charleston/s carolina/help,need advice
 

hi. we are 2 people from norway, who is going south this time. we start in nyc, and fly down to nashville where we stay a few nights,and then we gonna rent a car and drive down to alabama, and from there to georgia, and end the trip in south carolina. the plan is to drive to charleston and spend 2-3 days there. what do you folks think we shall see??, any good places to go out for a beer or 2, pubs etc?, thinking also about safety, where to stay etc?. any places we shall avoid for safety reasons??is 2-3 ok, or do we need more time?, also thinking about driveing around to look at the landscape, but dont know where. any suggestions? we will be there in middle of august. thanks for all the help.

Stay near the downtown historic district and you can walk eveywhere. There is an excellent tourist center where you can get a lot of information. Two-3 days will give you a good idea about a wonderful city. Visit Middleton Plantation since you will have a car. Good places to eat are Magnolias, Slightly North of Broad. Go across the river to Shem Creek for good seafood in the coastal style. Do NOT go to Hyman's restaurant in Charleston. Take a carriage ride. Welcome to the USA and sounds like an interesting tour you have planned.

hi.thanks for the info.i have been many times to us before, but i have never been south, and i think its great down there. most of my times in us has been in nyc, and up the coast.i have been on the net a lot to find out things about the south, and there is plenty of things to read, but i think fodors is a great way to find out things, when you talk to people who live there, or just been there as a tourist.if you or some other have any other suggestions, please let me know.thanks again for your help

Here is some practical advice! You did not say when you were going South, but I should warn you about the heat and humidity. If you have never experienced summertime in the deep South, be prepared. Use sunscreen and wear hats or stick to the shady areas. Carry water bottles with you. Wear loose fitting, cotton clothes. Also, cobblestone streets are hard on your feet -- flip-flops could be difficult.
Enjoy your visit!

I am writing a trip report now, and just returned from 4 days in Charleston last week - it was wonderful! I would argue that you need 3 or 4 days, but you can see/do a lot in 2. In my trip report I will tell you about an irish pub, O'Reilly's that we had a great time at.

We did take the horse-drawn carriage ride (don't pay more than $15) and it was wonderful, told you the stories of the old south. Ride the 'trolley' (bus) in all directions, especially down around the Battery. We visited Drayton Hall, and I had been to Magnolia Plantation once before, I would recommend Drayton. Magnolia is good for seeing gardens, but for seeing old southern life and wonderful craftsmanship go to Drayton.

I hope this helps! Please email me with other questions, as I don't have the time I would like to check the Fodor's board. [email protected]

Enjoy! Kristy