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go.Complete guide on where to go and have a blast in the Lowcountry.
do.Tips on places to visit and things to see that you don’t want to miss.
live.The hot places to live in Charleston and the surrounding areas.
play.The art of having fun. Don’t miss a minute of laughs and giggles.
Southern CoastReal Estate
Courtesy of
Southern CoastReal Estate
112 W. Doty Street, Suite CSummerville, SC 29483
Office 843.871.5091lcollins.pscre@gmail
www.prudentialsoutherncoast.com
We look forward to helping you make Charleston
your new home.
The tradition continues...
Southern CoastReal Estate
112 W. Doty Street, Suite CSummerville, SC 29483
Office 843.871.5091lcollins.pscre@gmail
www.prudentialsoutherncoast.comSouthern CoastReal Estate
112 W. Doty Street, Suite CSummerville, SC 29483Office [email protected]
Int
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| Pr
ud
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tIa
l s
ou
th
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n C
oa
st
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al
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ta
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go.Complete guide on where to go and have a blast in the Lowcountry.
do.Tips on places to visit and things to see that you don’t want to miss.
live.The hot places to live in Charleston and the surrounding areas.
play.The art of having fun. Don’t miss a minute of laughs and giggles.
Southern CoastReal Estate
Courtesy of
Southern CoastReal Estate
112 W. Doty Street, Suite CSummerville, SC 29483
Office 843.871.5091lcollins.pscre@gmail
www.prudentialsoutherncoast.com
We look forward to helping you make Charleston
your new home.
The tradition continues...
Southern CoastReal Estate
112 W. Doty Street, Suite CSummerville, SC 29483
Office 843.871.5091lcollins.pscre@gmail
www.prudentialsoutherncoast.comSouthern CoastReal Estate
112 W. Doty Street, Suite CSummerville, SC 29483Office [email protected]
Here in Mount Pleasant, we don’t limit our happiness to an
hour. We let it stretch out wide – from stunning sunrises and
warm afternoons on the creek to midday picnics and technicolor
sunsets. Which makes for happy days, months, and lifetimes.
10:45am: Happy Hour begins.
Call 843.884.8517 or experiencemountpleasant.com
The Charleston region is full of life, history and opportunity. You have probably already discovered this, as you are considering, or have already chosen, the region as your new home.
On the surface, the region’s beauty is im-possible to ignore. In fact, it’s probably one of the many things that attracted you to the area. Rivers serenely wind through scenic marsh-lands. Historic buildings are shaded by grand live oaks draped in Spanish moss. There are a lot of advantages to living in an area that’s easy on the eyes, whether you’ve set down roots in Summerville, Charleston, Mount Pleasant or somewhere in between.
But much deeper than the region’s beauty is its history, which dates back to 1670 when the first English settlers arrived and established Charles Towne
on the banks of the Ashley River. As a favor-ite destination for travelers, the Charleston region proudly celebrates its history and the people who have helped shape the area into what it is today.
In addition, quality of life is something each community takes seriously. Schools are a high priority. New pedestrian and family-friendly neighborhoods are being built that mix seam-lessly with established neighborhoods. There are abundant opportunities to experience arts, culture, outdoor recreation, shopping, dining and nightlife.
We invite you to explore the region, get to know your neighbors and discover the charms of the Lowcountry. It won’t take long before you become immersed in the area’s progressive Southern culture and call Charleston your new hometown.We’re certainly glad you’re here. Welcome home.
Welcome
INTRO | 3
S h o p H i c k o r y F u r n i t u r e M a r t
all under one roof!
4 | INTRO
2 Introduction to Charleston6 Economic Outlook8 Education in the Lowcountry13 Higher Education16 Taking Care
Con
tent
s
Living
Resource Guide
Welcome
20 Historic Charleston22 Mount Pleasant24 Isle of Palms &
Sullivan’s Island26 North Charleston28 West Ashley32 James Island & Folly Beach35 Johns Island36 Daniel Island38 Kiawah & Seabrook islands40 Berkeley County41 Summerville
44 Sports & Recreation46 Tee Time47 Dining Out49 Places to Stay51 Arts Abound54 Attractions & Tours58 Nearby Getaways60 Calendar of Events62 Quick Links64 Newcomer Information
& Map
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Photo/Courtesy of Kiawah Island Golf Resort
389 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Suite 200Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
843.849.3100 • Fax: 843.849.3122www.scbiznews.com
www.IntroCharleston.comPublished by SC Biz News
Vol. 4, No.2
Director of Business Development - Mark [email protected] • 843.849.3143
Managing Editor - Andy [email protected] • 843.849.3141
Special Projects Editor - Licia [email protected] • 803.401.1094, ext. 206
Contributing Editor - Allison Cooke Oliverius
Creative Director - Ryan [email protected] • 843.849.3117
Senior Graphic Designer - Jane [email protected] • 843.849.3118
Graphic Designer - Jean [email protected] • 843.849.3135
Senior Account Executive - Sue Gordon [email protected] • 843.849.3111
Account ExecutivesSara Cox
[email protected] • 843.849.3109Bennett Parks
[email protected] • 843.849.3126Renee Piontek
[email protected] • 843.849.3105Robert Reilly
[email protected] • 843.849.3107
Circulation and Event Manager - Kathy [email protected] • 843.849.3113
Circulation and Event Assistant - Kim [email protected] • 843.849.3116
President and Group Publisher - Grady [email protected] • 843.849.3103
Vice President of Sales - Steve [email protected] • 843.849.3110
Accounting Department - Vickie Deadmon [email protected] • 864.235.5677
The entire contents of this publication are copyright by SC Business Publications LLC with all rights reserved.
Any reproduction or use of the content within this publica-tion without permission is prohibited.
Corporate & CommercialPublishing Division
SC Business Publications LLC A portfolio company of Virginia Capital Partners LLC
Frederick L. Russell Jr., Chairman
We’ve got it allCharleston was voted “Top City in the U.S.” in 2011 by Condé Nast Trav-eler readers and we’d like to introduce you to a few of the reasons why.
Atmosphere and AmbianceDaytime or nighttime, the Charleston area oozes atmosphere and am-
biance. Experience it yourself: Take a carriage ride through the city to learn about its history, take in a scenic sunset at one of the city’s roof-top bars or venture out to a local beach to relax. Charleston gets into your soul and we think you’ll agree there’s nothing quite like it.
Culture and SitesThe Charleston area is the home of many firsts. Founded in 1670,
you can barely take a step in any direction without setting your sights on a historic building, plantation or other landmark. The historic area downtown does not disappoint, from Rainbow Row to the Market. And surrounding areas have plenty to see as well, from the grand planta-tions west of the Ashley River, to Fort Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island.
FriendlinessWe’re certainly proud of the many accomplishments of our region, and we
count being named the Friendliest City and the Most Mannerly City among them. We do live life a little slower here in Charleston and welcome travelers as well as new residents with the same hospitality and friendliness the city’s found-ers did. It won’t take long before you too will be saying, “Welcome, y’all!”
Lodging We offer a bevy of options for lodging. Want to stay in a historic inn? No
problem. How about a beach resort with a golf course a stone’s throw away? You got it. Historic inn, luxury hotel, bed and breakfast, marsh view, ocean view, harbor view or skyline view? If you can dream it, chances are, we have it.
RestaurantsWe don’t try to be anyone but ourselves when it comes to cuisine. Chefs
focus on using local ingredients, including farm fresh produce and seafood straight from local waters. Charleston has become a hotspot on the gourmet scene and we use every festival and event to feature our local cuisine from spontaneous Food Truck Rodeos to the annual Wine and Food Festival.
Shopping From internationally known Louis Vuitton to locally known Bob Ellis Shoes,
Charleston offers a plethora of places to shop. Downtown you can pick up a handmade sweet grass basket in the Market, or shop the latest fash-ions on King Street. Head out to the Tanger Outlet in North Charleston if you’re looking for a great deal, and swing by Town Centre in Mount Pleas-ant for trendy shops, as well as a few locally owned boutiques. Jewelry, art, clothing, shoes and more. If you need it or want it, we probably have it.
Charleston has proven it can hold its own against major metros like San Fran, Chi-Town and the Big Apple. Charleton has held a top five spot on Conde Nast’s annual list of top cities for 14 consecutive years. In 2010, we worked our way up to the No. 2 spot, and are proud to currently covet the top spot.
6 | INTRO
With more than $200 million in economic investments announced last year, the Lowcountry of South Caroli-
na continues to outpace the post-recession economy of many states in the Southeast.
Charleston, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant and Summerville — along with other municipalities — have developed a diverse economic climate geared toward developing large and small businesses, privately owned companies, national chains, real estate, manufacturing and health care.
Boeing Co. continues to be a driving force in the development of the region, with more than 6,000 jobs and four manufactur-ing plants, including a Final Assembly and Delivery Center for the 787 Dreamliner.
In the spring of 2012, Boeing rolled out the first 787 to be manufactured in South Carolina at the company’s plant in North Charleston and recently took the jet on a successful test flight.
The world’s largest aircraft manu-facturer is one of many large and small companies making a positive impact on
the Charleston-area economy. Several existing industries have launched ex-pansions, adding millions in investment to the area over the past year, lead-ing to hundreds of permanent jobs and construction and engineering work.
The Port of Charleston continues to be a a hub of global commerce with a
vibrant waterfront that imports and exports goods to markets across the world.
By working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and state and federal law-makers, the Port of Charleston is get-ting ready for the future by expanding its capacity and working to deepen shipping channels. Some of the larg-est ships in the world already call on the port each week, and that is expected to increase substantially when an expan-sion of the Panama Canal opens in 2014.
In 2012, Forbes magazine named the Charleston area as the fifth best among mid-sized metropolitan areas for jobs and No. 29 overall. In 2011, research from the Wall Street Journal showed Charles-ton to be the metro area seeing the most gains across the U.S. in attracting well-educated talent, bucking the trend of educated adults and entrepreneurs clustering in major metro areas such as Silicon Valley, New York and Boston.
Tourism continues to play a major role in the Lowcountry economy with $1.5 billion local impact. High-end res-
At a GlanceTri-county Population (2010) ......................... 664,607Growth Rate (2000-2010) ..................................26.4%Median Age (2009) .................................................. 35Average Household Income (2009) ............. $63,686Annual Retail Sales (2009) .................... $16.3 billionLabor Force (November 2011) ...................... 321,965 Unemployment Rate (November 2011) ............7.8%Corporate Income Tax Rate (2011) ......................5%Gross Metropolitan Product (2010) . .......$28 billionPort of Charleston ranks 8th in the nation in cargo value (2010) at $50 billion.
Sources: Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, CRDA, U.S. Census Bureau, S.C. Dept. of Employment and Work-force, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
Economic Outlook
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The Charleston area’s diverse economic landscape continues to draw large companies and entrepreneurs to the region
Photo/Matt Tom
sic
Boeing rolled out its first 787 Dreamliner in April 2012.
6 | INTRO INTRO | 7
WELCOME
Largest Private Sector Employers, Charleston MSACompany EmployeesJoint Base Charleston ...........................20,000Medical University of South Carolina .13,200State of South Carolina (Tri-County) .....9,064Boeing ........................................................6,000Charleston County School District ........5,300Roper St. Francis Healthcare .................5,134Berkeley County School District............3,744Roper Hospital ..........................................2,498College of Charleston ..............................2,470Summerville Medical Center..................2,268Trident Health ...........................................2,268SAIC Inc. ....................................................1,877
Source: Charleston Regional Business Journal, 2012 Book of Lists
Recent Economic Development Announcements in the Lowcountry
Source: S.C. Department of Commerce
taurants, historic attractions, beaches, golfing and cruise ships all contribute a large part to South Carolina’s $14 billion hospitality industry. Many of the mil-lions of visitors who visit the Charleston area frequently return for future visits here and to other parts of the state, and many choose to call the area home.
The area’s defense industry remains strong with billions of dollars flowing through the area’s economy from the Charleston Air Force Base and the Naval Weapons Station, which make up Joint Base Charleston, to small, medium and large defense contractors along with the Space
and Naval Warfare Systems Command. Regionally, Charleston is home
to several incubators and innovation centers, which are allowing a bur-geoning creative class to take root by offering affordable space to small startup companies and businesses.
With several large hospital systems and the Medical University of South Carolina, the Charleston region also serves as a draw to some of the brightest innovators in biotechnology and health care. The region is home to the Hollings Cancer Center, the only National Cancer Institute designated center in South Carolina.
Photo/Courtesy of Clemson university
Clemson University’s $98 million wind turbine test facility will open in fall 2012.
MonthNew/Exp. Company County
JobsInvestment Created
March ’11 E 3V Incorporated Georgetown $15 million 30
May ’11 N Southeast Renewable Energy Dorchester $50 million 20
June ’11 N Tire International Berkeley $25 million 150
July ’11 E Coastal Corrugated Inc. Dorchester $1.5 million 26
Sep ’11 N TIGHITCO Inc. Charleston $30 million 350
Nov. ’11 E Cummins Technical Center Charleston $24 million 31
Nov. ’11 E Streit USA Armoring Charleston $5.8 million 50
Dec. ’11 N Cargo Composites Georgetown $700,000 40
Dec. ’11 E SafeRack LLC Georgetown $9 million 58
Dec. ’11 E TWL Precision Charleston $5 million 35
Dec. ’11 N Sportsman Boats Manufacturing Inc. Dorchester $2 million 30
March ’12 N Nexans Berkeley $85 million 200
June ’12 E Cummins Inc. Charleston $19.5 million 76
TOTAL 13 Announcements $272.5 million 1,096
8 | INTRO
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Charleston County The Charleston County school district
runs up and down 1,000 square miles of the coast and includes a range of schools from urban to rural. There are about 45,000 students in the system for the 2011-2012 school year. Students are spread out among 97 schools, including 25 magnet schools and eight charter schools.
The district has about 5,500 employees and is the fourth-largest employer in the region.
In spring 2008, the district implemented a three-year plan, Charleston Achieving Excellence, to focus on three goals: elevating the achievement of all students, closing the achievement gap between groups and increasing the graduation rate.
By 2011, the district announced it would expand upon this program and created a five-year program called Vision 2016. By 2016, the district aims to cut the achievement gap in half and have 100% of its third-graders
Education
reading on grade level, while investing in proven strategies.
The district has also expanded its support of child health and nutrition, literacy and arts and music.
In 2011, nearly half of the school district’s students attend schools with an “Excellent” rating. Also in 2011, the district’s graduation rate increased by five percentage points.
An emphasis on creating a college- oriented culture begins in the early grades and the Charleston County School District continues to focus on improving the graduation rate.
Students in the district were awarded more than $48 million in scholarships in 2011.
Berkeley County Berkeley County schools continue to
grow as more and more people move
In 2011, the Charleston County
School District created Vision 2016, a five-
year plan that aims to cut the achievement gap in half and have
100% of its third-graders reading on
grade level while investing in
proven strategies.
Charleston area schools are making gains as more emphasis is put on achieving and improving in the 150-plus schools in the tri-county area.
8 | INTRO
WELCOME
“Charlotte started at Ashley Hall in the 3-year-old program, and we have watched her confidence grow every year. We love that her teachers challenge her to analyze information and to think critically about her lessons. That focus on developing the girls’ confidence and critical thinking skills is why we chose Ashley Hall for Charlotte, and we know those skills will help her succeed in her choices for college, career and life.”
-Rob Black, Father to Third Grader, Charlotte
We are Rob and Charlotte Black, and we are Ashley Hall.
www.ashleyhall.org
Now accepting applications for girls 2 years old to 11th grade and boys 2 to 5 years old. Call the Office of Admission at 843-965-8501.
Are you Ashley Hall?Ashley Hall provides a classical education with faculty and programs committed to producing educated women who are independent , ethically responsible and prepared to meet the challenges of society with confidence. Accepting girls 2 years old to 12th grade and boys 2 to 5 years old.
10 | INTRO
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to the area. There are 40 schools in the district, including the brand new Cane Bay High School. More than 29,000 students are enrolled in the district that employs 2,257 teachers and administrators. More than 59% of the teachers have master’s degrees and above, and the teachers have an average of 13 years of experience.
The 2010-2011 school year was marked by several milestones including the announcement of Howe Hall Arts Infused Magnet School as the district’s first National Blue Ribbon School. In addition, five schools in the district were named Red Carpet Schools, and 21 schools achieved Palmetto Gold and Silver awards. The district also received an “Excellent” growth rating on its report card.
Cane Bay Elementary School opened and construction began on Cane Bay Middle School to round out the Cane Bay campus. A magnet school of the arts opened at Goose Greek High School, and Berkeley County Middle College opened and celebrated the graduation of all 27 students in its first year.
Berkeley County is committed to innovative classroom technology. It has SMART boards in most classrooms and provides training to K-12 teachers in the use of SMART lessons software. All new and renovated schools have Cynergi technology that links safety and communication needs to the learning environment. The district also has an instant messaging system, allowing the schools and the district office to personally communicate with parents and employees regarding emergency situations, school events and other important issues.
Students in the district were awarded more than $22 million in scholarships in the 2009-2010 school year.
Photo/Courtesy of Charleston County School District
Photo/Courtesy of Charleston County School District
10 | INTRO
WELCOME
Dorchester County Dorchester County, which includes
Summerville, part of North Charleston and several smaller towns, is one of the fastest-growing areas in the area. It is divided up into two school districts: District Two, which mainly serves the Summerville area, and District Four, which mainly serves the more rural areas out past Summerville.
District Two is the second largest employer in Dorchester County. It serves about 22,600 students at its 23 schools. It has more than 550 business partnerships that provide mentoring, donations and school projects, and 3,500 school volunteers. Its average SAT scores are consistently higher than state levels and its average ACT scores sit above state and nationwide averages.
District Two’s new Joseph P. Rye Elementary opened in August 2011 in the Oakbrook area at McKewn Plantation off of Patriot Boulevard. The state-of-the-art facility has approximately 1,000 students.
Students in the district were awarded more than $20.7 million in scholarships in 2010.
District Four has 2,500 students in five schools that serve the Saint George and surrounding areas, including Woodland High, Saint George Middle and Harleyville-Ridgeville Elementary.
Students in the district were awarded more than $1.7 million in scholarships in 2010.
YOU LOVE THE VIEW. WE LOVE KEEPING PESTS OUT OF IT.Charleston residents trust Orkin to keep pests in their place–and out of their homes. Call us at 866-536-8660 today to receive:
$50 OFF your first pest control service* $100 OFF your first termite control service* Superior mosquito control service Expert Formosan termite control service
*With the purchase of an annual agreement. Not valid in combination with any other discounts or offers.
Top left: A band performance at one of Charleston County’s schools. Middle: Charleston County students participate in art class. Above: Children listen to instruction during class at James B. Edwards Elementary School in Mount Pleasant.
Photo/Leslie Burden
INTRO | 11
12 | INTRO
SchoolsPUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Berkeley County School DistrictP.O. Box 608Moncks Corner, SC 29461843-899-8600 www.berkeley.k12.sc.us
Charleston County School District75 Calhoun St.Charleston, SC 29403843-937-6300 www.ccsdschools.com
Dorchester County District II102 Greenwave Blvd. Summerville, SC 29483843-873-2901 www.dorchester2.k12.sc.us
Dorchester County District IV500 Ridge St., St. George, SC 29477843-563-4535 www.dorchester4.k12.sc.us
CHARTER SCHOOLS
Charleston Development Academy233 Line St., Charleston, SC 29403843-722-2689charlestondevelopmentacademy.comGrades Served: K-6
East Cooper Montessori Charter School250 Ponsbury Road Mount Pleasant, SC 29464843-216-2883www.montessoricharterschool.comGrades Served: 1-8
Greg Mathis Charter High School2872 Azalea DriveNorth Charleston, SC 29405843-557-1611www.ccsdschools.comGrades Served: 9-12
James Island Charter High School1000 Fort Johnson RoadCharleston, SC 29412843-762-2754www.jamesislandcharterhs.orgGrades Served: 9-12
Orange Grove Elementary Charter School1225 Orange Branch Road Charleston, SC 29407843-763-1520www.ogecs.comGrades Served: K-5
Susan G. Boykin Academy4951 Rivers Ave.North Charleston, SC 29406843-744-8882Grades Served: K-6
PRIVATE SCHOOLS
Addlestone Hebrew Academy1639 Wallenberg Blvd.Charleston, SC 29407Phone: 843-571-1105www.addlestone.orgGrades Served: 18 months-8th
Archibald Rutledge Academy1011 Old Cemetery RoadMcClellanville, SC 29458Phone: 843-887-3323www.archibaldrutledgeacademy.comGrades Served: Pre-K-12th
Ashley Hall172 Rutledge Ave.Charleston, SC 29403Phone: 843-722-4088www.ashleyhall.orgGrades Served: Co-ed, ages 2-5; all girls, K-12th
Bishop England High School363 Seven Farms DriveCharleston, SC 29492Phone: 843-849-9599www.behs.comGrades Served: 9th-12th
Blessed Sacrament School7 St. Teresa DriveCharleston, SC 29407Phone: 843-766-2128www.scbss.orgGrades Served: K4-8th
Cathedral Academy3790 Ashley Phosphate RoadNorth Charleston, SC 29418Phone: 843-760-1192www.cathedralacademy.comGrades Served: K4-12th
The Charleston Catholic School888-A King St.Charleston, SC 29403Phone: 843-577-4495www.charlestoncatholic.comGrades Served: K4-8th
Charleston Christian School2234 Plainview RoadCharleston, SC 29414Phone: 843-556-4480www.charlestonchristian.orgGrades Served: K4-8th
Charleston Collegiate School2024 Academy DriveJohns Island, SC 29455Phone: 843-559-5506www.charlestoncollegiate.orgGrades Served: Pre-K-12th
Charleston Day School15 Archdale St.Charleston, SC 29401Phone: 843-377-0315www.charlestondayschool.orgGrades Served: 1st-8th
Christ Our King- Stella Maris School1183 Russell DriveMount Pleasant, SC 29464Phone: 843-884-4721www.coksm.orgGrades Served: Pre-K-8th
Coastal Christian Preparatory School681 McCants DriveMount Pleasant, SC 29464Phone: 843-884-3663www.coastalchristian.orgGrades Served: K3-12th
The Cooper School13 Oakdale PlaceCharleston, SC 29407Phone: 843-573-1033www.thecooperschool.orgGrades Served: K5-5th
First Baptist School of Charleston48 Meeting St.Charleston, SC 29401Phone: 843-722-6646www.fbschool.orgGrades Served: K3-12th
Mason Preparatory School56 Halsey Blvd.Charleston, SC 29401Phone: 843-723-0664www.masonprep.orgGrades Served: 1st-8th
Montessori School of Johns Island3634 Mary Ann Point RoadJohns Island, SC 29455Phone: 843-559-0052montessorischoolofjohnsisland.comGrades Served: Pre-school-6th, ages 2-12
Nativity School1125 Pittsford CircleCharleston, SC 29412Phone: 843-795-3975www.nativity-school.comGrades Served: K4-8th
Northside Christian School7800 Northside DriveNorth Charleston, SC 29420Phone: 843-797-2690www.northsideministries.com/ncsGrades Served: Pre-K3-12th
Northwood Academy2263 Otranto RoadNorth Charleston, SC 29406Phone: 843-764-2284www.northwoodacademy.comGrades Served: K4-12th
Pinewood Preparatory School1114 Orangeburg RoadSummerville, SC 29483Phone: 843-873-1643www.pinewoodprep.comGrades Served: K3-12th
Porter-Gaud School300 Albemarle RoadCharleston, SC 29407Phone: 843-556-3620www.portergaud.edu Grades Served: 1st-12th
Riverpointe Christian Academy2508 Ashley River RoadCharleston, SC 29414Phone: 843-763-1600www.riverbendchristian.orgGrades Served: K2-12th
St. John Catholic School3921 St. John’s Ave.North Charleston, SC 29405Phone: 843-744-3901www.saintjohncatholicsc.orgGrades Served: K4-8th
St. John’s Christian Academy204 W. Main St.Moncks Corner, SC 29461Phone: 843-761-8539www.sjcacavaliers.comGrades Served: K3-12th
St. Paul’s Academy5139 Gibson RoadHollywood, SC 29449Phone: 843-889-2702www.stpaulsacademy.orgGrades Served: 6 weeks-8th
Summerville Catholic School226 Black Oak Blvd.Summerville, SC 29485Phone: 843-873-9310www.summervillecatholic.orgGrades Served: K4-8th
Trident Academy1455 Wakendaw RoadMount Pleasant, SC 29464Phone: 843-884-7046www.tridentacademy.comGrades Served: K5-12th
12 | INTRO
WELCOME
Higher EducationW
hether you are a college-bound student, a college football fanatic, an employee or a resident interested in
lectures and continuing education op-portunities, there’s a good chance you will find what you are looking for in South Carolina’s higher education system.
Enrollment has been on the rise in recent years. More than 248,000 students were enrolled in South Carolina’s public and independent two- and four-year institu-tions during the 2011-2012 school year.
Founded in 1770, the College of Charleston is the city’s oldest institution. It is a nationally recognized public liberal arts and sciences university located in the heart of historic Charleston. Students attend class in centuries old buildings, and many spend their evenings working as waiters and bartenders — or pedal-ing tourists around in rickshaws. Because
of both their work ethic and spending power, the students are a vital part of Charleston’s thriving hospitality industry.
The Citadel is another college with deep roots in Charleston. It’s not uncom-mon to spot a “knob” walking the Low-country’s streets. The freshman class is easily identified by the men’s shaved heads that resemble doorknobs — hence the nickname. A few dozen women also attend the military college, although females were not allowed until 1996. The school is unique because it of-fers a classic military education de-scribed as “intense, meaningful and academically strong.” It differs from the nation’s traditional military schools because students are not required to join the service upon graduation.
The Medical University of South Carolina is one of the area’s premier hospitals and includes a strong teaching
South Carolina is home to84 institutions of higherlearning, including:
• Three research institutions
• 10 comprehensive teaching institu-tions
• Four regional campuses of USC
• 16 technical colleges
• 24 independent senior institutions
• Two two-year independent institu-tions
• Two private professional schools
• 24 out-of-state degree granting institutions
The Cistern at the College of Charleston.
Photo/Courtesy of College of Charleston
Photo/Courtesy of The Citadel
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component. Its specialty degree programs include dental, graduate studies, medi-cine, nursing and pharmacy. It is also one of the region’s largest employers, and the research conducted there is a vital part of the region’s high-tech biomedical industry.
The Charleston School of Law is a private institution located in downtown Charleston. While the school was founded in 2003, like most things in this city, it is steeped in history.
In November 1825, a group of Charles-ton attorneys petitioned the S.C. Gen-eral Assembly for a charter institution. The following year, the Forensic Club started offering law lectures, begin-ning the Southeast’s earliest law school. In 2002, prominent Charleston judges and attorneys set out to establish a law school that would continue the 19th century club’s tradition. The school earned accreditation in 2006 and gradu-ated its first class the following year.
The Charleston region is also home to several technical colleges that offer a host of two-year degrees and trade certifications. This includes Trident Technical College, the region’s largest two-year school. Upon the Boeing Co.’s 2009 announcement that it would locate an assembly plant for its 787 Dreamliner in North Charleston, Trident Tech announced
it would expand its aviation electron-ics programs and dedicate nearly 10,000 square feet of space for Boeing-related training programs at its main campus.
Students also have the option of attending satellite campuses for spe-cialty training, such as Embry Riddle Aeronautical University located at the Charleston Air Force Base.
The Art Institute of Charleston opened in 2007 and is a branch of the Art In-titute of Atlanta. The programs it of-fers includes commercial photography, culinary arts, fashion and retail man-agement, graphic design and more.
Charleston is also home to the Ameri-can College of the Building Arts, which trains students in historical building trades such as ironwork or plaster.
The Lowcountry Graduate Center in North Charleston is an organiza-tion that formed to help working pro-fessionals gain advanced degrees through collaboration between the state’s colleges and universities.
But despite myriad choices, South Carolina, like many states, is at a cross-roads when it comes to higher education.
Many exciting programs are under way here, including the South Carolina Cen-ters for Economic Excellence program.
Photo/Courtesy of The Art Institute of Charleston
Photo/Courtesy of College of CharlestonPhoto/Courtesy of College of Charleston
Photo/Courtesy of College of Charleston
14 | INTRO
WELCOME
The Art Institute of Charleston24 North Market St., Charleston, SC 29401843-727-3500, www.artinstitutes.edu/charleston
Charleston School of Law81 Mary St./P.O. Box 535, Charleston, SC 29402843-329-1000, www.charlestonlaw.org
Charleston Southern University9200 University Blvd., Charleston, SC 29406843-863-7000, www.charlestonsouthern.edu
The Citadel171 Moultrie St., Charleston, SC 29409843-225-3294, www.citadel.edu
The Citadel Graduate College171 Moultrie St., Charleston, SC 29409843-953-5089, www.citadel.edu/graduatecollege
College of Charleston66 George St., Charleston, SC 29424843-953-5500, www.cofc.edu
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University101 West Hill Blvd., Charleston AFB, SC 29404843-767-8912, www.erau.edu/charleston
The Graduate School of the College of Charleston66 George St., Suite 310, Charleston, SC 29424843-953-5614, http://gradschool.cofc.edu
Limestone College4500 Leeds Ave., Suite 208, Charleston, SC 29405843-745-1100, www.limestone.edu
Lowcountry Graduate Center5300 International Blvd., North Charleston, SC 29418843-953-4723, www.lowcountrygradcenter.org
Medical University of South Carolina171 Ashley Ave., Charleston, SC 29425843-792-2300, www.musc.edu
Southern Wesleyan University4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 301Charleston, SC 29405843-266-7981, www.swu.edu
Strayer University 5010 Wetland Crossing, North Charleston, SC 29418843-746-5100, www.strayer.edu
Trident Technical College7000 Rivers Ave., Charleston, SC 29406843-574-6111, www.tridenttech.edu
USC Darla Moore School of Business PMBA153 Market St., Charleston, SC 29406843-577-1195, www.moore.sc.edu
Virginia College6185 Rivers Ave., North Charleston, SC 29406843-614-4300, www.vc.edu
Webster University — Charleston Metropolitan Campus5300 International Blvd., North Charleston, SC 29418843-760-1324, www.webster.edu/charleston
Colleges & Universities
The state created the Centers of Economic Excellence program in 2002 to provide incentives for the state’s research universities to raise capital from private sources to fund endow-ments for specialized research profes-sorships. The professorships serve a unique role in helping cultivate critical public-private industrial partnerships and expanding the state’s knowledge base.
At the same time, South Carolina is grappling with decreasing state funds and increased tuition costs. Without money for new facilities, demand in the coming years may outstrip capacity. And schools are constantly challenged with training stu-dents for the evolving high-tech industry.
The good news is that university officials and lawmakers spend countless hours studying, debating and creating innovative ways to advance higher learning in South Carolina — without putting the financial burden on students and their families. The state’s colleges and universities — includ-ing many in the Lowcountry — offer a com-petitive education to traditional and return-ing students. They also help fuel the local economy by serving as some of the area’s largest employers, by luring students and families to town, and in their relationships with the community and businesses. The Lowcountry’s institutions of higher learning
Photo/Courtesy of The Art Institute of Charleston
Photo/Courtesy of The Art Institute of Charleston
Photo/Courtesy of College of Charleston
are — and will continue to be — a major part of the cultural fabric of this region.
For more information on higher education institutions in South Carolina, visit the S.C. Commission on Higher Education at www.che.sc.gov.
INTRO | 15
Taking Care
16 | INTRO
Charleston stands on the cutting edge when it comes to medi-cine. The area is home to sever-al major hospitals and numer-
ous nursing homes, assisted living facilities, specialty clinics and rehabilitation services.
There are more than 2,100 licensed physicians practicing in Charles-ton, Dorchester and Berkeley coun-ties. In addition, there are more than 4,600 registered nurses and more than 600 licensed practical nurses.
If you find yourself in need of medical care, your options in the Lowcountry are plentiful. The same could be said if you are looking for a job in a health care-related field. The medical industry is a strong economic driver and major employer.
The area’s four biggest hospitals — Roper St. Francis, the Medical Uni-versity of South Carolina, Trident Health and East Cooper Medical Center — employ more than 15,000 workers.
Charleston’s health care industry has experienced a growth spurt in recent years as the population expands and ages.
That trend is only likely to increase as the baby boomer generation grows older and seeks Charleston’s warmer climate.
Like every industry, health care has been impacted by recent economic woes. But it has been more insulated than most other businesses and is poised to ex-pand in the region in the coming years.
Where the medical industry in Charles-ton was historically cloistered in down-town Charleston, a recent trend among hospitals is to sprawl into suburban areas to provide patient care closer to home.
Both Trident Health and Roper St. Fran-cis have been granted permission from the state to build hospitals in Berkeley County.
In Charleston County, East Cooper Hospital, based in Mount Pleasant, replaced its aging facility with the $153 million East Cooper Medical Center in March of 2010. Roper opened its $160 million Mount Pleasant Hospital in November 2010.
MUSC opened a $275 million, seven-story medical tower on its downtown campus in 2008 to treat heart and vascular and digestive disease patients. It has several
There are more than 2,100 licensed physicians practicing in Charleston, Dorchester and Berkeley counties.
TAKI
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18 | INTRO
other projects ongoing at its downtown campus, as well as an 80,000-square-foot patient-centered medical office complex on Hungryneck Boulevard just off Highway 17 in Mount Pleasant that was expected to open in summer 2012. The facility will house numerous MUSC specialities in one location.
The Department of Health and Environmental Control reports the state has also licensed:
• Eight adult day care cen-ters for a total of 345 units.
• 14 ambulatory surgery centers.• One birthing center
(Charleston Birth Place Inc.).• 78 community residential care facili-
ties that form a combined 2,303 beds. • 11 licensed home health care
providers. • One in-patient hospice facility.• Eight at-home hospice care programs.• 13 hospitals or institutional general
infirmaries with a combined 2,141 licensed beds.
• 18 nursing homes with 1,953 licensed beds.
• Three inpatient drug rehab cen-ters and 11 outpatient centers.
Above left: Roper Hospital in downtown Charleston.
Above middle and right: Area physicians and nurses have access to the latest diagnostic equipment in Charleston’s top-rated hospitals and medical facilities.
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18 | INTRO
WELCOME
Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital2095 Henry Tecklenburg Blvd. Charleston, SC 29414843-402-1000www.rsfh.com
East Cooper Medical Center2000 Hospital Drive Mount Pleasant, SC 29464843-881-0100www.eastcoopermedctr.com
HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Charleston9181 Medcom St., Charleston, SC 29406843-820-7777www.healthsouthcharleston.com
Kindred Hospital Charleston326 Calhoun St., Third Floor Charleston, SC 29401843-876-8340www.khcharleston.com
Medical University of South Carolina Medical Center171 Ashley Ave., Charleston, SC 29425843-792-2300www.muschealth.com
Moncks Corner Medical Center401 N. Live Oak Drive Moncks Corner, SC 29461843-761-8721www.tridenthealthsystem.com
Roper St. Francis Mount Pleasant Hospital3500 U.S. Highway 17 N. Mount Pleasant, SC 29466843-606-7000www.rsfh.com
Roper Hospital316 Calhoun St., Charleston, SC 29401843-724-2000www.rsfh.com/roper
Roper Hospital Berkeley730 Stoney Landing Road Moncks Corner, SC 29461843-899-2000www.rsfh.com
Roper Rehabilitation Hospital316 Calhoun St., Charleston, SC 29401843-724-2800www.rsfh.com
Summerville Medical Center295 Midland Parkway Summerville, SC 29485843-832-5000www.tridenthealthsystem.com
Trident Medical Center9330 Medical Plaza DriveCharleston, SC 29406843-797-7000www.tridenthealthsystem.com
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20 | INTRO
HIS
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Historic Charleston
With all the grace and charm of a Southern city, Charles-ton draws in visitors and residents with its historic
charisma and waterfront panoramas. Stroll down King Street to browse boutiques, wander through art galleries in the French Quarter, or tour some of the city’s his-toric homes. The peninsula is home to a rich history that is revealed in nearly all of its buildings, streets and parks.
A bit of history The city, originally named Charles
Towne, was founded in 1670 in cur-rent day West Ashley and started with about 30 houses. It moved to the pen-insula 20 years later and grew to en-compass several thousand inhabitants as it became a major trading center.
After weathering several hur-ricanes and French and Spanish at-
LIVING IN
tacks during the 1700s, Charleston became a royal colony in 1721.
Charleston began to take shape as a major city, adding cultural, residential and commercial aspects. Businesses popped up, such as the country’s first fire insur-ance company and one of the country’s first theaters. Several historic landmarks were built, such as the East Bay ware-house district, which is now Rainbow Row; and lots were laid out in 1745 for the first neighborhood, Ansonborough.
The first church services at St. Mi-chael’s Episcopal Church on Broad Street were held in 1761. It is now the oldest church building in the city. The Charleston Museum was established in 1773 as the country’s first museum.
Several major Revolutionary battles unfolded around Charleston, and the city eventually fell under British control for two years before it was incorporated in 1783.
“A rich history that is revealed in nearly all of its buildings.”
Photo/Courtesy of Charleston CVBPhoto/Leslie Burden
Above: Historic homes along the Battery.Inset: The pineapple fountain at Waterfront Park.
Downtown is a much sought-after location for newcomers who are attracted to its history, beauty and charming walkability.
LIVING
The College of Charleston was granted a charter in 1785 and the school garners a large presence downtown to this day.
In 1824, the Medical University of South Carolina was founded, becom-ing the first medical school in the South. The MUSC campus and hospital occu-pies a large area on the western side of the peninsula between Calhoun and Bee streets, where a cluster of other health care providers have hospitals, such as Roper St. Francis and the VA Medical Center.
Despite a damaging earthquake in 1886 and Hurricane Hugo in 1989, Charleston still has some of the most historic homes and buildings in the South. A designated “historic district” preserves many residential properties.
Neighborhoods The housing options downtown
range from the sprawling pastel-colored multimillion-dollar homes to new luxury condos overlooking the Ashley River. The median price of homes downtown is higher than surrounding areas.
South of Broad is the neighborhood liter-ally south of Broad Street that includes the often-photographed Battery and Waterfront Park. Full of large traditional homes, this area has some of the most expensive real estate in Charleston with most of the houses coming with a price tag in the millions. Walk down the streets in this quiet, storied neighborhood to catch a glimpse of tradi-tional Charleston gardens and verandas.
The French Quarter, above Broad Street, is bound by Market and Meeting streets and Waterfront Park. It is character-ized by the many art galleries, cobble-stone streets and restaurants that fill the area, and it is named for the many French merchants who once occupied the area.
Above the French Quarter is Anson-borough, the peninsula’s first neighbor-hood, although much of it was destroyed in a fire in 1838 and had to be rebuilt. Many of the houses have Greek Revival characteristics and were built by some of Charleston’s oldest family names, such as Joseph Legare and Edward McCrady.
Harleston Village is another one of the old neighborhoods that was developed in 1770. It encompasses the area north of Broad Street to Calhoun Street. It includes Colonial Lake, which was set aside for pub-
lic use in 1768 and is now used by joggers and dog walkers. The architecture includes Italian and Georgian styles, as well as styles that span the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.
Radcliffeborough is bound by King, Vanderhorst, Smith and Radcliffe streets and contains much of the College of Charleston campus. Many of the houses have Italian and Gothic revival influences.
To the west and north of Radcliffebor-ough are Cannonborough and Elliottbor-ough where homes are being renovated at a rapid rate. Close to MUSC, this area is popular with medical students and fami-lies who want a house downtown without the price of a lower-peninsula property.
New developments are opening up residential spaces, such as the Midtown project, which is expected to help revitalize upper King Street with condominiums and single-family houses mixed in with com-mercial space. The recently constructed Bee Street Lofts offer views of the Ashley River. With their proximity to the Medical University of South Carolina, the lofts have been popular with physicians moving to the area. This injection of residential property has attracted several restaurants to the area.
To the east of Radcliffeborough is the Mazyck-Wraggborough neighborhood, which stretches from King over to Wash-ington Street. Anchoring the area is the landmark Marion Square, the 10-acre
public park that houses a farmer’s market on Saturdays from April to December. The area also includes the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry on Ann Street and the Charleston Museum on Meeting Street.
Farther up the peninsula, Hampton Park Terrace and Wagener Terrace of-fer more affordable housing options with turn-of-the-century and brick bun-galow homes. The Citadel campus also falls in the Hampton Park area.
Photo/Courtesy of Charleston CVBPhoto/Courtesy of Charleston CVB
Top: Carriage tours are a great way to learn a little Charleston history.Above: Rainbow Row.
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MO
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Mount Pleasant
After almost 250 years as “the sleepy town on the other side of the harbor,” Mount Pleas-ant forged its 20th-century
identity when the Grace Bridge opened in 1929, connecting it to Charleston and sparking a building boom that contin-ues more than 80 years later. The Si-las Pearman Bridge, built adjacent to the Grace Bridge, opened in 1966.
Yet by the dawn of the 21st century, snarling traffic on those Cooper River bridges was choking the area’s prized quality of life. Things improved dramati-cally with the opening of the $650 million Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, an eight-lane marvel that was greeted with fireworks and celebration on July 16, 2005.
The new bridge marked the begin-ning of a new era for the state’s fifth-largest municipality, now home to about 65,000.
Despite its reputation as the subur-ban gateway to Charleston and the East Cooper beaches, the historic heart of
Mount Pleasant can still be found near picturesque Shem Creek, where the local fishing fleet dock beside popular locally owned eateries. The Old Village, founded in 1680 and incorporated in 1837, sits on breezy bluffs that overlook the harbor just seaward of Shem Creek.
Locals treasure its 18th-century homes, its quaint Pitt Street commercial dis-trict and the neighborhood’s authentic shade-drenched ambiance. Residents and visitors alike enjoy trips to Alham-bra Hall Park and the nearby Pitt Street Bridge, which once connected the town to Sullivan’s Island by trolley but now offers views of Charleston Harbor and easy access to fishing and crabbing.
Other glimpses of Mount Pleas-ant’s past can be found across town on scenic Long Point Road.
On one side of the road, motorists may turn off and wander down a broad alley of oaks that leads to Boone Hall Planta-tion. Settled in 1743, this privately owned
“The sleepy town on the other side of the harbor.”
Once a summer destination for those who lived downtown, Mount Pleasant now stands alone as the state’s fifth-largest municipality.
Photo/Courtesy of I’On Group
LIVING
historic property has been open to the public for tours since 1955 yet remains a working plantation. Its “you-pick ’em” fields and seasonal events are beloved by local families.
On the other side of Long Point Road, the Charles Pinckney National Historic Site interprets life at Snee Farm Plantation, home of one of the original signers of the U.S. Constitution. The U.S. Park Service staff makes a special effort to explain and preserve the region’s Gullah culture.
Glimpses of that Gullah heritage can be seen along U.S. Highway 17, where the area’s “basket ladies” still make and sell the Lowcountry’s signature sweetgrass baskets from simple roadside stands.
Efforts to honor and preserve tradi-tions like sweetgrass basketry dem-onstrate an emerging sense of civic identity. After decades of rapid suburban growth, Mount Pleasant began allocat-ing building permits in 2005 and now puts greater emphasis on planning.
The qualities the town guards today helped convince Money magazine to name Mount Pleasant as one of the Top 100 Best Places to Live in 2006 and 2010. Money magazine lists the average home value at around $287,000 and median household income more than $95,000.
Caring for others is also on the rise. East Cooper Community Outreach, a volunteer organization that emerged from the aftermath of Hurricane Hugo in 1989, operates social programs aimed at helping disadvantaged people live healthier, more successful lives. A weekly farmers’ market on Tuesday afternoons from April to October gives locals ac-cess to affordable, healthy food.
The town unveiled two new modern hospitals in 2010. East Cooper Regional Medical Center opened in March and Roper St. Francis Mount Pleasant Hospital opened in November. Fitness has also been on the upswing here since the bridge opened in 2005 with a lane for bicyclists and pedestrians. Residents make exten-sive use of the town’s numerous parks, ballfields and gyms, and recreational sports leagues for children and adults
are numerous, popular and spirited. Palmetto Island County Park, a 943-
acre facility, has nature trails, picnic areas, a 50-foot observation tower, a water park and pedal boat rentals. Patriots Point on the Charleston Harbor boasts a state-run military museum that displays four World War II-era vessels and more than a dozen vintage aircraft. The aircraft carrier USS Yorktown is also the home to the Medal of Honor Society Museum. Patriots Point features a golf course (one of five in town), and a new athletic complex. Patriots Point also connects to the Ravenel Bridge by way of Memorial Park, a $14 million waterfront park unveiled in the summer of 2009.
Because of its 20th century history as a bedroom community, Mount Pleas-ant’s neighborhoods are typically distinct suburban developments. Their varying styles offer residents a range of choices.
The Tides, an upscale condominium community on the Charleston Harbor, is among the town’s newest. I’On, a new-urbanist development off Mathis Ferry Road, is an award-winning neighborhood of beautiful homes, tiny yards, elaborate public spaces and mixed-use construc-tion. Farther out, the sprawling new developments of Park West and Carolina Park are moving the geographic center of town more to the east each year.
With people come businesses, most of them oriented on either Highway 17 or Coleman Boulevard. The town’s most prominent shopping area is Towne Centre,
located between the Isle of Palms Con-nector and the end of Interstate 526.
In keeping with Lowcountry tradi-tion, the town loves a good festival. Mount Pleasant hosts festivals for the arts, oysters, Scottish games, local foodies and chil-dren. Every April, the town turns out for the annual Blessing of the Fleet at Memo-rial Waterfront Park, during which local clergy bless the fishing fleet and local residents hang around to celebrate spring. The annual Christmas parade is a big draw, as is the Cooper River Bridge Run, which attracts runners and walkers by the tens of thousands each spring.
Photo/Ryan Wilcox
Photo/Ryan WilcoxPhoto/Courtesy of I’On Group
Inset: Live oaks draped with Spanish moss at Oakland Plantation.Top: Mount Pleasant Farmers’ Market. Above: The I’On neighborhood.
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ISLE
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Isle of Palms & Sullivan’s Island
East Cooper’s two beach-front islands are connected by one bridge but repre-sent two distinct lifestyles.
Sullivan’s Island lies at the entrance to the Charleston Harbor and spent much of its history as a slave port. Its strategic position made it a key to the seaward defense of the city of Charleston and it was fortified well into the 20th century. To Charlestonians of the late 19th and early 20th century, Sullivan’s Island was the beach to which they escaped by boat when the summer heat grew unbearable.
Today, the island’s military and beach-retreat heritage give the place an el-egantly shabby, slow-moving style that is unique among southern beach com-munities. Islanders have adapted aban-doned fortifications and disused buildings
from Fort Moultrie’s sprawling past into creative living spaces and public uses. Victorian homes line shaded streets.
About 2,000 people live on the 3.3-square-mile island, which remains a popular destination for beach-goers from Charleston and Mount Pleasant. But with no hotels, the beach is seldom crowded. Easements and strict regulations protect the island’s dunes and maritime forests, and its lighthouse, which be-gan operation in 1962, was conveyed to the National Parks Service in 2008.
Though Sullivan’s Island was home to two settlements in the 19th century, the neighboring Isle of Palms remained a remote, sparsely populated vacation spot until the early 20th century. A 50-room hotel opened in 1906, followed in 1912 by a beach pavilion and amusement park.
Photo/Leslie Burden
Life on the islands offer distinct choices. Isle of Palms offers up-scale energy While Sullivan’s Island maintains its quirkier charms.
LIVING
First known as Hunting Island, and then Long Island, developers renamed it the Isle of Palms in 1913 to attract tourists. Development of the 5.6-square-mile island didn’t begin in earnest until the 1940s.
The boom started in 1944 with the purchase of 1,300 acres by The Beach Co., which laid out roads and began building a mixture of vacation and affordable hous-ing. The Ben Sawyer Bridge connecting Mount Pleasant to Sullivan’s Island com-pleted the Charleston-to-IOP automobile link in 1945 and more growth followed.
By the 1970s, developers turned their eyes toward a 1,600-acre tract and be-gan construction of what is today the gated Wild Dunes Resort. This exclusive community features two golf courses, extensive tennis facilities and a sys-tem of walking and bicycling trails.
Hurricane Hugo destroyed 95% of the IOP’s buildings in 1989 and the influx of
Opposite: Sullivan’s Island lighthouse.
Above: Isle of Palms boasts two picturesque golf courses within Wild Dunes Resort.
Top right: A family walks the beach on the Isle of Palms.
Right middle: Even when the weather cools off, the beaches are still perfect for a stroll.
Right bottom: Wild Dunes Resort.
Photo/Courtesy of Wild Dunes
Photo/Courtesy of Wild Dunes
insurance cash led to a burst of luxurious gentrification. Today, the island has a population of more than 4,500, multi- million-dollar homes line the water, and its Front Beach commercial district bustles with restaurants and shops.
The IOP’s Windjammer Lounge is a classic beachfront bar and music venue, and the annual Polar Bear Swim on Sullivan’s Island, which draws thou-sands of high-spirited bathers every New Year’s Day, originates at Dunleavy’s Pub in the island’s tiny downtown.
Life on the islands offers distinct choices for those who can afford them — the up-scale energy of the IOP versus the quirkier charms of Sullivan’s Island. Residents of both islands benefit from one of the state’s finest elementary schools, enjoy easy access to shopping via the Isle of Palms Connector and can often be spotted tooling around in their ubiquitous electric golf carts.
Photo/Leslie Burden
Photo/Courtesy of Charleston CVB
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expanded to include land in Charleston, Dorchester and Berkeley counties.
In the 1990s, the federal government closed the Navy base in North Charleston. The city of North Charleston has since partnered with developers to infuse new life into the area’s historic neighborhoods.
Redevelopment areas include Park Circle, a community of neighborhoods planned early in the 20th century. Resi-dential developments in the works, such as Oak Terrace Preserve and Mixson, have earned a reputation for their sustain-able building practices. Nearby Mon-tague Avenue is a Main Street of the past alive again with shops and restaurants.
Redevelopment is ongoing on at the former naval base as well, where once empty military buildings now
bustle with art studios, private offices and other commercial activity collectively known as the Navy Yard at Noisette.
North Charleston remains a center of business activity for the region, with many of the Charleston area’s commer-cial and industrial employers located there. Boeing Co. announced plans in late 2009 to locate its second assem-bly line for its 787 Dreamliner in North Charleston. In 2011, South Carolina officials along with Boeing celebrated the completion of the assembly plant.
One of the area’s major attractions is the North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center and adjacent Charleston Area Convention Center. The complex is home to the Stingrays, a minor league hockey team, and is a
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North Charleston
North Charleston is an area in transition. With industrial and military roots, the city in recent years has commit-
ted to redeveloping its central neigh-borhoods and reinventing itself as a trendy yet affordable place to live.
The area north of Charleston was developed as plantations by early colo-nists, but after the Civil War, it grew into an industrial center. Just after the turn of the 20th century, the U.S. Navy targeted a huge swath of land along the Cooper River for a new naval base, and planned neighborhoods began to unfold to house workers, the military and their families.
The North Charleston area boomed during World War II. The dynamic area incorporated as a city in 1972 and has
LIVING IN
North Charleston continues to experience a resurgence of new communities, shopping areas and industries.
Photo/Courtesy of City of North CHarleston
LIVING
Top left: Montague Avenue has become the area’s Main Street with shops and restaurants.
Top right: North Charleston’s Riverfront Park.
Left: The Mixson Neighborhood.
Bottom: One of the many parks in North Charleston.
venue for concerts, performances and meetings large and small. An $18 million expansion is under way for the Coliseum that will include a new ticket window, upgraded box suites, better kitchen facili-ties and stage and sound improvements.
Nearby shopping centers in-clude the Tanger Outlet Cen-ter and Northwoods Mall.
The Charleston International Airport is also located in North Charleston. Interstate 26 forms a spine that begins in Charleston and runs through North Charleston toward Columbia. Interstate 526, which has terminal points in Mount Pleasant and West Ashley, reaches its peak in North Charleston.
Photo/Courtesy of City of North CHarleston
Photo/Leslie Burden
Photo/Courtesy of City of North Charleston
Photo/Courtesy of City of North Charleston
Photo/Courtesy of City of North Charleston
Opposite: New neighborhoods like Oak Terrace Park provide walkable areas for homeowners.
Above: A concert at Riverfront Park.
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LIVING IN
West Ashley
The area west of the Ashley River in Charleston is home to some of the area’s oldest sub-urban neighborhoods and, a
little farther out, some of the newest. West Ashley, as it’s called, also fea-
tures a range of old and new shop-ping centers and restaurants, historic plantations and other attractions, and a unique outdoor walking trail.
Neighborhoods closest to the Charles-ton peninsula were built in the 1920s through the 1950s. Among the older subdivisions are Old Windermere, By-rnes Down, Moreland, Avondale and The Crescent. Development continued through the 1970s and 1980s in neighbor-hoods farther out from the city, such as Northbridge, Northbridge Terrace and Wespanee Plantation. New residential
development has continued in recent years, especially past the western bound-ary of Interstate 526, in neighborhoods like Shadowmoss and Carolina Bay.
Long-ago residents of West Ashley have left behind several historic plantations and gardens that have been preserved and are open for tours. Magnolia Planta-tion, Middleton Place and Drayton Hall Plantation allow visitors to learn about the architecture and life of South Carolinians in the 1700s and the centuries following.
Another historic destination in West Ashley is Charles Towne Land-ing, the site of the English settlement that would become the Carolina colony. The 664-acre attraction is a state park.
When getting around by car, main highway corridors in West Ashley are U.S. 17, called Savannah Highway, and
Photo/Courtesy of Leslie Burden
West Ashley features a range of old and new neighborhoods and shopping centers, historic plantations and a unique greenway.
“Eclectic shopping strips filled with many locally owned stores and eateries.”
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S.C. 61, also known as Ashley River Road. The two highways are connected by S.C. 7, also called Sam Rittenberg Bou-levard. Interstates 526 and 26 connect West Ashley to North Charleston to the north and Mount Pleasant to the east.
For those interested in seeing West Ashley by foot or bike, the West Ashley Greenway is a good option. This 10.5-mile walking and biking path weaves among residential areas and shopping centers and through small marshy ar-eas and swaths of trees. The trail starts near the South Windermere Shopping Center and stretches to Johns Island.
Shopping is plentiful in West Ashley. The area is home to Citadel Mall, one of the area’s two enclosed malls. Shopping centers anchored by national retailers and restaurants surround Citadel Mall, which is located just inside I-526 near the intersec-tion of U.S. 17 and Sam Rittenberg Boule-vard. West Ashley also includes eclectic shopping strips filled with many locally owned stores and eateries, such as the Avondale shopping area along U.S. 17.
Photo/Leslie BurdenPhoto/Ryan W
ilcox
Photo/Leslie Burden
Photo/Leslie Burden
Top: Several murals cover the exterior walls in Avondale, where there are shops and restaurants.
Middle left: The Avondale area runs along Highway 17 in West Ashley, which also is called Savannah Highway.
Middle right: The sunrises over the West Ashley Greenway.
Right: A serene afternoon at one of the historic plantations in West Ashley.
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James Island & Folly Beach
J ames Island and Folly Beach, located just south of Charleston, represent a distinctly independent streak in the Lowcountry character.
Long a semi-rural area, James Island’s population has been booming since the early 1990s and the opening of the James Island Connector, a bridge that links the island directly to the Charleston peninsula.
James Island is bounded by Wappoo Creek, Charleston Har-bor and the Stono and Folly riv-ers. Its network of marshes, inlets, sounds and creeks gives it one of the most scenic natural envi-ronments in the region. It was
a strategic key to Charleston during the Revolutionary and Civil wars. The Confed-erate attack on Fort Sumter began in 1861 with a shot from Fort Johnson, modern-day
home of a state-of-the-art government marine science research facility.
McLeod Plantation, with its alley of slave cabins visible from Folly Road near the foot of the Wappoo Bridge, stands near the entrance to the private Country Club of Charleston. The Riverland Ter-race neighborhood, located between Maybank Highway and Wappoo Creek, features enormous live oaks and deep-ly shaded lanes. A nearby commercial district offers
C L O S E S T B E A C H T O H I S T O R I C C H A R L E S T O N , S O U T H C A R O L I N A
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Folly Beach Ad for Newcomers GuideFull page, bleed 9. x 11.316, Trim 8.5 x 10.875, Live 7.5 x 9.875
James Island’s enormous live oaks and deeply shaded lanes lead into Folly Beach, which is also called ‘The Edge of America.’
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“A distinctly independent streak in the Lowcountry character.”
Photo/Leslie Burden
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LIVING
C L O S E S T B E A C H T O H I S T O R I C C H A R L E S T O N , S O U T H C A R O L I N A
1-843-588-2447, ex t 1 ~ www. fo l l ybeachsouthca ro l ina .o rg
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Folly Beach Ad for Newcomers GuideFull page, bleed 9. x 11.316, Trim 8.5 x 10.875, Live 7.5 x 9.875
34 | INTRO
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fine restaurants, antiques and the Terrace Theatre, the area’s only art-house cinema.
Recreational options include the Charleston Municipal Golf Course and James Island County Park, a 643-acre facility with trails, fishing docks, a 50-foot climbing wall, kayak rentals, picnic areas and a campground. The park’s Splash Zone water park is extremely popular with families during summer months, and the county park’s annual Holiday Festival of Lights attracts motorists on winter nights.
James Island ends where Folly Road enters a marsh marked by the landmark “Folly Boat,” an abandoned hull that was deposited on the roadside by Hurricane Hugo. Locals have been painting mes-sages on it ever since. Another trea-sured local landmark – Bowen’s Island Restaurant – sits on a tidal creek in a hummock of trees in the vast marsh between James Island and Folly Beach.
Folly Beach calls itself “The Edge of America,” and the seven-mile is-land certainly seems to take the nick-name seriously. The island celebrates its bars, fishing shacks, funky eater-ies and nefarious characters, and East Coast surfers swarm to the spot they call “The Washout” whenever an Atlan-tic swell pushes big waves ashore.
A county-run 1,000-foot fishing pier marks the center of the island.
The undeveloped eastern end of the island was the longtime site of a Coast Guard station. Morris Island, where the Union assault depicted in the movie “Glory” took place, lies across the inlet
from the old Coast Guard station. The island has been heavily eroded, and the Morris Island Lighthouse has been surrounded by water for decades.
Long described as the Lowcountry’s “poor man’s beach,” Folly’s signature shacks ceased to be affordable escapes for drifters, starving artists and beach bums a decade ago, but the island’s 2,300 year-round residents preserve its iden-tity as a place where corporate homog-enization hasn’t taken over – yet.
Left: A shrimp boat docked in a creek. Top: Folly Beach has plenty of hotels and beach rentals for vacationers.Top right: Center Street on Folly has a wide range of restaurants and gift shops. Right: James Island County Park boasts trails, a water park and a 50-foot climbing wall.
Photo/Leslie Burden
Photo/Leslie Burden
Photo/Leslie BurdenPhoto/Courtesy of Charleston County Parks
LIVING ON
Johns Island
Johns Island, the Lowcountry’s last remaining rural sea island, is a vast swath of land between James Island, the mainland west of Charleston and the private bar-
rier islands of Kiawah and Seabrook. Its future is one of the most important
undecided questions in the Lowcountry. The island grows much of the area’s
fresh organic produce and is home to nu-merous farms, nurseries, packing houses and produce stands. And though its main transportation arteries are heavily traf-ficked, the island has miles of long, quiet, tree-lined roads that attract Lowcountry bicyclists looking for a nice day’s ride.
Traffic remains one of the island’s most pressing issues. Johns Islanders shot down a proposed Cross Island Express-way in the 1990s and are divided over a proposed extension to Interstate 526 that would cross the island en route to the James Island Connector, shortening the 30-minute commute to Charleston considerably. The debate continues, as opponents don’t want to trade their rural way of life and thousands of acres of farmland for the suburban devel-opment better roads would bring.
The island boasts The Angel Oak, believed to be one of the oldest trees east of the Mississippi. Said to be an estimated 1,500 years old, the oak is a graceful giant, 65 feet tall, more than 25 feet around and provides more than 17,000 square feet of shade with limbs as long as 89 feet. It’s owned by the city of Charleston and is open to the public.
Another local gem is the village of Rockville at the end of neighboring Wadmalaw Island. This remote, pictur-esque village plays host each August to the Rockville Regatta, an event that dates
back more than 100 years and marks the end of the Lowcountry’s competitive sailing season. It’s as much a party as it is a race.
Horses raised for work, transportation or recreation have long been a part of life on the island. The public Mullet Hall Equestrian Center at Johns Island County Park (a largely undeveloped 738-acre tract) provides riders with facilities for horse shows and equestrian tourna-ments, plus 20 miles of riding trails.
The Charleston Executive Airport is a small facility that offers convenience to resort visitors and flying lessons for locals.
A 16,000-square-foot library, completed in 2004, is the county’s largest branch.
Much of the development driving the island today is upscale, including The Preserve at Fenwick Hall. Other developments offer a mixture of afford-able and luxury choices, varying from waterfront lots to Charleston-style ur-
banism to custom rural seclusion. The island’s central commercial district
is located at the intersection of Main, May-bank and Bohicket roads. The island now boasts a fine-dining French restaurant, The Fat Hen, as well as the Italian restaurant, The Wild Olive, both on Maybank Highway.
Johns Island is a stronghold of Gullah culture and holds a special place in the Lowcountry’s civil rights history. Native son Esau Jenkins, despite receiving no formal education beyond the fourth grade, understood in the 1950s and 1960s that the future of the island’s isolated black communities would depend on bootstrap-ping programs for their education and health. He and others founded “Citizenship Schools” that helped residents — many of whom were illiterate — qualify to vote, and their Sea Island Health Corp. brought doctors and nurses to rural corners that had never received proper care.
The Angel Oak, believed to be 1,500 years old.
Johns Island is the Lowcountry’s last rural sea island and is where much of the area’s organic produce is grown.
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Daniel Island
The Lowcountry’s newest ad-dress is also one of its most attractive. Daniel Island has grown from an undeveloped
expanse of forest and farmland into a thriving community of more than 5,000.
The 4,000-acre island at the tip of the Cainhoy Peninsula was essentially unin-habited when Interstate 526 crossed it in the 1990s, linking the land between the Wando and Cooper rivers to the mainland for the first time. Development, guided by a master plan worked out in conjunc-tion with the Guggenheim Foundation (which owned the island from 1947-97), began in the late 1990s. Today, the Daniel Island community spans nine neighbor-hoods, a central commercial district, more than 400 acres of public parkland,
two golf courses, a professional soccer stadium and a world-class tennis facility.
Daniel Island is incorporated into the city of Charleston, even though it’s lo-cated in Berkeley County and residents must pass through Mount Pleasant or North Charleston to reach it. Though generally considered a bedroom com-munity, the island’s daytime population swells to an estimated 8,500, thanks to employers such as software firm Black-baud and the 34-acre campus of Bishop England High School, which moved to the island in 1998 after more than 80 years in downtown Charleston.
Home prices range from the $300,000s to more than $3 million, with select lots selling for upwards of $1 million.
Condominiums are available for less
than $200,000, but the island’s network of public spaces, services, shopping, educa-tion and amenities generally tends to put a premium on property values. Plans point toward an eventual population of 15,000.
Life on the island benefits from 23 miles of shoreline, much of it open to the public, and the extensive system of parks and docks give neighborhoods plenty of public spaces and room to socialize. The island’s event calendar gets more crowded every year, thanks in large part to the Family Circle Cup Tennis Center (its namesake tournament is played there each April) and Blackbaud Stadium, home pitch for the Charleston Battery Soccer Club. These modern facilities are increasingly in demand for concerts and festivals.
Photo/Leslie BurdenPhoto/Daniel Island Real Esate
Daniel Island is largely a bedroom community and offers many amenities, including an extensive system of parks.
Obtain the Property Report required by Federal Law and read before signing anything. No Federal Agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. �is material shall not constitute a valid o�er in any state where prior registration is required and registration requirements have not yet been met. NY residents: Complete O�ering terms are in an o�ering plan available from Sponsor. File No. HO-00-0016. Equal Housing Opportunity. Access and rights to recreational amenities may be subject to fees, membership dues or limitations.
Edged by 23 miles of rivers and tidal creeks
With parks, gardens, biking and walking trails
On-island shops, schools, restaurants and churches
Convenient to beaches and international airport
A private club featuring golf courses by Tom Fazio and Rees Jones
e Family Circle Tennis Center
A diverse selection of homes and homesites
An established community with a coveted Charleston address
A smart decision
A town. An island. A way of life.
WELCOME TO CHARLESTON’S ISLAND TOWN.
danielisland.com800-958-5635
To learn more, call or visit us online at danielisland.com.
INTRO | 37
Obtain the Property Report required by Federal Law and read before signing anything. No Federal Agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. �is material shall not constitute a valid o�er in any state where prior registration is required and registration requirements have not yet been met. NY residents: Complete O�ering terms are in an o�ering plan available from Sponsor. File No. HO-00-0016. Equal Housing Opportunity. Access and rights to recreational amenities may be subject to fees, membership dues or limitations.
Edged by 23 miles of rivers and tidal creeks
With parks, gardens, biking and walking trails
On-island shops, schools, restaurants and churches
Convenient to beaches and international airport
A private club featuring golf courses by Tom Fazio and Rees Jones
e Family Circle Tennis Center
A diverse selection of homes and homesites
An established community with a coveted Charleston address
A smart decision
A town. An island. A way of life.
WELCOME TO CHARLESTON’S ISLAND TOWN.
danielisland.com800-958-5635
To learn more, call or visit us online at danielisland.com.
38 | INTRO
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LIVING ON
Kiawah & Seabrook Islands
Kiawah and Seabrook islands, two private resort communities south of Charleston, offer a quality of life that includes world-class
golf, upscale homes and breathtaking views of the Lowcountry’s landscape.
Pottery found on Kiawah Island dates as far back as 4,000 years. Ownership of the island changed many times through the years from the Indians to the British and then to some of the earliest “Charles-tonians.” Its history is linked to names you may already be familiar with: Gibbes, Vanderhorst and Middleton, to name a few.
Development of the island loosely began in the 1950s when C.C. Royal, who made his fortune in the lumber business, purchased the island. He built a home for
his wife and seven children and then sold 65 lots to friends. In 1974, the Kuwait Invest-ment Co. purchased the island from Royal’s heirs and created a land plan that consisted of a resort and residential development. Kiawah Development Partners is cur-rently the master developer of the island.
Approximately 1,200 full-time residents inhabit the island, but the population swells in the spring and summer when about 600 of the island’s properties are rented.
The island is also home to the Kiawah Is-land Golf Resort, which includes five public golf courses and two private courses; The Sanctuary, a AAA Five Diamond hotel; an award-winning spa; and several restaurants.
In August 2012, the PGA Champion-ship will come to Kiawah Island Golf
Photo/Kiawah Island Golf Resort
“World-class golf, upscale homes and breathtaking views of the Lowcountry’s landscape.”
LIVING
Resort. The PGA major is expected to bring a more than $200 million economic impact to the area, including millions of dollars worth of worldwide exposure.
Outside of golf, the island also caters to tennis players and is a destination for run-ners each year during the annual Kiawah Island Marathon, held each December.
Seabrook Island, just across the marsh from Kiawah Island, is a 2,200-acre mix of forest, salt marshes and beach. The island was discovered by settlers in 1666 and indigo and rice were its first cash crops. The island was first called Jones Island, then Simmons Island and finally Seabrook when it was pur-chased by William Seabrook in 1816.
Originally developed in 1972 as a resort and conference center location, the island has evolved into a private oceanfront com-munity. There are more than 2,500 prop-erties on Seabrook Island and more than 700 families live on the island year-round.
There is no shortage of things to do on Seabrook Island, from golfing on two private golf courses, to playing tennis, horseback riding and boating. There are several restaurants to choose from also.
Inhabitants of both islands place a high value on the environment and have made sure that the buildings are con-structed in harmony with the natural surroundings. There are also plenty of opportunities to experience the wildlife, whether strolling on the beach or explor-ing the waterways via kayak or canoe.
Just 30 minutes away from Charles-ton, the islands are close enough for a day trip into the city; however, there are several options for shopping excursions on both islands, as well as at Freshfields Village on neighboring Johns Island. Freshfields Village offers a variety of stores, from sporting goods to grocer-ies, as well as several restaurants.
Prior to entering Seabrook Island (top right) or Kiawah Island (right), there is Freshfields Village (bottom left and right), which offers shops, restaurants and a gas station.
Photo/=Leslie BurdenPhoto/Leslie Burden
Photo/Leslie Burden
Photo/Leslie Burden
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Historic Berkeley County is the largest of the three counties in the Charleston metro area and one of the fastest growing in the
state. Its agricultural base — dating back to the 17th century — has given way to industry as evidenced by a $600 million investment by Internet giant Google in a new data center and DuPont’s expan-sion of a Kevlar plant that the county won over 40 potential locations worldwide.
In addition, the entire tri-county area has benefitted from the 2009 announce-ment that Boeing Co. selected North Charleston as the location for its sec-ond assembly line for the 787 Dream-liner — a $750 million investment.
Major employers include the U.S. Naval Weapons Station, with nearly 18,500 employees, and Berkeley County School District, with 3,650. Several industry lead-ers, including Nucor Steel, J.W. Alumi-num and Alcoa Mt. Holly, have earned recognition for sustainability efforts.
Sensitive to quality of life issues, the Berkeley County Planning Commission has launched an initiative to study and man-age growth. Dubbed “Planning the Future While Preserving the Past,” its mission is to create a comprehensive development plan.
Indeed, quality of life is a major draw for visitors and newcomers to Berke-ley County, with its temperate coastal plain climate, abundant waterways and unspoiled landscapes. A rich heritage that traces its origins to the first set-
tlers in the Carolinas is alive today in the residents of Berkeley County and their communities — Bonneau, Goose Creek, Hanahan, Jamestown, Moncks Corner, St. Stephen and Daniel Island.
Originally the domain of European planters, county farmlands once sup-ported rice and cotton crops. Planta-tions may still be seen today along tributaries of the Cooper River and some still serve as residences.
Mepkin Abbey, a former plantation perched on the river’s bluffs, now serves as home to a Trappist monastery with a garden and chapel open to the pub-lic. It is located in the town of Moncks Corner, originally a colonial trading post dating back to 1738 that took its name from landowner Thomas Monk.
Old Santee Canal Park commemorates America’s first summit canal, which began operating in 1800. In addition to tours of the historic site, the park features the Berkeley County Museum and Heritage Center. Ex-hibits and artifacts portray the region’s his-tory and include Brig. Gen. Francis Marion, also known as the “Swamp Fox,” Native Americans, colonial life, the Civil War and the Francis Marion National Forest.
At Francis Beidler Forest in Four Holes Swamp, shaded boardwalks wind through ancient groves of tower-ing cypress and Pleistocene swamps. The forest — a National Natural Land-mark — is protected and managed by the National Audubon Society and is
the largest remaining virgin black water cypress and tupelo swamp in the world.
Cypress Gardens features boat rides through black water swamps and the Berkeley Blueways offer 20 canoeing and kayaking trails. World-class waterskiing, wind surfing, sailing, boating and fish-ing are popular on Lake Moultrie, as well as the state’s largest lake, Lake Marion. The Palmetto Trail, a recreational trail that stretches statewide, takes trekkers off the beaten path for a closer experi-ence with Southern fauna and wildlife.
The active lifestyle of Berkeley County pairs well with the wide variety of residential neighborhoods avail-able. From the small town feel of some of the county’s oldest communities to planned neighborhoods with single-family attached and detached homes, choices abound in every price range. Del Webb Charleston, located in Cane Bay Plantation, offers all the classic ameni-ties for the active adult population.
Daniel Island offers a master-planned lifestyle community built on a sea island in Berkeley County. Thoughtful planning and quality execution have earned the Daniel Island Co. recognition from the Urban Land Institute and the National Association of Homebuilders for exceptional smart growth development practices. One of the hottest tickets in professional sports, the Family Circle Cup, attracts top-seeded players every year to the all-woman’s Tier I pro tennis event on Daniel Island.
LIVING IN
Berkeley County
Photo/Courtesy of Berkeley County
LIVING
LIVING IN
Summerville
Summerville is a community that still gathers at Town Square to celebrate the 4th of July, where Friday night high school foot-
ball draws a spirited crowd, and in early December, the holiday season is ushered in with an annual Christmas Tree Lighting downtown. In this modern Southern city, progress and preservation are inextri-cably intertwined, making it a dynamic and diverse place to live and work.
Downtown Restoration, Enhancement and Management (D.R.E.A.M.), a nonprofit group spearheaded by local residents, has done much since its inception in 1992 to bring focus and support to Summerville and its historic downtown district. The com-mercial area is bustling again with unique shops, a local bookstore, art galleries and eateries. Guerin’s Pharmacy —the oldest still operating in South Carolina — contains antiques, a full-service phar-macy and an old-style soda fountain that serves drug store classics like cherry and vanilla cokes, milkshakes and chili dogs.
The Summerville-Dorchester Museum documents cultural and natural history with a film and exhibits of the colonial settlers, early churches and architecture. More than 700 buildings have been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Summerville traces its roots to the 1780s, when it was known as Pineland Village to plantation owners wanting to escape the swamp fever and insects of the Lowcountry summer. After being deemed by medical specialists in 1899 as one of the best areas in the world for lung and throat disorders, the area experienced a golden era, with special lodgings and resorts springing up to accommodate pulmonary patients. The most famous was Pine For-est Inn, which sometimes served as the Winter White House for Presidents William Howard Taft and Theodore Roosevelt.
Today, Summerville is Dorchester County’s largest city with an estimated population of more than 43,000. Named one of the 50 best small towns in America
by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance maga-zine, Summerville offers residents the best of both worlds in terms of quality of life and housing. Known for its stately Victorian homes, the city also offers the full spectrum of new construction options attracting families, business and military personnel to the area.
Dubbed Flower Town in the Pines, Summerville still gets high marks for natural attributes. The Flowertown Fes-tival draws more than 200,000 people every spring for a weekend dedicated to artisans and crafts amid the profu-sion of blooms in Azalea Park.
The park, a 12-acre oasis of ponds, paths, fountains and tennis courts, has also been the site for one of South Carolina’s premiere outdoor arts events, Sculpture in the South.
Summerville residents take to the trails at nearby Givhans Ferry State Park, on the former site of an 18th-century ferry that once crossed the Edisto River. The
park features camping, cabins, fish-ing, picnic areas and river access.
At Francis Beidler Forest in Four Holes Swamp, shaded boardwalks wind through ancient groves of towering cypress and Pleistocene swamps. The forest — a National Natural Landmark — is protected and managed by the National Audubon Society and is the largest remaining virgin stand of bald cypress in the world.
Among the many fine and fun dining options in Summerville, perhaps the most famous is the Dining Room at Woodlands Resort & Inn — one of only six lodging properties in America to be awarded the Mobil Five-Star and AAA Five Diamond awards for both lodging and dining. The readers of Travel + Leisure magazine ranked Woodlands Inn No.1 in the Conti-nental U.S. and Canada and No.3 world-wide in the 2008 World’s Best Service Awards. The property also was voted the No. 1 hotel in the magazine’s 2011 list of the World’s Best Hotel Values.
Summerville was named one of the 50 best small towns in America by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine.
Photo/Leslie Burden
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LIVING
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44 | INTRO
The Lowcounty’s coastal en-vironment makes outdoor life here a special draw, but its sports and recreation
scene doesn’t end with beachgoing. The area boasts three profes-
sional teams, three small college athletic programs, excellent venues and dozens of amateur recreational leagues in a variety of sports.
Folly Beach is generally considered one of the best surfing destinations on the East Coast, and dedicated wave rid-ers keep track of conditions at its storied “Washout” via webcam. Waves at the Isle of Palms aren’t quite as powerful, but East Cooper surfers swear by them.
Sullivan’s Island waves are inad-equate for surfing, but kiteboard-ing is a popular alternative.
Kayaking has been a popular lo-cal sport for years, and outfitters along Shem Creek in Mount Pleas-ant cater to locals and tourists alike.
Remote islands in the Cape Romain Na-tional Wildlife Refuge are a draw for many, but others prefer to drive south of Charles-ton and strike out into the blackwater wil-derness of the pristine and sprawling ACE Basin or head farther inland to explore the swamps and groves of Dorchester County.
Sailing — either competitive or con-templative — has been a Lowcountry passion since antebellum days. Charleston Race Week, a three-day regatta spon-sored by the Charleston Ocean Rac-ing Association, draws more than 1,500 sailors to the Charleston Harbor every April. The College of Charleston and The Citadel both field competitive sail-ing teams. The local sailing season ends in August with the Rockville Regatta, a tradition for more than 100 years.
Recreational boating — particularly as it relates to fishing — takes up much of the calendar and deep sea charters are avail-able from Shem Creek and other locations.
Charleston County runs a fishing pier
at Folly Beach and in Mount Pleasant at the Memorial Waterfront Park, and surf casters land sizable fish every year. Locals dip for crabs in tidal creeks all sum-mer and shrimp-baiting season typically runs from September to November.
Hunters flock to inland private game preserves and public game lands each fall in the Francis Marion National Forest and the ACE Basin.
Fall and winter are also the best time for hiking and biking in the local forests.
Running has grown in popularity since the founding of the Cooper River Bridge Run in 1978, but received a healthy boost in 2005 when the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge opened with a pedestrian/bicyclist lane. The Bridge Run takes place each April, attracting worldclass 10k runners and tens of thousands of amateur ath-letes and walkers. The race begins near Shem Creek and finishes in downtown Charleston. Kiawah Island hosts an annual marathon and half-marathon, and there are organized races throughout the year in various locations across the region.
In recent years, triathlons have been proliferating, many of them tak-ing advantage of the region’s open water for the swimming legs.
The area’s flat roads make for fast cycling. The Lowcountry hosts a series of popular cycling events, including criterion races at Charleston’s Hampton Park, 100k and 100-mile “century” rides in the Francis Marion National Forest and group rides that make use of the long, shady roads on Johns Island. Johns Island is also home to the Mullet Hall Equestrian Center.
Most municipalities in the area offer recreational leagues, but amateur youth and adult baseball/softball leagues are extremely popular in Mount Pleasant, Sum-merville, Goose Creek and the St. Andrews District west of Charleston. Gahagan Park in Summerville is a softball shrine. Mount Pleasant, which is riddled with ballfields, opened an extensive recreation com-plex at Dunes West earlier this decade and has been expanding it ever since.
Soccer is popular in the suburban areas, and recreation departments in some locations run the football leagues for their local public and private middle schools.
Sports and recreationFrom surfing to ice hockey, you name it, the Lowcountry has it.
Photo/Ryan Wilcox
44 | INTRO
GuIDE
Mount Pleasant’s youth football season begins each year with a massing of the teams and a series of 15-minute scrim-mages at Wando Stadium. It concludes with a well-attended town championship game. Summerville’s Memorial Stadium is a high school football shrine, home to the Sum-merville High School Green Wave. Young players in southern Dorchester County are groomed from elementary school to play for one of the district’s two high schools.
Charleston Southern Univer-sity, between Summerville and North Charleston, competes in the Big South Conference, while The Citadel and the College of Charleston are members of the storied Southern Conference.
The Citadel’s football team moved into a new and improved Johnson Hagood Stadium in 2008, while the College of Charleston opened its 5,000-seat Carolina First Arena basketball facility later that fall.
The Citadel sports thrive on tradition and pageantry, while “CofC” basketball has developed a reputation as a mid-major “giant-killer,” with a history of upset-ting high-ranked teams. Both Southern Conference schools have an outstand-ing history of success in baseball.
Professional baseball in Charleston dates back to 1886 and the city has been associated with the South Atlantic League off and on for more than 100 years. The city is currently represented by the Class A Charleston RiverDogs, a member of the New York Yankees farm system.
The RiverDogs play in Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park, known by locals as “The Joe.” It overlooks the Ashley River and was considered one of the finest ballparks in America when it opened in 1997.
The Carolina Stingrays, a member of the East Coast Hockey League af-filiated with the Washington Capitals, have played at the North Charleston Coliseum since 1993. That same year also saw the founding of the Charleston Battery, a member of the United Soccer Leagues’ First Division. The Battery plays at Blackbaud Stadium on Daniel Island.
Daniel Island is also home to the Family Circle Tennis Center where its name-sake tournament is held each year. The state-of-the-art stadium and surround-ing courts were built in 2000 and are also used as a public tennis center.
Opposite top: A Charleston RiverDogs game at The Joe.
Top: A bike lane and pedestrian lane were included on the construction of the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge and it is used daily by many residents and visitors alike.
Above left: Family Circle Cup Stadium on Daniel Island.
Above right: The ECHL Stingrays.
Above: Charleston’s waterways offer many opportunities for kayaking.
Sports and Recreation
Photo/Leslie BurdenPhoto/Courtesy of The Sting Rays
Photo/Courtesy of Family Circle Cup
Photo/Leslie Burden
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Charleston is literally the birthplace of golf in America and today features numerous places to play
and several award-winning courses. This August, the 2012 PGA
Championship will be held at the Ocean Course on Kiawah Island, designed by Pete Dye. More than 200,000 people are
expected to attend the tournament.Charlestonians first teed it up
in 1786 on the peninsula on a course they called Harleston Green at the South Carolina Golf Club. While this original golf course no longer exists, the city is still actively involved in the game. The Charleston Municipal Golf Course, a.k.a. “The Muni,” opened in 1929 on James Island and now books 60,000 rounds of golf every year.
No matter where you live in the Lowcountry, golf
is just a short drive away.
Tee Time
golf CoursesDaniel Island: The Daniel Island Club (843-971-3555) offers two private, non-equity courses: Beresford Creek Course and the highly-rated Ralston Creek Course.
Edisto Island: The Plantation Course at Edisto (843-869-1111) is a top-ranked public course.
Goose Creek: There are two 18-hole public courses in town, Crowfield Golf & Country Club (843-764-4618) and Redbank Plantation Golf Course (843-764-7802). The Oaks Golf & Country Club (843-553-4191) is an 18-hole, par-35 public course.
Hollywood: The Links at Stono Ferry (843-763-1817) is public and a local favorite.
Isle of Palms: Wild Dunes Resort (843-886-2164) has two public courses, the Harbor Course and the highly regarded Links Course.
James Island: There are 60,000 rounds of golf played at Charles-ton Municipal Golf Course (843-795-6517) every year. The Country Club of Charleston (843-795-2400) is private.
Johns Island: The Golf Club at Briar’s Creek (843-768-3050) is an award-winning, private non-equity course.
Kiawah Island: This resort com-munity is built around golf. Its Kiawah Island Club River Course (843-768-6120) is a private non-equity award-winner. Cas-sique Golf Club (843-768-6120) is equally well-regarded as a private equity course. Kiawah Island Resort offers five public choices: The Ocean Course (843-768-2121), which is ranked among the Top 100 courses in America; the award-winning Os-prey Point Course (843-768-2121); the five-star Turtle Point Course (843-768-2121), the four-star Cougar Point Course (843-768-
2121), and the Oak Point Course (843-768-7431).
Moncks Corner: The 18-hole Berkeley Country Club (843-761-4880) is a public course, as is the nine-hole Cypress Point Par 3 (843-761-5599).
Mount Pleasant: Rivertowne Country Club (843-849-2400) is an award-winning public course. Charleston National Country Club (843-884-4653) and Dunes West Golf Club (843-856-9000) are highly rated and public. Patriots Point Links on Charleston Harbor (843-881-0042) is an afford-able public course with great scenery. Snee Farm Country Club (843-884-8571) is a private non-equity course.
North Charleston: Yeamans Hall Country Club (843-747-8855), located on North Charleston’s boundary with neighboring Hanahan, is an award-winning, top-ranked course. Wrenwoods
Golf Club (843-963-1833) is a pri-vate, non-equity course. Coosaw Creek Country Club (843-767-9000) is semi-private.
Seabrook Island: The pri-vate equity Club at Seabrook Island (843-768-2529) offers two courses: Crooked Oaks and Ocean Winds.
Summerville: The Golf Club at Wescott Plantation (843-871-2135) is Summerville’s municipal golf facility, offering three public nine-hole courses: Burn Kill, Black Robin and Oak Forest. Legend Oaks Plantation Golf Club (843-821-4077), Pine Forest Country Club (843-851-1193) and Summerville Country Club (843-873-2210) are 18-hole public courses.
West Ashley: Shadowmoss Plan-tation Golf Club (843-556-8251) is a public course in a subdivision.
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GuIDE
dining guide
CHARLESTON
Amen Street Fish and Raw Bar205 East Bay St.843-853-8600
Andolini’s Pizza82 Wentworth St.843-722-7437
East Bay Deli334 East Bay St.843-723-1234
Fig Restaurant232 Meeting St.843-805-5900
Fleet Landing186 Concord St.843-722-8100
Fulton Five5 Fulton St.843-853-5555
Gilroys Pizza Pub353 King St.843-937-9200
Fish442 King St.843-722-3474
Five Loaves Cafe43 Cannon St.843-937-4303
Hanks Seafood Restaurant10 Hayne St.843-723-3474
High Cotton199 East Bay St.843-724-3815
Hominy Grill207 Rutledge Ave.843-937-0930
Husk76 Queen St.843-577-2500
Il Cortile Del Re193 King St., Suite A843-853-1888
Juanita Greenbergs Nacho Royal439 King St.843-723-6224
Jestine’s Kitchen251 Meeting St.843-722-7224
Jim & Nick’s BBQ288 King St.843-577-0406
Library at the Vendue23 Vendue Range843-577-7970
Magnolia’s185 East Bay St., Suite 100843-577-7771
Marina Variety Store17 Lockwood Blvd.843-723-6325
Market Pavilion Hotel225 East Bay St.843-723-0500
McCrady’s2 Unity Alley843-577-0061
Oak Steakhouse17 Broad St.843-722-4220
O-Ku Restaurant463 King St.843-37-0112
Pearlz Oyster Bar153 East Bay St.843-577-5755
Peninsula Grill112 Market St., Suite N843-723-0700
The following list is just a taste of the many restaurants in the region you can enjoy. Please call ahead to check days and hours of operation.
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Poogan’s Porch72 Queen St.843-577-2337
Santi’s Restaurante Mexicano1302 Meeting Street Road843-722-2633
Sermet’s Corner276 King St.843-853-7775
Ted’s Butcher Block334 East Bay St., Suite K843-577-0094
Tristan Restaurant LLC55 South Market St.843-534-2155
ISLE OF PALMS
Acme Cantina 31 J.C. Long Blvd. 843-886-0024
Boathouse Restaurant at Breach Inlet101 Palm Blvd.843-886-8000
Long Island Cafe Inc.1515 Palm Blvd., Suite A843-886-8809
Morgan Creek Grill80 41st Ave. 843-886-8980
Sea Biscuit Cafe LLC21 J.C. Long Blvd.843-886-4079
Sea Island Grill5757 Palm Blvd.843-886-2200
MOUNT PLEASANT
17 North3563 North Highway 17843-606-2144
Ali Baba Mediterranean Cuisine920 Houston Northcutt Blvd.843-388-0683
Andolini’s Pizza414 Coleman Blvd.843-849-7437
Bambu604 Coleman Blvd.843-284-8229
Boulevard Diner409 Coleman Blvd.843-216-2611
Charleston Harbor Hilton20 Patriots Point Road843-856-0028
CJ’s Catering/ Gullah Cuisine1717 Highway 17 North843-881-9076
Five Loaves Cafe1055 Johnnie Dodds Blvd. 843-849-1043
Fuji Sushi Bar & Grill644 Long Point Road843-856-5798
Graze863 Houston Northcutt843-606-2493
Giuseppi’s Pizza & Pasta1440 Ben Sawyer Blvd. 843-856-2525
Iacofano Deli626 Coleman Blvd.843-881-2313
Ichiban Restaurant909 Houston Northcutt Blvd.843-849-8121
Jack’s Cosmic Dogs2805 Highway 17 North843-884-7677
Juanita Greenberg’s Nacho Royal410 West Coleman Blvd.843-329-6224
Langdon’s Restaurant778 S. Shellmore Blvd.843-388-9200
Melvin’s Southern BBQ925 Houston Northcutt Blvd.843-881-0549
Moe’s Southwest Grill900 Houston Northcutt Blvd.843-388-0101
Mustard Seed Restaurant1036 Chuck Dawley Blvd.843-849-0050
Pattaya Restaurant607 Johnnie Dodds Blvd. 843-856-1808
Sakyo Japanese1150 E. Hungryneck Blvd.843-881-8580
Sette201 Coleman Blvd.843-388-8808
Skoogie’s840 Coleman Blvd.843-442-5185
Square Onion18 Resolute Lane, Suite B843-856-4246
Wreck of Richard & Charlene106 Haddrell St.843-884-0052
NORTH CHARLESTON
Cork Neighborhood Bistro1067 East Montague Ave.843-225-2675
Evo Pizza1075 East Montague Ave. 843-225-1796
Madra Rua Irish Pub1034 East Montague Ave. 843-554-2522
Sesame Burgers & Beer4726 State Road S-10-32 843-554-4903
SEABROOK ISLAND
Lucy’s Red Sky Grill1001 Landfall Way843-768-0183
SULLIVAN’S ISLAND
Atlanticville Restaurant & Café2063 Middle St.843-883-9452
Dunleavy’s Pub2213 Middle St.843-883-9646
High Thyme2213 Middle St., Suite C843-883-3536
Poe’s Tavern2210 Middle St., Suite C843-883-0083
Station 22 Inc.2205 Middle St.843-883-3355
Sugar Shack2213 Middle St., Suite C843-883-8811
Sullivan’s Restaurant2019 Middle St.843-883-3222
WEST ASHLEY
Al Di La25 Magnolia Road843-571-2321
Andolini’s Pizza1117 Savannah Highway843-225-5200
Gene’s Haufbrau817 Savannah Highway843-225-4363
Glass Onion1219 Savannah Highway843-225-1717
Mellow Mushroom19 Magnolia Road843-747-4992
Joy Luck Chinese1303 Ashley River Road843-573-8899
Nirlep India Restaurant908 Savannah Highway843-763-9923
Olympic Restaurant & Bakery1922 Savannah Highway843-556-9359
Osaka Restaurant100 Folly Road843-852-9979
Panda Palace1119 Wappoo Road843-763-7472
Pearlz Little Oyster Bar9 Magnolia Road843-573-2277
Red Orchid China Bistro1401 Sam Rittenberg Blvd.843-573-8787
Rococo German Bakery1750 Savannah Highway, #A843-763-2055
Taste of India851 Savannah Highway 843-556-0772 Triangle Char & Bar828 Savannah Highway843-377-1300
Voodoo Tiki Bar & Lounge15 Magnolia Road843-769-0228
Dining guide
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GuIDE
BERKELEY COUNTY
Holiday Inn Express Summerville120 Holiday DriveSummerville, SC 29483843-875-3300www.hiexpress.com/summervillesc
CHARLESTON COUNTY
1807 Phoebe Pember House & Studio26 Society St.Charleston, SC 29401843-722-4186www.phoebepemberhouse.com
1843 Battery Carriage House Inn20 South BatteryCharleston, SC 29401843-727-3100www.batterycarriagehouse.com
Aloft Charleston Airport and Convention Center4875 Tanger Outlet Blvd.North Charleston, SC 29418843-566-7300www.alofthotels.com/charlestonairport
Andrew Pinckney Inn40 Pinckney St.Charleston, SC 29401843-937-8800www.andrewpinckneyinn.com
Best Western Charleston Down-town146 Lockwood Blvd.Charleston, SC 29403-5123843-722-4000www.charlestonbestwestern.com
Best Western King Charles Inn237 Meeting St.Charleston, SC 29401843-723-7451www.kingcharlesinn.com
Best Western Sweetgrass Inn1540 Savannah HighwayCharleston, SC 29407843-571-6100www.thesweetgrassinn.com
The Boardwalk Inn at Wild Dunes Resort5757 Palm Blvd.Isle of Palms, SC 29451888.845.8880www.wilddunesmeetings.com
Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina20 Patriots Point RoadMount Pleasant, SC 29464843-856-0028www.charlestonharborresort.com
Charleston Marriott170 Lockwood Blvd.Charleston, SC 29403843-723-3000www.marriott.com/chsmc
Charleston Place205 Meeting St.Charleston, SC 29401843-722-4900www.charlestonplacehotel.com
Comfort Suites West of the Ashley2080 Savannah HighwayCharleston, SC 29407843-769-9850www.choicehotels.com/hotel/SC369
Courtyard by Marriott Charleston-Mount Pleasant1251 Woodland Ave.Mount Pleasant, SC 29464843-284-0900www.marriott.com/chscm
Crowne Plaza Charleston Airport Convention Center4831 Tanger Outlet Blvd.North Charleston, SC 29418843-744-4442www.crowneplaza.com/charleston
Doubletree Guest Suites Charles-ton Historic District181 Church St.Charleston, SC 29401843-577-2644www.charlestondoubletree.com
Embassy Suites Airport/Conven-tion Center5055 International Blvd.North Charleston, SC 29418843-747-1882www.embassysuitescharleston.com
Embassy Suites Historic Charles-ton337 Meeting St.Charleston, SC 29403843-723-6900www.historiccharleston.embassysuites.com
Fairfield Inn & Suites Charleston Airport/Convention Center4841 Tanger Outlet Blvd.North Charleston, SC 29418843-300-3100www.marriott.com/chscs
Francis Marion Hotel387 King St.Charleston, SC 29403843-722-0600www.francismarioncharleston.com
French Quarter Inn166 Church St.Charleston, SC 29401843-722-1900www.fqicharleston.com
Fulton Lane Inn202 King St.Charleston, SC 29401843-720-2600www.fultonlaneinn.com
Hampton Inn & Suites1104 Isle of Palms ConnectorMount Pleasant, SC 29464843-856-3900www.charlestonisleofpalmssuites.hamptoninn.com
Hampton Inn & Suites Charles-ton/ West Ashley678 Citadel Haven DriveCharleston, SC 29414843-573-1200www.charlestonwestashleysuites.hamptoninn.com
Hampton Inn & Suites North Charleston/University Blvd.2688 Fernwood DriveNorth Charleston, SC 26406843-735-7500www.northcharlestonuniversityblvd-suites.hamptoninn.com
Hampton Inn Charleston Historic District345 Meeting St.Charleston, SC 29403843-723-4000www.charlestonhistoricdistrict.hamp-toninn.com
Hampton Inn Daniel Island160 Fairchild St.Charleston, SC 29492843-216-6555www.charlestondanielisland.hamp-toninn.com
Harbour View Inn2 Vendue RangeCharleston, SC 29401843-853-8439www.harbourviewcharleston.com
Hawthorn Suites2455 Savannah HighwayCharleston, SC 29414843-225-4411www.hawthorn.com
places to StayThe following list is just a sample of the many places to stay in the region.
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Holiday Inn Charleston Riverview301 Savannah HighwayCharleston, SC 29407843-556-7100www.hiriverview.com
Holiday Inn Charleston-Mount Pleasant250 Johnnie Dodds Blvd.Mount Pleasant, SC 29464843-884-6000www.himtpleasant.com
Holiday Inn Express1943 Savannah HighwayCharleston, SC 29407843-402-8300www.hiexpresscharleston.com
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Charleston Ashley Phosphate7670 Northwoods Blvd.North Charleston, SC 29406843-553-1600www.hiexpress.com/chastni-26
Holiday Inn Express Mount Pleasant350 Johnnie Dodds Blvd.Mount Pleasant, SC 29464843-375-2600www.hiexpress.com/mtpleasantsc
Holiday Inn Express-North Charleston8975 Elms Center RoadNorth Charleston, SC 29406843-569-3200www.hiexpress.com/charleston-n
Homewood Suites by Hilton Charleston Convention Center/Airport5048 International Blvd.Charleston, SC 29418843-735-5000www.charlestonairport.homewoodsuites.com
Homewood Suites by Hilton, Charleston/Mount Pleasant1998 Riviera DriveMount Pleasant, SC 29464843-881-6950www.charlestonmtpleasant.homewood-suites.com
Hyatt Place Charleston Airport/Convention Center3234 W. Montague Ave.North Charleston, SC 29418843-302-8600www.charlestonairport.place.hyatt.com
Hyatt Place North Charleston7331 Mazyck RoadNorth Charleston, SC 29406843-735-7100www.northcharleston.place.hyatt.com
John Rutledge House Inn116 Broad St.Charleston, SC 29401843-723-7999www.johnrutledgehouseinn.com
Kings Courtyard Inn198 King St.Charleston, SC 29401843-723-7000www.kingscourtyardinn.com
Meeting Street Inn173 Meeting St.Charleston, SC 29401843-723-1882www.meetingstreetinn.com
The Mills House Hotel115 Meeting St.Charleston, SC 29401843-577-2400www.millshouse.com
The North Charleston Inn2934 W. Montague Ave.North Charleston, SC 29418843-744-8281www.northcharlestoninn.com
The Palms Hotel1126 Ocean Blvd.Isle of Palms, SC 29451843-886-3003www.palmscharleston.com
Planters Inn112 N. Market St.Charleston, SC 29401843-722-2345www.plantersinn.com
Quality Inn & Suites at Patriots Point196 Patriots Point RoadMount Pleasant, SC 29464843-856-8817www.choicehotels.com
Residence Inn by Marriott Charleston Mount Pleasant1116 Isle of Palms ConnectorMount Pleasant, SC 29464843-881-1599www.marriott.com/chsmp
Residence Inn Charleston Airport5035 International Blvd.North Charleston, SC 29418843-266-3434www.marriott.com/chsno
Restoration on King75 Wentworth St.Charleston, SC 29401www.restorationonking.com
The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort1 Sanctuary Beach DriveKiawah Island, SC 29455843-768-6000www.kiawahresort.com
Shem Creek Inn1401 Shrimp Boat LaneMount Pleasant, SC 29464843-881-1000www.shemcreekinn.com
Shem Creek Inn1401 Shrimp Boat LaneMount Pleasant, SC 29464843-881-1000www.shemcreekinn.com
Sheraton Charleston Airport Hotel4770 Goer DriveNorth Charleston, SC 29406843-747-1900www.SheratonCharleston.com
Sleep Inn North7435 Northside DriveNorth Charleston, SC 29420843-572-8400www.sleepinn.com
Sleep Inn of Charleston1524 Savannah HighwayCharleston, SC 29407843-556-6959www.sleepinn.com
Tides Folly Beach1 Center St.Folly Beach, SC 29439843-588-6464www.tidesfollybeach.com
Town & Country Inn and Conference Center2008 Savannah HighwayCharleston, SC 29407843-571-1000www.thetownandcountryinn.com
The Vendue Inn19 Vendue RangeCharleston, SC 29401843-577-7970www.vendueinn.com
Wentworth Mansion149 Wentworth St.Charleston, SC 29401843-853-1886www.wentworthmansion.com
Wingate by Wyndham at Charleston Southern University9280 University Blvd.North Charleston, SC 29406843-553-4444www.charlestonwingate.com
Zero Water Street Bed & Breakfast31 East BatteryCharleston, SC 29401843-723-2841www.zerowaterstreet.com
DORCHESTER COUNTY
Woodlands Inn125 Parsons RoadSummerville, SC 29483843-875-2600www.woodlandsinn.com
Places to Stay
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The depth and breadth of Charleston’s arts scene just may surprise you. From established galleries and historic theaters to funky festivals and improv comedy, the Holy City and surrounding areas have it all. The following is just a small selection of what’s available to spark and satisfy your artistic cravings.
Visual arts Artistic Spirit Gallery Artistic Spirit Gallery, located at the Navy Yard at Noisette, features well-known artists’ work and “outsider art,” — pieces created by self-taught, emerging artists. Call for an appointment. 10 Storehouse Row, Charleston, 843-579-0149. www.artisticspiritgallery
Carolina Galleries This Church Street gallery focuses on two distinct periods in Charleston history: First, the Charleston Renaissance, which took place during the first half of the 20th century and features artwork inspired by the beauty and war-ravaged Lowcountry. And second, 21st-century Charleston, which includes more recent paintings that capture the personality of the region, from its historic streets to quintessential marsh scenes. 106-A Church St., 843-720-8622. www.carolinagalleries.com
Charleston Fine Art Dealers’ AssociationCreated in 1999, the Charleston Fine Art Dealers’ Association now includes 13 galleries. The association hosts Palette and Stroll each July, an evening dedicated to fine art, cuisine and wine. It also hosts the Fine Art Annual, a weekend event held each November that features national artists and raises funds to support art programs in local schools. www.cfada.com
GuIDE
arts abound
Photo/Leslie Burden
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Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole perform at the 2012 Spoleto Festival USA finale.
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Arts abound
City Gallery at Waterfront Park The City Gallery presents six to eight exhibits each year focusing on contemporary visual arts created by local, regional, national and international artists. 34 Prioleau St., Charleston, 843-958-6484. http://citygalleryatwaterfrontpark.com/
French Quarter Gallery Association Roughly 30 galleries are members of the French Quarter Gallery Association. The galleries stay open late the first Friday night in March, May, October and December for the very popular Art Walks. Free. 843-805-8052. www.frenchquarterarts.com
Gallery ChumaSpecializing in the works of the Gullah people of coastal South Carolina, Gallery Chuma features Gullah art, books, crafts, storytelling, tours and food. 43 John St., Charleston, 843-722-7568. www.gallerychuma.com
Gibbes Museum of ArtAs Charleston’s only visual arts museum, the Gibbes also offers a variety of educational programs, group tours and art discovery walking tours. 135 Meeting St., Charleston. 843-722-2706. www.gibbesmuseum.org
Halsey Institute of Contemporary ArtAdministered by the School of the Arts at the College of Charleston, the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art was created to advocate, exhibit and interpret visual art, with an emphasis on contemporary art. 54 St. Philip St., Charleston, 843-953-5680. http://halsey.cofc.edu/index.php
MOJA Arts Festival Started in 1984, the annual MOJA Arts Festival is a celebration of African American and Caribbean arts and features music, visual art, storytelling, performances, crafts, children’s activities and more. 843-724-7305. www.mojafestival.com
New Perspectives Gallery Features curated exhibitions by Charleston area artists and special exhibits during the Piccolo Spoleto Festival and MOJA Arts Festival. 180 Meeting St., Charleston, 843-958-6459.
North Charleston City Gallery Located in the common areas at the Charleston Area Convention Center, the North Charleston City Gallery features exhibits that are rotated on a monthly basis. 5001 Coliseum Drive, North Charleston, 843-745-1087. www.northcharleston.org
Piccolo SpoletoPiccolo Spoleto was created in 1979 to coincide with the international Spoleto Festival USA and primarily features artists from the Southeast. Held at a variety of locations in downtown Charleston. 843-724-7305. www.piccolospoleto.com
Spoleto Festival USAHeld each spring since 1977, this 17-day festival features visual art exhibits and more than 120 performances from opera to jazz music. 843-722-2764; box office: 843-579-3100. www.spoletousa.org
Performing arts The Actors’ Theatre of South CarolinaFounded in 1995 and headquartered in Charleston, members of the Actors’ Theatre travel the state presenting a full season of performances as well as acting classes. 843-588-9636. www.actorstheatreofsc.org
American TheaterThe American Theatre opened in 1942 as one of Charleston’s premiere movie houses. It closed in 1977 and stood vacant for 20 years until it was revitalized and reopened in 2005 as a state-of-the-art meeting and conference facility. It also hosts a variety of performances, including Spoleto activities. 446 King St., Charleston. 843-853-0246. www.pphgcharleston.com
Charleston Ballet TheatreDuring the last 20 years, the Charleston Ballet Theatre has achieved national recognition for its artistic and professional presentations of a range of works from classic to eclectic. 477 King St., Charleston. 843-723-7334. www.charlestonballet.org
Charleston Music HallSaid to offer some of the best acoustics in Charleston, the Charleston Music Hall welcomes a variety of performers throughout the year from bluegrass to blues. 37 John St., Charleston. www.charlestonmusichall.com
Charleston StageCharleston Stage, which calls the newly renovated Dock Street Theatre home, was founded in 1978 and is the state’s largest professional theatre company. 843-577-7183. www.charlestonstage.com
Charleston Symphony OrchestraFounded in 1936, the Charleston Symphony Orchestra is known its Masterworks and Pops series, the CSO also offers holiday performances and family concerts throughout the year. Concerts are held at various locations around Charleston including the Gaillard Auditorium and the Memminger Auditorium. 572 Savannah Highway, Suite 100, Charleston. 843-723-7528. www.charlestonsymphony.com
The Dock Street Theatre The historic Dock Street Theatre reopened after undergoing a three-year, $20 million renovation. The theatre originally opened in 1736 and was the first building built specifically for theatrical productions. It is a performance venue for Spoleto Festival USA and home of Charleston Stage. 135 Church St., Charleston. 843-720-3968. www.charlestoncity.info
Flowertown Players This community theater presents a range of productions from musicals to serious dramas, as well as performances and classes just for children. 133 S. Main St., Summerville. 843-875-9251. www.flowertownplayers.org
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Footlight Players TheatreSince 1931, the Footlight Players Theatre has presented a variety of stage products and has become known as one of the top community theatres in the South. A typical season includes six performances. 20 Queen St., Charleston. 843-722-4487.http://footlightplayers.net/
The Gaillard Municipal Auditorium Built in 1968, the Gaillard hosts a multitude of events and performances from rock ‘n’ roll concerts to fashion shows. 77 Calhoun St., Charleston, 843-577-7400. www.charlestoncity.info
The Have Nots! Comedy Improv Called the longest-running show in Charleston, The Have Nots! cast has been together for 153 years and performed more than 1,200 shows. Local shows are held at Theatre 99, the group’s own theatre, as well as other locations throughout Charleston. 280 Meeting St., Charleston. 843-853-6687. http://theatre99.com/
Memminger AuditoriumBuilt in the 1930s as an auditorium for Memminger High School, the building stood vacant since the 1960s and was severely damaged by Hurricane Hugo. Spoleto Festival USA played a large part in the building’s recent $6 million renovation and the facility reopened in 2008. Now used for a variety of performances from international artists performing as part of Spoleto, to local school groups. 56 Beaufain St., Charleston.
North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center The North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center have hosted numerous events from hockey games to Broadway shows throughout the year. The coliseum seats more than 13,000 for a concert performance. The Performing Arts Center seats 2,300. 5001 Coliseum Drive, North Charleston, 843-529-5011. www.coliseumpac.com
PURE Theatre PURE Theatre performs at the Circular Congregational Church and has gained respect as a small professional theatre focusing on the works of contemporary playwrights. 150 Meeting St., Charleston, 843-723-4444. www.puretheatre.org
Sottile Theatre The Sottile Theatre opened in 1922 as The Gloria Theatre and hosted the premiere of “Gone With the Wind” in 1939. It’s now the home of various performances, including Charleston Symphony Orchestra concerts and Spoleto Festival performances. 44 George St., Charleston, 843-953-5623. http://sottile.cofc.edu/
Village PlayhouseOpen since 2001, the Village Playhouse and Repertory Company offer more than 150 nights of entertainment each season. Classics, as well as new dramas and musicals, can be experienced within a venue that features small, candlelit tables rather than auditorium seating. 730 Coleman Blvd., Mount Pleasant, 843-856-1579. www.thevillageplayhouse.com
Photo/Leslie Burden
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The Del McCoury Band perform at the 2011 Spoleto Festival USA finale.
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Aiken-Rhett HouseCharleston merchant John Robinson built the Aiken-Rhett House in 1817 and sold it to William Aiken Sr. in 1827. Aiken’s son and namesake moved into the property with his new bride in 1833. William Aiken Jr. was one of the state’s wealthiest citizens and served as governor from 1844-1846. The home remained in the Aiken family until the 1970s, when it was donated to the Charles-ton Museum and subsequently purchased by the Historic Charleston Foundation.48 Elizabeth St. 843-723-1159 www.historiccharleston.org
American Military MuseumSince 1987, the American Museum has offered military buffs the chance to view authentic artifacts from 14 different American conflicts. Pieces represent the Revolutionary War through the recent war in Iraq. More than 70 cases display 260 uniforms, 33 flags, medals and hundreds of artifacts from the Army, Navy, Air Force,
plantation house, slave cabins and gardens, and don’t forget to stop by the U-Pick fields before you head home. 1235 Long Point Road, Mount Pleasant. 843-884-4371. www.boonehallplantation.com
Carolina Heritage OutfittersFocusing on canoe and kayak tours of the Edisto River and Bull Island, Carolina Heritage Outfitters offers 10-mile day trips and 22-mile overnight trips where you can spend the night in a private tree house. Highway 15, Canadys. 843-563-5051.www.canoesc.com
Carolina Ice PalaceHome of the Stingrays, Carolina Ice Palace also offers public skating and lessons. 7665 Northwoods Blvd., Charleston. 843-572-2717. www.carolinaicepalace.com
Caw Caw Nature History and Interpretive Center Located south of Charleston in Ravenel,
Marines and Coast Guard. The museum is located in the Aquarium Wharf. 360 Concord St., Charleston. 843-577-7000. www.americanmilitarymuseum.org
Angel OakLocated on Johns Island, the mas-sive and majestic Angel Oak has been shading the ground beneath it for an estimated 1,500 years. It has a circum-ference of 25 1/2 feet; its branches reach out 160 feet from the trunk and cover 17,000 square feet. 3688 Angel Oak Road, Charleston. 843-559-3496.www.angeloaktree.org
Boone Hall Plantation & GardensExperience what plantation life was like in the 1800s at one of America’s oldest work-ing plantations. At one time, Boone Hall produced cotton and pecans, but today, the main crops are strawberries, peaches and other fruits and vegetables. Tour the
attractions and tours
Photo/Courtesy of Leslie Burden
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the Caw Caw Interpretive Center was once part of several rice plantations. It offers interpretive exhibits and pro-grams, as well as more than 6 miles of trails with elevated boardwalks through the wetlands. 5200 Savannah Highway, Ravenel. 843-889-8898. www.ccprc.com
Charles Pinckney Historic Site Charles Pinckney, one of the signers of the U.S. Constitution, owned a coastal plantation in what is now Mount Pleasant. The 715-acre plantation is now a national historic site and includes a walking trail, archeological excavations and a visi-tor center. 1254 Long Point Road, Mount Pleasant. 843-881-5516. www.nps.gov/chpi
Charles Towne Landing State Historic ParkRebuilt in 2006, Charles Towne Landing focuses on its rich history as the location of the first permanent European settle-ment in South Carolina. Explore the park’s new visitor’s center, museum and archae-ology exhibit. Experience the natural habitat zoo, 80 acres of gardens and a replica of a 17th-century ship. 1500 Old Towne Road, Charleston. 843-852-4200.www.southcarolinaparks.com
The Charleston Museum Charleston is a city of many firsts, includ-ing America’s first museum. Founded in 1773, the museum provides an authentic look into the history of Charleston and the Lowcountry. In addition to the museum, you can explore two houses listed as National Historic Landmarks: The Joseph Manigault House and the Heyward-Washington House. 360 Meeting St., Charleston. 843-722-2996. www.charlestonmuseum.org
Children’s Museum of the LowcountrySince opening in September of 2003, the Children’s Museum has seen more than 450,000 visitors. It features eight interactive exhibits and offers some-thing for children ages 3 months to 12 years. 25 Ann St., Charleston. 843-853-8962. www.explorecml.org
The Citadel Archives & MuseumFeaturing memorabilia from special events, cadet uniforms and more, the Citadel Museum represents the history of The Military College of South Caro-lina. 171 Moultrie St., Charleston. 843-953-6846. www.citadel.edu/museum
The Confederate Museum History buffs won’t want to miss a trip to the Confederate Museum, located on the second floor of the recently reno-vated City Market Hall. 188 Meeting St., Charleston. 843-723-1541. www.csa-scla.org/articles/ConfederateMuseum.htm
Cypress GardensOnce one of the area’s largest rice planta-tions, Cypress Gardens is now a pristine black water swamp that has served as a location for several movies, including “The Notebook” and “The Patriot.” Walk along the scenic trails or take a boat through the swamp to experience the towering cypress and tupelo trees. 3030 Cypress Gardens Road, Moncks Corner. 843-553-0515. www.cypressgardens.info
Drayton HallDrayton Hall stands apart from other historic properties in that the house is not furnished, allowing the imagination to run wild. Drayton Hall’s mission is to maintain the look and feel the plantation had when it was turned over to the National Trust in 1974. 3380 Ashley River Road, Charles-ton. 843-769-2600. www.draytonhall.org
Edisto Beach State ParkLocated just an hour south of Charleston, Edisto Beach State Park offers an ocean-front campground as well as a maritime forest full of live oaks and some of the state’s tallest palmetto trees. State Cabin Road, Edisto Island. 843-869-2756. www.southcarolinaparks.com
Edisto Island Museum Established in 1990, the Edisto Is-land Museum is run by the Edisto Island Historic Preservation Society. The museum recounts the island’s his-tory through a variety of exhibits. 8123 Chisolm Plantation Road, Edisto Island. 843-869-1954. www.edistomuseum.com
Edisto Island Serpentarium & Gift Shop Learn about reptiles that are native to the region, as well as those from around the world at the Edisto Island Serpen-tarium. Explore the indoor and out-door exhibits and watch alligators and turtles swim in the outdoor ponds. 1374 Highway 174, Edisto Island. 843-869-1171. www.edistoserpentarium.com
Fort MoultrieFort Moultrie, located on Sullivan’s Island across from Fort Sumter, has been restored to reflect the major events in the fort’s history, from World War II to the Ameri-can Revolution. 1214 Middle St., Sullivan’s Island. 843-883-3123. www.nps.gov/fomo
Fort SumterFort Sumter is known as the site where the American Revolution began. Take a boat ride from Charleston or Mount Pleasant to the fort where you can walk right up to thick brick walls built to withstand cannon fire. Park rangers are available to answer questions and a museum offers a host of artifacts. 843-883-3123. www.nps.gov/fosu
H.L. HunleyThe H.L. Hunley was the first submarine to ever sink an enemy ship. It was lost at sea for 137 years and found just out-side the Charleston Harbor in 1995 by author and adventurer Clive Cussler. It was raised from the sand and silt in 2000 and can be viewed on the week-ends at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center. 1250 Supply St., North Charles-ton. 877-448-6539. www.hunley.org
International Center for Birds of PreyThe Center for Birds of Prey is dedicated to studying the welfare of birds and their habitats with the mission to educate the public on environmental issues that impact birds and humans. The center treats nearly 400 injured birds of prey each year. Open every day for tours except major holidays. 4872 Seewee Road, Awendaw. 843-971-7474. www.thecenterforbirdsofprey.org
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Morris Island Lighthouse Originally constructed 1,200 feet from the ocean, the land the Morris Island Light-house sits on today is submerged in water. A group called Save the Lighthouse has been working since 1999 to coordinate the stabilization, erosion control and restora-tion of the lighthouse. So far, the group has raised more than $4.5 million for this pur-pose. 843-633-0099. www.savethelight.org
Old City MarketOpen 365 days a year, the Old City Market consists of four open-air build-ings that are filled with vendors and shoppers. At one end of the market sits Market Hall, a substantial building with a curved iron staircase. Located on Market Street between Meeting and East Bay streets. 843-724-3796.www.charlestoncity.info
Old Exchange and Provost DungeonBuilt in 1771, this three-story building was an important part of South Carolina’s, and the nation’s, history. It was the place where, in 1776, South Carolina drafted its first constitution and declared indepen-dence from Great Britain. Beneath the Old Exchange building is the Provost Dungeon. 122 East Bay St., Charleston. 843-727-2165 or 1-888- 763-0448. www.oldexchange.com
Old Slave Mart MuseumOnce used as a slave auction gallery, the Old Slave Mart was constructed in 1859. Its uses through the years ranged from a tene-ment dwelling to an auto repair shop. The city of Charleston acquired the property in 1988 and now operates a museum here. 6 Chalmers St., Charleston, 843-958-6467. www.charlestoncity.info
Patriots Point Naval & Maritime MuseumThe museum at Patriots Point is a state-run military museum that displays four World War II-era vessels and more than a dozen vintage aircraft. The aircraft carrier USS Yorktown is also the home to the Medal of Honor Society Museum. 40 Patriots Point Road, Mount Pleasant. 866-831-1720, 843- 884-2727. www.patriotspoint.org
Carolina Polo & Carriage Co.The only carriage company in the city owned and operated by Charlestonians whose family has been in Charleston since the 1600s. 181 Church St., 16 Hayne St., Charleston. 843-577-6767. http://cpcc.com
Classic Carriage ToursA carriage ride with Classic Carriage Tours will provide insight on the city of Charleston and a lesson in Southern culture. 10 Guignard St., Charleston. 843-853-3747. www.classiccarriage.com
Old South Carriage ToursGuides dressed in Confederate uniforms willtake you around the city, speaking of more than 300 years of Charleston’s history. 14 Anson St., Charleston. 843-723-9712. www.oldsouthcarriage.com
Old Towne Carriage Co.Hop on a carriage ride that will take you through the historic market and past historic homes and buildings in a 25-30-block area. 20 Anson St., Charleston. 843-722-1315. www.oldtownecarriage.com
Palmetto Carriage WorksThe oldest carriage company in Charleston,Palmetto Carriage Works covers a 30-blockarea of the historic district. Evening toursoffered in the summer. 40 N. Market St., Charleston. 843-723-8145. www.carriagetour.com
Isle of Palms County ParkThis oceanfront park offers picnic tables, a playground, a volleyball court and beach chair rentals. One 14th Ave., Isle of Palms. 843-886-3863.www.beachparks.com/isleofpalms.htm
Kiawah Beachwalker ParkThis public beach is located on the west end of the private Kiawah Island. The park includes dressing areas, rest-rooms, picnic tables, grills and beach chair rentals. Beachwalker Drive, Kiawah Island. 843-768-2395. www.ccprc.com
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens Magnolia Plantation was founded in 1676 by the Drayton family. Tour the historic home and grounds, which in-cludes Spanish moss-draped gardens, a black water swamp garden, slave cabins and a petting zoo. 3550 Ash-ley River Road, Charleston. 800-367- 3517. www.magnoliaplantation.com.
Marion SquareHome of the Charleston Farmer’s Market each Saturday from April through De-cember, Marion Square also hosts several events including the Charleston Wine + Food Festival, Charleston Fashion Week and the Southeastern Wildlife Festival. The 10–acre green space in downtown Charles-ton is bordered by King, Calhoun and Meeting streets. www.charlestoncity.info
Mepkin AbbeyA former plantation perched on the bluffs of the Cooper River, Mepkin Abbey is now the home of a Trappist monastery with a garden and chapel open to the public. 1098 Mepkin Abbey Road, Moncks Corner. 843-761-8509. www.mepkinabbey.org
Middleton PlaceThis carefully-preserved 18th-century plantation offers a glimpse into the life of four generations of Middletons dating back to 1741. The House Museum, gardens and stableyard are open for tours. Middleton Place is also the location for several annual events including the Spoleto Festival finale. 4300 Ashley River Road, Charleston. 843-556-6020. www.middletonplace.org
Photo/Leslie Burden
Carriage Tours
Attractions and tours
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Philip SimmonsChildren’s GardenPhilip Simmons, born in 1912, was a world-renowned iron worker whose works in-clude more than 500 pieces of ornamental wrought iron gates, fences, balconies and window grills. The Philip Simmons Chil-dren’s Garden celebrates the blacksmith’s artistic skill and social contributions. The garden is located at the corner of East Bay and Blake streets. 843-830-4674.
Powder MagazineCompleted in 1713, the Powder Magazine was the oldest public building in South Carolina and may be the oldest surviv-ing building in all of the former British colonies. It served as a military storage area for loose gun power until 1770 and has since served as a wine cellar, a print shop and a museum. 79 Cumberland St., Charleston. 843-722-9350. www.powdermag.org
Shem Creek Maritime MuseumLocated on the bank of historic Shem Creek, this outdoor exhibit offers a look at Charleston’s rich maritime heritage. 514 Mill St., Mount Pleasant. 843-849-9000.
South Carolina AquariumThe South Carolina Aquarium provides a look at the wildlife you’ll find in South
Carolina from the mountains to the sea. 100 Aquarium Wharf, Charleston. 843-720-1990. www.scaquarium.org
Summerville-Dorchester Museum This museum chronicles Dorchester Coun-ty’s history. 100 E. Dotty Ave., Summerville. 843-875-9666. http://summervilledorchestermuseum.org
Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum.
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Nearby getawaysI
n the mood to explore? The Low-country’s location provides easy access to a host of interesting places. Just about anything you would want
to see — from majestic mountains and tranquil rivers, to swinging hotspots and quirky stores — is within a few hours’ drive. So gas up, roll down the windows and don’t forget to take the back roads.
Asheville, N.C.Nestled in what seems like a cupped hand of a valley is a town built by pioneering souls that holds tight to its free-thinking, artistic roots. Asheville attracts thousands of visitors each year with its mountain vistas, the Gilded Age splendor of the Biltmore mansion, an eclectic range of boutiques and a variety of global cuisine at restau-rants that feature local (and often organic) ingredients. www.exploreasheville.com
Atlanta, Ga.The proud capital of the “New South” is a diverse and welcoming metropoli-tan area. Neighborhood enclaves, each with their own distinctive flair, hold a wealth of sights and attractions that range from pop (the Coca-Cola museum) to fine art (the High Museum of Art).
Shop boutiques or big malls, club hop into the wee hours or take in a Braves or Falcons game. www.atlanta.net
Charleston, S.C.This Lowcountry gem, settled in 1670 and South Carolina’s colonial capital, retains the charm of bygone days. Its stately mansions, churches, theaters and public buildings date back to the 18th century. Once one of the richest cities on the Eastern Seaboard, today it combines the traditional with the historic and provides some of the best restaurants, beaches, entertainment and shopping in America. Cruise ships depart the Charleston docks and historic planta-tions ring the city on the region’s creeks and rivers. www.charlestoncvb.com
Charlotte, N.C. Though the Queen City reigns over a bustling business scene, Charlotte has plenty of Southern charm with a strong dose of contemporary fine dining and a chic shopping scene. Rosedale Planta-tion offers visitors a chance to witness the pace and elegance of the past, as does Fourth Ward with its streets filled with fine specimens of Victorian archi-
tecture. Those preferring a more exciting pace will appreciate the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats, the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, as well as NASCAR races at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. www.charlottesgotalot.com
Columbia, S.C.From a high-energy college football game at the University of South Carolina to a low-key float down the Saluda, Broad or Conga-ree rivers, the Palmetto State’s capital city offers something for every visitor. History buffs will appreciate Columbia’s historic homes and museums, and those who enjoy arts and culture will be amazed by the city’s theaters, galleries, dance companies, orchestras and festivals. Dining and night-life options are plentiful, especially down-town in Five Points and the Vista. Columbia also boasts the annual state fair, a zoo and botanical garden, and nearby parks, lakes and rivers offer plenty of recreational opportunities. www.columbiacvb.com
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, N.C./Tenn.Formed hundreds of millions of years ago, these mountains are some of the oldest in the world and are comprised of peaks that rise up over 6,000 feet. The park encom-
Savannah, Ga.
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passes more than 520,000 acres of forests, streams, rivers, waterfalls and hiking trails passing through valleys, peaks and forests with plenty of overlooks to take in scenic views. The park has an enormous vari-ety of plants, trees, mammals, birds and fish — so many that the United Nations has designated the park an International Biosphere Reserve. www.nps.gov/grsm
Greenville, S.C.The Upstate is South Carolina’s only land of four true seasons. And its metropolitan environment, coupled with its pristine lakes and rivers nestled at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, is a favorite for cyclists, runners, hikers and water enthu-siasts. Greenville’s downtown is renowned for its arts community, unique shopping and dining. Greenville’s crown jewel is Reedy River Falls Park. The falls, which powered textile mills in the 18th century and industrial sites in the 19th and 20th centuries, now comprise the centerpiece
of a vibrant entertainment and busi-ness district. www.greenvillecvb.com
Hilton Head Island, S.C.Hilton Head Island boasts nearly 30 golf courses nestled among lush pine and live oak forests that offer some of the most challenging holes on the East Coast. Hilton Head Island is the largest bar-rier island off the Atlantic coast between Long Island and the Bahamas. And while it is known for its beautiful beaches and fantastic golf, it’s also known for its shop-ping — from outlet malls to local bou-tiques — and its restaurants. Hilton Head also includes a thriving arts and cultural scene and has the state’s second largest theater facility, the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. www.hiltonheadisland.org
Myrtle Beach, S.C.Located about two hours north of Charles-ton via U.S. 17, Myrtle Beach offers visitors two outlet malls, more than 100 golf cours-
es, numerous nightlife and concert venues, as well as 60 miles of beaches. On the way, stop by Brookgreen Gardens, a National Historic Landmark and display garden. www.visitmyrtlebeach.com
Savannah, Ga.This waterfront town will, no doubt, remind visitors of Charleston with its historic homes and lush gardens. Founded in 1733, Savannah was the site of many famous Rev-olutionary and Civil War battles. This his-tory has been preserved and is celebrated along with the city’s vibrant arts and cul-tural scene. Its more than 20 city squares, monuments, parks, historic homes, churches and forts will appeal to history buffs of all ages. Don’t miss River Street with its waterfront park, quirky shops and varied restaurants. www.savannahvisit.com
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Myrtle Beach, S.C.
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Lowcountry Oyster FestivalEach January, two tractor trailer loads of oysters – more than 65,000 pounds – are brought in for the annual Lowcountry Oyster Festival. Special contests, live music and activities are scheduled throughout the day, including an oyster shucking contest, oyster eating contest and a contest be-tween local chefs for the best oyster recipe. Boone Hall Plantation, 843-805-3084. www.charlestonrestaurantassociation.com
Southeastern Wildlife ExpositionKnown for its world-class original art, diverse exhibits and animal demonstra-tions, the annual Southeastern Wildlife Exposition kicks off in February with approximately 120 artists and more than 350 exhibitors. The nation’s largest wildlife and nature event offers a variety of exhib-its throughout Charleston, including its trademark conservation exhibits, birds of
prey and retriever demonstrations, and the new crowd favorite: Dock Dogs. Various locations, 843-723-1748. www.sewe.com
Charleston Wine + Food FestivalHeld each March, this festival celebrates the culinary history and culture of the Low-country. Foodies can enjoy more than 50 events during the four-day event, including a Sip and Stroll, a wine tasting and auction, and a gospel brunch. Marion Square is the central location for most activities. 843-727- 9998. www.charlestonwineandfood.com
Charleston Fashion Week During Charleston’s Fashion Week, Marion Square is transformed into a venue that rivals New York’s Bryant Park. The lat-est trends from local designers and boutique owners are featured during this annual fashion event held in March. www.charlestonfashionweek.com
Charleston International Antiques ShowFeaturing more than 30 of the nation’s most prominent antique dealers, the Charleston International Antiques Show is held each spring and has become a premier destina-tion for antique collectors. 40 East Bay St., Charleston. 843-722-3405. www.historiccharleston.org
Summerville Flowertown Festival This three-day event is held each spring and organized by the Summerville Family YMCA. The festival includes a host of food vendors and more than 200 artisans from across the country, as well as a 10k run. 843-871-9622. www.summervilleymca.org
Annual Spring Festival of Houses & Gardens Some of Charleston’s finest historic homes and gardens are on display during the Historic Charleston Foundation’s Annual
Calendar of Events
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GuIDE
Spring Festival of Houses and Gardens. Each Festival tour features eight to 10 properties dating from the American colonial period through the antebel-lum and Victorian years of architecture, to the early 20th century. 843-722-3405. http://historiccharleston.org
Cooper River Bridge RunHeld at the end of March or in early April each year, this event includes a 10k run across the Cooper River on the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. It begins in Mount Pleasant and ends in downtown Charles-ton. 843-792-1586. www.bridgerun.com
Family Circle CupAfter 28 years in Hilton Head Island, the Family Circle Cup moved to a new home on Daniel Island in 2001. A partnership between the city of Charleston and Family Circle mag-azine helped build a state-of-the-art tennis facility that is not only used for the week-long tennis tournament each April, but is also open to the public and used as a venue for sporting and cultural events. 800-677-2293. www.familycirclecup.com
Piccolo SpoletoPiccolo Spoleto was created in 1979 to co-incide with the international Spoleto Festi-val USA and primarily features artists from the Southeast. Held at a variety of locations in downtown Charleston. 843-724-7305. www.piccolospoleto.com
Spoleto Festival USAHeld each spring since 1977, this 17-day festival features visual art exhibits and more than 120 performances from opera to jazz music. 843-722-2764; Box office: 843-579-3100. www.spoletousa.org
MOJA Arts FestivalThe annual MOJA Arts Festival is a celebration of African American and
Caribbean arts and features music, vi-sual art, storytelling, performances, crafts, children’s activities and more. 843-724-7305. www.mojafestival.com
Annual Fall Tour of Homes & GardensExperience some of the region’s most historic homes and gardens. The tour also serves as a fundraiser for the Preservation Society and is held for five weeks, beginning in Septem-ber. www.preservationsociety.org
Taste of Charleston This three-day event, held each October,
showcases more than 40 area restaurants. In addition to great food to sample, there is also an Iron Chef competition and an art walk. Held at Boone Hall Plantation. 843-577-4030. www.charlestonrestaurantassocia-tion.com
Holiday Festival of Lights Millions of sparkling lights at the James Is-land County Park will get you in the holiday spirit. When the event started in 1990, there were only 18 light displays. Now there are 2 million lights and 600 light displays. The festival is open from November to just after New Year’s. 843-795-4386. www.ccprc.com
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Opposite: Charleston Fashion Week.
Opposite Inset: Southeastern Wildlife Exposition.
Right: Chef Ben Berryhill of Red Drum demonstrates cooking risotto.
EDu
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Quick linksTELEPHONE
BellSouthwww.bellsouth.com
Home Telephone Companywww.hometelco.com
Knologywww.knology.com
CABLE
Comcastwww.comcast.com
Knologywww.knology.com
Time Warner Cablewww.timewarnercable.com
ELECTRICITY AND NATURAL GAS
Berkeley Electric Cooperativewww.becsc.com
Edisto Electric Cooperativewww.edistoelectric.com
Santee Cooperwww.santeecooper.com
South Carolina Electric & Gaswww.sceg.com
CITY GOVERNMENTS Charlestonwww.charlestoncity.info
Folly Beachwww.follybeachsouthcarolina.org
Goose Creekwww.cityofgoosecreek.com
Hanahanwww.cityofhanahan.com
Hollywoodwww.townofhollywood.org
Isle of Palmshttp://www.iop.net/
Kiawah Islandwww.kiawahisland.org
Lincolnvillewww.lincolnvillesc.com
McClellanvillehttp://www.townofmcclellanville-sc.net/
Meggetthttp://www.townofmeggettsc.org/
Moncks Cornerwww.townofmonckscorner.sc.gov/
Mount Pleasantwww.townofmountpleasant.com
North Charlestonwww.northcharleston.org
Rockvillewww.townofrockville.com
Seabrook Islandwww.townofseabrookisland.org
Sullivan’s Islandwww.sullivansisland-sc.com
Summervillewww.summerville.sc.us
COUNTY GOVERNMENTS
Berkeley Countyhttp://www.berkeleycountysc.gov/
Charleston Countywww.charlestoncounty.org
Dorchester Countywww.dorchestercounty.net
CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
Berkeley County Chamber of Commercewww.bcoc.com
Charleston Metro Chamber of Commercewww.charlestonchamber.net
Greater Dorchester – Summer-ville Chamber of Commercewww.gsdcchamber.org
TRANSPORTATION
CARTA (Charleston Area Re-gional Transportation Authority)
www.ridecarta.com
Charleston International Airportwww.chs-airport.com
THINGS TO DO
American Military Museumhttp://www.americanmilitarymuseum.org/
Anna’s House & Garden Tour/Ghost Walkwww.ghostwalk.net
Audubon Swamp Gardenhttp://www.magnoliaplantation.com/gardens.html
Boone Hall Plantations & Gardenwww.boonehallplantation.com
Carolina Heritage Outfitterswww.canoesc.com
Carolina Ice Palacewww.carolinaicepalace.com
Caw Caw Interpretive Centerwww.ccprc.com
Charleston Ghost and Graveyard Tourswww.bulldogtours.com
The Charleston Museumwww.charlestonmuseum.org
Charles Pinckney Historic Sitewww.nps.gov/chpi
Charles Towne Landing State Historic Parkhttp://www.southcarolinaparks.com/park-finder/state-park/1575.aspx
Children’s Museum of the Lowcountrywww.explorecml.org
The Citadel Museumwww.citadel.edu/museum
The Confederate Museumwww.csa-scla.org/articles/Confederate-Museum.htm
Cypress Gardenswww.cypressgardens.info
Edisto Island Museumhttp://edistomuseum.org/
Edisto Beach State Parkwww.southcarolinaparks.com
Edisto Island Serpentariumwww.edistoserpentarium.com
Folly Beach State Parkwww.ccprc.com
Fort Moultriewww.nps.gov/fomo
Fort Sumterwww.nps.gov/fosu
The International Center for Birds of Preywww.thecenterforbirdsofprey.org
Isle of Palms County Parkwww.ccprc.com
Magnolia Plantationwww.magnoliaplantation.com
Middleton Placewww.middletonplace.org
Morris Island Lighthousewww.savethelight.org
Old Exchange and Provost Dungeonwww.oldexchange.com
Old Slave Mart Museumwww.charlestoncity.info
Old South Carriage Tourswww.oldsouthcarriagetours.com
Palmetto Carriage Tourswww.carriagetour.com
Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museumwww.patriotspoint.org
South Carolina Aquariumwww.scaquarium.org
ARTS
The Actors’ Theatre of South Carolinawww.actorstheatreofsc.org
American Theaterwww.pphgcharleston.com
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WELCOME
Carolina Gallerieswww.carolinagalleries.com
Charleston Ballet Theatrewww.charlestonballet.org
Charleston Stagewww.charlestonstage.com
Charleston Symphony Orchestrawww.charlestonsymphony.com
City Gallery at Waterfront Parkwww.charlestoncity.info
Flowertown Playerswww.flowertownplayers.org
Footlight Players Theatrehttp://footlightplayers.net/
French Quarter Gallery Associationwww.frenchquarterarts.com
Gibbes Museum of Artwww.gibbesmuseum.org
The Have Nots! Comedy Improvhttp://theatre99.com/
MOJA Arts Festivalwww.mojafestival.com
North Charleston City Gallerywww.northcharleston.org
Spoleto Festival USA/Piccolo Spoletowww.spoletousa.comwww.piccolospoleto.com
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Berkeley County School Districtwww.berkeley.k12.sc.us
Charleston County School Districtwww.ccsdschools.com
Dorchester County School District 2www.dorchester2.k12.sc.us
Dorchester County School District 4www.dorchester4.k12.sc.us
CHARTER SCHOOLS
Charleston Development Academywww.charlestondevelopmentacademy.org
East Cooper Montessori Charter Schoolwww.montessoricharterschool.com
James Island Charter High Schoolwww.jicharterhigh.org
Orange Grove Elementary Charter Schoolwww.ogecs.com
PRIVATE SCHOOLS
Addlestone Hebrew Academywww.addlestone.org
Archibald Rutledge Academywww.archibaldrutledgeacademy.com
Ashley Hallwww.ashleyhall.org
Bishop England High Schoolwww.behs.com
Blessed Sacrament Schoolwww.scbss.org
Cathedral Academywww.cathedralacademy.com
The Charleston Catholic Schoolwww.charlestoncatholic.com
Charleston Christian Schoolwww.charlestonchristian.org
Charleston Collegiate Schoolwww.charlestoncollegiate.org
Charleston Day Schoolwww.charlestondayschool.org
Christ Our King-Stella Maris Schoolwww.coksm.org
Coastal Christian Preparatory Schoolwww.coastalchristian.org
The Cooper Schoolwww.thecooperschool.org
First Baptist School of Charlestonwww.fbschool.org
Mason Preparatory Schoolwww.masonprep.org
Montessori School of Johns Islandmontessorischoolofjohnsisland.com
Nativity Schoolwww.nativity-school.com
Northside Christian Schoolwww.northsideministries.com/ncs
Northwood Academywww.northwoodacademy.com
Pinewood Preparatory Schoolwww.pinewoodprep.com
Porter-Gaud Schoolwww.portergaud.edu
Riverpointe Christian Academywww.riverbendchristian.org
St. John Catholic Schoolwww.saintjohncatholicsc.org
St. John’s Christian Academywww.sjcacavaliers.com
St. Paul’s Academywww.stpaulsacademy.org
Summerville Catholic Schoolwww.summervillecatholic.org
Trident Academywww.tridentacademy.com
COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES
The Art Institute of Charlestonwww.artinstitutes.edu/charleston
Charleston School of Lawwww.charlestonlaw.org
Charleston Southern Universitywww.charlestonsouthern.edu
The Citadel www.citadel.edu
The Citadel Graduate Collegewww.citadel.edu/graduatecollege
College of Charlestonwww.cofc.edu
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Universitywww.erau.edu/charleston
The Graduate School of the College of Charlestonhttp://gradschool.cofc.edu
Limestone Collegewww.limestone.edu
Lowcountry Graduate Centerwww.lowcountrygradcenter.org
Medical University of South Carolinawww.musc.edu
Southern Wesleyan University Adult & Graduate Studieswww.swu.edu
Strayer University www.strayer.edu
Trident Technical Collegewww.tridenttech.edu
Virginia Collegewww.vc.edu
Webster University — Charles-ton Metropolitan Campuswww.webster.edu/charleston
HOSPITALS
Bon Secours St. Francis Hospitalwww.rsfh.com
East Cooper Medical Centerwww.eastcoopermedctr.com
HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Charlestonwww.healthsouthcharleston.com
Kindred Hospital Charlestonwww.khcharleston.com
Medical University of South Carolina Medical Centerwww.muschealth.com
Moncks Corner Medical Centerwww.tridenthealthsystem.com
Mount Pleasant Hospitalwww.rsfh.com
Roper Hospitalwww.rsfh.com/roper
Roper Rehabilitation Hospitalwww.rsfh.com
Summerville Medical Centerwww.tridenthealthsystem.com
Trident Medical Centerwww.tridenthealthsystem.com
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Atlantic Ocean
KiawahIsland
Johns Island
WestAshley
James Island
SeabrookIsland
Folly Beach
Isle of Palms
Sullivan's Island
Meggett
Ravenel
SummervilleGooseCreek
Hanahan
North Charleston
Charleston
Daniel Island
Mt.Pleasant
CharlestonCounty
DorchesterCounty
BerkeleyCounty
26
26
17
17
52
78
78
17A
17A
17A
17
17
17
526
165
162
164
174
171
517
699703
700
642
61
41
7
30
33
41
Newcomer informationTELEPHONE
BellSouth888-757-6500www.bellsouth.com
Home Telephone Company843-899-1111www.hometelco.com
Knology843-225-1000www.knology.com
CABLE
Comcast800-266-2278www.comcast.com
Knology843-225-1000www.knology.com
Time Warner Cable866-892-7201www.timewarnercable.com
ELECTRICITY AND NATURAL GAS
Berkeley Electric Cooperative843-761-8200www.becsc.com
Edisto Electric Cooperative800-433-3292www.edistoelectric.com
Santee Cooper843-761-8000www.santeecooper.com
South Carolina Electric & Gas800-251-7234www.sceg.com
GARBAGE
City of Charleston843-724-7364www.charlestoncity.info
City of Goose Creek843-824-2200www.cityofgoosecreek.com
City of Hanahan843-529-3413www.cityofhanahan.com
City of Isle of Palms843-886-8956www.iop.net
James Island Public Service District843-795-9060www.jipsd.org
Town of Moncks Corner843-719-7900www.townofmonckscorner.sc.gov
Town of Mount Pleasant843-884-8518www.townofmountpleasant.com
City of North Charleston843-745-1026www.northcharleston.org
Town of Sullivan’s Island843-883-3198www.sullivansisland-sc.com
Town of Summerville843-851-5210www.summerville.sc.us
WATER AND SEWER
Berkeley County Water & Sanitation Authority843-572-4400http://www.bcwsa.com/
Charleston Water System843-727-6800www.charlestonwater.com
Dorchester County Water Authority843-563-0075, 843-832-0075www.dorchestercounty.net
City of Folly Beach843-513-1832www.cityoffollybeach.com
City of Goose Creek843-797-6220www.cityofgoosecreek.com
City of Isle of Palms843-886-6148www.iopwsc.com
James Island Public Service District843-795-9060www.jipsd.org
Town of Moncks Corner843-719-7900www.townofmonckscorner.sc.gov
Town of Mount Pleasant843-884-8518www.townofmountpleasant.com
St. John’s Water Co.843-559-0186
Town of Sullivan’s Island843-883-3947www.sullivansisland-sc.com
Town of Summerville843-871-0810www.summerville.sc.us
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