Spend Some Time With A Classy Lady
It has been a number of years (actually a few decades) since we last visited and, while it is hard to believe that a city, which is over two and a half centuries old, can change a lot in that time, it really has and much for the better.
The restaurant scene here has simply exploded. A wide range of culinary styles are offered with special emphasis on the South Carolina “Low Country” recipes of the region. Seafood is featured in classic Southern dishes like shrimp and grits, oyster stew and she-crab soup.
There are a large number of high-end retailers that have moved onto King Street creating a unique shopping venue in the historic district. Another mecca for tourists and visiting shoppers is the City Market on East Market Street. The market stretches for a number of blocks east from Meeting Street with both indoor and open-air buildings. Stalls include local food sellers, crafts, jewelry, art and a limited amount of clothing. There are also a number of stalls featuring traditional Gullah hand-woven sweet-grass baskets which are unique to the region.
Major places of interest when visiting Charleston include:
The Battery: This is a historic seawall and promenade that runs along the waterfront downtown. It offers beautiful views of the harbor and the iconic Ravenel Bridge along with some amazing colonial homes.
Fort Sumter National Monument: This historic site is where the first shots of the Civil War were fired. Visitors can take a ferry out to the fort and explore the museum and exhibits.
Rainbow Row: This is a row of colorful historic houses on East Bay Street that are a popular photo spot for tourists.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens: This historic plantation offers tours of the house and gardens, as well as nature trails and a petting zoo.
The Gullah are the descendants of African slaves of various ethnic groups who live in the Low-Country regions of Georgia and South Carolina, in both the Coastal Plain and on the Sea Islands. They developed a Creole language, the Gullah language, and a culture rich in African influences which makes them distinctive among African Americans.
The USS Yorktown (CV-10): This famous aircraft carrier is currently located in Charleston. After it was decommissioned was been turned into a museum open to the public for tours. The Yorktown saw action in the Pacific during WWII and was initially to have been named Bonhomme Richard, she was renamed Yorktown while still under construction, after the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-5), was sunk at the Battle of Midway.
Other big draws to Charleston are the Colonial and Federalist architecture and the revolutionary and civil war historic sites. Good ways to see the town are with narrated horse-drawn carriage tours operated by several different companies or walking tours which can be self-guided or with a tour company.
For accommodations consider a B&B located in a historic house. One recommendation is the Barksdale House Inn, a beautiful bed and breakfast located on George Street in the historic district.
Also don’t leave town without picking up pralines at Savannah’s Candy Kitchen of Charleston or cookies from Byrd’s Famous Cookies.
The Intentional Travelers 