Charleston, South Carolina

I'll be visiting Charleston for the first time next month. I already have my hotel booked (The Market Pavilion Hotel) but I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for things to do, places to eat or any "must sees". I welcome all suggestions.

Hi, Are you going to rent a car or stay within the confines of the city?

We will be renting a car to get around, but we'll only be there for a long weekend so we're likely to spend all our time in Charleston and its immediate environs.

Hello - You will LOVE Charleston!!! Definitely go to the central market - history unfortunately dictates that this was originally a slave market - now a wonderful artisan market with lots of straw baskets etc. If you are lucky a festival may take place while you are there - Spoletto music festival is our favorite - usually in spring and centered at the market. Definitely tour the waterfront - many ships docked here - you can take a boat tour that will showcase various ships - make sure to stop at the waterfront park with cannons ... detailing important and interesting South Carolina history.Definitely explore by car and on foot the fabulous residential architecture - many homes have inner gardens so peak through fences if you must - if you are lucky a homes tour may be going on - check with your hotel - homes tours are often fundraisers in Charleston. Enjoy and have some crabcakes for us ...Funtimes

Thank you! Our hotel overlooks the market, so I expect that will be our first stop. Your other suggestions sound great, too. Any tips on where to eat?

Sorry to say I'm better at recalling places, history and food - but not names of restaurants. The food varieties and temptations stay on my mind longer than the names of particular restaurants. Good Luck!

Oh I see...so you can tell me all about the fried green tomatoes and she-crab soup, but not where to find them. ;) Can you tell I'm hungry already? I'll take notes when we're there next month and if I make any great discoveries, I'll post them here.

Try: 82 Queen, an old restaurant in the historic district. The She Crab soup is amazing! The rest of the offerings are just as good. This was our best meal in Charleston.

Enjoy! Cathy

Thank you, Cathy! I'm jotting that down right now.

That Does sound good! I'll mark that down too - as for my memory...I do enjoy wine with thesefantastic meals perhaps that explains it Ha! Ha!