Charleston, is voted consistently as one of the most romantic cities in the U.S. and it certainly lives up to its reputation. A city that has preserved its history, its architecture, its sense of culture and all its hospitality. There are over 1400 individual historically significant structures, protected and preserved through the Board of Architectural Review and the Historic Charleston Foundation. Charleston is also called the Holy City, and the church spires dotting the skyline are a testament.
Charleston is best experienced by foot, lazily, without rush, with food, southern comforts, and with time, without deadlines. Take a break from the walking, and hop on to a horse carriage ride, each different and purposefully random, and let the history unfold through over the cobblestones.
Founded in 1670 as Charles Towne in honor of King Charles II of England, Charleston adopted its present name in 1783. It moved to its present location on Oyster Point in 1680 from a location on the west bank of the Ashley River known as Albemarle Point. By 1690, Charles Towne was the fifth largest city in North America, and with a 2010 census population of 120,080, current trends put Charleston as the fastest-growing municipality in South Carolina.
Visit the plantations north of Charleston, Middleton Place (photos), is very well preserved and working and spend a week in Charleston, bathe in its calmness, and return enriched.