Car Hire Charleston - Mini guide to Charleston
Charleston is one of the South’s best preserved and most loved cities. Its charms have made it one of the top tourist destinations in the US, with sightseers coming to view its historic buildings and experience its famed southern hospitality.
The downtown area, with its beautifully restored houses and buildings, is perfect for exploring by foot. Some of the most sought-out edifices are the pseudo-classical Nathaniel Russell House, dating from 1808, and the Heyward-Washington House, which housed George Washington in 1791.
The best preserved 19th century interiors are at the Aiken-Rhet House and the renowned Edmondston-Alston House in Charleston’s refined High Battery neighbourhood. The Aiken-Rhet House retains the original slave quarters and work yard, showing conditions as they were during the Civil War.
On a cobbled street lies the Old Powder Magazine, built in 1713 and used during the Revolutionary War. It now contains a museum which details life in 18th century Charleston and contains weapons, clothes and belongings from the era. Additionally, the city is blessed with many parks, with one of the most popular being Waterfront Park, which boasts a fishing pier, interactive fountains and landscaped gardens.
The Mount Pleasant area is a must-see for military and history buffs. Patriot’s Point hosts the planet’s largest naval and maritime museum. Its floating attractions include: the aircraft carrier, Yorktown; a WWII submarine; a nuclear merchant ship; and a Coast Guard cutter. Tours are available on all vessels. Those interested in the US Civil War should pay a visit to Fort Sumter, where the first shots of the war were fired.
Home to food specialties like sautéed shrimps, grits and pecan pie, Charleston has enough food options to satisfy most tastes. As well as these regional delights, there are international options ranging from Italian to Vietnamese to Israeli.
The major suburbs in Charleston are: Avondale, Hampton, Heathwood, Myers, The Crescent, Wappoo Heights and Windermire.
