Skip To Content

Life in Charleston SC

Downtown Charleston, SC

Downtown Charleston, SCA Little Bit About Charleston

Charleston, South Carolina is a city known for its fascinating history, friendly people and southern charm. Also known as “The Holy City” because of the many church steeples that fill the skyline and this was one of the few cities from the thirteen colonies that provided religious tolerance. In fact, Charleston was one of the first colonial cities to allow Jews to practice without any restrictions.

Charleston is a water-influenced city as it is located on a peninsula surrounded by water on three sides including the Ashley River, Cooper River and the Atlantic Ocean. Port activity, behind tourism, is Charleston’s leading source of revenue. The Port of Charleston was also ranked number one, by supply chain executives, in customer satisfaction across North America.  Charleston was also dubbed the “best-mannered” city in the U.S. by America’s most published etiquette expert, Marjabelle Young Stewart in 1995 and continues to receive accolades for its friendliness.  It has been ranked as the top city in the US by Conde Nast Traveler for the past two years running.

One of the only downsides to this beautiful city is the heat index during the summer season. Charleston has a humid subtropical climate making the winters relatively warm while the summers remain hot, humid.  There are many ways to escape the summer heat with all of the near-by beaches and indoor attractions.

 

DSC_1179Popular Activities in the Holy City

Some of the most popular attractions in Charleston have to do with the rich history that the city possesses. The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon is the place where various signers of the Declaration of Independence gathered as well as hosted events for George Washington in the late 1700’s and the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. The first museum to ever be built in the U.S. is also here, known as the Charleston Museum and was founded in 1773.  Many historic homes and gardens are also available for touring and Charleston is also home to the South Carolina Aquarium.

For sports enthusiasts, you can take in a game at the Joe–where the local minor league baseball team The Charleston RiverDogs plays throughout the spring and summer.  The team is co-owned by Bill Murray who often attends games.  Fishing off the Battery, rickshaw rides, harbor tours, walking tours, fabulous parks, shopping and world-renowned restaurants are some other popular past-times for locals and visitors alike.

DSC_1198Charleston is also known for its culinary scene and on Saturdays from mid-April to the end of December, Marion Square in Downtown Charleston hosts the Charleston Farmers Market.  The Market offers fresh produce, flowers and shrimp and has live entertainment and arts and crafts from local artisans.  Marion Square Park also often serves as the epicenter of Charleston festivities such as Fashion Week, Spoleto and the BB&T Wine & Food Festival.  The park is the perfect place to bring a family on a Saturday, with lots of room for kids to play and plenty of great food to try.

On the Second Sunday of most months, King Street is shut down to cars from Calhoun to Queen streets from 1 to 5pm. Without cars, the street attracts a large crowd of food trucks, live music, great deals and a relaxed atmosphere. With different shows and experiences every month, Second Sunday always has something to offer Charleston locals.

 

Downtown Neighborhoods

There are many neighborhoods within the city limits; the most esteemed being waterfront South of Broad where visitors have included Robert Edward Lee, Teddy Roosevelt, and George Washington. Another prestigious neighborhood downtown is the French Quarter, a historic neighborhood with upscale boutiques and impressive real estate.  An area gaining a lot of attention is Upper King street north of Calhoun Street which offers many great restaurants and shops with a modern, trendy flair. The area offers art, entertainment, and some really fantastic restaurants and bars that range from traditionally southern to upscale modern cuisine.  A more affordable, yet also historic neighborhood is Wagener Terrace which is located north on the peninsula with charming cottages and family homes.

View real estate in the downtown area.

Contact one of our experienced Charleston real estate agents today.