story by Zach Hughes
Within our state, there is no shortage of incredible places to visit. There is however one place that I consider the top of the list and an absolute must, and that would be Charleston, South Carolina.
When you visit a place like Charleston, it is hard not to fall in love with its elegant historic charm. Like many of you, growing up with Charleston in your backyard, it will always feel like an extension of home. A quick day trip or a weekend stay always does the trick. It doesn’t matter how many times you have been, or if you have even lived there, Charleston will always entice you back to its cobblestone streets.
I remember as a child going on many day trips there with my family. Even though I was young, I can still remember how magical it felt. The moment my parents would tell us we were headed to Charleston, I would get as excited as a dog that heard the word walk.
Charleston is brimmed with mesmerizing sights and must-sees, and each of its historic places could easily fill up a few spots on our list of must-see places in South Carolina. Places such as Rainbow Row, or Fort Sumter will always be on the list. However, what I do want to highlight is what I would consider the most iconic, and memorable part of Charlestown – The Charleston Battery.
Every time I step foot onto the East Battery and feel the breeze lift off of the Charleston Harbor, I can almost feel time stand still. As you walk along the shale, you find yourself walking between immaculate historic homes, and the edge of a Sea Wall; all the while, the road is lined with beautifully manicured Palmetto trees. The antebellum homes that overlook the harbor are magnificent in their stature and regal in their elegance. One could only dream of owning a home of such grandeur. Something only reserved for the social elite. Nonetheless, being in the mere presence of these homes, you feel slightly aristocratic.
As you near the corner of The Battery, you will find a beautiful park filled with breathtaking moss-draped oak trees and civil war monuments. Some consider this park a part of the battery, but it is formally known as White Point Garden. This park to me serves as the perfect kind of place to have a picnic, read a book, or hang around in your hammock. Not to mention, you can see even more of the breathtaking homes that line South Battery through the trees.
Make sure to take a moment and stand still, and look out over the Charleston Harbor. On any given sunny day you may find dozens, or even hundreds of sailboats wrestling with the wind to make their way across the sometimes choppy water. Both Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie are visible from the battery as well.
If you want to make the best out of your trip and are someone who loves history, it is well worth the time to take a ride in one of the cities horse-drawn carriage tours. The tour guide will be able to tell you more about the history of the city than I could ever begin to. You will learn intriguing facts about the historic buildings and homes that make Charleston so important.
Charleston is the kind of place that goes with you whenever you leave, and it calls you back when the weather gets warm. So this spring, as the weather begins to warm up, make sure to take a day trip down and visit Charleston. You’re sure to find something new to discover each time you visit the Holy City.
Zach Hughes resides in Florence with his wife Alexis and their newborn son Christopher. Zach is a local entrepreneur and has spent most of his time working around the automotive industry. In his spare time, Zach enjoys discovering South Carolina and dabbling in journalism.