Charleston South Carolina is a city considered by many
to be the best preserved example of the Old South in the
state and even throughout the entire southern region.
The buildings alone make a statement; more than 70 buildings
are in place from before the Revolutionary War, more than
130 are in place from the late 18th century,
and over 600 buildings are still in place from before
the 1840's. The feel of these charming and mostly well-maintained
structures adds an air of historical importance to any
Charleston vacation and contribute to making Charleston
tours through the city delightful as well as educational.
The history of Charleston
South Carolina begins in 1670, when the town was first
settled by colonialists from Great
Britain. Currently, Charleston is the second largest
city in South Carolina (after Columbia,
the state capitol) and has attracted the nickname, "The
Holy City" due to the high number of churches found
in the city and the line of steeple outlines visible in
the city's skyline. Charleston South Carolina today is
also one of the major tourist attractions
in South Carolina, with travelers coming from around
United States to view the historical Charleston attractions
and enjoy some of the authentic southern cooking found
in many of the city's restaurants.
Planning a Charleston vacation often includes a stay
in one of the many Charleston
hotels. Travelers will find for the most part that
the city tends to shy away from the larger chains and
focus more on older, smaller and privately owned hotels.
Most of the downtown hotels are close to many of the most
popular Charleston attractions. One of the most popular
downtown Charleston attractions is a joint tour of Patriots
Point and the Fort
Sumter Monument. Patriots Point is a naval and maritime
museum located on the shores of Charleston Bay near downtown,
and features hundreds of war time ships and fighter planes.
Interested travelers can also purchase a ticket to take
a boat ride (less than an hour) to the Fort Sumter Monument
and Museum, where they can tour the fort that was the
site of the first fired shot and battle of the American
Civil War.
Downtown Charleston tours of the many historical buildings are also popular for travelers. For tourists who plan to visit multiple buildings, it may be worth investing in the Heritage Passport Ticket. The ticket costs around $40 and grants the holder access to the Gibbes Museum, the Edmonston-Alston House, the Nathaniel Russell House, Drayton Hall and Middleton Place. These homes are the most popular stops on historical Charleston tours and each has an entrance fee of around $15, so if you plan to visit a few, the Heritage Passport Ticket is a good idea. Tickets can be purchased at any of these homes in person during daytime business hours.
A favorite feature of Charleston vacations for families
with children is the South
Carolina Aquarium. This is one of the largest aquariums
in South Carolina and has some great exotic aquatics from
around the world. For Charleston vacations during the
early summer, be sure to stop by the Spoleto Festival,
the largest arts and cultural festival in the south. Spoleto
Festival takes place between mid May and mid June
each year and features hundreds of dramatic presentations,
operas, musical shows and more. Tickets can be purchased
in person at any of the event locations.
