Charleston, SC

We made a stop in Charleston South Carolina because we heard it was a city with a lot of charm and history. We tend to gear more towards nature in our travels rather than cities but figured this would be a good change of pace. What we found in Charleston was somewhat of a mixed bag and a delightful surprise along the way.

With nearly 160,000 people Charleston isn’t a big city in the traditional sense, but it’s one of the fastest growing cities in the country, and you will understand that when driving around. From the outside Charleston is just another busy city, spread out over a large geography, nothing really special. However, it’s not until you start experiencing some of the historical aspects of this 350-year-old city that you begin to appreciate it.

If you just came to this country and wanted to experience old southern history I would put Charleston on the top of your list. Early English settlers began coming to Charleston and it quickly became a popular seaport which was a contributing factor to its early growth. Charleston then became the largest slave trading port in the United States. Many of these African American slaves worked the fields at the many plantations that arose in the area.

Charleston has survived much through the years. Piracy was prominent in the late 1600’s to the early 1700’s and a hub for pirates such as Blackbeard. The Civil War took a toll on the city as did major hurricanes over the years. However Charleston still stands with much of its storied history still intact.

You can spend days experiencing southern history in Charleston. Below are the things that were top on our list from Charleston.

Charleston Battery:

This is the epicenter of historic Charleston. A seawall boarders the Charleston harbor with the views of Fort Sumter, Castle Pinckney, the USS Yorktown, Fort Moultrie, and Sullivan’s Island lighthouse. It’s a great place to take a stroll and see the sites including historic antebellum mansions.

Rainbow Row:

This colorful street of houses is one of Charleston’s most iconic historical sites, filled with brightly painted 18th-century homes. You’ll notice the covered porches with their porch doors. Back in the day if the door was left open it meant they were accepting visitors and when closed they were not.

Historic Charleston City Market:

This is the mother of all city markets. The 200 year old market hosts hundreds of vendors over four city blocks. You can find anything from handcrafted goods to delightful delicacies.

Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon:

A landmark and historical site of Charleston for over 250 years and the site of the most important events in South Carolina history. This is also where the public slave auctions were held. The Provost, downstairs from the Exchange was a a military prison, where prisoners lived in horrific conditions. Also open for public viewing is the Half-Moon Battery, the only standing portion of the original Charles Town city wall constructed in 1701.

Mcleod Plantation:

A trip to Charleston is not complete without visiting one of the historic plantations. We narrowed down our choices to Boone Hall, Magnolia and Mcleod and chose the latter due to its convenience in location based on our proximity. The tour of the grounds and the historical story provided in the tour was phenomenal, bringing a personal touch to the visit.

Angel Oak Tree:

Located on Johns Island and considered to be the oldest living oak tree east of the Mississippi River. The tree is estimated to be between 400 and 500 years old and it is a site to be seen. You will likely see it in photographs as you visit the Charleston area, but you must see it in person.

Folly Beach:

We had the Motorhome in for service while in Charleston, so we checked into the Tides Folly Beach hotel in nearby Folly Beach. This quaint little beach town is a real gem that we loved. Lots of cool shops, great seafood and a beach that both us humans and the canines thoroughly enjoyed.

Sullivan’s Island: Another beach community on the other side of Charleston Harbor deserves an honorable mention. This area is a little more off the beat and path and is another one of the areas nice beach towns.

If you follow us you know we like to indulge in the local fare, and the Charleston area did not disappoint. Our top three list includes:

Tattooed Moose:

Really cool indoor/outdoor casual locals bar and grill in Johns Island. Come for lunch, come for dinner or come for drinks but be sure to try the famous duck fat fries.

Taco Boy:

Another fun place with a unique vibe to get your Mexican food fix. Great food and rumor has it, equally good margaritas. They have two locations, one in Charleston and another in Folly Beach

LoLo’s:

This small seafood spot is located just before the bridge leading to Folly Beach. It was so good we went there twice. This was my first experience with she-crab soup and I am hooked!

As previously mentioned, Charleston was a mixed bag for us. We were ready to move on from the hustle bustle but enjoyed the deep history and charm of the downtown area and specifically enjoyed our stay in Folly Beach. All-in-all Charleston has a little bit of something for everyone.

Check out the rest of our pictures from the Charleston area.