I will be visiting Charleston, SC early February. What is nice to see at that time?

Answer 1

Charleston offers many different experiences depending on what you are interested in. There are many historic inns that you can stay at or several national hotels. The Embassy Suites is actually in the old Citadel building on Marion Square. If you are only in town for a short period of time, taking a guided tour will definately show you the most in the least amount of time.

If you are in town for longer, you should spend much of your time walking the streets of the downtown. First pick up a copy of the free paper (The City Paper) and see what events are going on locally. It's usually in every restaurant or on the street in boxes. King Street from Marion Square at Calhoun Street down to Broad Street has some of the best local (Moo Roo, Ben Silver) and national retailers (pottery barn, j.crew, gap, abercrombie). There is a local market (like a flea market) on Market street between East Bay and Meeting Streets. You can pick up some local handcrafts or the typical tourist t-shirt. The food is amazing and the choice of restaurants is mind bogggling. You would be best to stay away from the restaurants around the market. They are usually crowded and overpriced. Your best bet for seafood downtown is Hank's (not Hymans!) or the Boathouse, soul food is Jestine's, French food is Rue de Jean, steakhouse is Oak or Grill 225 (both are very expensive), pizza is the Mellow Mushroom, and the Kickin Chicken and King Street Grille has great bar food. There are many interesting galleries on East Bay Street, although most are overpriced. You need to walk "South of Broad" as this is where most of the amazing antebellum houses are like Rainbow Road and the houses on the battery. The South Caronlina Aquarium is decent, but very small and regional. The one you have in Atlanta is far better! If you are up to it, you should walk across our new bridge that connects downtown with Mount Pleasant. It has a pedestrian lane and offers some of the best views of the city and harbor (and it's free!) You can also rent bikes to ride across it as well. Just don't do it after dark or close to dark as the bridge is getting into upper Charleston and this area is not as safe as some other areas.

If you have transportation, you should drive over to Mount Pleasant and eat at Shem Creek (Red's, the Vickery, Water's Edge and RB's). It is where all the shrimpers are based out of and it is very local and picturesque. After a nice lunch at Shem Creek you then should drive onto Sullivan's Island and walk the beaches. Both Isle of Palms and Sullivan's have public access to the beach and they are hard packed beaches that you can walk for miles, run, or ride bikes on. Isle of Palms is a little more touristy than Sullivan's. If you want some local art at a more affordable price there is a gallery in Mount Pleasant - The Treasure Nest on Johnnie Dodds Blvd, where you can get some great lowcountry landscapes with beautiful frames for half the price of downtown. Karen Burnette Garner is my favorite at this gallery.

The winter has been mild this year and the rain has been at a minimum. Hopefully you will have an amazing trip and enjoy visiting as much as I enjoy living here.

Answer 2

Be sure to take a walking tour. It is the best way to see the city and find about about its rich and colorful history. You will want to spend some time walking along The Battery. There are many homes open for tours. Most visitors spend some time in The Market (it was never used for selling slaves, no matter what someone may tell you.) If you want good local seafood then go to Hyman's on Meeting St., but get there early. Also, stop in and see some of the many churches. A lot of them are open during the day. During February you may also get a chance to attend the Southeastern Wildlife Expo if you are visiting during the middle of the month. Actually there is never a bad time to visit Charleston.

Answer 3

Hi,
no need to pay for a tour, the horses downtown are in poor condition and not well cared for........I love my city, but am not too fond of animal cruelty.

The Charleston Tour Guide qualifications are very low, so you will learn more and save a few bucks if you go on your own. They memorize scripts and many times the information is not factual.

I went to Patriots Point a few weeks ago, it was awesome, has changed alot since my last visit (which I admit was a while ago!)

Just driving through downtown is a learning experience, wait until you see the gorgeous homes and architecture!

Also the Aquarium is nice and right on the water.....great Kodak picture moments there.........

Tons of shops and restaurants in the city market, find a parking garage........and plan on spending the day.......have lunch.....shop etc..... or perhaps stay near the market (will be a bit more expensive) so you will have a birds eye view of all of the activities.

do a Charleston search.......for some photos..........

Enjoy yourself! Have a safe trip!

Answer 4

The fort is cool to stress to. Outsode to the west is wadamala island they have americas purely tea plantation amd additionally firefly vodka. Battery park and fort sumter are super and funky to bypass to. Many ghost excursions yet maximum r ripoffs. purely come across a graveyard their everywhere. ultimate breakfast is barbrajeans with tips from themarket advert lunch is nice at caviar and bananas close to the school of charleston walk around youll discover plenty

Answer 5

Take a carriage ride through Charleston, just beware, if you are a "Yankee" they have no problem insulting you. The town is beautiful and historic, but full of people still pissed off about the civil war, and tourists.

Answer 6

charleston is beautiful just about any time of the year, lots of wonderful civil war era homes, take some tours of some of the homes, they have art galleries, museums,theaters,charter boats & marinas, we are going this year for vacation, hope u have a wonderful time.

Answer 7

Historical Downtown is must. Do one of the tours too if you can, I suggest the haunted one. It isn't scarey, but you learn a lot. Do it after you eat though (there are many great places to pick from). There is an aquarium there too, it's ok.

Answer 8

Here is a website that might help you decide what to do on your trip. www.CharlestonCVB.com. My family and I are going in July and they recently sent us a visitor's guide. If you are into history check out the historic district. It is gorgeous.