The following is a guide to the City of Charleston which I have put together from several visitors guides and from my own personal experiences. I grew up not far from the Holy City and have spent as much time as possible there in recent years.
I put this guide together because, several times, I have seen requests from people on rec.travel for information about Charleston and other cities. People interested in visiting or moving to Charleston may find the guide useful. I will keep it as up to date as possible, and will change the edition in the Subject: header to indicate new information.
I'd like to see other people do such a guide for other cities (New Orleans, Atlanta, etc.) I may do something similar for other places around here if I get motivated. I can be reached by email at [email removed] if you have any other questions.
--------------------------------------------------------------------- Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston proper is situated on the southern end of the peninsula between the Ashley River and the Cooper River, which come together there at White Point Gardens to form the Atlantic Ocean. The city's suburban areas extend west of the Ashley, east of the Cooper, and inland ten to fifteen miles.
Charles Towne was founded in 1670 on the western bank of the Ashley River and was soon moved across to Oyster Point to its present location. It was the center of social, economic and governmental affairs for the entire Carolina colony and the State of South Carolina until 1790, when the capital was moved to Columbia.
It was settled first by English colonists from the Barbados. In 1680, a band of French Huguenots settled there, and about 2,000 Acadian refugees arrived in 1755. The city was captured by the British during the Revolutionary War. The first shots of the Civil War were fired, by a group of Citadel cadets, on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. Later, in 1865, Union troops invaded the city. Natural disasters have left their mark on the city over the years. It has been damaged by fire, earthquake and hurricane, but never defeated. Charleston, at one time, was a cultural and commercial center rivaling Boston, Newport, New York and Philadelphia, the only cities exceeding it in population in 1775.
The modern city was described by _The New Yorker_ as a sort of "antiquarian Manhattan." It has retained its colonial character and charm for over 300 years, and many 18th Century buildings are still in daily use. Stately mansions grace the city south of Calhoun Street and especially south of Broad Street. A peculiar form of architecture is evident in Charleston houses from the largest mansion to the leaning monuments to neglect often found north of Calhoun Street. The "Charleston House" turns its side to the street and features a long "piazza" on the garden side of the house.
The city's "suburban "sprawl" is, of course, indistinguishable from that in other cities, except for the Palmetto trees and humidity. Some points of interest, however, lie outside the city proper. These include the plantations on the Ashley and Cooper rivers between Charleston and the towns of Summerville and Moncks Corner, the fishing village east of the Cooper known as Mount Pleasant, and the surrounding beaches and resort areas at Folly Beach, Kiawah Island, the Isle of Palms and Sullivan's Island.
Touring:
Bicycle rentals and tours
The Bicycle Shop - 283 Meeting Street 722-8168
$2 per hour, $10 per day, $10 overnight, $5 deposit. Tour booklet.
Charleston Carriage Company - 96 North Market Street 577-0042
$2.50 per hour, $10 per day. Tandems $4 per hour, $15 per day.
Pedal Carriage Company - 26 Cumberland Street 722-3880
Pedal carriage tour, "surrey with fringe on top."
Pedal-carriage taxis are usually readily found downtown.
Bus/Van Tours
Adventure Sigtseeing - 762-0088
American Sightseeing International - 767-7115
Carolina Lowcountry Tours - 797-1045
Colonial City Tours - 871-2828 or (800) 272-8422
Colonial Coach Company - 795-3000
Gateway Tours - 556-7959
Grayline Sightseeing - 722-4444
Historically Speaking - 571-1787
Livin' in the Past - 871-0791
Talk of the Town Tours - 577-0634
Top of the Line Tours - 766-0747
Carriage Tours
Charleston Carriage Tours - 96 North Market Street 577-0042
free shuttle to and from Visitor Information Center & downtown hotels.
Old South Carriage Tours - 14 Anson Street 723-9712
Palmetto Carriage Works - 40 North Market Street 723-8145
Cassette Tours
Charles Towne Tours - 883-3320
Charleston Carriage Company - 96 North Market Street 577-0042
Private Guides
Associated Guides of Historic Charleston - 724-6419
Charleston Carriage Company - 577-0042
Charleston Guide Service - 747-3111
Charleston Hospitality Tours - 722-6858
Civil War Walking Tour of Charleston - 722-7033
Janice Kahn Tours - 556-0664
Mrs. E.L. Leroy - 577-7940
Parker Limousine Service - 723-7601
Tours of Historic Charleston - 722-0026
Walking Tours
Charleston Carriage Company - 577-0042
Charleston Strolls - 766-2080
Charleston Tea Party Walking Tour - 577-5896
Janice Kahn Tours - 556-0664
Southern Comforts - Shoppers Tour - 722-1361
Water Tours
Charles Towne Princess Gray Line Water Tours - 722-1112
Charleston Harbor Tour - 722-1691
Fort Sumter Tours - 722-1691
Film & Slide Presentations
The Charleston Adventure - 85 Calhoun Street, Vis. Info. Cent. 723-5225
Dear Charleston: The Motion Picture - 147 King Street 723-4381
Preservation Society Visitor Center. Award-winning travel film.
Stuff to See:
Museums & Galleries
Amarican Military Museum - near Church & Broad Streets. 723-9620.
The Charleston Museum - 360 Meeting Street. 722-2996.
Oldest museum in America. Founded 1773.
The Citadel Museum - The Citadel.
Dress parade on Fridays at 3:45 p.m. during college year.
The City Hall Gallery - Council Chamber of City Hall (1801)
The Confederate Museum - Market Hall, Market & Meeting Streets. 723-1541
Memorabilia, run by Daughters of Confederacy.
Elizabeth O'Neill Verner Studio/Museum, Tradd Street Press - 79 Church St.
Distinguished artist (1883-1979). 722-4246.
Gibbes Art Gallery - 135 Meeting Street 722-2706
Collections & exhibitions.
Herbie's Antique Car Musuem - 2140 Van Buren Road, N. Charleston 747-7207
Patriots Point - Charleston Harbor, off Hwy. 17N. 884-2727
World's largest Naval and Maritime museum.
The Powder Magazine - 79 Cumberland Street 722-3767
1713, oldest public building in city.
Houses & Buildings
Aiken-Rhett Mansion (1817) - 48 Elizabeth Street, at Judith Street
Calhoun Mansion - 16 Meeting Street
College of Charleston - St. Philip & George Streets
Oldest municipal college in America, founded 1770. Present main
building constructed in 1828, designed by William Strickland.
Dock Street Theater - 135 Church Street. 723-5648.
America's oldest theater's second site. Current structure c. 1809.
Edmondston-Alston House - 21 East Battery Street 722-7171
Pre-1838 mansion.
Exchange Building/Provost Dungeon - East Bay and Broad Streets 792-5020
Built between 1767-1771. One of the most elegant buildings in America.
Heyward-Washington House (c. 1772) - 87 Church Street 722-0354
Joseph Manigault House (c. 1803) - 350 Meeting Street 723-2926
Designed by Gabriel Manigault, beautiful example of Adam-style.
Nathaniel Russel House (c. 1809) - 51 Meeting Street 723-1623
Sherry's Pink House - 17 Chalmers Street 722-0216.
Built between 1694 and 1712 of West Indian Coral Stone. Sailor's
tavern.
Thomas Elfe Workshop (c. <1760) - 54 Queen Street 722-2130
Churches
Circular Congregational Church - 150 Meeting Street 577-6400
Organized 1681, became "Independent Church of Charles Towne." Gave
name to Meeting Street, formerly Broadway. 1806, circular building
designed by Robert Mills.
Congregation Beth Elohim - 90 Hasell Street 723-1090
Second oldest Jewish congregation in U.S., oldest in continuous use.
Birthplace of American Reform Judaism in 1824.
Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church - 110 Calhoun Street 722-2561
1791, Free African Society formed, later known as "Bethel Circuit."
1818, Emanuel Church of Negro Methodists constructed.
1822, church closed after Denmark Vesey plotted insurrection here.
Church reorganized in 1865, present building built in 1891.
First Baptist Church - 61 Church Street
First Baptist church in South. Founded 1682, on present site since
1699. Sanctuary designed by Robert Mills.
First (Scots) Presbyterian Church - 53 Meeting Street.
Organized in 1731. Present structure built 1814. Bells have never
been replaced.
French Protestant (Huguenot) Church - 136 Church Street.
Built 1844-1845, fourth church at this site. As early as 1687,
French Protestants were worshipping on this site.
Old Bethel Mmethodist Church - 222 Calhoun Street.
Dedicated in 1798, present building constructed in 1852. Old
structure later moved across street and given to black congregation.
Old St. Andrews Parish Episcopal Church - 2604 Ashley River Road.
Established and built in 1706, oldest active church in the Carolinas.
St. John's Lutheran Church - Clifford & Archdale Streets 723-2426
Present building built in 1817.
St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church - 89 Hasell Street.
Established in 1789, present building completed 1839. Mother church
of the dioceses of South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia.
St. Matthew's Lutheran Church - 405 King Street.
Established in 1840, present building erected 1872.
St. Michael's Episcopal Church - Meeting and Broad Streets
1761. Oldest edifice in city. George Washington worshipped here.
St. Philip's Episcopal Church - 146 Church Street.
Established 1670. Mother Church of the Province originally stood
here. Present structure constructed 1835-1838. In churchyard
are graves of John C. Calhoun, Edward Rutledge, Charles Pinckney
and Dubose Heyward.
Unitarian Church. 8 Archdale Street.
Originally chartered as "Second Independent or Congregational
Church" and was adjunct of Circular Church. In 1817, the unitarian
and trinitarian congregations split, and the former settled on
Archdale Street. Constructed 1772-1787. Fantracery ceiling is
unique in United States.
Second Presbyterian Church - Meeting and Charlotte Streets.
Structure built in 1809. Immense sanctuary strained ministers'
voices and was reduced.
Forts
Fort Dorchester - 20 mi. NW of Charleston off S.C. Hwy. 642.
Settled in 1696 by small group of Congregationalists.
Fort Moultrie - W. Middle Street, Sullivan's Island.
Present fort, the third on site, was completed in 1809. Original
Palmetto log fort was started in 1776 and only half completed
when attacked by British fleet on June 28, 1776. The rubbery
logs helped repel the attack, giving Col. Moultrie one of the
first decisive victories of the Revolution. The Palmetto was
for this reason made the State Tree and was added to Moultrie's
flag, which had been a blue background with a crescent.
Moultrie's flag was the first national flag of the United
States to fly in South Carolina and one of the first to fly
in battle. This battle began a tradition of seacoast defense
on Sullivan's Island which did not end until 1947.
Fort Sumter - Charleston Harbor.
Construction began in 1829 and was still not completed on
December 26, 1860, when under cover of darkness, Major Robert
Anderson moved his troops from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter.
On April 12, 1861, Confederate forces, comprised largely of
Citadel Cadets, fired first shots of Civil War at the Union-
occupied Fort Sumter. After 34 hours, Confederate troops
occupied the Fort. Became symbol of Southern resistance,
and from 1863 to 1865, was the target of one of the longest
sieges in warfare. By the time it was evacuated, it was
little more than a heap of rubble.
Plantations, Parks, Gardens and other Places of Interest.
Angel Oak - James Island.
One of America's oldest and largest oak trees. Estimated to be
1,500 years old, the tree trunk has a circumference of 25 1/2
feet and a limb spread of 151 feet. The tree shades 17,000 sq.
feet of ground.
Ashley Hall School - 172 Rutledge Avenue, downtown.
The Cradle of Southern Womanhood. This is where Rhett and Scarlett
would have sent Bonnie Blue Butler to school if she hadn't fallen
off the horse. Don't miss the building with seashells imbedded in
the walls.
Boone Hall Plantation - Hwy. 17N, 8 mi. north of Charleston
Oak avenue planted in 1743. Original buildings include 18th
century slave cabins and the Gin House, used for processing
cotton.
Brittlebank Park - off Lockwood Blvd., downtown.
Waterfront park on Ashley River, near The Citadel.
Charleston Tea Plantation - Wadmalaw Island, west of Ashley and south.
America's only tea plantation. This is where they make American
Classic tea.
Charles Towne Landing - Hwy. 171, West Ashley.
Site of first settlement of Charleston. Animal Forest features
animals indigenous to South Carolina in 1670. Bison, pumas,
bears, wolves, alligators, bobcats and others roam in their
natural environments.
The Cistern and Albert Simons Center for the Arts - at the College.
Site of many Spoleto events.
The Citadel - Hagood Avenue, downtown.
The Military College of South Carolina. One of only two all-male
public military colleges in the country. The Citadel is rich in
history and lore (a la Pat Conroy). Members of the Corps of Cadets
fired the first shots of the Civil War. The Citadel holds a dress
parade every Friday afternoon during the school year at 3:45 p.m.
The College of Charleston - George Street, downtown.
The nation's first municipal (and thirteenth-oldest) college,
founded in 1770, chartered in 1785, the College has withstood war
and natural disasters in the historic heart of the City which gave
the College its name. The campus' main building, Harrison
Randolph Hall, was completed in the late 1820s. Adjacent to
this structure is the Promenade, which is one of the loveliest
avenues on any campus anywhere. The College has expanded from
fewer than 500 students in the years before 1970 to its present
enrollment of nearly 8,000, and it has done so while remarkably
enhancing the diversity of the downtown population. The College
recently won the right from the State Legislature to become The
University of Charleston.
Cypress Gardens - Hwy. 52 North, 24 mi. north of Charleston.
A swamp garden, originally created as a freshwater reserve for
Dean Hall, one of the vast rice plantations along the Cooper.
Drayton Hall - 3880 Ashley River Road (Hwy. 61)
Only surviving pre-Revolutionary plantation house on Ashley.
Finest Georgian-Palladian villa in America, surviving in virtually
original condition, a pure preservation. Used as hospital during
Civil War.
Francis Biedler Forest - off I-26 at S.C. 27. 35 mi. NW of Charleston.
3415 acre sanctuary for plant and animal life, located in Four
Holes Swamp and contains the largest remaining virgin stand of bald
cypress and tupelo-gum trees in the world.
Francis Marion National Forest - north of Charleston.
Picnicking, camping, boating and swimming are just SOME of the
activities that can be enjoyed here.
Gaillard Auditorium - George Street, downtown.
Large civic auditorium. Site of large concerts and Spoleto events.
Hampton Park - Ashley Avenue, downtown.
City park adjacent to The Citadel.
Jenkins Orphanage - way up Meeting Street, just past Simons Street.
Known for the old, legendary Jenkins Orphanage Jazz Band which won
international acclaim way back in the early days of jazz. The Band
was comprised of orphan boys and entertained who knows who. This
should be seen if you're in town for the Charleston Jazz Festival
(April) or just about anything else.
King Street Palace - 1000 King Street, downtown.
Site of concerts, boxing, and other cultural events. Beautifully
restored Art Deco monument.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens - Hwy. 61, 10 miles north of Charleston.
Described by John Galsworthy as "the most beautiful garden in the
world." Oldest major informal garden in America.
Marion Square - Calhoun and King Streets, downtown.
Public green for frolic near the College. Adjacent to the Library,
which is in a beautiful old castellated Citadel building (original
site of the military college.)
Middleton Place - Hwy. 61, 14 miles north of Charleston.
America's oldest landscaped gardens. Laid out by Henry Middleton.
Took 1,000 man-years to build. House built in 1755, burned by
Sherman in 1865. South Wing restored in 1870s and again in 1920s.
Site of Spoleto Finale.
Sottile Theater - King and George Streets, downtown
At the College of Charleston. Site of many Spoleto events.
State Ports Authority Passenger Terminal - Concord Street, downtown.
Behind U.S. Customs House. Site of embarkation and cultural events.
Waterfront Park - just off East Bay Street, downtown
Waterfront Park features a fishing pier on Charleston Harbor as well
as dozens of those benches and two fountains designed to keep you
cool in the sweltering Charleston heat. One sprays arcs of water
into the center of a circular mosaic terrace on which people
(especially kids) are encouraged to frolic. The other, the "pine-
apple" fountain, is designed to have weary feet dangled in it.
This is a very wonderful place to be outside.
Special Attractions
Charleston Symphony Orchestry - 14 George Street 723-7528
Young Charleston Theatre Company - 133 Church Street 577-5967
Performances in Dock Street Theatre.
Visitor Information Center - 85 Calhoun Street.
Recreational Facilities
Beaches
Beachwalker Park - public, Kiawah Island.
Folly Beach - public
Isle of Palms - public
Sullivan's Island - public
Home of Edgar Allen Poe, setting of "The Gold Bug" and "Annabel Lee."
Wild Dunes - resort guests only
Kiawah Island - resort guests only
Seabrook Island - resort guests only
Fishing Boats
Blue Water Sportfishing Charter - 554-5280
Bohicket Charters - 768-1280
Captain Ivan's Island Charters - 795-9192
Coastal Recreation Service - 552-9106
Gulf Stream Fishing - 722-7016
J.J. Deep Sea - 766-9816
Patricia-Lynn Charter - 553-8200
Silver Dolphin Fishing - 556-3526
Wild Dunes Yacht Harbor - 886-5100
Golf
Fairfield Ocean Ridge - 869-2561, space available
Kiawah Island - 768-2121, space available
Municipal Course - 795-6517, public
Patriots Point - 881-0042, public
Plantation Pines - 559-2009, public
Shadowmoss - 556-8251, public
Seabrook Island - 768-1000, private
Snee Farm - 884-8571, private
Wild Dunes - 886-6000, space available
Marinas
Ashley Marina - 33 Lockwood Dr. 722-1996
Bohicket Marina Village - 1880 Andell Bluff Blvd., John's Island 768-1280
Breach Inlet Yacht Club - 103 Palm Blvd., Isle of Palms 886-4241
Buzzard's Roost Marina - John's Island 559-5516
City Marina - Lockwood Blvd. 724-7356 nights, 724-7358 days
Patriots Point Marina - 20 Patriots Point Road, Mt. Pleasant 884-6568
Wild Dunes Yacht Harbor - 41st Avenue, Isle of Palms. 886-8642
Stono Marina - 2409 Maybank Hwy., John's Island 559-2307
Sailboat/Yacht Charters
Annapolis Sailing School - (800) 638-9192
Bohicket Yacht Charters - 768-1280
Charleston Sail Charters - 40 Murray Blvd. 764-8585, beeper.
Charleston Yacht Rentals - 795-5299
Coastal Recreation Service - 5101 Dorchester Road 552-9106
The Patriot - 884-3503
Fort Sumter Tours - City Marina 722-1691
Tennis
Fairfield Ocean Ridge - 869-2561, private
Farmfield Tennis Courts - 724-7402, public
Kiawah Island - 768-2121, space available
Mariner's Cay - 588-2401, private
Shadowmoss - 556-8251, public
Seabrook Island - 768-1000, resort guests only
Snee Farm - 884-8571, private
Wild Dunes - 886-6000, space available
Getting There:
Charleston is at the eastern end of Interstate 26, which also serves the cities of Columbia, SC, Greenville/Spartanburg, SC and Asheville, NC. In Columbia, I-26 intersects I-20 and I-77. In Greenville/ Spartanburg, I-26 intersects I-85 and in Asheville, I-26 intersects I-40. I-26 also intersects I-95 about midway between Columbia and Charleston. Coastal U.S. Highway 17 serves Charleston, connecting the city to Savannah, Georgia and to the Grand Strand area around Myrtle Beach.
Charleston International Airport is located in North Charleston just west of I-26 at Aviation Avenue. It is served by:
American Airlines - 722-7108
Delta Airlines - 577-3230
Eastern Airlines - 723-7851
United Airlines - 747-0591 or (800) 241-6522
USAir -
Air charters are handled by Hawthorne Aviation 744-2581.
Charleston is also served by AMTRAK's Silver Service, which connects New York and Florida. The station is located in North Charleston, just east of I-26 at Montague Avenue and Gaynor Street. Local phone number for AMTRAK is 723-6679.
Greyhound Bus Lines and Continental Trailways serve the city of Charleston. Phone numbers are: Greyhound 722-7721, and Continental 723-8649.
Car rentals
Avis 767-7030
Budget 763-3300 or (800) NEED-CAR
Coastal 554-0501
National 723-8266
Thrifty 552-7531 or 873-0632
Local Transportation
DASH - Downtown Area Shuttle (weekdays only, 25 cents, exact change)
724-7368
City Bus Service 722-2226
Airport Shuttle - Airport Limousine Service 767-7111 or (800)
222-4771
Charter Vehicles
Changing Seasons - 873-8309
Jennings Limo - 722-7366
LowCountry Limousine Service - 767-7117
Parker Limousine Service - 723-7601 or
inside SC - (800) 962-4001, ext. 582
outside SC - (800) 922-1667, ext. 582
Staying There:
Credit Cards - AMX = American Express
CB = Carte Blanche
DC = Diners Club
MC = MasterCard
V = VISA
D = Discover
$ = $35 and under, $$ = $36-$50, $$$ = $50-$70, $$$$ = $70-$90
$$$$$ = $90 and up
A = Pets Allowed, AC = Air-conditioned, B = Baby-sitting, G =
Golf on Property, GP = Golf Privileges, K = Kitchenettes, L =
Lounge, M/B = Meeting & Banquet Facilities, P = Pool, R =
Restaurant, T = Tennis on Property, TP = Tennis Privileges
Lodging on Peninsula
Best Western King Charles Inn - 237 Meeting Street 723-7451
or (800) 528-1234. 90 units. Free Parking. AC, B, GP, L, M/B,
P, R. AMX, CB, D, DC, MC, V. $$-$$$$
Charleston Inn - 35 Lockwood Blvd. 723-7461. 119 units. A,
AC, B, K, L, M/B, P, R. AMX, DC, MC, V. $-$$
Days Hotel Riverfront Medical Center - 144 Bee Street 577-2224
or (800) 325-2525. 128 units. AC, B, L, M/B, P, R. AMX, CB, D,
DC, MC, V. $$-$$$
Days Inn - 155 Meeting Street 722-8411 or (800) 325-2525. 124
units. A, AC, M/B, P, R. AMX, DC, MC, V. $$-$$$
Radisson Francis Marion Hotel - 387 King Street 722-8831 or (800)
333-3333. 254 units. A, AC, B, L, M/B, R. AMX, CB, DC, MC, V. $$$
Heart of Charleston Motor Inn - 200 Meeting Street 723-3451 or
(800) 845-2504. 119 units. AC, K, L, M/B, P, R. AMX, CB, D, DC,
MC, V. $$-$$$
Howard Johnson's Riverfront - US 17S, 250 Spring Street 722-4000
or (800) 645-2000. 152 units. A, AC, B, GP, L, M/B, P, R, TP. AMX,
CB, D, DC, MC, V. $-$$$$
Mills House Hotel - 115 Meeting Street 577-2400 or (800) 874-9600.
214 units. A, AC, B, GP, L, M/B, P, R, TP. AMX, CB, D, DC, MC, V.
$$$$$
Omni Hotel at Charleston Place - 130 Market Street 722-4900 or
(800) THE-OMNI. 450 units. AC, B, K, L, M/B, P, R. AMX, CB, D, DC,
MC, V. $$$$$
Quality Inn Historic District - 125 Calhoun Street 722-3391 or
(800) 228-5151. 126 units. A, AC, B, L, M/B, P, R. AMX, D, DC, MC,
V. $$$
Sheraton Charleston Hotel - 170 Lockwood Drive 723-3000, (800)
325-3535 or (800) 252-5212. 350 units. A, AC, B, K, L, M/B, P, R,
T. AMX, CB, D, DC, MC, V. $$$-$$$$$
Inns and Bed & Breakfast in Historic District
Ann Harper's Bed & Breakfast - 56 Smith Street 723-3947. Full
breakfast, off-street parking. AC. No credit cards. $-$$$
Ansonborough Inn - 21 Hasell Street 723-1655 or out-of-state
(800) 522-2073. 38 suites. Complimentary breakfast, free parking.
$$$$-$$$$$
Bailey House - 17 Water Street 723-6807 or 722-4824.
Bicycles, complimentary breakfast. AC. $$-$$$
Barksdale House Inn - 27 George Street 577-4800. 10 rooms, 5
with fireplaces and whirlpool baths, free parking. $$$$-$$$$$
Battery Carriage House - 20 South Battery 723-9881 or out-of-
state (800) 845-7638. 10 units. AC, B, GP, K, M/B, TP. AMX, MC,
V. $$$$$
Bed No Breakfast - 16 Halsey Street 723-4450. Off-street
parking. AC. Personal checks. $-$$
Belvedere Bed & Breakfast - 40 Rutledge Avenue. 722-0973.
Bicycles. AC, L. $$$-$$$$
Brasingtron House Bed & Breakfast - 328 East Bay Street 722-
1274 or (800) 722-1274. 4 units in owner's antebellum residence.
Complimentary wine and liquors. AC. Bicycles. $$$$
Cannonboro Inn - 184 Ashley Avenue 723-8572. 5 units.
Complimentary full breakfast. Off-street parking. AC. $$-$$$
Capers-Motte House - 69 Church Street 722-2263. Listed in
National Register of Historic Places. AC, K, P, TP, MC, V.
$$$-$$$$
Charleston Society Bed & Breakfast - 84 Murray Boulevard 723-
4948. Accomodations in private homes. AC, K. No credit cards.
$$$-$$$$$
Church Street Inn - 177 Church Street 722-3420 or (800) 552-
3777. AC, B, K, L, M/B. AMX, MC, V. $$$$-$$$$$
Coach House - 39 East Battery 722-8145. 2 units. AC, K.
No credit cards. $$$-$$$$$
1837 Tearoom/Bed & Breakfast - 126 Wentworth Street 723-7166.
Carriage house and 6 units. Full gourmet breakfast. Artist's
home. Off-street parking. AC. AMX, MC, V. $$-$$$$
Elliott House - 78 Queen Street 723-1855. 26 units. AC, B.
AMX, MC, V. $$$$-$$$$$
The Hayne House - 30 King Street 577-2633. One block from
Battery. AC. Personal checks. $$$-$$$$
Historic Charleston Bed & Breakfast - 43 Legare Street 722-6606.
65 units in private homes and carriage houses. AC, B, K, P. AMX,
MC, V. $$$-$$$$$
Indigo Inn - Maiden Lane & Pinckney Street 577-5900 or (800)
845-7639 out-of-state. 40 units. Breakfast. Free parking. A, AC,
B. AMX, MC, V. $$$-$$$$
Kings Courtyard Inn - 198 King Street 723-7000 or (800) 845-6119.
34 units. Free parking, turn down service, continental breakfast,
jacuzzi. AC, B, GP, L, TP. AMX, MC, V. $$$$-$$$$$
The Kitchen House - 126 Tradd Street 577-6362. Complimentary
wine. Free parking. Breakfast. AC, K. MC, V. $$$$-$$$$$
Lodge Alley Inn - 195 East Bay Street 722-1611 or (800) 845-
1004 out-of-state. 72 units. AC, GP, K, L, M/B, R, TP. AMX, MC,
V. $$$$$
Maison Dupre' - 317 East Bay Street 723-8691. 15 units. Free
parking, continental breakfast, Lowcountry tea. AC, B, K, L. AMX,
MC, V. $$$$-$$$$$
Meeting Street Inn - 173 Meeting Street 723-1882 or (800) 845-
7638 out-of-state. AC, B, GP, L. AMX, MC, V. $$$$
133 Broad Street Bed & Breakfast - 133 Broad Street 577-0392.
Bicycles, complimentary wine and breakfast. AC, K. AMX, CB, DC,
MC, V. $$$$
Planters Inn - 112 North Market Street 722-2345 or (800) 845-
7082. 45 units. AC, B, GP, R. AMX, CB, DC, MC, V. $$$$
Poinsett Tavern Bed & Breakfast - 28 Elliott Street 577-6173.
Carriage house. Full complimentary breakfast. AC, K, TP. $$$$$
Rutledge Museum Inn and Guest House - 114 Rutledge Avenue 722-
7551. AC, K. Personal checks. $-$$$
Swordgate Inn - 111 Tradd Street 723-8518. 6 units. Breakfast.
AC. AMX, MC, V. $$$-$$$$$
Two Meeting Street Inn - 2 Meeting Street. 723-7322. 8 units.
No children under 8. Continental breakfast. Parking. Bicycles.
No credit cards. AC, L. $$$-$$$$$
Vendue Inn - 19 Vendue Range 723-9980, 577-7970 or (800)
845-7900 out-of-state. 30 units. Bicycles, continental breakfast.
AC, B, K, M/B, R. AMX, MC, V. $$$$-$$$$$
West Ashley
Best Western Inn - 1540 Savannah Highway 571-6100 or (800) 528-
1234. 87 units. Complimentary continental breakfast. AC, B, GP, L,
M/B, P. AMX, CB, D, DC, MC, V. $-$$
Hampton Inn Riverview Hotel - 11 Ashley Pointe Drive 556-5200
or (800) HAMPTON. Continental breakfast. A, AC, B, GP, M/B, P, TP.
AMX, CB, D, DC, MC, V. $$
Holiday Inn - Riverview - 301 Savannah Highway on Ashley River
556-7100 or (800) HOLIDAY. 181 units, 4 suites. Free parking. A,
AC, L, M/B, P, R. AMX, CB, D, DC, MC, V. $$$
Town & Country Inn - 2008 Savannah Highway 571-1000 or (800)
334-6660. 108 units. A, AC, B, GP, K, L, M/B, P, R. AMX, CB, D,
DC, MC, V. $$$
East Cooper (Mount Pleasant & Isle of Palms)
Charleston East Bed & Breakfast - 1031 Tall Pine Road, Mt. Pleasant
884-8208. Located in private homes. AC. No credit cards.
$$-$$$
Comfort Inn East - 310 Hwy. 17N Bypass, Mt. Pleasant 881-1800
or (800) 228-5150. 122 units. Free continental breakfast. A,
AC, B, GP, M/B, P. AMX, CB, D, DC, MC, V. $$
Days Inn Motel - 261 Hwy. 17N Bypass, Mt. Pleasant 881-1800 or
(800) 325-2525. 132 units. A, AC, P, R. AMX, DC, MC, V. $$
EconoLodge - Hwy. 17N Bypass at Mathis Ferry, Mt. Pleasant
884-1411. Restaurant next door. A, AC, P. AMX, CB, DC, MC, V.
$-$$
Guilds Inn - 101 Pitt Street, Mt. Pleasant 881-0510. 6 units.
Whirlpool baths. AC, L, R. AMX, MC, V. $$$$
Masters Economy Inn - 30 Wingo Way, Mt. Pleasant 884-2814. A,
AC, K, M/B, P. AMX, DC, MC, V. $
Sea Cabin/Island Realty Oceanfront Villas - 1300 Ocean Blvd., Isle
of Palms. 886-8144 or (800) 845-2546. 138 units. AC, B, K,
P, T. MC, V. 2-night minimum. $$$-$$$$$
Shem Creek Inn - 1401 Shrimp Boat Lane, 881-1000 or (800)
523-4951 out of state. Deep-sea fishing. AC, GP, L, M/B, P,
R, TP. AMX, MC, V. $$$-$$$$
North Charleston & Airport Area
Airport Travelodge - 4620 Dorchester Road 747-7500. 70 units.
$
Best Western - Rivers Avenue Inn - 5020 Rivers Avenue 554-4982
or (800) 528-1234. 102 units. A, AC, K, L, P. AMOCO, AMX, CB,
DC, MC, V. $-$$
Best Western - Dorchester Motor Lodge - I-26 at Dorchester Road
747-0961 or (800) 528-1234. 199 units. A, AC, GP, K, M/B, P, R.
AMX, CB, DC, MC, V. $-$$
Budget Inn - 103 Redbank Road off Hwy. 52, Goose Creek 572-9500.
59 units. Complimentary breakfast, effiencies available. AC, K,
M/B, P. AMX, CB, DC, MC, V. $
Charleston Marriott Hotel - 4770 Marriott Drive (I-26 at Montague Ave.)
747-1900 or (800) 228-9290. 297 units. A, AC, L, M/B, P, R.
AMX, CB, D, DC, MC, V. $$$-$$$$
Comfort Inn Airport - 5055 Arco Lane 554-6485. 122 units. A,
AC, M/B, P, R. AMX, DC, MC, V. $$
Cricket Inn - I-26 at Ashley Phosphate Road 572-6677. Bus and
truck parking. AC, B, K, P, R. AMX CB, DC, MC, V. $-$$
Days Inn - 2998 West Montague Avenue (I-26 at Montague Avenue)
747-4101 or (800) 325-2525. 149 units. Complimentary breakfast.
A, AC, P. AMX, CB, D, DC, MC, V. $
Hampton Inn - 4701 Arco Lane 554-7145. Free continental
breakfast. A, AC, B, M/B, P. AMX, CB, DC, MC, V. $
Holiday Inn Airport - I-26 and West Aviation Avenue 744-1621
or (800) 465-4329. 265 units. A, AC, L, M/B, P, R, T. AMX, CB,
DC, MC, V. $$-$$$
La Quinta Motor Inn - 2499 La Quinta Lane 797-8181 or (800)
531-5900. 122 units. A, AC, M, P. AMX, CB, DC, MC, V. $
Masters Inn - 6100 Rivers Avenue 744-3530or (800) 633-1212.
139 units. A, AC, K, M/B, P. AMX, MC, V. $
Motel 6 - 2551 Ashley Phosphate Road 572-6590. 126 units.
AC, P. $
Northwoods Atrium Inn - Best Western - 2400 Ashley Phosphate Road
572-2200 or (800) 528-1234. 200 units. AC, L, M/B, P
(indoor and outdoor), R. AMOCO, AMX, CB, DC, MC, V. $$
Quality Suites - 5225 North Arco Lane (I-26 and Montague)
747-7300. 168 units. Free full cook-to-order breakfast, free
airport transportation. AC, GP, K, L, M/B, P, TP. AMX, CB, DC,
MB, V. ??-???
Ramada Inn Airport - I-26 at West Montague Avenue 744-8281 or
(800) 2-RAMADA. 155 units. AC, B, GP, L, M/B, P, R. AMX, CB,
D, DC, MC, V. $-$$
The Residence Inn - 7645 Northwoods Blvd. 572-5757 or (800)
331-3131. Complimentary breakfast, fireplaces in suites, lighted
sport court. A, AC, B, K, M/B, P, T. AMX, D, DC, MC, V. $$$-
$$$$
Sheraton Airport Inn - 5991 Rivers Avenue (I-26 and E. Aviation Avenue)
744-2501 or (800) 325-3535. 158 units. Free airport
transportation . A, AC, B, L, M/B, P, R. AMX, CB, D, DC, MC, V.
$$$
Folly Beach
Holliday Inn of Folly Beach (Not Affiliated) - 108 West Ashley Avenue
588-2191. AC, K, P. MC, V. $-$$$$$
Holiday Inn - 1 Center Street 588-6464. A, AC, L, M/B, P, R.
AMX, CB, D, DC, MC, V. $$$-$$$$$
Beach Resorts
Fairfield Ocean Ridge - Edisto Island 869-2561 or (800) 922-3330.
Kiawah Island Resort - 768-2121 or (800) 654-2924.
Seabrook Island - 768-1000 or (800) 845-5531.
Wild Dunes - 886-6000 or (800 845-8880.
Beach Rental Agents
Atlantic Island Properties - 768-1014 or (800) 745-2385.
Beachwalker Rentals - 768-1777 and (800) 334-6308.
Benchmark Rentals - 768-9800 or (800) 992-9666.
Carroll Realty - 883-9600.
Edisto Sales and Rentals Realty - 869-2527 or (800) 443-5398.
Pam Harrington Exclusives - 768-0273 or (800) 845-6966.
Hewitt Realty - 577-2552.
Fred P. Holland Realty - 588-2325.
Island Realty - 886-8144 or (800) 845-2546.
O'Shaughnessy Resort Rentals - 886-8600 or (800) 553-1343.
Ravenel Associates - 768-2300.
Realty World - American - 763-7325.
Resorts, Inc. - 886-6493.
Sea 'Scapes, Kiawah & Wild Dunes - 556-6353.
Seaside Rentals - 886-4200.
Shelton Realty - 588-9653.
Fran Welch Real Estate - 559-5511 collect.
Family Campsites
Pelican Cove - Folly Beach. 588-2072.
Charleston Kampground of America - 15 mi. west of Charleston off I-26
at Hwy. 78. 797-1045.
Edisto Beach State Park - Edisto Island. 869-2156.
Givhans Ferry State Park - 16 mi. west of Summerville off Hwy. 61.
873-0692
Oaks Plantation Campground - 8 mi. south on Hwy. 17 766-5936.
Eating There:
Charleston is one of the better places in the world to eat. Its
restaurants and chefs are some of the finest around. This listing includes only restaurants unique to Charleston and relatively nice chain establishments. My comments are purely my own opinion, and your experiences my vary.
Know that the turnover rate of restaurants is high, and some of
these may be defunct. Don't worry, though. Others will take their place alongside these. An amazing number of restaurants open and close each year on the peninsula (45 is a number I have heard...) but the best of these remain. Usually, a few restaurants become the darling of the city for awhile and then either fade away or entrench themselves firmly in the consciousness of the city. Some of the recent hot restaurants have been Anson, Magnolias, Saracen, Fast & French (common name for Gaulart & Maliclet), Arizona, and Carolina's. Some are quite entrenched already. The Colony House, Aaron's Deli, Poogan's Porch, Restaurant Million, and Louis' Charleston Grill are pretty much immortal by now. My bias runs toward a small place on Calhoun Street, near the back gate of the College of Charleston, called Petit Canteen. You should know that this is my favorite because I have little money for any of the ones I've mentioned (except for Aaron's Deli, which is cheap). If you're taking in the profound beauty of the College's Promenade and old buildings, head on out the back gate and turn right, toward King Street, on Calhoun. Petit Canteen is the little pink place not quite big enough to change your mind in. They have a payphone, two or three tables and excellent deli sandwhiches.
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner.
$ = under $5, $$ = $5-$10, $$$ = $10-$15, $$$$ = $15 and up.
Peninsula
Aaron's Deli - 213 Meeting Street 723-6000
Excellent N.Y. Deli & Seafood L/D $-$$
One of the best places in town to eat. Next door to seafood market.
Albemarle's - Sheraton Charleston Hotel, 170 Lockwood Drive 723-3000
Seafood, steak. B/L $, D $$
Anson - 12 Anson Street 577-0551
French, Thai, American influenced nouvelle cuisine. D $$$-$$$$
Arizona Bar & Grill - 14 Chapel Street 577-5090
Southwestern & Tex-Mex fare. Excellent place...great bar. L/D $$-$$$
A.W. Shuck's - 70 State Street 723-1151
Lowcountry seafood. L $, D $$
BJ's Broad Street Cafe - 17 Broad Street 722-0559
Sandwiches, pizza, wings, beer & wine. P.M. Delivery downtown. B/L/D $
BP's Terrible Tom's - 188 Meeting Street, old City Market 722-6752
Croissants, soup, sandwiches, puff pastry. B/L $
Bakers Cafe of Charleston - 214 King Street 577-2694
American/Continental cuisine, Seafood, Wine & spirits. B/L $$
Barbados Room - Queen & Meeting Streets, Mills House Hotel 577-2400
Seafood. B $, L $$, D $$$
Bocci's - Church & Cumberland Streets
Little Italian place...casual. L/D $-$$$
Bryan's - 250 Spring Street, Howard Johnson's Riverfront 722-4960
Seafood, steaks, soup/salad. B/L/D $-$$$$
Cafe Marion - 385 King Street, Francis Marion Hotel 722-8831
Fresh home cooking, she-crab soup, luncheon buffet. B/L $, D $$
Carolina's - 10 Exchange Street, behind old Exchange Building 724-3800
Carolina cuisine, seafood, smoked ribs. D & late supper $$-$$$$
Celia's Porta Via - 49 Archdale Street 722-9003
The best Italian restaurant on Archdale Street. L/D ??-????
Chad's Restaurant - 1 Rafer Alley, behind Rainbow Market 577-2423
She-crab soup, local seafood, French bread. L $-$$, D $$-$$$
Colony Caterers Food Emporium - 372 King Street, Marion Sq. 722-6726
Hot & cold dishes, fruit & vegetables. L $
The Colony House - 35 Prioleau Street 723-3424
Fresh local seafood, veal, beef, fowl. L $-$$, D-$$-$$$$
Cotton Exchange - 36 North Market Street - 577-5000
Seafood, lamb, duck, sandwiches, Chateaubriand, Raw Bar. L $$, D $$$
Courtside Cafe - Sheraton Charleston Hotel, 170 Lockwood Drive 723-3000
Cafe atmosphere. B/L $
Crown Prince Dining Room - King Charles Inn, 237 Meeting Street 723-7451
Buffet breakfast. B/L $, D $$-$$$
Days Inn Restaurant - 155 Meeting Street 722-8411
Lowcountry cooking & seafood. B/L $, D $$
East Bay Trading Company - Queen and East Bay Streets 722-0722
Lamb, prime rib, seafood. L $-$$, D $$$
82 Queen - 82 Queen Street 723-7591
Fine seafood, beef & fowl specialties. Indoor & outdoor. L $$, D $$$
82 Queen Cafe & Deli - 150 King Street 723-4993
Salad, sandwiches, pasta, pizza. L $, D $$
Ferante's - 32 Market Street, in old Seaman's Chapel 723-3614
Local seafood, steaks, lamb & veal. D $$$
French Connection - 18 Bee Street 722-5668
Fast lunch, evening French menu. L $-$$, D $$$
French Quarter - 195 East Bay Street, at Lodge Alley Inn 722-1611
Rotisserie. Duck, lamb, other entrees. B $, L $$, D $$$$
Garibaldi's - information not handy, will update
Gaulart & Maliclet ("Fast and French") - 98 Broad Street 577-9797
How the French eat most of the time. Tiny, wonderful. L $-$$, D $$$
Great Wall - George Street
Chinese. L/D ??-???
Haagan Dazs Ice Cream - 23 South Market Street 723-9326
Ice cream. $
Heart of Charleston Restaurant - 200 Meeting Street 723-3541
Lowcountry cooking. B/L $
Howard Johnson's Riverfront - 250 Spring Street 722-3521
Full-service menu. B/L $, D $
Josiah's House - 85 Broad Street 722-6182
Steak, prime rib, seafood. In historic home. L $$$, D $$$-$$$$
L.A. Grill - Market Street
? ??
La Pasta - 235 King Street 723-5741
Pasta. ??
Le Midi - 337 King Street 577-5571
French country cooking. L $, D $$$
Louis' Charleston Grill - 224 Market Street in Omni. 577-4522
Great place. Fine cuisine, Lowcountry ingredients. $$$$
Magnolia's - 185 East Bay Street 577-7771
Beyond description, really. L/D $-$$$$
Marianne - 235 Meeting Street 722-7196
Great late-night spot. L/D ??-???
Marina Variety Store Restaurant - City Marina, Lockwood Blvd. 723-6325
Raw bar, seafood, chowder. B $, L $-$$, D $$.
Mistral - 99 South Market Street 722-5708
French casual. L/D $$$
The Old Towne Restaurant - 229 King Street 723-8170
Greek place. Wonderful. Fairly cheap. L $$, D $$$
Palmetto Cafe at Charleston Place - 130 Market Street 722-4900
Indoor & outdoor cafe. B $-$$, L $$, D $$-$$$
Papillon - 41 Market Street 723-6510
Indoor & outdoor, Northern Italian cuisine, free delivery. L $, D $$
Pinckney Cafe & Espresso - 18 Pinckney Street at Motley Lane 577-0961
Laid-back lunch, dinner. No credit cards. L/D $-$$$
Petit Canteen - Calhoun Street, near College of Charleston
Deli sandwiches, beer. Wonderful place. L $.
Highest recommendation for cheap duck-in for food & beer.
Poogan's Porch - 72 Queen Street 577-2337
L $-$$, D $$$
Prime Cut Steakhouse - 280 East Bay Street 722-2277
Grill your own. D $$$-$$$$
Primrose House & Tavern - 332 East Bay Street at George Street 723-2954
Menu changes daily. Granny's Goodies upstairs. L $-$$, D $$$-$$$$
Queen Street Seafood Inn - 68 Queen Street 723-7700
Fresh seafood, lamb, duck, raw bar. L $-$$, D $$-$$$$
Restaurant Million - 2 Unity Alley 577-7472
French nouvelle, prix fixe & a la carte. D $$$$
Reuben's Downtown Delicatessen - 251 Meeting Street 722-6883
B/L/D $
Ristorante Italia - 192 East Bay Street 577-7766
Italian. L $$, D $$$$
Robert's of Charleston - 112 North Market Street in Planters Inn 577-7565
Six-course with entertainment. D $$$$
Saffron - 333 East Bay Street 722-5588
Seafood, sandwiches, quiche. Bakery. B $, L $-$$, D $-$$
Saracen - 141 East Bay Street 723-6244
Seafood, etc. L ??, D $$$-$$$$
Shaftesbury Room at Charleston Place - 130 Market Street 577-4522
Regional & Lowcountry cuisine, wine. D $$$-$$$$
Spirit of Charleston Dinner Cruise - City Marina, Lockwood Blvd. 722-2628
Dining, dancing & entertainment on Harbor. D $$$$
Tivoli Garden - Quality Inn, Calhoun at Meeting Streets 722-3391
Lowcountry cooking. B/L $, D $$
Tommy Condon's - 160 Church Street 577-3818
Irish pub & restaurant, Lowcountry & Irish standards. L $, D $$-$$$
Don't miss this place during St. Patrick's celebration...
Traditions Days Hotel - 144 Bee Street 577-2226
Seafood, Lowcountry cuisine, she-crab soup. B/L $, D $$
Watercolors at Charleston Place - 230 King Street 577-4630
Tapas late-night menu, drinks & dancing. L $, D $-$$
Wine Cellar - 35 Prioleau Street 723-9463
American cuisine, intimate. Wine. Prix fixe six course. D $$$$
West Ashley
AngelFish - 520 Folly Road Merchant Village 762-4722
Seafood, pasta, vegan fresh food. L/D ??-???
Bernstein's Bakery and Delicatessen - 1836 Ashley River Road 556-DELI
N.Y. Deli & Bakery. B $, L/D $$
California Dreaming - 1 Ashley Pointe Drive 766-1644
Prime rib, seafood, salads. On water in replica of fort. L/D $$
Chi-Chi's Mexican - 2027 Sam Rittenberg Blvd. 556-5557
Mexican. L/D $-$$
Damon's Restaurant - 1890 Sam Rittenberg Blvd. (Hwy. 7) 763-1812
BBQ ribs, steak, chicken, seafood. L $, D $$
Duke's Bar-B-Que - 2487 Ashley River Road (Hwy. 61) 763-5798
BBQ, hash, slaw... L/D $
Mediterranean Deli - 90 Folly Road 766-0323
B/L/D ?-??
Middleton Place Pavilion - Ashley River Road at Middleton 556-6020
Light entrees, shacks & beverages at plantation. $
Robertson's Cafeteria - St. Andrews Center 556-7663
Lowcountry food, seafood. L/D $
Sonny's Sub Shop - 817 St. Andrews Blvd. 571-1931
Pizza, subs, salads. L/D $
Trotter's Restaurant - 2008 Savannah Hwy. in Town & Country Inn 571-1000
Prime rib, chicken, seafood. B/L $, D $$
Upper Crust - 1124 Sam Rittenberg Blvd.
Fish, steaks, quiche, veal. L/D $$
Folly Beach
Atlantic House - 301 West Atlantic Avenue 588-9563
Seafood, steaks. L $-$$, D $$-$$$
The Sandbar - 86 Sandbar Lane, on Folly River 588-2030
Seafood, steak, oysters roasted November-April D $$-$$$
Seafood Skillet - Holiday Inn 588-6464
Ssoup, seafood, steaks. L/D $$-$$$
East Cooper (Mount Pleasant, Sullivan's Island & Isle of Palms)
The Club - Wild Dunes 886-6000 ext. 2296
Seafood, beef. B/L $-$$, D $$$-$$$$
Emack & Bolio's Ice Cream - Fairmount Plaza, Mt. Pleasant 881-3622
Outrageous flavors, homemade daily.
Guilds Inn Cafe - 101 Pitt Street, Mt. Pleasant 881-0510 L $-$$
Island House - Wild Dunes 886-6000 ext. 137
Seaside, lowcountry cuisine, seafood. B/L $-$$, D $$$-$$$$
Joe's Seafood Emporium - 130 Mill Street, Mt. Pleasant 884-3410
Seafood & steaks, dockside dining & bar. B $ (Sun. only) L $, D $$-$$$
Long Island Cafe - 1515 Palm Blvd., Isle of Palms 886-8809
Seafood, soups. L $, D $$-$$$
Luna Rossa - 713 Coleman Blvd., Mt. Pleasant 884-1450
Italian, deli sandwiches. L/D $-$$
The Palms Seafood Restaurant - 1010 Ocean Blvd., Isle of Palms 886-8145
Seafood, steak, chicken. L $, D $$
Recreational Food Service - on Yorktown at Patriots Point 881-2311
Junk food. L/D $
R.B.'s Rusty Pelican - on Shem Creek, Mt. Pleasant 881-0466
Seafood, dockside. L $-$$, D $$-$$$
Rusty Anchor - 2213 Middle Street, Sullivan's Island 883-9131
Seafood & steak. L $$, D $$$
Shem Creek Bar & Grill - 508 Mill Street, Mt. Pleasant 884-8102
Seafood & steak on the Creek. Raw bar at Sloppy John's. L/D $$-$$$
Supper at Seven - 101 Pitt Street, Mt. Pleasant 884-7009
Four Course, menu changes daily. American. One seating at 7. D $$$$
The Trawler/Captain's Table - Hwy. 17N, Mt. Pleasant 884-2560
Seafood. L/D $$-$$$
Windjammer - 1008 Ocean Blvd, Isle of Palms 886-8596
Sandwiches. L/D $
North Charleston
Alex's Restaurant - 3713 Dorchester Road 747-9198
B/L/D $
Cafe Naturel - 5900 Rivers Avenue 747-8655
Salads, soup & sandwiches. L $
Dobb's House - Charleston International Airport 767-1100
Salads, steaks and sandwiches. Raw Bar. B/L/D $
Ozeki Japanese Steak House - 6185 Rivers Avenue 572-0990
Japanese delicacies. L/D $$$
Resorts
The Privateer - Bohicket Marina Village 768-1290
Seafood from docks, on river. D $$-$$$$
Shopping There:
Antiques
Acquisitions - 273 East Bay STreet 577-8004
Ansonborough Antiques - 40 Pinckney Street 722-7394
Elizabeth Austin - 165 King Street 722-8227
George C. Birlant - 191 King Street 722-3842
Century House - 77 Church Street 722-6248
Coles & Company - 84 Wentworth Street 723-2142
Coles & Company - 185 King Street 722-3388
Wallace Frampton - 96 King Street 722-0308
Livingston & Son - 2137 Savannah Hwy. 556-6162 (warehouse)
Livingston & Son - 163 King Street 723-9697
Nelson Garretts - 513 Pelzer Drive, Mt. Pleasant 884-7204
Orient Express - 256 King Street 723-3866
Jack Patla - 181 King Street 723-2314
Pettersons Antiques & Gifts - 201 King Street 723-5714
Art
Ambassador Graphics & Wildlife - 3640 Ashley Phosphate Road 552-0078
Southeastern Wildlife, wildlife stamp prints.
Birds I View - 119-A Church Street 795-9661
Anne Worsham Richardson.
Blue Knight - 816 St. Andrews Blvd. (Hwy. 61) 556-9373
Charleston prints, antiques.
Charleston Delights - 89 South Market Street 723-5133
Margaret Petterson & others. Spoleto & Southeastern Wildlife posters.
Courtyard Gallery - 195 1/2 King Street 723-9172
Ten Charleston artists.
East Bay Gallery - 153 East Bay Street 723-5567
Locally & nationally known artisans.
Gallerie Du Pre - 317 East Bay Street 723-5905
Lucille Mulholland & others.
Gallery 12 - 290 King Street 723-0311
12 local artists' co-op.
Jan Goin Gallery - 309 King Street 722-4895
Regional & national contemporary artists, originals.
Frank Gouchnour - Folly Beach 588-9774
Oil portraits, murals & paintings.
Lowcountry Artists Limited. - 87 Hasell Street 577-9295
Nine local artists, commissions & commercial artwork.
Lukie Chapman Reilly Studio & Gallery - 2 Queen Street 722-7486
Funky painted stuff.
Morning Glory Gallery - 40 North Market Street 722-1182
Local prints, Spoleto posters, Ronna Bridges rice paper batiks.
Morning Glory Gallery - 2487 Ashley River Road 571-2889
Same as above.
Sherry's Pink House Pottery & Gallery 17 Chalmers Street 722-0216
Artists work on premises. Local pottery & prints. Sherry Palombo.
Tidwell Gallery - 321 King Street 723-3167
Different shows every 3 weeks. Posters, prints & originals.
Specialties
A Basket O' Charleston - 30 Cumberland Street 723-7777
Charleston stuff.
Accent Scree Graphics - 76 Calhoun Street 577-0791
Charleston shirts.
Atlantic Books - King Street
Good used bookstore.
Atlantic Books - East Bay Street
Same as above.
Banana Republic - 124 Market Street 722-6681
Travel clothes & stuff.
Belle France 231 King Street 722-6699
Women's clothing.
Benetton - 475 Market Street 577-2885
Italian clothing.
Brass House - 104 North Market Street 722-3153
Brass stuff.
Broadway Dalrymple - 55 Broad Street 577-2914
Herbs & spices.
Chapter Two Books -
Best store for new books.
Charleston Mint - 39 Broad Street 577-2982
History of Charleston coins.
Earthling - 320 West Coleman Blvd. Shops of Mt. Pleasant
Neat earthy stuff.
Epicurean Wine & Cheese - 1303 Ben Sawyer Plaza, Mt. Pleasant 884-0479
Wine, beer, coffee, cheese.
Erwin Music - Wentworth Street
Records, tapes, CDs & stuff. Local music. Huge world music selection.
Gary Erwin, proprietor, does Sunday night radio show on SC public
radio called "Erwin Music" featuring world music, jazz & blues. His
store is a good place to find out what's going on where, and is
the best place downtown to buy music.
Fiberworks - 153 East Bay Street 723-7570
Wearable art, rugs, yarns.
Granny's Goodies - 332 East Bay Street 577-6200
Used & vintage clothing, various stuff. Neat place.
Historic Charleston Reproductions - 105 Broad Street 723-8292
Charleston reproduction brass, furniture, china, books, etc.
Hog Penny - 77 South Market Street 723-0648
Gifts & sportswear.
Hoppin' John's - 30 Pinckney Street 577-6404
Books about food, wine, fishing, gardening, etc. John Martin Taylor.
Horsefeathers - 1 King Street 723-7995
One-of-a-kind fashions for women, collectibles, antiques & stuff.
Hubble Bubble - Folly Beach
Curious goods.
John Huguley Co. - 269 King Street 577-2721
Lowcountry memorabilia.
Kali Books -
Occult books.
Lucas Belgian Chocolate - 73 State Street 722-0461
Neuhaus imported chocolates.
Piazza 103 - 103 Broad Street 577-3740
Antique wicker, quilts, linen, books, clothing.
Preservation Society of Charleston - 147 King Street 722-4630
Gifts and books.
Purple Plum - 45 South Market Street 577-7337
Gifts & collectibles, antique & contemporary.
Sea Level - 191 East Bay Street 577-6189
Nautical stuff.
Sheila's Shamrock - 84 North Market Street 577-0833
Stuffed animals, posters, shirts & novelties.
The Smoking Lamp - 197 East Bay Street 577-7339
Wildlife stuff, cigars, pipes, tobacco.
T.G.'s - 170 Church Street 722-4943
Locally made stuff...masks, kaleidoscopes, Charleston stuff, jewelry.
Willis & Geiger Outfitters - 237 King Street 577-5597
Exotic & traditional sportswear for outdoors enthusiast.
Going Out There:
There is a host of wonderful things to do in Charleston, and some fairly
gritty ones. Here is a small sample, but if you wander around, you'll find something to suit you.
A.C.'s Bar & Grill - King Street
Some live blues. Good bar.
Bert's Bar - 2209 Middle Street, Sullivan's Island 883-3924
Meeting place of Island characters.
Big John's - 251 East Bay Street 722-9746
Sailor bar. Funky. Cleaner after Hugo than before. Jukebox has beach
music, Perry Como and Frank Sinatra.
Cafe 99 - 99 Market Street
Site of much activity during festivals. Loud music. Pretty people.
Cumberland's - Cumberland Street
Really good blues club...Lowcountry Blues Society sponsors much activity
here, along with Erwin Music (see above).
Fulford-Egan - 231 Meeting Street 577-4553
Folk coffee house the size of your living room. Usually packed with
people. Coffee, teas, pastries, music.
The Jukebox - 4 Vendue Range 723-3431
Dressy-type dance club. "A doorman, a throbbing beat, yards of khaki
and perfect tans." - The Charlotte Observer
Music Farm - East Bay Street 722-7082
Local, regional and some national rock, punk, funk, whatever bands.
Probably the best live rock club in Charleston. Probably the best in
the state. Check Erwin Music or Manifest Discs & Tapes for bands.
Myskyns - 5 Faber Street, off East Bay 577-5595
Usually roots-rock and reggae. Cranks up about 11. Cool place.
Soft Rock Cafe - Calhoun and King Streets, downtown.
Performance space. Site of some Piccolo Spoleto events.
Stage One Cinema - 30 Cumberland Street 722-1900
Charleston's art-cinema. Foreign films, independent films, etc.
The Treehouse - 348-A (Upstairs) King Street 723-9945
Entrance in alley off George Street by Great Wall Restaurant. Dance.
Windjammer - Isle of Palms 886-8596
Local and regional rock at the beach. College rock to pure bedlam. It
depends on the week.
I'll add more periodically, but these are the ones I'm familiar with. If you'd like to know about other stuff in the meantime, just e-mail me. I'll try to find out.
Annual Events:
Lowcountry Oyster Festival - January
Festival of Wines - February
PO Box 31276, Charleston, SC 29417.
Best of California wines and Charleston cuisine.
Southeastern Wildlife Exposition - February
701 East Bay Street, Control Data Bldg., 4th Floor, Charleston SC 29403
Largest wildlife art, craft and collectibles show in the South.
St. Patrick's Day Celebration - Sunday before or after March 17th.
Market Street closed to traffic, entertainment and merrymaking.
Not Savannah, but that's a plus in Charleston. A little smaller,
but no less fun.
Festival of Houses - March-April
51 Meeting Street, Charleston SC 29401
More than 80 private homes, gardens and historic churhes open to public.
May Day Country Faire - April 29, 30
English Country festival...Maypole dancers, theatrical performances,
crafts, food.
Spoleto - May-June
Spoleto Festival U.S.A. PO Box 704, Charleston SC 29402
See special section.
Scottish Games and Highland Gathering - September
Scottish Society of Charleston, PO Box 21109, Charleston SC 29413
At Middleton Place.
Taste of Charleston - September
International food festival.
Moja - October
Comprehensive African-American and Caribbean arts festival. Much fun.
Plantation Days - early November
Sights and sounds of harvest time on Lowcountry plantation...
Christmas in Charleston - December
PO Box 975, Dept. VG, Charleston SC 29402
Traditional decoration and various activities.
Spoleto:
For two weeks, the last week of May and the first week of June,
Charleston gives us the Spoleto Festival USA, the most comprehensive arts festival in America. Created by composer Gian Carlo Menotti, the festival has grown and prospered.
It now engulfs the city and transforms it into a rollicking good
time. The city's companion festival, Piccolo Spoleto offers hundreds of mostly free events not geared toward the highbrow fine-art crowd which spends its time in world-class performances by internationally acclaimed artists. Piccolo features many local and regional artists who posess phenomenal talent.
And while the festival is in town, the whole city seems even more
lively and wonderful than it normally does. Restaurants require reservations and lodging is difficult to find. The city goes full blast for two weeks.
Contact the organizers for information.
Spoleto Festival USA Piccolo Spoleto
PO Box 704 Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs Charleston, SC 29402 722-2764 724-7305
Random Information:
Area Code in Charleston, and all of South Carolina, is 803.
Walking alone at night is not recommended except in very busy
downtown areas. Above Calhoun, stopping in car at night is not a very safe thing to do, while *driving* a car in downtown proper is not a very safe thing to do in the daytime. :-) Charleston is easily, and best, experienced on foot. It is quite compact and too crowded to drive or park. Friendliness and patience is the general rule. Leisure is an art form here.
I hope you enjoy your visit. I love the city, and hope that you
do, as well.
I will gladly talk about Charleston. E-mail me at:
[email removed]
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Trevor Bauknight [email removed] ...
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