This Christmas, we decided to go on a tour to one of the southern cities - and nothing was better than a coastal city and a historic city combined together. The city was Charleston in South Carolina.
At a first glance, I was disappointed as I saw great many structures, too many flyovers and passes and it seemed like a concrete jungle rather than a coastal city. However, spending three days in the city, I changed my perspective - it was a myriad combination of a beautiful waterfront, a row of grand and simple mansions uniquely different from each other, a memorable downtown with its old rustic charms and a city which represented a footprint of the rich and glamorous, and of the modern and the traditional charms.
Below are some of the must-visit places you can see around Charleston. Not an exhaustive list, but just snippets on places I visited.
1. WaterFront Park: A nice riverfront overlooking the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. Do take an evening off and sit in the swing in the waterfront and enjoy the cool breeze. The Pineapple Fountain is one of its kind and do not miss the row of houses surrounding the park. You can park nearby at the Cumberland parking for as cheap as $1 for half an hour and there are lot of eateries around the place where you can get local and American food. The East Bay Street around the park has a lot of nice boutiques and local shops and promises a nice stroll.
2. Battery and White Point Gardens and South Battery Mansions: A neat garden overlooking the river surrounded by the grand mansions in the adjoining streets. A nice walkway with a glimpse of golden rays of sun falling on the river. You will find a parking space around the garden... enjoy a stroll in the park and the surrounding streets - the bonus you get a nice view of the waterfront and the boats slowly wading their way in the water.
3. Charleston City Market: Established in 1807, the Charleston City Market is one of the oldest and the most popular city market. Meet vendors who sell local wares. You will find an assortment of arts and crafts like jewerly like bracelets, earrings, sweetgrass baskets, wire baskets, momentos, scarfs, southern food and gourmet, art galleries, home decor, tablecloths and linens and some children stuff like small toys, dolls, weaves like caps, mittens, sweaters etc. Take an hour off your schedule for some fun stuff.
4. Local Carriage Tours: Carriage tours are common and the most popular things to do in Charleston. Take a ride in one of them during the day to visit the popular public buildings, mansions and a few sightseeing places. The tours in the evening do not go to the mansions as entry of carriage after 6PM is prohibited in residential areas. There are different companies - the popular one being Palmetto Carriages and the typical rates are around 23-25$ per hour per person. Worth it :)
5. Rainbow Row: If you want to see neatly rowed Georgian houses all in different pastel colors, this is the place to walk in the street. This is very close to the city market and is on East Bay Street. Do take a walk in to some of the adjoining streets before the start and end of this row - they are pretty and represent the old days architecture in a simple yet capturing way.
6. Lighting in the Park: If you are visiting Charleston around Christmas time, then a thing to not-miss is the lighting in the James Island County Park. The lighting is themed as toyland, winterland, candyland etc. and the display is mesmerizing and magnificent. It spans through three miles where you can drive your car slowly and view the lights, stop and get down and take a picture, or park and stroll down to the main tent where more lighting, music, food and shopping is there. Take a picture at the Santa Seat and try some of the sweets at the Santa shoppe.
For kids: Do take them on a visit to the Magnifilous Toy Emporium on King Street - the shop has a variety of toys along with a nice carousel and a gigantic giant wheel replica toy. There are cute little cuddly cuddles for those who love to collect soft toys - fun for kids of all ages.
At a first glance, I was disappointed as I saw great many structures, too many flyovers and passes and it seemed like a concrete jungle rather than a coastal city. However, spending three days in the city, I changed my perspective - it was a myriad combination of a beautiful waterfront, a row of grand and simple mansions uniquely different from each other, a memorable downtown with its old rustic charms and a city which represented a footprint of the rich and glamorous, and of the modern and the traditional charms.
Below are some of the must-visit places you can see around Charleston. Not an exhaustive list, but just snippets on places I visited.
1. WaterFront Park: A nice riverfront overlooking the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. Do take an evening off and sit in the swing in the waterfront and enjoy the cool breeze. The Pineapple Fountain is one of its kind and do not miss the row of houses surrounding the park. You can park nearby at the Cumberland parking for as cheap as $1 for half an hour and there are lot of eateries around the place where you can get local and American food. The East Bay Street around the park has a lot of nice boutiques and local shops and promises a nice stroll.
2. Battery and White Point Gardens and South Battery Mansions: A neat garden overlooking the river surrounded by the grand mansions in the adjoining streets. A nice walkway with a glimpse of golden rays of sun falling on the river. You will find a parking space around the garden... enjoy a stroll in the park and the surrounding streets - the bonus you get a nice view of the waterfront and the boats slowly wading their way in the water.
3. Charleston City Market: Established in 1807, the Charleston City Market is one of the oldest and the most popular city market. Meet vendors who sell local wares. You will find an assortment of arts and crafts like jewerly like bracelets, earrings, sweetgrass baskets, wire baskets, momentos, scarfs, southern food and gourmet, art galleries, home decor, tablecloths and linens and some children stuff like small toys, dolls, weaves like caps, mittens, sweaters etc. Take an hour off your schedule for some fun stuff.
4. Local Carriage Tours: Carriage tours are common and the most popular things to do in Charleston. Take a ride in one of them during the day to visit the popular public buildings, mansions and a few sightseeing places. The tours in the evening do not go to the mansions as entry of carriage after 6PM is prohibited in residential areas. There are different companies - the popular one being Palmetto Carriages and the typical rates are around 23-25$ per hour per person. Worth it :)
5. Rainbow Row: If you want to see neatly rowed Georgian houses all in different pastel colors, this is the place to walk in the street. This is very close to the city market and is on East Bay Street. Do take a walk in to some of the adjoining streets before the start and end of this row - they are pretty and represent the old days architecture in a simple yet capturing way.
6. Lighting in the Park: If you are visiting Charleston around Christmas time, then a thing to not-miss is the lighting in the James Island County Park. The lighting is themed as toyland, winterland, candyland etc. and the display is mesmerizing and magnificent. It spans through three miles where you can drive your car slowly and view the lights, stop and get down and take a picture, or park and stroll down to the main tent where more lighting, music, food and shopping is there. Take a picture at the Santa Seat and try some of the sweets at the Santa shoppe.
Foodies: Do visit:
- Savannah's Candy Kitchen - right opposite the Charleston City Market, East Bay Street
- Cupcake DownSouth - yummy cupcakes of different flavors, King Street
- Glazed Doughnuts, King Street
- Diggitty Doughnuts, Meeting Street
For kids: Do take them on a visit to the Magnifilous Toy Emporium on King Street - the shop has a variety of toys along with a nice carousel and a gigantic giant wheel replica toy. There are cute little cuddly cuddles for those who love to collect soft toys - fun for kids of all ages.
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