South Carolina’s second largest city is also one of the most charming and historical sites in the southern US, stationed at the meeting of the Ashley and Cooper rivers. Charleston is known as the city where ‘history lives,’ as the brochures put it, and the wealth of antebellum mansions and cobblestone streets thoroughly back this claim. If you want romance, Charleston has it in abundance.
Few cities embody the romantic vision of the Deep South better than Charleston. Somehow, this place escaped the wholesale destruction of General Sherman during the Civil War, leaving us with a time capsule of southern life during the 1800s. Historical buildings line virtually every street, most of which are shaded by centuries-old live oaks.
The unabashed notion of southern hospitality is also in full effect in Charleston. The locals are friendly and welcoming, and will happily suggest which of the many amazing restaurants, art galleries or shops will suit you best. You won’t find any glass or steel skyscrapers in this town, just a subdued and languid ambiance which has all but been lost in modern America.
Charleston attractions
Avery Research Center for African-American History and Culture: this important center offers a fascinating look at the legacy of slaves and black history as it unfolded in Charleston.
Charleston Museum: the city’s most popular museum and the nation’s oldest traces Charleston’s evolution from a trading port to a modern day center of historical tourism.
Confederate Museum: Charleston played a big role for the south during the Civil War and this museum presents all the glory and pain of that conflict through its exhibits and relics.
Fort Sumter: this is the where the Civil War started when the first shots were fired from its towers in 1861.
Historic homes: among the city’s dozens of stunning homes from the 1800s, the Calhoun Mansion, Nathaniel-Russell House and Edmonston-Alston House are top draws.
Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon: the darker history of Charleston comes alive in this fascinating 1771 building through exhibits, artifacts and its underground dungeons.
South Carolina Aquarium: the unique aquatic creatures that live in South Carolina’s waters are on display in this interesting aquarium.