Drayton Hall, Charleston © Charleston CVB
Why? To holiday in Charleston is to travel back in time
to the Old South. This lovely city has preserved the ambience and
distinctive architecture of its colonial past. Those who travel to
Charleston will leave with a better understanding of the historic
slave trade and the Civil War (the first shots in the war were
fired here at Fort Sumter), and plenty of unique souvenirs picked
up at the popular riverside market.
When? The best time to travel to Charleston is during
Spring, when the city is in bloom and the weather is dry, warm and
sunny. Most rain falls during the Summer months, when thunderstorms
are common; during Autumn there is the threat of hurricanes; while
Winter is short, but chilly.
Who for? A holiday in Charleston is for those who enjoy
sight-seeing and soaking up history in a laid-back manner, whether
in a horse and carriage or on a walking tour. A Charleston holiday
is educational and fun for children.
More Info: Our Charleston travel guide is updated daily to
provide current information on all aspects of a holiday in
Charleston, from the top attractions and excursions to how to use
the bus service.
Overview
Charleston is one of the loveliest cities in the country,
despite having weathered great fires, earthquakes, epidemics, civil
war and a devastating hurricane. It is consistently classed among
the most elegant and dignified cities nationwide. Situated on the
peninsula at the confluence of the Cooper and Ashley Rivers on
South Carolina’s Atlantic coast, the colonial port of
Charleston is the oldest city in the state, filled with brick and
cobblestone streets, and a large downtown district boasting
thousands of carefully preserved and restored buildings that house
old-fashioned inns, antique shops and pubs. The streets are lined
with tall, narrow houses festooned with wrought iron balconies and
wooden shutters, ornate iron gates enclosing pretty gardens and
shaded porches – the timeless features of southern
architecture. Many of its double-storey houses are authentically
furnished museums that once belonged to wealthy colonial merchants,
while many are still the beautiful private homes of wealthy
residents.
The city started as an important seaport serving the rice and
cotton plantations throughout the region, and it was a major
slave-trading centre with a third of America’s slaves being
bought and sold at the riverfront market. The Gullah culture of the
islands (people of West African ancestry speaking a language based
on English with elements from several African dialects) have a
tangible presence here, especially at the Old City Market that
vibrates with the humming of traditional spirituals, as basket
ladies sell their hand-woven grass wares among the local vendors
and iron makers, and the distinctive sound of the Gullah dialect
fills the air.
