edit Charleston Travel Guide

• Carriage or Walking tour of the city. Several groups operate horse-drawn carriage tours of the historical sites in the city. Most of these tours leave from stands on Market street, next to the Market itself. Or if thats too touristy for you, just go for a walking tour, but either way you'll be mesmorized by the beautiful gardens, the amazing architecture and the wonderful history.
• Fort Sumter - the site of the start of the Civil War (accessible by boat, and not by foot).
• H.L. Hunley Cofederate Submarine. View the worlds first submarine to sink a war vessel, launching a new age in water warfare. It now sits in Charleston Navy base and is available for viewing on the weekends.
• View some of the many historic homes. The Aiken-Rhett House, the Edmonston-Aiston House, the Nathaniel Russell House, and the Heyword-Washington House are all beautiful examples of restored 18th and 19th century southern living.

Founded and settled by English colonists in 1670. Charleston grew from a colonial seaport to a wealthy city by the mid-eighteenth century. Through the mid-nineteenth century, Charleston prospered from cultivation of rice, cotton, indigo and its port activities.

In April of 1861, Confederate soldiers fired on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, thus signaling the beginning of a devastating war. Charleston was slow to recover from the events of the War Between the States; but its pace of recovery became the foundation of the City's greatest assets. Short on capital through the mid-twentieth century, Charleston hung on to its vast inventory of buildings, using and reusing them instead of replacing them with newer structures.

After the war, the City gradually lessened its dependence on agriculture and rebuilt its economy through trade and industry. Construction of the Navy Yard in 1904, just north of the City's boundaries, pushed Charleston vigorously into the twentieth century. During the first few decades of the 1900's, industrial and port activities increased dramatically.

Modern Charleston is in general a laid-back city and still has an old-South feel, much like Savannah, Georgia. Most people in Charleston are helpful when approached in a polite manner. If a traveller speaks little English, Charlestonians are still generally willing to help as best they can. It is advisable, however, to at least learn a few key English phrases, and perhaps carry a traveler's phrasebook.

As in other coastal cities, recreation in Charleston centers around water. Tennis and golf are popular, too and the mild climate makes them year-round sports. The City's numerous parks and scenic, tree-lined streets provide ample space and a beautiful backdrop for walking, jogging and cycling. The annual Cooper River Bridge Run, Southeast. The City's Waterfront Park is a popular destination for residents and visitors alike.

By plane

Charleston is served by the Charleston International Airport, located about 12 miles northwest of the city. To get into the city center their is a $10 shuttle, or you can take a taxi for about $25.

By train

Amtrak has a station at 4565 Gaynoar Ave in north Charleston

By car

Charleston is located nearly at the midpoint of South Carolina's Atlantic coastline. It can be easily reached by car using Interstate 26, or U.S. Highway 17.

Charleston is a city that is best explored by car or on foot. Several rental car services are available at the Charleston International Airport. Some area hotels also provide transportation to and from the airport.

The public transportation system in Charleston consists primarily of a fleet of busses run by the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority and privately run taxi services. The bus system is not widely used by the upper-class residents of the city, and would be rated as "fair" by the standards of most larger urban areas. Taxis are generally safe and inexpensive in Charleston, but they can be difficult to find unless they are prearranged by calling one of the Taxi services in advance or if you are in the downtown area it is easy to flag one down. The best way to tour the city is by carriage drawn by horses or mules (many vendors available at the Market in downtown Charleston), although one should also prepare oneself for derisive comment and high levels of exasperation from locals inconvenienced by such quaint methods of transit.

Luckily for the visitor to Charleston's peninsula, the historic district is easily accessible on foot. If staying in one of the many hotels on the peninsula of Charleston, a visitor could easily explore most of the city's major historical sites without benefit of a car. Unfortunately, the plantations -- a significant part of Charleston's history -- are not located within walking distance of the peninsula.

Temperatures in Charleston range from -3.5 to 29.65 (Celcius) and rainfall in varies from 213.0 to 342.0 (mm/month).

Charleston's primary attraction to visitors is its historical setting and landmarks.

• The Market - an old shopping district where vendors still sell wares. Contrary to popular legend, the Market was never a slave exchange. However, the remnants of an old slave market are located a few blocks away.
• The Battery - a park located at the tip of the Charleston peninsula. It has a great view of Fort Sumter and an very peacefull ambiance with all the shade trees, making it a great place to get a feel for Charleston
• Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum - Four Ships. Twenty-five Aircraft.
• Arthur Ravenel Bridge - longest cable stay bridge in North America. Opened to traffic July 16, 2005
• The Citadel - historic military college (consult with officials from the school for visitation policies).
• Cypress Gardens. Take a flat boat ride to see all kinds of wildlife from birds to allegators and enjoy the serenity of long draping cypress trees covered in old spanish moss.
• Old Exchange Dungeon. The prison during the Revolution serves as one of the least glamerous but most important Colonial Buildings
• St. Philip's Church - 146 Church Street.
• St. Michael's Church - 71 Broad Street.
• Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist - On Broad Street.
• Cathedral of Saint Luke and Saint Paul on Coming Street in the Lower Westside.
• Beth Elohim synogogue -- the oldest surviving Reform synagogue in the world. Located at 90 Hasell St. within a few blocks of the market.
• Charleston Museum
• Charles Towne Landing. View a recreation of the original 1670 settlement that eventually became Charelston. With a 663 acre park that is preserved the natural settings of days gone by.
• The College of Charleston -- founded in 1770, the College of Charleston is the oldest institution of higher education in the state of South Carolina and the thirteenth oldest in the United States.
• Randolph Hall at the College of Charleston - built in 1828. Popular civil war movie-making site.

Plantations

• Middleton Place a national historic landmark, home to Henry Middleton, president of the First Continental Congress and Author Middleton one of the 56 delegates to sign the Declaration of Independence.
• Magnolia Plantation this 17th century plantation has some amazing gradens and wildlife trails.
• Drayton Hall the oldest plantation in South Carolina open for viewing was originally build in 1738.
  
• Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens contains the stunning Avenue of Oaks. If you're feeling a bit of classic romanticism you should be aware that this is where much of Gone wit the Wind was shot.

Sports

• Soccer fans may want to take in a Charleston Battery match at Blackbaud Stadium on Daniel Island. It's a 5,000 seat stadium with a nice little English-styled pub.
• Baseball can be seen at Riley Park where the Charleston Riverdogs, an affiliate of the New York Yankees, play ball.
• The Golfing here is some of the best in the entire country.
  

The Market and the shops lining Market street are a popular shopping destination for tourists. The Market itself is a large gathering of small vendors that sell everything from blankets to candy. More traditional shops line Market street, and most of these sell merchandise that is aimed at tourists.

Upscale shopping in downtown Charleston can be found at the shops lining King street. These shops are known for selling high-quality merchandise, but are not known for bargain prices.

• The Beach is only about a half an hour drive from Chalreston. Folly Beach has a popular fishing pier and small amusement rides. Kiawah Island and Sullivan Island offer miles of pristine beaches.
• Francis Marion National Forest is a great area to go hiking and only 45 minutes from Chaleston.
• Fishing is very good at Lake Moultrie. Or if you'd like to to offshore fishing you can charter a boat out to the Gulf Stream to really get you game fish on.