Erin Meister, 31, coffee professional, and Brett Leveridge, 54, online producer
Budget: Tight
Duration: 5 Days
“We love old-school things: run-down towns, long-standing candy stores, and any place where someone named Mama is cooking. I always have to find a specialty coffee shop and craft fair, and Brett likes raw bars and vintage shopping.”
Go here: Charleston, South Carolina
Why Now: Thanks to a revival of industrial Upper King Street, where Williamsburg types are turning crumbling buildings into multihyphenate spaces and street-food-inspired restaurants, Chucktown’s old-world charm is tempting to both nostalgia seekers and travelers hoping to connect with local artisans.
What to Do: Comb the excellent selection of vintage clothing, shoes, and home décor, including plaque-mounted deer antlers, at the refreshingly cheap
Where to Stay: The best bargain in town, NotSoHostel, is also a southern Americana throwback, complete with rocking chairs on the porch and Ping-Pong tables and hammocks in the backyard (from $24; 156 Spring St.; 843-722-8383; notsohostel.com).
What to Eat: Dig into housemade chanh muôi, a Vietnamese salt-pickled-citrus drink, and homemade dumplings at Xiao Bao Biscuit (224 Rutledge Ave.; 843-743-3880), opening in early November in an old gas station. Get your caffeine fix with a coffee julep (espresso, honey, mint) at Black Tap (70½ Beaufain St.; 843-793-4402), and take in the scene at the Ordinary (544 King St.; no phone), a classic oyster bar opening in a grand old bank this December.
Buy This: Anything tattooed chocolatier Johnny Battles touches turns into edible gold at Sweeteeth (various locations; sweeteethchocolate.com). Ask for his bacon and smoky blue-cheese bonbons (two for $4).
Also Consider: Motoring from the thrift-shopping mecca of Austin, Texas, to kooky arts colony Marfa, and then staying in one of El Cosmico’s vintage Airstreams (from $110; elcosmico.com).