Charleston has got to be one of the South’s most history filled cities. The downtown French quarter is its hallmark with churches, homes, and other locations that were significant in the colonial, Revolutionary and Civil War eras. It also has a lot of recreation to offer with its ocean beaches, numerous rivers, and even swamps. (2002, 2026)
Historic homes (and lots of palm trees) line “The Battery” riverfront area where you can walk the promenade along the Ashley and Cooper Rivers.
The pastels of Rainbow Row are a signature of many buildings in the city
Built not too long after my first visit to the city, the impressive Ravenel cable bridge has become a signature sight and symbol of the city.
Another city symbol is the Pineapple Fountain of Waterfront Park
The Huguenot Church, one of the many old churches scattered around the French district of the city – white when I saw it in 2002 but back to its original pink by 2026!
There are a number of old plantation mansions to visit in Charleston. One of the most popular is Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens, a 1937 mansion on older colonial farmland. Its been used as a filming location in many notable films including North and South and the Notebook.
On the ocean at Folly Beach
Inside Fort Sumter upon which the first shots of the Civil War were fired.
Just outside the city is Cypress Gardens, a large nature area with a swamp you can paddle around in—with alligators swimming by!