Talk:Charleston (South Carolina)

On the Eating section, boy is this thin. Chucktown is one of the great food cities of the South. Second, maybe, only to New Orleans (though Atlanta, by sheer size, would have more, of course; Miami doesn't count, because it's South Florida, not the South) Probably more good (and pricey, but hey) restaurants per square mile than anywhere outside San Francisco and Manhattan. To name just a couple:

Cypress ... Louis's Charleston Grill ... Peninsula ... 82 Queen ... Magnolia's ... Carolina's ... Anson. And this is just the East Bay Street-Market area. The signature touristy dish is she-crab soup (though it's too cream-oriented and rich for my taste), followed closely by any combination of shrimp, grits, sausage and, oh heaven, okra. Actually, most aren't all that pricey, at least for entrees. Wine is up there, though.

You should try to visit the Old Slave Mart to be reminded of the economic foundation of all those lovely mansions and churches, and why the war that made Fort Sumter famous was fought.

Sweetgrass baskets.

Going to Charleston and not going to a beach is like going to oh, San Francisco and skipping the Golden Gate. Best are Isle of Palms and Sullivans, though Folly is closer and has more, ahem, character.

A word about climate: People from northern places, in the US and elsewhere, think, "Hot? Oh, jolly. I like hot weather." You don't know hot. Unless you're from tropical-sauna parts of the world, like Southeast Asia, India, or the Caribbean, you don't know hot and humid during the Lowcountry summer. This isn't Arizona hot. This is brain-searing, find-a-cave stifling. Be prepared. Do not exert yourself during mid-day, which is basically sunrise to 6 p.m. Leave anything wool at home. You won't need a jacket or sweater, except maybe for over-air conditioned buildings. Now, on the other hand, spring and fall are ideal. Fall especially is grand, as the ocean remains warm enough for beach-going. Winter can be great, or it can be dreary and cold, a real roll of the dice.

Finally, a word about ... boiled peanuts. Promise you don't leave without at least trying them. You must leave all preconceptions of peanuts behind. This is something different. Wash 'em down with a cold cheap beer or a Coke.


 * Welcome to Wikivoyage &mdash; but don't write your suggestions here, just Project:Plunge forward and edit the article directly! (WT-en) Jpatokal 12:42, 10 May 2005 (EDT)