Charleston Travel Forum

my wife and I will be traveling to charleston in mid may and would like to know what there is to see and do around the market area.

Tons to see and do. Charleston is a walkable city in many ways, although there are great mule drawn tours that are reasonable and give you a grand overview of the history and traditions. I also took a walking "ghost tour"- again very interesting, filled with history about the city. The Citadel is interesting, also, and if the school year is still in session, I believe there are regularly scheduled musters of the cadets,open to the public. The market itself contains much of your usual tourist stuff, but one of the specialties is sweet grass baskets, made from grass and long pine needles- a coiled type of basket, extremely prized by collectors and the baskets smell so good. Many patterns are passed through the generations, as a sort of legacy. There are also carved gourds, handmade soaps, regional products. You could also learn about the "Gullah" traditions, and about the "low country cuisine." There is a local tea plantation- one of the few in the central U.S., and they used to have a booth with free samples of iced tea.

There are many buildings with detailed architecture- the rope like carvings of woodwork are fascinating.

If you get a chance, take a break at a restaurant called Magnolia's- I remember their shrimp and grits entree as being really good. Just take it slow and mosey along- Charleston is a feast for the senses, particularly in spring and early summer.