Ask A Local

asks Ann M., from Nevada…

Well Ann, it all depends on how you are defining “good.” Charleston has an amazing assortment of quality hotels in the downtown area.  Whether you are valuing luxury, location, size or price, there are many to choose from (although you will not really find any bargains in downtown). Ranging from some of the finest in the world (Wentworth Mansion, Belmond Charleston Place, Planters Inn), to not-so-fine, but really well located (Days Inn), to high end boutique (Zero George Street, Governor’s House Inn, John Rutledge House) to chain on the water (Marriott Courtyard, Hilton Garden Inn), to newish (The Restoration on King, Holiday Inn) to old and haunted (Battery Carriage House Inn), there is something for everyone. And there are so many wonderful ones I didn’t even mention. Come to think of it, there actually even is a bargain seekers option (NotSo Hostel).

Fortunately, just about every hotel in downtown is within walking distance of all the sights, shops and restaurants (although some of the hotels on the Ashley River will require a bit of a longer walk, but they have shuttle buses too). There is also a free trolley that runs all over downtown.

There are tons of sites providing ratings and rankings online (e.g., here’s TripAdvisor’s). If you can be more specific as to what you are looking for, please let us know!

asks Mike R. from Chappaqua, NY…

There is an incredible variety of water in and around Charleston — creeks, rivers, the harbor, lakes and, of course, the Atlantic ocean. While you can rent just about any watercraft (from kayaks and paddle boards to power and sail boats) or take cool organized exploration or fishing expeditions, perhaps the quickest and easiest way (and most economical) is to take the Charleston Water Taxi.

The Water Taxi runs between Charleston (with stops at the the Aquarium/Maritime Center and Waterfront Park) and Patriots Point in Mt. Pleasant. Not only will you get wonderful views of Charleston, the Ravenel (CooperRiver) Bridge, the USS Yorktown and other sights, it’s a great way to see some of the dolphins that live in the area up close and personal.  And to top it off, it’s only $6.00 for a one-way ticket or $10 for an all day pass .

Whatever way you choose, getting out on the water in Charleston is a memorable experience.

posts Judy, from Charleston, SC…

With the abundance of wild food in the Charleston area, enticing birds to your feeders may require some special treats. Depending on the birds you hope to attract, those treats may vary. I suggest getting in touch with the local chapter of the Audubon Society or a specialty store like Wild Birds Unlimited (which has two stores in the Charleston area), who would likely be happy to help determine what those treats should be. Good luck and happy birding!

asks Trish B., from Cincinnati, Ohio…

That’s a big question, Trish! Depending on the age of your children and what part of the Charleston area you are interested in living, there are either many options or few. As far as public schools, the Charleston County School District has done an excellent job of creating countywide magnet schools — Buist Academy for elementary and middle school, the School of the Arts for middle and high school, and the Academic Magnet for high school.  There are also a growing selection of charter schools and neighborhood schools as well. You can find the rankings/report cards of all the public schools here.

As far as private schools, there are 46 private schools in the Charleston area — from Montessori to religious-oriented to a straight-forward private experience. A lot depends on your children’s ages, interests and how far you are willing to drive. This site has a comprehensive listing and links.

asks Terry C. from Port St. Lucie, Florida…

Charleston is a very dog friendly city, Terry.  Depending where you will be staying down, there are a few really good options for your dog to be able to run off the leash.  One of the most scenic is at Hazel Parker Playground. Right off East Bay Street and along the beautiful cobble-stoned South Adgers Wharf, while your pooch is romping around you will have wonderful views of the ships coming in and out of Charleston Harbor.

Other good places for dogs to play downtown are the Horse Lot (between Ashley Avenue and Chisholm Street, right below Broad Street) — which comes stocked with pre-chewed tennis balls to throw and chase, Cannon Park (just below Calhoun Street between Ashley and Rutledge Avenues),  Brittlebank Park (right on the Ashley River, above the Crosstown) and even White Point Garden (at the tip of the peninsula) — but be very careful, as there will be many people… early morning is the best time for dogs.

The Taj Mahal of Charleston dog parks is, however, at James Island County Park. With four acres of open grass for the dogs to run, it’s a good thing there is a dog beach and lake for them to cool off and relax in — or swim out and chase balls. While there is a small fee to get in to the park, it’s a great destination for dog and human alike.

asks Kay P. from Baltimore, MD…

One of the charms of Charleston and the Lowcountry is the specific regional pronunciations of various names. Legare — pronounced “Luh gree” — is a great example. This name can be spotted all over Charleston — from Legare Farms to the Legare Waring House to the fabulous Legare Street, which is home to some of the most spectacular houses in Charleston.

asks Barbara W. from Cleveland, Ohio.

They are Crepe Myrtle trees, Barbara. Ironically, despite how stick-like they look in the winter, Crepe Myrtles are the longest blooming plants in Charleston. Here’s one in full bloom:

The peeling bark, which is characteristic of the Crepe Myrtle, does give it a bit a weird, almost dead appearance in winter. They are, however, well loved and appreciated here.

 

asks Allan J. of New York…

Wow… that’s a mouthful of a question (no pun intended)! There are so many ways seafood can be prepared and eaten in Charleston. From the wonderful Dave’s Carryout (a corner dive, which fries it up deliciously) to the fancier Amen Street  to many more in between (the tourist oriented Hyman’s, the communal tables at Hank’s Seafood, to the superb dishes at so many of the top Charleston restaurants), one spot always rings true — for the food, location and experience, Bowen’s Island (owned and run by a James Beard Award-winning chef).

Surrounded by the spectacular beauty of the marshes and rivers of the Lowcountry, Bowen’s Island offers a fairly limited menu, but you can always find amazing fried shrimp, fish and crabcakes (and hush puppies!). But the real reason to go there are the oysters — steamed by the bucket-full, they are about as fresh as you can get.  Check out the entire menu. The whole experience is just pure fun and good eating.

Bowen’s Island is located in the middle of the marsh off Folly Road, on the way to Folly Beach.

asks Ben A. of  Nova Scotia, Canada…

Well, I doubt any place can guarantee a ghost sighting, but the Battery Carriage House is known for being home to a number of ghosts.  Numerous guests have reported various eerie happenings in their rooms. You can read about some of them here. The good news is that as disconcerting as a ghost encounter might be, no live humans were harmed as a result.