Country star Kelsea Ballerini has been spending more time in Charleston, South Carolina, soaking up its charm. Her time here has even influenced her new album, PATTERNS. Let’s explore some of the places she loves in this beautiful city.
Less"I feel like I’ve updated my 'final meal' or 'last supper' to the spicy pasta at The Obstinate Daughter. Every time I’m here, I try to get a reservation for that pasta. I dream about it. The whole restaurant’s so cute. I love the Sullivan’s Island area, but that restaurant—that pasta—is dream-worthy."
"The Angel Oak is a famous, 300-to-400-year-old Southern live oak tree. It’s stunning, but you have these trees scattered throughout the whole area of Charleston. They’re mossy and old, doing these beautiful acrobatics, and it’s really fun to just walk around and see them. The Angel Oak is extra iconic."
"One of my favorite things to do when I’m traveling is to find a local record store. I was thrilled when I found Record Stop in Charleston. They have everything you can imagine—the oldies, the newbies, and stuff you’ve never heard of. It’s always a fun adventure to go in and shop around."
"One thing you should know about me is that I’m always going to find a karaoke bar, and Blue’s Bar is that go-to spot for me in Charleston. It’s kind of a hole-in-the-wall in a strip mall, and that’s everything you need to know. I’ll see you there!"
"Folly Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in the Charleston area. We loved it so much that we ended up shooting a lot of the album content there, including the cover of PATTERNS."
"A good part of The Notebook was filmed around Charleston. It’s very cool to visit those locations and reminisce about such a great love story. I feel like it’s one of the best movies of all time. We actually went to shoot some album content at one of the locations where they filmed The Notebook. If you want to see that, watch the music video for 'First Rodeo.'"
"The Old Village is one of my favorite areas to wander and walk around. It’s this one little strip of shops, coffee places, restaurants, and a little inn at the end. The wine shop has some wines you know, and then some smaller, family-owned brands. I love popping into the candle store next door and then going to find a bottle of wine that I’ve never heard of before."
"Sword Gate is a historical property near the heart of Charleston. My manager actually lives there now, but it has a fascinating history. It used to be an all-girls school, and they’ve really kept the bones of it intact. It has this beautiful old-but-updated feel to it. To me, I could just sit on the front porch and drink wine for the rest of my life."
"I think every town should have a good boot store, and I’ve frequented Tecovas on King Street. I’ve gotten a couple of good pairs of boots there that I’m still breaking in."
"The Dewberry is a hotel where I’ve stayed, hosted surprise birthdays, and gone to wedding pre-games. I feel like I know every version of The Dewberry. It’s just a beautiful hotel, and its rooftop overlooks the city. You see all the beautiful old church steeples—it’s that classic Charleston view."