Blessed with a warm climate and a rich
history, Charleston offers a wonderful vacation
experience whether you're interested in golf, relaxing on
long sandy beaches, taking in the frequent festivals, or
exploring the unique ambiance of this charming southern
city.
This has long been the cultural capital of the
American Southeast -- a warm, relaxing city that is one
of the top ten vacation destinations in the nation.
Charleston's cultural roots go back beyond the British
settlement, to the Native Americans who lived here --
fishing in the warm waters and building mound
communities.
The first English settlers came to the area in 1670,
taking up land grants given by King Charles II, and
naming it Charles Towne. It was seriously involved in the
Revolutionary War, falling to the British before being
liberated in 1783. Then, the city became a hub of
secession activity, which led to the Civil War. The first
shots fired in the War between the States were felt at
nearby Fort Sumpter. After the war, the city suffered
from neglect, taking a long time to rebuild after the
war's devastation.
It was only in the 1920s, when the city found a new
life, thanks to the many artists, writers,and musicians
who settled here, and development of an architectural
renaissance which saw to the restoration of hundreds of
historic buildings. World War II brought industry to the
region, and Charleston never looked back -- except to its
history, which still provides the focus of its growing
tourist status
Greater
Charleston
Charleston
The second-largest city in the state (Columbia is the
largest), Charleston boasts a warm year-round climate
with comfortable daytime temperatures and a bracing
sleeping climate three seasons of the year. The summers
are hot and humid with temperatures rising to 100
degrees. Spring is considered the top season for visiting
Charleston -- with abundant flowers (azalea, wisteria),
and just the right climate for seeing the area.
The cultural hub of the Southeast, Charleston offers a
symphony orchestra, ballet companies, and theater groups.
You'll see art exhibitions at the Gibbes Museum of Art,
and a host of galleries. It's a city of festivals, topped
with the Spoleto Festival USA, and Piccolo Spoleto, held
concurrently each May.
It is in Charleston, set at the end of a peninsula,
that you will experience the amazing history and
architecture of the area, including vintage homes and
commercial buildings, and parks which look like they've
been here forever.
Mount Pleasant
Set across the Cooper River from Charleston, with two
bridges joining the communities, Mount Pleasant is a city
of 40,000 but retains the feel of a small town. It is
here that you will find the aircraft carrier Yorktown,
part of the Patriot's Point maritime and naval museum
complex. From here, you can take a tour boat to visit
Fort Sumpter National Monument, the site where the first
shots in the Civil War were fired. As in the other
communities, golfing is a prime activity, for residents
and visitors alike. Patriot's Point Links is a top-rated
public course. Founded in 1680, the city also has a fair
share of historic buildings.
Sullivan's Island
South of Mount Pleasant and the Intracoastal Waterway,
this is one of several barrier islands which offer
vacation resorts and fine beaches. You can get to the
island by taking Highway 703 south from Mount Pleasant,
or Highway 517 from the Isle of Pines. This is a
community of old summer homes, dating back more than 100
years, plus more modern beach houses. You'll find a few
places to stay, and several restaurants and pubs on
Middle Street.
Fort Moultrie is a popular destination.
Operated by the U.S. Park Service, the fort is a relic
from the Revolutionary War, used until the end of World
War II.
Isle of Palms
This resort island is set along the coast, north of
Mount Pleasant, and reached by driving on Highway 17, The
vacation population of the island can be ten times the
residential population of 5,500. With mile of sand beach,
and many hotels and motels, this is a prime destination
for vacationers who want a relaxing beach experience.
The famed Wild Dunes Resort, is located at the
northeast end of the island, with two championship golf
courses, a large tennis center, and an excellent marina
in the Yacht Harbor. The resort has restaurants, fitness
facilities, and deluxe accommodations. It's also a
popular conference center.
North of Charleston
The city of North Charleston is a much newer community
-- without the historic roots of Charleston, and with a
strong business focus. The regional airport is here, and
you'll find other major features including the North
Charleston Coliseum and large convention hotels. In all,
there are more than 4,000 hotel rooms in the city. Many
tourists stay in North Charleston, because of the
reasonable hotel and motel rates.
Farther north is Berkeley County, a fast-growing area
fueled by industrial development, and farming. Francis
Marion National Forest occupies the northern and eastern
parts of the county, offering recreational activities in
the thick pine forests. The Intracoastal Waterway
continues along the coast, separating the mainland from
several barrier islands. Cape Roman National Wildlife
Refuge is located near the northeast end of the county,
east of the waterway.
