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Bounded by the Ashley River to the west, the Cooper River to the east, the Battery to the south, and Calhoun Street to the north, the city's historic heart is a fairly compact area of 800 acres that contains nearly 2,000 historic homes and buildings. The peninsula is divided up into several neighborhoods, starting from the south
Bounded by the Ashley River to the west, the Cooper River to the east, the Battery to the south, and Calhoun Street to the north, the city's historic heart is a fairly compact area of 800 acres that contains nearly 2,000 historic homes and buildings. The peninsula is di
Bounded by the Ashley River to the west, the Cooper River to the east, the Battery to the south, and Calhoun Street to t
Bounded by the Ashley River to the west, the Cooper River to the east, the Battery to the south, and Calhoun Street to the north, the city's historic heart is a fairly compact area of 800 acres that contains nearly 2,000 historic homes and buildings. The peninsula is divided up into several neighborhoods, starting from the south and moving north, including the Battery, South of Broad, the Market area, and Upper King Street, ending near the "Crosstown," where U.S. 17 connects downtown to Mount Pleasant and West Ashley.
You'll see no skyscrapers in the downtown area, because building heights are strictly regulated to maintain the city's historic setting. In the 1970s, most department stores decamped for suburban malls, turning King Street buildings into rows of (architecturally significant) empty shells. Soon, preservation-conscious groups began to save these beauties, and by the mid-1980s the shopping district was revived with the addition of the Omni Hotel (now Belmond Charleston Place). Big-name retailers quickly saw the opportunity in this attractive city and settled in as well. Lower King thrives and Upper King is booming, with many new businesses—hip bars and restaurants in particular—targeting the city's young, socially active population. Look up at the old-timey tile work at the entrances; inevitably it will have the names of the original businesses.
Beyond downtown, the Ashley River hugs the west side of the peninsula; the region on the far shore is called West Ashley. The Cooper River runs along the east side of the peninsula, with Mount Pleasant on the opposite side and Charleston Harbor in between. Lastly, there are outlying sea islands: James Island with its Folly Beach, Johns Island, Wadmalaw Island, Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island, Isle of Palms, and Sullivan's Island. Each has its own appealing attractions, though Johns and Wadmalaw have farms instead of beaches. Everything that entails crossing the bridges is best explored by car or bus.
One of Charleston's most stately mansions, built in 1820 and virtually unaltered since 1858, has been preserved rather than restored, meaning...Read More
A drive through a ½-mile-long live-oak alley draped in Spanish moss introduces you to this still-functioning plantation, the oldest of its kind...Read More
There's plenty to see and do in this park marking the original 1670 settlement of Charles Towne, the first permanent European settlement in...Read More
This 1,255-acre park includes a 1½-mile-long beachfront with some of the area's best shelling, marshland, and tidal rivers, and a lush maritime...Read More
Anchored by the Folly Beach Pier, this is the Lowcountry's most iconic summer playground. Head out early to avoid traffic if you're visiting...Read More
Set on a man-made island in Charleston's harbor, this is the hallowed spot where the Civil War began. On April 12, 1861, the first shot of the...Read More
Housed in a beautiful Beaux-Arts building, this museum boasts a collection of 10,000 works, principally American with a local connection. An...Read More
Boardwalks and hiking, biking, and canoe trails weave through this lovely 600-acre park, sometimes referred to as Walterboro Wildlife Sanctuary...Read More
This county park about 28 miles southwest of Charleston has a wide beach at low tide, often ranked among the country's best. Stunningly beautiful...Read More
Sprawling, beautiful Magnolia Plantation was established in the 1670s by Thomas Drayton after he moved from Barbados. The extensive garden—the...Read More
Established in the 1730s, Middleton Place was at the center of the Middleton family’s empire of rice plantations, which consisted of 63,000...Read More
Sprawling beneath the Ravenel Bridge, this beautifully landscaped green space invites lounging on the grass with views of Charleston Harbor...Read More
One of the nation's finest examples of Federal-style architecture, the Nathaniel Russell House was built in 1808 and has been restored to a...Read More
Get up close and personal with more than 5,000 creatures at this waterfront attraction, where exhibits invite you to journey through distinctive...Read More
This is one of the most pristine beaches in the Charleston area. The beachfront is owned by the town, including 200 acres of walkable maritime...Read More
During the Civil War, the Confederate army mounted cannons in the Battery, at the southernmost point of Charleston's peninsula, to fortify the...Read More
Part of the College of Charleston, this museum and archive was once a school for African Americans, training students for professional careers...Read More
The city's most renowned hotel is flanked by upscale boutiques and specialty shops, as well as several restaurants. Stop in for cocktails, appetizers...Read More
Thousands of acres of unspoiled land, the ruins of two plantations, trails, maritime forests, and ponds surround the beach at Botany Bay Plantation...Read More
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