The West Side of Charleston

A Budget Day Trip Itinerary to West Ashley, Johns Island, and Wadmalaw Island

Hi there! Back with another Charleston blog post!

Every time someone visits me, I feel the need to put a whole itinerary together. One of my best friends came and visited me back in February. Since this is her second time in Charleston, I wanted to explore new places, so she was the perfect excuse for me to do that. This time, we explored the west side of Charleston: West Ashley, Johns Island, and Wadmalaw Island. This is a budget friendly itinerary, so big tourist spots like Magnolia Plantation did not make the cut in my budget... but I still recommend checking it out!

With summer coming, there are many sunny days to choose from in Charleston and pack some picnic food with you!

1. Cold Shoulder Gourmet

• 1684 Old Towne Rd, Charleston, SC 29407

• Thursday - Monday 8 AM to 4 PM (But they typically sell out right around noon!!)

• $10 - $20

• This was my first time visiting this cult favorite sandwich shop… And now we know why. Craig brings in the highest quality of meats, cheeses, and locally sourced veggies to create beautiful and delicious focaccia sandwiches. His amiable personality brings in a welcoming feel to his one-man sando shop.

• Although they close at 4pm, be sure to get here before 11am. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait another day to pick up this high selling delicacy. Check out and follow @coldshouldshouldergourmet on Instagram for the daily special and when they sell out!

• For our itinerary, we saved these sandwiches for our picnic lunch at Deepwater Vineyard.

2. Angel Oak Tree

• 3688 Angel Oak Rd, Johns Island, SC 29455

• Sunday 1 - 5PM, Monday - Saturday 9 AM - 5 PM

• Free

• A 300-400 year old Live Oak Tree and said to be the largest east of the Mississippi. There is not much else to it, but it is a beautiful sight to see and a free tourist spot to check it out!

3. Deep Water Vineyard

• 6775 Bears Bluff Rd, Wadmalaw Island, SC 29487

• Tuesday - Saturday 10 AM - 5 PM

• $15 for wine tasting + complimentary wine glass

• A vineyard tucked away in the Lowcountry where they grow muscadine grapes, native to the Southeast of the United States. For a $15 wine tasting, not only do you get to choose 6 samples of wine from their list, but you also get to learn about the history and production of their local wines and stroll through their vineyard. Pro-tip: If you go with one other person, you can essentially try all 12 samples from their list.

• After feeling a little tipsy from all the wine drinking, grab those long-awaited sandwiches and picnic while listening to some live music. Have a plan to drive back if you plan on drinking more!

4. Charleston Tea Garden

• 6617 Maybank Hwy, Wadmalaw Island, SC 29487

• Sunday 12 - 4 PM, Monday - Saturday 10 AM - 4 PM

• No admission fee, free factory tour and tea sampling, $15 for trolley tour ($7.50 for children)

• Just 15 minutes away from the vineyard is North America’s largest tea garden, the Charleston Tea Garden. Grab a cup of tea and learn about the tea making process in their factory tour. And feel free to stroll through the tea bushes as well.

5. Pour House

• 1977 Maybank Hwy, Charleston, SC 29412

• Tickets and cover charge vary, but typically expect to pay $5 - $20 in cash. Check out their website for exact pricing. https://charlestonpourhouse.com/

• Sunday 11 AM–12 AM, Monday – Wednesday 4 PM–12 AM

• If we had enough energy to stay out longer, then Pour House is the move to end your day here. Jam out to bluegrass, jazz, rock, and many more unique bands out on their deck stage or main stage inside. There is a rotating vendor, outdoor and indoor bar, and Kwei Fei Chinese restaurant right next door to satisfy your hunger and energy to rock through the night.

There are so many other places to explore on the west side of Charleston. If you're from Charleston, what are some budget friendly spots that you recommend? Let me know in the comments section!

See ya,

Sarah