A centuries-old city where a colonial past is fused with modern day conveniences, Charleston is an Atlantic establishment rich in history and overflowing with southern charm. Just taking a stroll around Charleston these days is a sure way to stimulate all of your senses. The brick-and-mortar architecture of yesteryear outlined by cobblestone streets makes visualizing Charleston’s past inhabitants embarking on an afternoon walk an easy task. The rhythmic clacking of hooves meeting pavement can be heard emanating from horse-drawn carriages as they make their way down Market Street, competing with cars and pedestrians for their fair share of the road during rush hour. The smell of the Atlantic Ocean meeting the Cooper and Ashley Rivers – the two fresh waterways that are divided by the coastal city – creates an aroma that is prevalent throughout the downtown area.
And the taste of Charleston? That can only be described as impeccable. The myriad of five-star restaurants densely located within a few blocks of one another in downtown Charleston are enough to keep any fine dining connoisseur busy for days. If your time in Chucktown is limited, you should consider grabbing breakfast at Toast, a walk-in restaurant that caters to the morning crowd, conveniently located on Meeting Street.
If you’re available for lunch, then Slightly North of Broad or High Cotton are both excellent choices for foodies looking to take in some local southern cuisine. High Cotton Restaurant even features live music daily, catering to travelers looking to satisfy their cravings for culture – and dinner.
By far the most stimulated of your five senses after an afternoon in Charleston will be the way the city touches you. The relaxed feel and pace of the city – even on a Monday – harkens to a simpler time when people weren’t in so much of a hurry. Although there are a few exceptions, particularly if you run into any College of Charleston students late for class, most of the people perusing the streets of downtown Charleston are simply taking it all in, enjoying their coffees, lattes, and the occasional cigar while strolling down the same pebbled paths that countless southerners and tourists have walked before.
If you ever have a chance to swing by Charleston, even if it’s just for an afternoon (as it was in our case), then I highly suggest you take the time to walk around a bit. It’s an easy city to find from anywhere in the country: Just look for the closest interstate to you that intersects with I-26, then follow I-26 eastbound until the very last mile. (I-26 comes to its east-coast end in northern Charleston.)
Consider making Charleston your next coastal Atlantic stop. Your senses will thank you.
