A day in Charleston, SC
Rainbow Row
Charleston, South Carolina, is a city rich in history and contradictions, one that acknowledges its dark past, but maintains hope for the future while celebrating culture and small acts of kindness. It was here that I learned the pineapple is considered a symbol of hospitality, welcome, and good luck, and it’s proudly displayed in fountains, architecture and souvenirs throughout the city.
If, like us, you only have a short time in Charleston, fear not… it’s a very walkable city. Starting at Waterfront Park in historic Charleston, we never went more than five blocks in any direction. Even so, we visited several iconic locations and could have experienced more if we had the time.
Our wandering took us to:
The Old Slave Mart Museum. Built on the site thought to be the last surviving slave auction gallery in South Carolina, the Old Slave Mart Museum provides an educational and heart-breaking remembrance of the time before the Civil War abolished slavery in the South.
Charleston City Market. Home to more than 300 unique retail vendors, the City Market is located on land transferred to the city in the late 1800s for the sole purpose of a forever marketplace. Today you can find everything from fresh foods and local milled grains, to handcrafted woven sweetgrass baskets and other souvenirs. The Market is open every day, but Christmas, and between St. Patrick’s Day and the end of December, they stay open late on Friday and Saturday nights.
Charleston Waterfront Park. Here we strolled along the boardwalk overlooking the Cooper River and Charleston Harbor. With plenty of benches and swings to sit and watch the sunset, it was a perfect spot to wind down our day. Waterfront Park is also where we found the Pineapple Fountain, a symbol of Charleston’s wealth and hospitality.
Washington Square, a peaceful downtown green space, surrounded by Charleston’s City Hall, historic courthouse and South Carolina Historical Society.
Rainbow Row, one of Charleston’s most photographed location.
Along the way, we also found several places to stop and refuel, including a rooftop bar near Waterfront Park where we sat and watched the lights of the city come alive; Tommy Condon’s Irish Pub where we got a taste of Ireland with local musician Carroll Brown; of course, so many oyster bars, one of which we stopped in for an oyster sampler and key lime pie.
Little more than a half-hour drive from Charleston is the Caw Caw Interpretive Center. The area used to be covered in rice fields, but now is a low-impact wildlife preserve and bird sanctuary. With more than six miles of trails, there are plenty of opportunities to experience the natural beauty of the area. You can wander on your own or join one of their early morning guided walks for a chance to learn more about the many species of birds, butterflies and other creatures who inhabit the region.
