Charleston Strut
For almost 22 years, I’ve lived in the same Old South port city, full of crumbling mortar and the sulfuric smell of pluff mud. Charleston, South Carolina once competed with New York City for supremacy as THE wealthiest city in the United States. If The South had won the War of Northern Aggression (or The Recent Unpleasantness, as some Southerners are fond of labeling our Civil War), the map of the United States might look very different today.
Thank God The South lost, for many reasons. I suspect Charleston wouldn’t have been named Conde Nast’s Best City in the World otherwise.
I don’t spend a lot of time discussing my adopted hometown, the place I’ve lived longer than anywhere else, because so many others do it better than me. They genuflect at its altar with terms like ‘paradise’ and ‘heaven’ and ‘better than anywhere on earth.’ I have a hard time agreeing, maybe because I’ve lived here too long. Seen too much. Know all the sides. At this point, Charleston makes me………..tired.
So.
Imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon an outing that made this disillusioned local feel like she was living in paradise, that made her re-appreciate the city that welcomed her, developed her and yes, sometimes smothered her.
If you’ve ever thought about traveling to Charleston, South Carolina for a long weekend (and that’s the most I’d recommend, unless you love golf or the beach) or you like exploring other places vicariously through blogs, this is the series for you.
Have you ever given people advice about what to do in your hometown? Share where you live and your best tip in a comment today.
Trackbacks & Pingbacks
- Charleston Exceeds Expectorations | The Accidental Cootchie Mama
- A Forgotten War Forgotten No More | The Accidental Cootchie Mama
- Charleston’s Old Exchange | The Accidental Cootchie Mama
- Charleston’s Fireproof Building by Robert Mills | The Accidental Cootchie Mama
- Fast and French | The Accidental Cootchie Mama
- Charleston Is the Land of No | The Accidental Cootchie Mama
- What To Do With Dead Bodies | The Accidental Cootchie Mama
- How to Kill a Body Dead | The Accidental Cootchie Mama
- Waiting To Be Laid Low | The Accidental Cootchie Mama
- I Got a Boner | The Accidental Cootchie Mama
- I’m Late For a Very Important Date | The Accidental Cootchie Mama
- O Death, Where Is Thy Sting? | The Accidental Cootchie Mama
- The Valley of Dry Bones | The Accidental Cootchie Mama
- A Breath of Charleston Spring | The Accidental Cootchie Mama
- Magnolia Cemetery Is THE Place to be Dead | The Accidental Cootchie Mama
What type of tourist are you? If adventurous and it is not deep winter? Get on the subway between 7:30 and 8AM and head from midtown out to Coney Island. Spend as much or as little time at Coney as you feel before jumping back on the subway and heading to the Bronx Botanical Gardens or the Bronx Zoo or Yankee Stadium. Spend as much or as little time there before jumping on the subway and heading to Flushing Queens for the best Chinese food in the city or to PS 1 (the MOMA annex in Queens). Then jump on the subway and head down to South Ferry and take the Staten Island Ferry (free!) to Staten Island. Check out as much of the Island as you feel. Finally head back to the city and walk around Battery Park before going back to midtown and seeing a show. Collapse.
The important part is not really the destinations but watching the people who get on and off the subway as it goes through various parts of town. By the end of the day you will probably have heard 20 or more languages being spoken and been through more cultures than you can catch anywhere else in such close proximity in the US (and maybe the world)
Excellent itinerary, Robert.
From another New Yorker. I loved Robert’s itinerary. There is always something interesting to do. Boredom is a choice here.
Boredom is a choice anywhere, I suppose, but I can’t imagine being bored in NYC.
The Lovely Miss TK and I have lived in the Charleston area, across the harbor in Mt Pleasant, for just a smidge less than 14 years. We have seen a lot of positive changes in housing, recreation and the increasing number of quality restaurants and art events. Although all places have their plus and minus points, we have found that Charleston is thoroughly enjoyable in so many arenas that we would never consider leaving for another city. We both grew up in Ohio, lived 4 years in Savannah, 7 years 30 miles East of San Francisco and now 14 years in Charleston and are still absolutely delighted with Charleston. We have taken time to be tourists in our own city and that is always fun and enlightening, truly beautiful places and natural wonders.
Charleston is a richer place because you’re both here.
You are too kind.
LaGrange County IN is all about life in a (much) slower lane — farming, camping, the Amish community, tourism; not necessarily in that order. The Convention and Visitors Bureau has put together a great promotional website you can see here: http://www.backroads.org/
Personally, I would probably make a much better ambassador for other places I have lived. As most are aware, the primary attraction for me in this place is simply proximity to family.
Karen, you might find it amusing that I have been spending a lot of time reading Indiana history of late. I always forget that the Amish range beyond Pennsylvania.
if you venture far enough into that link I posted, you’ll learn that LaGrange and Elkhart Counties are home to the second largest Amish community in the U.S. Buggies, wagons and monumental quantities of horse poo…..
Horse poo. One forgets that buggies make lots of that until they live with it.
Andra, I’ve lived across the country and traveled everywhere else and there’s no place I would rather live then right here in Charleston. For those visiting for a long weekend (and you’re right), that’s the best place to visit almost anywhere, hit the right month for the French Quarter Art Walk and then enjoy one of our great restaurants. The rest is up to you, there’s something for everyone.
What is the right month, in your opinion? I always encourage people to come in the off months like November or January, but I am curious as to what others might recommend.
I like April and October.
Andra, it’s a shame that the Art Walk is only 4 times a year instead of every month; it’s on the first weekend of the month in March, May, October and December this year. If I was visiting, I like the spring months but it’s pretty busy here then.
Howard, I really like late February, too. If we’re lucky, we have azaleas and camellias at the same time.
I also enjoy the Art Walks. I am glad you mentioned them.
I should correct that to the first Friday in those 4 months, not the entire weekend.
Can’t wait to see where yo uwent!
You may scratch your head…….
Well, you’re speaking my language. Yes, I’d say I do a travelogue of sorts–haha! Although I never intended to do that at all. Furthest thing from my mind! But once you begin to dig and learn the stories behind the stories, and develop a strong sense of place, it’s hard to shake it! I can’t wait to read where you’re going to take us. I’ve only been to Charleston once, but I loved it and certainly put it up there with one of my favorites. And as for the comment “The War of Northern Aggression,” I had to laugh! That’s my childhood sitting at Mississippi family reunions trying to figure out what the heck they were talking about. I still shake my head!
Debra, your blog did inspire some of this in a weird way. You do such a great job of highlighting California history and sites on your blog. While I don’t know that I will come up with anything unique, I hope my posts are a local view of my hometown.
I’d love to come visit. We rarely get out of the state since we go to the cabin so much. I also love where I live.
You always have a place to stay if you want to come, Lori. If that tips you in an easterly direction.
We’ve enjoyed a few visits to Charleston, but its been years. Have fun sharing your perspective with us.
People are very opinionated about Charleston. I think it’s a fascinating place.
I would say to get out and walk in the wilderness areas or is closest we have to wilderness. Go to Magnolia gardens and take the swamp walk. Go to Cypress Gardens and walk around the lakes. Go down to Bear Island Wildlife. and then when you have the measure of this natural world, walk the streets of Charleston and view the houses and then eat at some of the great restaurants.
I haven’t heard of Bear Island. We will have to look that one up.
It’s down in the ACE Basin area. Bear Island is the correct name. https://www.dnr.sc.gov/ml_images/docs/drivingace.pdf Is a Downloadable brochure. And online info http://www.acebasin.net/driving.html
Many thanks. Good time to go, before it gets buggy.
And here is more information about bird watching there. https://www.dnr.sc.gov/mlands/managedland?p_id=56 This is where the swans are. Wanna go?
Sure.
I think all the tourists should go up to Myrtle Beach. And leave me alone!
Now, now. The tourists are good for us.
Looking hugely forward to hearing some of the history of Charleston. What I have seen of it – an ocean away- looks just wonderful.
It is hard to write about our history, though, as it is so recent.
You didn’t say what your outing was… I suspect we’ll hear. Excellent title, btw.
My advice to someone interested in the history of a place… start in the city cemetery.
p.s… A friend of mine was in Charleston for some college graduation. She brought me a bar of soap called Sea Breeze… it was wonderful, but gone now. Very refreshing… let me know if you come across any.
I will look for it. Do you have a brand name?
That is a very good place to start, Ted.
My tours of cities are always food-centric. Too changeable, really, to report on, but when I’m in Boston, I always make my way into the North End for Italian pastries at Mike’s. No matter what trends and celebrity chef-led talks-of-the-town, there will always be Mikes with it’s gold entry and impatient cashiers and incredible goods.
You posted pictures from Mike’s once. I remember drooling on my keyboard.
cannoli the size of your head, tiramisu, and Mark’s favorite: huge blindingly green pistachio macaroons