When we need to feel our nails conk, do a good manicure, or just pick out a new polish, we look no further than Charlotte Street in downtown Charleston, SC. From mens-friendly nail bars like #MensNail to softer luxury spots like Diva Collective, Charlotte Street has just about everything a New Yorker girl could want when it comes to a fully-equipped swanky salon. But what if we told you there was a newly open nail bar right in the heart of South Carolina, a place so lavish you could safely pass the time while waiting for your nails to be primped? That’s right, The Water Room, right next to Cigar Factory – Charleston City Paper’s newest neighborhood discovery is a clubby waterside venue with chic bars and packages that will make any in-state resident jealous.

While online salons come at us with feline-inspired power nail games like Harry Josh and Pantene nail services, The Water Room is more like The Dorchester with Nail Palace. Inspired by the classic 15th century duchy of Bute’s Trembling Bells in Scotland, each inch of the Upper West Side’s maritime ambiance can be seen in the clean lines, paint chandeliers, lacquered wood tables, oak chairs, and of course the seawater-scented ocean of Whelan’s Spa. All of the beauty and wellness treatments offered here are also modernized versions of whale species-inspired options in order to showcase the natural products, phytonutrients, and active ingredients of these beautiful marine creatures.

So, if you are planning on taking an upcoming tour of the works of Moore Sperry and Harry Josh, there’s one more reason to make your way to Charleston. While we highly recommend checking out Diva Collective or The Water Room first before indulging in whale-inspired treatments, the city is also home to the Nomad Art Festival for fine art lovers of all stripes. From October 21 to 25, the down-home fall festival will feature more than 150 works of art, including fine sculptures, paintings, and installations from local and national artists. And it’s free!

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You can get hooked up with a night out on a great pair of Dockers at one of the many gleaming clubs and art bars so we recommend checking out Water Café, Sawyer Street, The One, The Motorworks, Bloom St. Chambers, and Cleophus Lounge. Or try enjoying the pristine waters while unwinding at the 1,800-square-foot sipping bar Bar Daddy’s or check out the famous hidden harbor playground at One Channelside, which is as nice to look at as it is to cool down in when the humid July heat starts to break. Just be sure to stay hydrated, because the summer temperatures will get you if you’re not careful.