettes on the first floor that open onto the courtyard. A popular option during the pandemic.

Visitors can also rent a Mini Cooper to get around town. Make reservations at the front desk in advance for a set period of time. Use that time to venture outside the main part of the city so you can see things like the Angel oak tree or Magnolia Plantation.

GetYourGuide’s Historic Downtown Tour by horse-drawn carriage, departing from The Old South Carriage Company, just across a parking lot from The Emeline, is a popular tourist attraction. While riding around, you’ll learn things like: • Historic Charleston fills 98 square blocks, referred to as the low country. • There are 189 churches, earning it the title “the holiest city.” • It is the #4 U.S. city for drinking. • There have been five “great fires” (fires that destroyed 100 or more buildings). • The popular building style of the homes, referred to as “singles,” originated from the use of airflow in the hot Charleston summers. • Live oak trees abound around historic Charleston, with their route systems underneath the sidewalks and the roads. Be careful walking, or you’ll find yourself doing “the Charleston shuffle.”

The Citrus Club, so named for its citrus-inspired cocktails, is a lux rooftop bar on top of the Dewberry Hotel that offers 360-degree views of the city and is said to be the highest rooftop in Charleston. Enjoy a cocktail or glass of wine with a menu that features crab dip, edamame hummus and other appetizers. Little Palm, the bar on the second story of the Ryder Hotel, gives visitors a ’60s beach vibe. Next to the small pool, there’s a popular indoor space. Sit in an old-school diner booth and enjoy grilled shrimp or sweet corn hash. This is a very happening area to people watch and partake in a cocktail, draft beer or glass of vino.

Charleston Harbor Fish House overlooks the historic Patriots Point Harbor, next to Naval & Maritime Museum. You’ll be able to see the USS Yorktown and USS Clamagore right outside the restaurant’s window. This is where you want to go for traditional Southern fare paired with a cold local beer. The perfect afternoon of waterfront relaxation.

Marika Flatt, who organizes her own family reunion every year, is the travel editor of Texas Lifestyle Magazine and was named “Outstanding Austin Communicator” 2021 by Women Communicators of Austin. Flatt has been the voice of the “Weekend Trip Tips” on NPR’s Texas Standard for nearly five years and is a regular travel contributor to TV shows across the state.

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