Charleston

An elegant seaside village with narrow cobbled lanes, gracious architecture of ornate wrought iron, flickering gas lamps, stately mansions with tiered side porches poking up above lush tropical greenery… Charleston, South Carolina. Enchanting and complex – its heart-breaking past includes America’s Civil War starting in her Bay, and enslaved peoples from Africa in painful shackles being bought and sold into slavery on her streets. Spending time here left our heads reeling and hearts aching with conflicted memories of human misery and colonial glory as backdrop to today’s beautiful and dynamic city. Charleston is a place, we are sure, you’ll never forget.

Charleston – INSIDE

By Courtney – The Insider The entire historic core of Charleston is a living, breathing historic museum of sorts so we spent most of our time strolling about, taking it all in. Many tour companies offer themed walking tours to orient you to the city’s rich past; house tours are also popular. We enjoyed these … Continue reading Charleston – INSIDE

Charleston – OUTSIDE

By Jimmy- The Outsider Historic downtown Charleston is wonderfully walkable and invites hours of wandering- you can’t go wrong whatever path you take! Surrounding Charleston is a verdant landscape where fresh water meets brine, creating a complex landscape of marshes, islands, inlets, estuaries. Summer and Spring are typically intensely hot and humid, so plan your … Continue reading Charleston – OUTSIDE

Charleston – EAT

Charleston’s dynamic food scene abounds with options and can be pricey. In fact Charleston is a foodie hotbed, gaining national praise for inventive cuisine by local Chefs. On a modest budget, try pub grub at Lagunitas Brewery (sadly, now closed indefinitely due to building repairs!) and quick healthy Asian at Fire Street Food . Screen Door … Continue reading Charleston – EAT

Charleston – SLEEP

Charleston offers numerous lodging options and can get pricey in the downtown historic district, where everyone wants to stay. A Days Inn motel (no-frills, clean) was a budget traveler’s dream. Centrally located in the historic center near the Market, it provided a great base to explore historic central Charleston on foot. Parking is extra ($14/ … Continue reading Charleston – SLEEP

Charleston – EXPERIENCES

The countryside around Charleston and south to Savannah is known as the Low Country . A place where the land and sea and sky all meld, without clear delineation between solid and fluid. A unique culture called Gullah exists here, harkening back to the enslaved Africans who were brought here, and who stayed after emancipation. Picturesque, … Continue reading Charleston – EXPERIENCES

Charleston – GO

Walking around central Charleston is a pleasure and can be supplemented by Uber. Bicycle rentals are also available, but watch out for those narrow, cobbled lanes! Public transit is provided by CARTA city buses. A day pass is $7, or 3 days for $14. It provides easy access throughout the historic core. Rent a car to explore … Continue reading Charleston – GO