This pristine port city is more than just a pretty face. You've got your sun (seven miles of beaches) and your friendly locals (voted the nation's most mannerly city for 11 years running!), but there's also historical gravitas (Civil War cannons and Georgian Revival architecture galore) and serious southern food (shrimp and grits and she-crab soup). To sample all the riches, just visit the city's sweet spots: Start with the steeped-in-history downtown peninsula, bordered by the Ashley River to the east, the Cooper River to the west, and Charleston Harbor to the south. Then head to the lost-in- time suburb of Mount Pleasant, and finish on the playful island of Folly Beach. By the end, you'll be plotting to come back and help yourselves to seconds.
Downtown
This area is likely the Charleston you imagine: the antebellum mansions in the Battery, the palmetto trees lining the streets, the jazz and Dixieland joints on Market Street, the horse-drawn carriages. Church bells ring on almost every corner (Charleston is known as "the Holy City"), and scattered among the steeples are upscale boutiques, hole-in-the-wall bargain shops, and cozy restaurants offering the best in southern comfort food. Along the eastern edge is East Bay Street's famous Rainbow Row, a colorful collection of restored homes from the mid-1700s, which spans a few walkable blocks.
RESTAURANTS
Poogan's Porch
Indulge in Low-Country Cuisine 101: gumbo and she-crab soup. (Poogan was a neighborhood dog who begged for scraps.) 72 Queen Street, (843) 577-2337.
Joseph's Restaurant
Lines snake out the door for the best beignets and po'boys outside New Orleans. 129 Meeting Street, (843) 958-8500.
Hominy Grill
It's where the locals take out-of-town visitors for an authentic experience, complete with shrimp and grits and boiled peanuts. 207 Rutledge Avenue, (843) 937-0930.
Sugar Bakeshop
This new bakery, run by a couple of New York City transplants, is already a hit due to its iced-to-order red velvet cupcakes and its classic Southern Lady Baltimore cake. 59 1/2 Cannon Street, (843) 579-2891.
STORES
Blue Bicycle Books
This narrow store has great used and rare books. See if the kids can spot the owners' cat, Purdy, among the shelves. 420 King Street, (843) 722-2666.
Charleston City Market
Locals sell trinkets and treats at this massive indoor market, open 365 days a year. Market Street from Meeting Street to East Bay.
ACTIVITIES
South Carolina Aquarium
Highlights include a two-story shark tank, the brand-new penguin exhibit, and the sea-turtle hospital, which rehabilitates injured turtles found on local shores. 100 Aquarium Wharf, (843) 720-1990.
Marion Square Farmers' Market
On Saturdays before 2 p.m., you'll find homemade doughnuts, art, music, and more. Meeting Street and Calhoun Street.
Charleston Ghost Tours
No visit to the most haunted city in the country would be complete without a ghost tour. Learn about famous spirits and how African-American Gullah culture plays a role. Waterfront Park, (843) 327-4840.
Next Page: Mount Pleasant
