Charleston Guide - Best things to do in Charleston

Charleston Guide
What to do, Where to go, Where to eat

Charleston Local Guide

Photos by Patricia Blackstock
All photos will enlarge when clicked

I'm Patricia Blackstock. My husband Wally Snider and I have lived in Myrtle Beach for 16 years. We visit Charleston as often as we can. It takes about an hour and a half to arrive at one of our favorite cities in the USA. Sometimes it's just a day trip; other times we'll stay for an extended weekend.

I hope you will enjoy this Charleston Guide from a local

On April 12, 1861, the Confederate artillery opened fire on Fort Sumter, in the Charleston Harbor Ft. Sumter was the scene of the opening engagement of the Civil War. (Photos above.) After Sherman forced the evacuation of Charleston, the U.S. flag was again raised over the fort on Apr. 14, 1865. Fort Sumter became a National Monument in 1948.

The Cooper River Bridge (above) also known as the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge is North America'slongest cable stay span, and eight lanes of north-south traffic, including a bicycle /pedestrian lane. This bridge opened on July 16, 2005.

White Point Garden near the famous Battery
This large grassy area is shaded by massive mosss covered ancient oaks and fringed with cannons, monuments, and historical statues. My friend Bonnie shows off a Platter Magnolia, and I'm standing near the monument. Charleston City Market/ Daughters of the Confederacy Museum. The City Market is a must to see. You'll find hundreds of vendors, Sweet Grass baskets, jewlery, art, candles, cookies, and much more.

Shopping in Charleston
Be sure to visit the City Market located in the Historic District. Here's where you'll find the famous handmade Sweetgrass Baskets (sewn with long leaf pine needles and strips of palmetto leaf) as well as a multitude of crafts, souvenirs, jewelry, local candy and other food items on display inside the covered Charleston Market area. You'll also find many small specialty shops and restaurants. Charleston Place is located on the first floor of the CharlestonHotel in the Historic District. If you like shopping in style, the Shops at Charleston Place are for you! Even if you don't purchase nything, you'll love the polished marble floors, columns, grand staircases and mammoth chandelier. There's something here for everyone ...including your most discriminating Aunt Tillie!

More Good Shopping in Charleston
Citadel Mall
Northwoods Mall
Earth Fare - The Healthy Supermarket
Trader Joe's - Mt. Pleasant. Sometimes we drive from Myrtle Beach just to shop at Trader Joe's
Whole Foods - Mt. Pleasant
Freshfields Village Shops and restaurants at the crossroads of Kiawah, Seabrook and Johns Island
Mr. Pleasant Towne Center - Check the Directory for many hours of happy shopping

I often tell people not to miss the Islands of Charleston. Kiawah, Isle of Palms, Seabrook, James Island and Johns Island are all an easy drive from Charleston. Each Island has something becautiful and unique to offer visitors.

The art of basket weaving was introduced to the LowCountry in the 17th Century. Today, Sweet Grass basket making is centered in the Mt. Pleasant community. Basket stands along Hwy 17 North allow basket makers to compete with retail markets establish a direct contact between themselves and their patrons and develop new shapes, such as roses and picture frames, from traditional baskets forms and ordinary objects. Basket makers living east of the Cooper River. Basket Weavers can also be found in the downtown in area of Charleston, along Market, Broad, and Meeting Streets.

Charleston in 2014 has so many things to do! Stop by the Visitors' Bureau first (linked under Historic Charleston Local Information) to learn what tours of Charleston are available to you, or just start walking. We've discovered that one of the best ways to get acquainted with Charleston is on foot. It's not only good for your mind, it's good for your body. You can plot your own course with a map and a guide book. This is the best way to learn about the Confederate Homes and how the Civil War affected Charleston.

Let your feet be your guide! You can join a guide for the Charleston Walks. Plan on about 3.5 miles to cover the Historic District. It's not strenuous, and you will be stopping often to view the many Charleston monuments, homes, historical markers, etc.

Another option for walking is Free Tours by Foot. They provide a platform for licensed, professional, freelance tour guides to lead tours at no upfront cost, so that you may enjoy a quality sightseeing experience no matter what your budget. Everyone should be permitted to take a guided tour for a price they feel is worth it - even free!

Looking for Savings Discounts and Coupons?
Savings, locations, and complete information available at Tourist Pack
Discounts and coupons to local restaurants and attractions Charleston Coupons and Discounts
Charleston, SC Discount Tours, restaurants, attractions Charleston Ticket
Coupons and Discounts, Tour, Attractions, and Dining from Charleston Coupons

Charleston's Museum Mile is located along Meeting Street and runs from the Charleston Visitor Center to the Nathaniel Russell House. The Mile is easyto navigate on foot and with public transportation. You can use the DASH trolleys and CARTA buses to traverse the downtown area, travel to various sites and link with tourist busses at the Visitor Center. .

Take a Carriage Tour through Historic Charleston and the Battery, or hop on the Gray Line!

If you do a carriage tour FIRST, you can park your car free in the lots of the various carriage companies whithout paying a parking meter!

Palmetto Carriage Tour - Charleston Guide discount coupons on the web site
Old South Carriage Company - Charleston Guide discount coupons on the web site
The Gray Line of Charleston offers a choice of guided mini-bus tour guides of the historic, charming city of Charleston, designed to give you a fun and informative look into the city and it's well-preserved past.

Click here to view a short photo gallery of Folly Beach!

Tour some of Historic Charleston's things to see and do:

South Carolina Aquarium at Charleston	Historic Charleston Foundation
Visit Fort Sumter and take a Harbor Tour	Cypress Gardenss
H L Hunley (limited dates/times)	Spoleto Festival (dates on website)
Middleton Place	Magnolia Plantation

Charleston's Best Restaurants:
You will not run out of good restaurants, no matter how many times you visit Charleston.
Here are a few of our favorite restaurants in no particular order.
(Be sure to check the link above for Charleston discount coupons)

Charleston Crab House - Wonderful Southern Seafood	Tommy Condon's Restaurant and Pub - Historic Downtown
Peninsula Grill - Historic Downrown Area	Bubba Gump - Historic Cbarleston area
East Bay Crab Shack Historic Downtown Area	Wild Olive John's Island
Pavilion Bar & Grill - Rooftop dining	Circa 1886 - 149 Wentworth St. Charleston
FIG - 232 Meeting Street, Downtown	Slightly North of Broad - Voted Brest of the Year
Hank's Seafood Restaurant - corner Hayne and Church	Cypress Lowcountry Grille 185 E. Bay Street
Hominy Grill - 207 Rutledge Ave. Charleston	Caviar & Bananas - 51 George St. Charleston, SC
Cru Cafe - 18 Pinkney St. Charleston	Poogan's Porch - 72 Queen St. Charleston, SC
Hyman's Seafood - 215 Meeting St. Charleston	Coast - 39-D Charleston, SC
Boathouse at Beach Inlet - 101 Palm Blvd. Isle of Palms	Fish - 422 King St. Charleston, SC

St. Philip's Episcopal Church is an Historical Episcopal church. It is a National Historic Landmark, built in 1836. Between 1860 and 1865, St. Philip's steeple was targeted for shelling by the invading Union Army. One shell exploded in the churchyard during a Sunday service.

St. Michael's Church was built in 1751, and is the oldest church in Charleston today. It towers above other historic buildings along Broad Street in Charleston. George Washington once worshipped in this church and General Robert E. Lee worshipped in the same pew.

The two black bolts pictured on the house to the left are earthquake bolts. Charleston suffered two major hurricanes in 1885 and an earthquake in 1886. During repairs, workmen inserted long iron rods through the houses and tightened them with bolts against the outside surfaces to bring the buildings back into alignment. The houses above are part of Charleston's famous Rainbow Row. Rainbow Row is the name for a series of colorful historic houses in Charleston, South Carolina. The houses are located north of Tradd St. and south of Elliot St. on East Bay Street. It is referred to as Rainbow Row for the pastel colors used to paint all of the houses. It is a common tourist attraction and is one of the most photographed parts of Charleston.

You won't want to miss Sweetgrass Baskets being made at the Charleston Market! Artuur Ravenel Bridge, inside and outside of the Charleston City Market, our brunch at the Palmetto Cafe, tours of Charleston carriage rides, churches and cemeteries, cobblestone Street, fountains, historic homes, and more! Charleston is known as The HolyCity, due to the prominence of churches and steeples which dot the city's skyline. I've added some new pictures of both churches and cemeteries.

Below, left to right row 1: Marble staircase in downtown Charleston. Daughters of the Confederacy, St. Philip's Episcopal Church, Bubba Gumps in Charleston for lunch with my sister-in-law, Granddaughter.
Below, left to right row 2: Charleston's Public fountains are free and open all summer long, Cobblestone Street, Historic Charleston harbor, Paula and Wally looking at bark on a Crepe Myrtle
Below, left to right row 3: Be sure to visit some of Charleston's historic cemeteries! Wally at the Charleston Aquarium of South Carolina, Ancient moss-covered oaks near the Battery.