Visiting Charleston, South Carolina

With a promising food scene and a mild warm climate good for year-round tourism, Charleston is a scenic, historic, Southern and modern travel destination. My best memory of the town is from a New Year’s party years ago – the party scene was buzzing, but the best part was New Year’s Day morning. We bought some shrimp on the beach and enjoyed the sunny 80-degree weather sitting in the backyard, chatting and having shrimp and cold drinks. That day forever captures the relaxed and happy feel of Charleston for me. Here are some of my favorite stops around town.

Rainbow Row

Charleston is a great destination for those who like to walk. The grid layout makes it easy to follow your trail and you can stroll through numerous parks and gardens, along the water, around many fountains, or simply admire the colonial architecture. One of the most beautiful areas to take a walk is Rainbow Row (also referred to as the Battery Row). It stretches all along the waterfront and is stacked with historic 17th century pastel-colored colonial houses. Not surprisingly, it was named for the multitude of colors of the rainbow. In the past Rainbow Row was a buzzing commercial district and while you will still see shops and restaurants around, it is predominantly residential along with a few bed-and-breakfasts. A nice place to stay here is The Battery Carriage House Inn which is located in the exclusive residential area of the Rainbow Row.

Old City market

Take a stroll or go on a walking tour of the Historic District. Aside from architecture and beautiful cypress trees, you can get a really good bargain here at one of many antique markets and stores, such as Palmer Davis Antiques. But the best part is located in the heart of the Historic District – the open-air Old City Market located on Market Street between Meeting and East Bay Streets. You can find hundreds of vendors there selling everything from local crafts, estate silver, jewelry, candles, art, cookies, and the most famous City market trade – Sweet Grass baskets. The baskets are handmade, sewn with pine needles and palmetto leaf. It’s an old art, first brought here from Africa in the 17th century, but it remains a vibrant trade. The market is abuzz with locals and tourists and the sweet smell of candy and bakeries is always in the air. There are many other shops and restaurants in the area – Robert’s of Charleston, East Bay Crab Shack and Charleston Grill are some of the best spots here. Be sure to try a plate of shrimp and grits, a local staple.

Fort Sumter

Charleston is one of the oldest American ports, so be sure to check the islands around it. Get on a ferry to Fort Sumter, where in April of 1861 the Confederate soldiers fired on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, thus signaling the beginning of a devastating Civil war. Fort Sumter became a national monument in 1948. Take a tour of the fort and look at old guns, barrels and plantations. This will definitely transport you to the Gone with the Wind era, especially the Middlreton Place with lush beautiful gardens and history preserved just as it was.
You can’t visit South Carolina and not have a cup of sweet tea – Charleston Tea Plantation is a great spot to do just that, since it is the only tea plantation in the U.S, so taste and buy the freshly harvested teas on site.

Angel Oak

The Angel Oak is quiet a site. With the trunk over 25ft in diameter and 65 feet high, it is truly a spectacle. This tree is believed to be the oldest live oak tree one east of the Rockies, approximately 1,500 years. Locals simply call it The Tree. It is owned by the city and located in a wooded area along Bohicket Road of John’s Island outside Charleston, South Carolina. Though damaged during Hurricane Hugo, the Tree is still a massive site worth a visit.

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