Of all the places I’ve visited in the South, Charleston has to be up there in the top 10. Even though it’s a city, and I’m more of a trails and beach person, Charleston thoroughly charmed me in the space of three days.
It’s a very walkable city, with good sidewalks. I recommend walking rather than driving because, well, city traffic, and because you don’t miss all the little quirky things that make Charleston special.
The independent bookstore, Blue Bicycle Books, had a clever Valentines Day-inspired piece of artwork that made every patron smile as they walked by.
This appeared to be a local chain, I saw at least two of them, and they were always hopping with customers dying for pie and ice cream in a unique presentation.
Being one of the oldest cities in the United States, Charleston has a fair amount of old graveyards tucked behind churches of all denominations. Lovely old tombstones and grave statues. This one was my favorite
The wrought iron fencing of Charleston is famous, and you can see a lot of it by walking around the Battery area. I couldn’t get great shots of the fantastic gates I got because traffic or parked cars got in my way.
The architecture is another strong point in the city’s favor. From grand old buildings to modern granite structures, waterfront mansions to more humble dwellings, there is much to see and savor.
And while South Carolina was on the wrong side of the Civil War, this sign outside a local eatery reminds us of why America founded itself in the first place and what all of us still want.
In Charleston, more than elsewhere, you get the feeling that the twentieth century is a vast, unconscionable mistake.
Pat Conroy
I picked the comment for three reasons: (1) Pat Conroy is well known here and (2 & 3) Charleston seems to want to live in the past at the same time it is moving inexorably into the future (as are we all). There are people who want to move ahead, and those who want to return to the old ways, some of which is the subject of a different post on Charleston in the future.
I’m curious about the quote – the context, but also your thoughts in choosing it.