Charleston, SC

I must admit, it has grown on me. My first visit to Charleston was in the early 90s and I was not overly impressed, except for the Shrimp & Grits. Those I could eat every day. I have been many times since and I think we have both grown a lot.

My wife went to the barrier islands of Charleston annually for most of her childhood and young adult life. Each visit consisted of at least one day in Charleston for shopping. (The shopping might be what stunted my appreciation for the city. ) After shopping, there was always a great seafood meal. Did I mention the Shrimp & Grits? With her vast experience with Charleston, she has become a go-to expert on all things Charleston with our friends who are just discovering the city.

With her help, I hope to share some advice, insight, information, and of course a few pictures. Not knowing your perception of Charleston, I am certain you will learn something new in the next few minutes. I promise to fight my instinct to overindulge in details.

History

Charleston is the oldest city in one of the original thirteen colonies. The city has survived two wars and has the scars to prove it. We highly recommend taking a historical tour of the city. You will learn about its formation, the roles it played in both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, its early economy in agriculture and slavery, and its cultural status throughout the years.

Here are three plantation tours that will give you some history outside of the city.

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens

Boone Hall Plantation

Middleton Place

You might see some of these sites if you visit the plantations listed above.

Architecture

To put my comments in proper context, I am not an architecture guru. I cannot tell you the names of all the designs. However, I do appreciate an artistically well designed building. You will find many of those buildings in Charleston. Rainbow Road gets much of the attention due to its many colors but take a walk down one of many streets and enjoy the design work. The traditional house is known as the Charleston Single House. The single house is long and narrow with a veranda that runs the length of the house. The veranda has a front door that is the icon of the house. You may have heard that the houses get their shape due to early property tax laws. So you are in the know, this is not true.

Great design is in more than just the houses. I usually include a walk through town to appreciate the design of the many churches. Below are some examples of the designs and colors along the streets.

Ironworks

Most people planning a visit to Charleston come to see Rainbow Row, visit a beach, and experience great food. (Did I mention the Shrimp & Grits?). All of those make a Charleston vacation worthwhile but there is much more to the city. Sometimes overlooked and under-appreciated are the thousands of iron work masterpieces. Most of these are in the form of gates and over 500 of these were designed and made by Philip Simmons. Here are a few examples of iron works by various artists.

Alleys

We recommend a walking tour of the alleys in Charleston. You can do this on your own to save time and money but you miss the history that make the alleys come alive. Here are a few pictures that we hope intrigue you to learn more.

Flowers

Charleston is painted with flowers throughout the Spring and Summer. Most notable are the window boxes but flowers can be found everywhere. Here are some our favorites.

Shopping

Shopping in Charleston is as diverse as the colors of it’s houses. If you are looking for a “girls weekend” of shopping, this is your place.

City Market (click link for website)

The market is a wonderful place of entrepreneurship, hard work, and success in the world of mostly handmade products. Most vendors arrive each morning to unload and present their products, be available to share their stories and how their products are made, and then pack everything up in the evening. You will find many Charelston-specific items like paintings, books, and jewlery. Other items are usually handmade, like the famous sweetgrass baskets. The market is in the center of downtown and full of visitors after 10 a.m., so get there between 8 and 10 if you don’t like crowds.

Charleston Place (click link for website)

Once known as the Omni, this hotel has many shops on the first floor. Most shops carry high quality items from clothing to collectibles. The link above has all you need to know.

King Street (click link for website)

Put some walking shoes on and plan on a good day of shopping along King Street. If you are here to do some serious shopping, bring a friend to carry your bags.

Farmers Market (click link for website)

On Saturdays from mid-April thru November, you can find more than fruits and vegetables here. Of course there is plenty of in-season produce, but there are also furniture makers, food vendors, artisans, and maybe a dog treat or two.

Other Vendors

Here are a few vendors that we buy from and are happy with their products and service.

Dacuba’s (click link for website)

Located on N Market Street across from the market, this is a must on every trip we make to Charleston, and that is a lot of trips. Their designs are great and their service is excellent. Michael and team will greet you with a smile and listen to your interests before showing you some options that fit your style and budget. And by service, we mean more than selling. Michael repairs jewelry and many times makes the phone call personally when the work is complete.

Basket Weavers

There are basket weavers inside and outside the market but they are in other areas of Charleston as well (usually less expensive). We purchased from these two artisans, and highly recommend their work. They are usually on the sidewalk near the Four Corners of Law.

In The Kitchen with Chef Bob Waggoner (click link for website)

My wife is an excellent cook, especially a Southern Cook. A few years ago, we decided to each pick a fun adventure to try while we were in Charleston. She chose a cooking class with Chef Bob one evening while I took pictures all over town. It wasn’t long before I got a text saying Chef Bob had an extra plate from a no-show and I was welcome to come over. As soon as I walked in, Chef Bob asked “how do you like your steak?”. I have liked him ever since. We spent a wonderful evening cooking (more on that later), eating, drinking wine, and having fun getting to know Chef Bob and a couple from Arkansas. We learned that Chef Bob was famous not only as a world-class chef but as an actor too. About the cooking part. I can’t cook other than frying eggs and okra (my specialty) or making no-bake cookies (my other specialty). No worries, Chef Bob will not let you fail at cooking in his class. Actually, cooking class is not the best description. You do learn some great cooking tips, but its more about hospitality and enjoying a relaxed evening with new friends. We enjoyed it so much, we brought our sons (20s) a few months later and they considered it the best part of the trip. I know this is a long section, but treat yourself to this and you won’t regret it. ( I am not related to Chef Bob and I am not getting compensation for this review, although I will ask for a second desert on our next visit.)

Fulton Lane Inn (click link for website)

Growing up, my wife stayed in Isle of Palms when visiting the Charleston area. During our last two trips, we wanted to stay in downtown Charleston. We have found a hidden treasure in Fulton Lane Inn. It’s location is amazing. It’s parking is next to the hotel in a surface lot with spots held for hotel guests. It’s staff is very courteous and accommodating. And the rooms, they are spacious (high ceilings too), clean, wonderful colors, and well furnished. All of this with a historic feel and hidden away in downtown. (Again, I am not related to anyone there, that I know of, and am not getting compensation for this review, but I will grab an extra free bottle of water next to the front door, on our next visit.)

So Much More

There are so many things to experience in Charleston that can’t fit into a single post. There are beaches, tea plantation (only one in US), the Angel Tree, the Hat Man, carriage rides, Patriots Point, Fort Sumter, restaurants (we have a complete list of reviews), The Battery, Waterfront Park, the Old Jail, haunted tours. Get the idea? I want you to know about all of these things. What to do and what to avoid. I need your help. At the beginning of this post, I mentioned that my wife is the go-to guide to Charleston. I am encouraging her to complete an ultimate guide, based an actual experiences. If you would like this ultimate guide that you can trust, let her know by emailing judy@KitchenKreative.com.

Thanks for taking the time to join us in this first review of Charleston. I hope you found it enjoyable and helpful. Enjoy more pictures below while I enjoy a bowl of Shrimp & Grits.