Charleston, Southern port city in South Carolina, United States
Charleston sits between the Ashley and Cooper rivers and contains mansions from the 1700s, cobblestone streets, and church steeples that shape the skyline. Horse-drawn carriages move through narrow lanes while waterfront parks provide access to harbor installations and coastal paths.
The settlement was founded in 1670 as Charles Town and grew into a major colonial port for rice, indigo, and cotton exports until the American Civil War. Trade routes brought wealth that funded construction of grand residences still standing today.
Local restaurants serve Lowcountry dishes like shrimp and grits or she-crab soup that visitors can sample at family-run establishments throughout downtown. Public markets feature artisans weaving sweetgrass baskets using West African traditions passed down through generations of Gullah families.
Mild weather from March through November works well for walking through historic districts, beaches, and harbor areas on foot. Water and sun protection are helpful for daytime outings since many streets offer little shade.
The city holds the oldest landscaped gardens in North America at Magnolia Plantation, established in 1676 and featuring year-round flowering plants. European garden design and native swamp environments were combined here into a composition still maintained today.
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