Southern Charm in Charleston

Going to the market and buying some red beans and rice and other crafts made by locals was lots of fun. We spent a few hours looking through everyone's wares.

We also loved shopping downtown because the clothes at all of the stores we were used to in NY had different more fun styles and colors (like Gap and Banana Republic).

The Visitor's Center was also great, and we enjoyed seeing all of the displays there.

Quick Tips:

It's tough to drive around Charleston because there are many one way streets. We told our friend we would meet him at a particular corner, and we found that all of the streets were taking us in the opposite directions. We eventually got to where we should have been - ten minutes later.

Best Way To Get Around:

Walking is definitely the best way to get around if you are already in the city. It is difficult and expensive to park, and the city is very walkable. It was a little warm in August when we were there, so we brought lots of water with us for the day.

The market was lots of fun! It's open every day. We went on Saturday, so it was very busy with smiling shoppers. It was built in 1841 and it still is going strong. It features small shops, restaurants, and a flea market with everything from produce to handicrafts to antiques. It is a treat to hear the southern ladies' lilting dialect as they weave and sell their handmade sweetgrass baskets and edible delicacies. We didn't end up buying anything, but we had lots of fun walking through the market.

The mansion is open from Wednesday until Sunday from 10am - 4pm. The price of admission is $15.00 for adults and $7.00 for children from age 5 - 10 years old. Children under 5 are free.

This Victorian Manor House was built by George Walton Williams, a wealthy merchant and banker. He built it following the Civil War around 1876. The 24,000 square-foot mansion has cathedral ceilings - about 14-feet tall. The walls are of ornate plaster and wood moldings. There are gorgeous fancy chandeliers, a stairwell that reaches to a 75-foot domed ceiling, and a ballroom with a curved glass skylight 45 feet high!

The mansion was used in the films, "Scarlett" and "North and South" and featured on A&E's "American Castles." Guided tours last about 45 minutes, or you can walk around on your own. I recommend doing both. The rich really knew how to built huge, tasteful estates. Plus, it is always interesting to see a former government leader's house.

The Magnolia Plantation is one of the most beautiful plantations in the south. It is not to be missed on a trip to Charleston. The Plantation is open for tours from February 15-December 1 from 8:30 - 5:30pm and from 8:30am -5pm during the rest of the year.

This estate was built during the 17th century. It was acquired in 1676 by the Drayton family and is still owned by descendents of that family, which I find amazing. It features the year-round blooming of the country's oldest gardens. It has one of the largest collections of azaleas and camellias in the country, and possibly the world.

The highlights include the Pre-Revolutionary War Plantation House which houses museum-quality Early American antiques, Biblical Garden, antebellum cabin, Nature Train, Nature Boat, wildlife observation tower, gift shop, Gallery of Nature and Wildlife Artists, snack shop, canoe and bike rentals. It is an easy drive from downtown. It is about ten miles from downtown on Highway 61.

This is one of the few houses in the American South that provides a complete document of antebellum life. This is one of the properties of the Historic Charleston Foundation. The estate was built by John Robinson, a merchant, around 1817. William Aiken Jr. acquired it in 1833 and remodeled it to create one of Charleston's most palatial residences. The work yard is a complete and compelling survival of African-American urban life. The house is open Monday until Saturday from 10 am - 5 pm and Sundays from 2-5 pm. The house is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Admission is $7, and it's worth it.