The Holy City
One of the South’s most charming towns, the cobblestone streets and calm harbors of Charleston are popular with tourists, history buffs and beach goers. Almost four centuries have passed since the founding of South Carolina’s flagship city, a place that has played pivotal roles in two wars and fostered the growth of the colonies. Charleston continues to be a focal point for the armed forces that protect the nation and is a stronghold of related industry and development. Culturally, the region is known for its Reconstruction Era influence and maintains a special place in the hearts of the Gullah people.
How to Get There
The Lowcountry is served by Charleston International Airport, located about twenty minutes north of the city. Served by all major airlines and offering non-stop service from most origins across the US and Canada, the airport is the busiest in the state of South Carolina.
By road, Charleston is reachable via Interstate 26, which carries travelers from Columbia, Greenville and points northwest. Those coming from Atlanta, Charlotte and beyond will also be funneled onto the highway on their way to the coast. Interstate 95 also passes nearby, making Charleston an easy detour for folks driving north from Florida or south from the dense megalopolises of the northeast. More locally, the city is connected to Savannah and Myrtle Beach via US-17, a scenic divided highway that traverses sparsely populated swamps and canals.
An crucial port city, Charleston is also easily accessible by boat. It sits at the mouth of the Cooper, Wando, Stono and Ashley Rivers and can be reached via the Intracoastal Waterway as well.
Things to Do
The historic center of Charleston is rife with brick buildings dating back to the colonial and revolutionary eras, and charm awaits at every corner. The Charleston Museum tells the story of how old Charles Town grew into a blossoming port city. Meanwhile, the region’s dark past as the main portal of the Atlantic Slave Trade is on display at the Old Slave Mart Museum, a sobering stop. There’s also the International African American Museum, which covers many of the same topics but explores the incredible contributions and the accomplishments that have arisen out of the nation’s greatest shame.
Next door is the departure point for Charleston Harbor Tours, which offers 90-minute tours, sunset cruises and other harbor excursions that afford visitors a unique vantage point of the Holy City and its many landmarks. The South Carolina Aquarium is another marine-focused spot that’s geared towards families, and is situated right near the docks.
Anchored across the Cooper River is the USS Yorktown, a massive aircraft carrier that spent extensive time in the Pacific Theater and has been nicknamed “The Fighting Lady.” The ship now hosts almost two dozen aircraft on its now-quiet flight deck. Landside is the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum, an accompanying space that includes a Medal of Honor Museum and a Vietnam Experience. The destroyer USS Laffey is also docked nearby.
The harbor’s most influential attraction, however, is undeniably Fort Sumter National Monument. Located on an island in the front of Charleston Harbor, the fortress is notable for the attack it suffered from the Confederates in 1861, an event that spurred on the Civil War. The National Park Service runs frequent boat excursions to the fort from Patriots Point and from downtown, allowing visitors some time to wander around the island explore the cannons and ruins at the historic site.
Not far from Charleston is the Angel Oak, a massive live oak tree on Johns Island that is estimated to be around a half millennia old. The mossy arbor in which the tree is located is a peaceful, shady park that draws thousands of visitors who come to see the spectacular old-growths.
Another one of the Holy City’s hotspots is Rainbow Row, a section of colorful houses on East Bay Street that has become a fun – and very popular – photo spot. Pulling its own weight as an icon of the town, the Pineapple Fountain is just down the street in Waterfront Park. At the southern tip of the old peninsula sits White Point Garden, a quiet park with some beautiful, mossy trees and a cute gazebo.
What to Eat
As a cultural epicenter, Charleston has a diverse array of Southern cuisine to enjoy.
Barbecue fans will want to try Lewis Barbecue, which is famed for its pulled pork sandwiches and delicious green chili corn. Poogan’s Porch is a notable upscale spot with quintissential Southern cuisine – the likes of shrimp and grits – and Fleet Landing Restaurant & Bar is ranked as one of the best seafood places in the city. Another fancy eatery is Church and Union, a contemporary and refined restaurant set inside a former church along bustling Market Street.
On the more casual side, visitors won’t want to miss the barbecue at Swig & Swine, the Cajun and Creole dishes at The Glass Onion, or the cafe treats at Millers All Day. Fried chicken is also a staple that’s worth looking out for, namely at Leon’s Fine Poultry & Oysters and Bertha’s Kitchen.
Where to Stay
Hotels:
– The Vendue
– Francs Marion Hotel
– Mills House Charleston
Bed & Breakfasts:
– Bijou Charleston
– 20 South Battery
– The Jasmine House
