Discovering Culture in Charming Charleston

Charleston is a great city for unique shopping. Visit bustling King Street, home to fashion and antiques shops and some of the best restaurants in the area. At the Charleston City Market, you can find a variety of local vendors selling handmade sweetgrass baskets and crafts among many other treats. Personally, I couldn’t resist a handmade bag and some of Charleston’s famous Benne Wafer biscuits – a crispy, toasted sesame treat – to take home.

A must-see when in Charleston, The Battery is a landmark seawall and promenade. Walk along The Battery and gaze out over the beautiful water. Across the road, feast your eyes on the magnificent pre-Civil War houses, known as antebellum homes, which are some of the nicest in the area. Just a little farther on, you’ll reach the adjacent White Point Gardens with its historic cannons and statues. The site is definitely worth a visit.

You should also stop by pretty Rainbow Row, which gets its name from the pastel-colored houses. It is one of the most photographed parts of the city, inspiring many artists and paintings.

Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens is one of the USA's oldest working plantations and the nation's most photographed. In 1743, the son of Major John Boone planted live oak trees in two evenly spaced rows; today, the natural corridor of live oaks that lead to the plantation house make the road one of the most picturesque paths I’ve ever had the pleasure of walking along. The plantation originally produced cotton and pecans. Today, strawberries, tomatoes, pumpkins and many other fruits and vegetables are grown here for visitors to enjoy. You can take the plantation coach tour, watch presentations about the history of slavery or Gullah history, or visit the Butterfly Pavilion to enjoy the many species housed there.

If that wasn’t enough, special events and festivals are held in Charleston every year. One of the popular events is the BB&T Charleston Wine + Food Festival, celebrating the city’s culinary surprises and traditional Southern cuisine.

I loved the culture you feel the moment you step off of the plane when arriving in Charleston. Discovering the treasures this wonderful city holds is just another reason to book your holiday here today.