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A Local Kid’s Take on Charleston

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Here at Traveler of Charleston, we recently hosted a young student for a career day. She wanted to learn more about writing and publishing so we gave her the chance to write a blog post about why she loves Charleston. Hope you enjoy it!

By Madison Clark 

Broad StreetLiving here is a blessing to me. Sure, no monumental sky-scrapers or subways. But what do you think of when you picture Charleston? For me, well, I think of coming home. For many people, it’s the southern hospitality. Here we are, sipping on our ice cold sweet tea, eating homemade biscuits, saying “ma’am” or “sir” after every sentence, and calling everybody “y’all.”

Or, maybe it’s the coastal feeling? Riding out in boats, jumping off rickety-old docks, playing in the pluff mud. Perhaps it’s the historical air of downtown Charleston? Cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages, and large oaks draped in moss are your favorite … and you’ve even tried the market place. The local vendors there have everything from paintings to books and sweetgrass baskets hand woven right behind the counter.

Or, if you’re a beach fan, maybe you walked the pier down at Folly Beach, the “edge of America” and reminisced in the nostalgic nautical nonsense. Whatever your reason, you (like so many others) have a unique way of remembering Charleston. A type of special bond that we only really get to see when we love something just that much.

Being a local, I’ve pretty much done everything there is to do. I’ve even tried playing tourist for a day or two. On the other hand, being only 12 years old, I’m not exactly an expert. But if you’ve ever really experienced Charleston… I mean really, really gotten to know it like I have, you know just exactly what I’m talking about. And you can’t help but fall in love with it!

There are billions and billions of other cities out there, all with their own fantastic personality, but there is only one Charleston, S.C.

Like I said, we all have a special connection to Charleston. And I hope everyone gets the chance to come down here and make their own extraordinary memories and experiences amidst the exploding inspirations and glittering personality of this beautiful city.

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Charleston FAQ's

Choosing a hotel and where to stay in Charleston all depends on your budget and goals. Do you want to stay Downtown, at the beach or in the outer areas such as North Charleston where you have to drive to get everywhere? For more help on deciding: https://travelerofcharleston.com/articles/hotels/

Charleston has 3 main public beaches which are: Folly, Isle of Palms and Sullivans. Each beach has it’s own atmosphere. The most common beach that people visit is Folly Beach and then Isle of Palms followed by Sullivans Island. For more info on Charleston’s beaches visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/guide-charlestons-beaches/

Charleston, SC is full of historical things to do. Everything from museums, to public sites and free landmark sites such as Rainbow Row and the Battery can be seen. For more info on Charleston’s top historical sites visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/places-to-learn-about-charleston-sc-history/

There are many things that will keep the kids and family entertained and educated in Charleston. There are historic sites such as Fort Sumter, a Children’s Museum, Aquarium and the USS Yorktown…a WWII era aircraft carrier you can tour. For more info visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-family-fun-activities/

There’s so many  things you could do in Charleston it can be overwhelming. We recommend that first time visitors, checkout the ultimate first-time visitor guide here: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-first-time-visitors-guide/

Spring in Charleston, SC is an amazing time of year to visit. The flowers are blooming and the weather is mild and sunny. For more info, check-out our spring guide to Charleston here: https://travelerofcharleston.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-springtime-in-charleston/

Summer in Charleston is a great time to visit. There’s plenty of things to keep you busy and visiting the beach will probably….or should be on your short-list. Also water-based activities and tours are popular. Checkout this summer guide to Charleston for more info: 

Our 10 Favorite Summer Activities in Charleston

Fall is one of the best times to visit. The weather cools down a bit and the skies are typically blue and clear. In addition there are many great events, festivals and the large crowds of summer have gone back to school or work. For more info on visiting in the fall, checkout this article: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-12-things-to-do-fall/

There are so many great things to do that it’s difficult to narrow the list down. This article does a great job with figuring out the must do things to do in Charleston

7 Can’t Miss Reasons to Visit Charleston, SC Now

The consensus is a minimum of 3-days is needed to settle in and experience Charleston. For instance, many people take 2 days exploring downtown and another day visiting sites outside of downtown such as the plantations, Angel Oak Tree or beaches. Checkout this page for a list of tours and attractions: 

Charleston’s Top Tours & Attractions | Things to do

Downtown Charleston was made for walking and for sure one of the best way to soak up and experience the history first-hand. This article goes over getting around Charleston with and without a car as well: 

Getting Around Charleston, SC

We’re of course partial to Charleston, but here’s the truth. There are many similarities however there are some differences in our opinion: 

  • Both cities are historic and beautiful. 
  • Both cities are extremely walkable. Savannah, with it’s park-like squares maybe more walkable than Charleston. 
  • Charleston has a more established and food scene with many more options. 
  • Charleston has better hotels and shopping.
  • Both cities have equally good tours.
  • Charleston has better beach options. Savannah has Tybee which is great, however it’s 1 beach vibe versus Charleston which has 3 beaches with different vibes. Checkout this Charleston beach guide article: https://travelerofcharleston.com/guide-charlestons-beaches/
  • In Savannah you can walk with alcoholic beverages on the street. This is not allowed in Charleston. This can be good or bad depending on your stance. 
  • Savannah is more affordable.
  • TourPass offers all-inclusive passes in both cities: https://tourpass.com

There are always great and world-class events happening in Charleston. For a calendar of events and things to do in Charleston, checkout our online calendar of events: https://travelerofcharleston.com/events/

Of course there are free money-saving coupons that you can use. Visit the coupons page for a bunch of ways to save: https://travelerofcharleston.com/coupon/

Charleston has some fantastic can’t miss tours such as Fort Sumter, carriage, ghost, harbor, historic and culinary tours. For a full list with more info visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/attractions/

Checkout the Charleston Relocation Guide page which will guide you during your move: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-sc-relocation-guide/

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