Charleston: Queen of the South

Story and photography by
Gillian and Mark Abramson 

 

There are rare places on this earth so entrancing and lovely that you daydream of never leaving them. One comes to mind immediately. In a tranquil state of almost surreal natural beauty, where the peninsula known as Oyster Point falls into the clear waters of the Atlantic, there is a wildly romantic old city. Bathed in light, it overlooks windswept barrier islands and tidal creeks teeming with wildlife. It is Charleston, South Carolina.

Dramatic History

Originally a colonial shipping seaport, Charleston, in its infancy, survived epidemics, fires, and earthquakes, followed by the devastation of the Civil War, and more recently Hurricane Hugo. With spirit and dedication, its residents have rebuilt and preserved its antiquity so no trace of adversity remains visible. Today, Charleston presents a spectacular opportunity to enjoy all possible vacation options historic architecture, unique shopping, lush gardens, delightful restaurants, and, of course, ocean sports and sunsets. And wherever you go, from the sunshine of the Isle of Palms to the shadows of the plantations, a sea breeze tempers the sultry climate.

United Discoveries

Charleston can be fully appreciated only when you allow time to explore its myriad attractions. Start with the Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (800-868-8118). Armed with its maps, brochures, and suggestions, you can narrow the scope of the visit to identify what you want to explore in depth.

Commemorating its role in African-American heritage, Charleston has preserved several monuments, including Boone Hall Plantation, established in the 1680s. It features nine original brick slave quarters as well as the plantation house. America's oldest gardens (c. 1676) are found along the Ashley River on Magnolia Plantation. In town, the Charleston Museum's Heyward-Washington House was once home to Thomas Heyward, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and to George Washington, who really did sleep there in 1791. The house offers meticulously preserved rooms and gardens. Other historical attractions include the Charles Towne Landing, where the first permanent English settlement was established; Fort Moultrie, which provided 200 years of coastal defense; the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, a former prison; Fort Sumter, where the Civil War began; and St. Michael's Episcopal Church (c.1761), the oldest church in the city.

Sensous Sights

In the evening, stroll along the Battery to view the perfect examples of antebellum architecture of Georgian and Greek revival mansions that overlook the Charleston Harbor. On the harbor, too, sits the South Carolina Aquarium. With more than 60 live exhibits, the aquarium also features a panoramic 150-foot glass wall with views of famed Fort Sumter and the Battery where ominous cannons lie as remnants of strife past.