lovely afternoon strolling alongside the coast on a bright February day, sharing the walk with dozens of shore birds, and enjoying the antics of squadrons of pelicans. Pick one or visit all five beach towns: Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island, Folly Beach, Kiawah Island, and Seabrook Island. It’s easy to work up an appetite in this Southern city and it’s even easier to have your hunger sated. One evening we dined at Hyman’s Seafood. The restaurant, used to long lines, provides benches out front and those waiting are often treated to freshly made hush puppies. The wait was worth it and I especially enjoyed “building my own platter.” You don’t have to like seafood to enjoy the menu because there are many vegetarian a la carte offerings. There’s a reason the family has been serving customers since 1890. Since it was a honeymoon of sorts, we didn’t bring any of our children or grandchildren, but we did note that Charleston is tailor made for little ones. Depending on age and interest there are many great choices that range from making a big splash in a water park, to interacting with the exhibits at one of the city’s finest museums, to having fun in one of the area’s parks. Get wet at Charleston’s Splash Zone or Splash Island Waterpark. Go back in time with a trip to Middleton Place, an 18-century plantation that boasts one of the country’s oldest formal gardens. Whet your children’s appetites for all things art at Gibbes Museum of Art—an adventure for the whole family. There are special art presentations and classes and art that dates back to the 16th century. In an altogether different type of museum, visit the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry. A highlight is an interactive exhibit that features shrimping, which is an unquestionably favorite dish in the lowcountry. Seek adventure on Capers Island and hike its recreation trail. Hike amid live oak, magnolia, cedar, and palmetto trees. You’re may also encounter raccoons, snakes, and even alligators. Or if you prefer being up close to wildlife that’s behind glass, tour the South Carolina Aquarium. Young visitors will feel right at home in Toddler Cove while the older kids and mom and dad will love the 4-D theater experience. If you’re visiting in October, plan to attend the annual Children’s Day Festival at a local park. Enjoy carnival rides, enormous inflatable slides, live entertainment, wall climbing, face painting, and many other activities, and it’s free. Too soon our “honeymoon” came to an end, but memories linger on. There’s no doubt we’ll fall under Charleston’s charm again and again in the future.
The most photographed fountain in Charleston is the Pineapple Fountain.
The plantation economy depended heavily upon slaves as a source of labor and the busy seaport accommodated many slave ships. In 1859, the Slave Mart on Chalmers Street— today on one of the few remaining cobblestone streets— began public auctions of slaves. The City of Charleston and the South Carolina African AmericanHeritage Commission restored the Old Slave Mart in the late 1990s. The museum now interprets the history of the city's slave trade. To get up close to Charleston’s past, invest in one of the many organized tours: minibus, walking, ghost cruise, private driving tour, harbor history tour, and horse-drawn carriage tour. Through these tours you’ll see more than 300 years of history, including antebellummansions, churches, and gardens. Charleston is rich in celebrated buildings. Some notables not to be missed include the Old Exchange building, one of the most historic buildings in America, which was finished in 1771 and was the last building constructed by the British before the Revolutionary War. Visit Rainbow Row, the longest contiguous row of pre-revolutionary buildings left in America. Save your allowance for a stopover at Charleston City Market, one of the nation’s oldest public markets. I doubt you can resist purchasing a handcrafted sweetgrass basket—one of the oldest handcrafts of African origin in the United States. Of course, you’ll discover other tantalizing treasures that will surely find a place in your suitcase. If you miss a chance to purchase a sweetgrass basket at the market, don’t worry, you’ll have an opportunity at the many vendors alongside the roads in and out of the city. Because Charleston has been dubbed “The Holy City” due to the many church steeples that grace its skyline, you’ll delight in the beauty of these buildings. Some allow you to peruse their grounds, which may also hold historic cemeteries—always with lush plantings and flowering shrubs, such as the native rhododendron. The city is more than just one of the country’s most beloved cities, it is home to five beautifully distinct beach towns, which are an open invitation to slow down, sit back, and savor a life that’s just a little bit sweeter. We spent a
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18 COAST TO COAST FALL 2016
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