Traveling To Charleston

Charleston, SC. has become a world famous destination exemplifying old world southern charm, beauty and hospitality. For the fourteenth consecutive year, readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine honored Charleston as a TOP 10 travel destination in the U.S. with Charleston ranking Number Five.

Charleston is also ranked the #4 Best American City in Travel + Leisure magazine’s 2006 World’s Best Awards readers’ survey. Southern Living magazine's readers have chosen it as the "most romantic city" in the south for several years.

Visit the Charleston Area Visitor Center

                 Historic "Rainbow Row"                                                                                          Charleston Battery         

Historic Downtown

Throughout its history, the Historic Downtown District in Charleston has been the cultural capital of the South and is a living museum. In this beautifully preserved city you can experience tours through historic landmarks, including 18th century homes and plantations, the Battery, museums, churches and the city market. There are historic sites on every street corner, usually next door to an art gallery or cultural venue due to the city’s impressive appreciation for all of the arts. Two internationally renowned festivals, Spoleto and Piccolo Spoleto, are held in May and June drawing thousands of visitors. In addition, there are many historic Charleston South Carolina accommodations from which to choose when planning your visit.

One of the best ways to see our beautiful city is by taking a Charleston historic tour, including walking tours, carriage tours, and water tours. There are also many tours that focus on different themes, such as the civil war, ghosts of Charleston, plantations, and the harbor. A tour boat will take you to Fort Sumter in the harbor, the site of the first shots of the Civil War.

Escape to the Beach, to the Islands

Charleston's barrier islands are numerous and beautiful with their wide beaches. The Isle of Palms is less than 20 minutes from Charleston.  Folly Beach is located about 15 miles south of Charleston and is known as Charleston’s truly original beach playground. The resorts of Seabrook and Kiawah are visited by golfers and vacationers from around the world. Located just 22 miles south of Charleston, these islands are private and owned by their residents. Travel + Leisure Golf magazine names Kiawah No. 1 Resort in the U.S., while GOLF magazine names The Ocean Course No. 3 in latest "Best Places to Play" ranking.

Family Attractions

While you are in town with your family, there are some great places to visit: the South Carolina Aquarium downtown on the harbor http://www.scaquarium.org/ , on the other shore of the harbor in Mt. Pleasant sits the retired World War II battleship, The Yorktown, which can be explored http://patriotspoint.org/ , Drayton Hall plantation house, completed in 1742, has remained in nearly original condition http://www.draytonhall.org/, and Magnolia Gardens, founded in 1676, is the oldest public tourist site in the Lowcountry, and the oldest public gardens in America http://www.magnoliaplantation.com/. The entire family will enjoy the Charleston Pirate Tour http://charlestonpiratetour.com/default.aspx.

Ravenel Bridge