Charleston Travel Guide

An all time favourite with honeymooners and in the top 5 of most romantic American cities, Charleston has a big crowd of fans. The historic centre with its mansions from attracting over 25,000 participants, is one of the most popular roadraces in the the 18-th century, Fort Sumter, the many museums and the location of the Atlantic, make this city a very attractive destination.

Founded and settled by English colonists in 1670. Charleston grew from a colonial seaport to a wealthy city by the mid-eighteenth century. Through the mid-nineteenth century, Charleston prospered from cultivation of rice, cotton, indigo and its port activities.

In April of 1861, Confederate soldiers fired on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, thus signaling the beginning of a devastating war. Charleston was slow to recover from the events of the War Between the States; but its pace of recovery became the foundation of the City's greatest assets. Short on capital through the mid-twentieth century, Charleston hung on to its vast inventory of buildings, using and reusing them instead of replacing them with newer structures.

After the war, the City gradually lessened its dependence on agriculture and rebuilt its economy through trade and industry. Construction of the Navy Yard in 1904, just north of the City's boundaries, pushed Charleston vigorously into the twentieth century. During the first few decades of the 1900's, industrial and port activities increased dramatically.

As in other coastal cities, recreation in Charleston centers around water. Tennis and golf are popular, too and the mild climate makes them year-round sports. The City's numerous parks and scenic, tree-lined streets provide ample space and a beautiful backdrop for walking, jogging and cycling. The annual Cooper River Bridge Run, Southeast. The City's Waterfront Park is a popular destination for residents and visitors alike.