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Charleston, SC: Travel Guide

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Horse-drawn carriage tour in Charleston, South Carolina (eStockphoto)
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Charleston, SC: Travel Guide


1. Recommend a hotel/motel in your town/city:

The Market Pavilion Hotel, right in the heart of downtown, is amazing. (You can walk to the waterfront and everywhere from here and it has a lovely rooftop bar!) The Francis Marion Hotel and the Embassy Suites by Hilton Charleston Historic District are also nice.

2. Recommend a restaurant in your town/city:

Basic Kitchen in downtown Charleston is fabulous and has vegan offerings. O-Ku on King Street is great for sushi/Asian cuisine. Halls Chophouse, also on King Street, has an incredible gospel brunch on Sundays. Lewis Barbecue is one of the best if you love meat. Slightly North of Broad offers Southern cuisine and is very good.

3. What's a must-see in your town/city?

The International African American Museum, which opened in 2023 after 20 years of planning. If you want to check out one of the country's best beaches, head out to the Isle of Palms. Gorgeous — even in winter. There are certain times when you can let your dog run around off the leash. A self-guided tour of Fort Sumter is very interesting. Of course there are many plantations to tour. For the most authentic experience, visit Middleton Place.

4. What makes your town/city fun for tourists?

The walking tours. There are so many good ones. Don't miss a walking tour of the historic district. There are also food tours and ghost tours that are a lot of fun. And in general, just the fact the downtown area is so walkable makes it a wonderful destination. A walk through the Charleston Waterfront Park is a must-do.

5. What should you avoid when visiting your town/city?

In July and August when it can be unbearably hot. Charleston is actually a great place to visit in the winter. If you don't like crowds, don't come during the annual Spoleto Festival, one of America's major performing arts festivals. This year it runs from May 23 to June 8. However, if you don't mind crowds, you might want to go during Spoleto as there are loads of fabulous live performances to see.

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