Top Reasons to Go to Charleston

Dining out: Charleston has become a culinary destination, with talented chefs who offer innovative twists on the city's traditional cuisine. Bob Waggoner at the Charleston Grill is one outstanding example.

Seeing art: The city is home to more than 100 galleries, so you'll never run out of places to see world-class art. The Charleston Museum and dozens of others add to the mix.

Spoleto Festival USA: If you're lucky enough to visit in late May and early June, you'll find a city under siege: Spoleto's flood of indoor and outdoor performances (opera, music, dance, and theater) is impossible to miss and almost as difficult not to enjoy.

The Battery: The views from the point—both natural and man-made—are the loveliest in the city. Look west to see the harbor; to the east you'll find elegant Charleston mansions.

Historic homes: Charleston's preserved 19th-century houses, including the Nathaniel Russell House, are highlights; outside the city, plantations like Boone Hall, with its extensive garden and grounds, make scenic excursions.