How to Spend a Rainy Day in Charleston
It’s inevitable. A storm rolls through, unannounced, and you have to cancel your weekend plans boating around Fort Sumter. Don’t let the weather discourage you, Charleston’s rainy weather is surprisingly beautiful, and locals are used to having fun regardless of the forecast.
Here are a few ways you can embrace a rainy day in Charleston:
Visit the Best Brews & Bars:
Follow your culinary curiosity to some of the top places to eat and dine nearby. On Broad Street, we recommend Gaulart & Maliclet Fast & French, Blind Tiger, Husk Bar and Oak Steakhouse. Then, further afield are a short car trip to the best breweries like Edmund’s Oast Brewery, Fatty’s and Commonhouse Aleworks. Home Team BBQ is a great place to spend a rainy day and watch sports.
Visit the Gibbes Museum:
Spend a peaceful morning finding your muse at The Gibbes Museum. Located in the South’s oldest museum building, the Meeting Street landmark is a lovely place to find solace from the rain. The museum’s marble tile floors, Tiffany-style glass dome and limestone façade elegantly welcome visitors to browse the exceptional exhibitions. You can visit the museum at 135 Meeting Street and preview upcoming programs and exhibitions at gibbesmuseum.org.
The Alley:
Gather your friends for a playful bowling tournament at The Alley, a popular entertainment destination located at 131 Columbus Street. Enjoy the nostalgia of bowling across eight retro lanes with parties big or small. While you’re there, order up classic American bites or craft beer from the 40-foot bar as you take turns on The Alley’s vintage arcade games. This is one of Upper King’s favorite attractions for locals.
Cook a recipe from Charleston Receipts:
One of the best ways to dive into Charleston’s culture is through its food. “Charleston Receipts,” first published in 1950, features timeless recipes that embrace culinary heritages and legacies. The vintage cookbook is a must-have for every local, featuring indulgent Lowcountry meals favored by Southerners for decades. Spend a rainy day cooking a traditional dish like Tomato Okra Pilau and savor the slow, yet comforting process of preparing dishes from scratch.
Read a book on the Lowcountry:
Rainy weather is the perfect chance to slow down, open up a book and dive into an exciting story. Pair your next novel with a backdrop of The Jasper’s wide vistas of steepled skylines, rivers and harbor from the comfort of your window. We recommend books by authors like Pat Conroy and Mary Alice Monroe who offer page-turners set in the Lowcountry. Their books’ entertaining stories will carry you away into scenes from across Charleston. Their stories will turn your rainy day into an adventure, grasped by tales that make you fall more in love with the Holy City.
No matter what the weather holds, locals know there is always a pastime to keep you entertained. Whether you prefer history and museums or spending the day quietly inside, there are many ways to embrace Charleston’s cherished quality of life, rain or shine.