Much of the aptly named West Ashley area (or the neighborhood located just west of downtown across the Ashley River) is convenient to the peninsula via a very short commute. Sub-neighborhoods such as South Windermere, Byrnes Downs, and Avondale offer charming brick bungalows and other homes from the 1940s all within a short walk to shopping, dining, yoga and other fitness studios, and more. 

Notable Homes and Buildings: West Ashley is home to a number of historic plantations with spectacular gardens, including Middleton Place, Magnolia Plantation (home of one of America’s oldest gardens), and Drayton Hall. Also in West Ashley is Charlestowne Landing—the site of the first settlement in South Carolina.

Things to Do: Grab the family and walk the scenic 8.8-mile West Ashley Greenway or kayak, paddleboard, or boat from the public boat landing just over the Wappoo Creek Bridge. Head to the Windermere Shopping Center or Avondale for a day full of top-notch shopping. Visit one of West Ashley’s historic plantations or the Legare Waring House and Founders Hall at Charleston Towne Landing, two special event spaces that welcome festivals year-round, such as Garden & Gun’s Jubilee.

Neighborhood Restaurants and Shopping: The Avondale neighborhood offers a number of cocktail and dining options, including Voodoo Tiki Bar, Triangle Bar & Grill, Pearlz Oyster Bar, Avondale Wine & Cheese, and Charles Towne Fermentory brewery. Elsewhere in West Ashley you’ll find more delicious restaurants, such as Mex 1 Coastal Cantina, Swig & Swine, Boxcar Betty’s, Three Little Birds, and the Early Bird Diner.