We took a weekend trip to Charleston while we were staying in the Low Country of South Carolina. I found a good deal for the Holiday Inn Express that had free parking in the medical district (about a four-minute drive to the historic district). We got there early and took an Uber straight to board the boat for the Fort Sumter Tour.
The historic district is very walkable. Our Uber driver (who had worked for two years in Pittsburgh on the West Penn/Allegheny Network merger) assured us it is also very safe. We found that to be true. Even though there are shops and restaurants everywhere, it doesn’t feel “touristy.”
Claire decided that she wants to live in Charleston when she’s an adult, and I’ll be very happy to visit her there. It is truly one of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever seen.
Saturday
We took the ferry over to Fort Sumter, which is Charleston’s only National Park. We even remembered to take our Passport Book to have it stamped.
You can purchase your tickets for the Fort Sumter Tour online, which I recommend so you can get right in line to board the boat. We were on the first tour of the day and got to participate in raising the flag. Avery helped to hold and unfold the giant flag.
The Civil War officially began at Fort Sumter (the Union Army raised the flag after South Carolina seceded, which South Carolina viewed as an act of aggression). But the fort was actually built as a result of the War of 1812. You get to spend about an hour and a half exploring the fort, talking with the Rangers, and visiting the museum.
After we arrived back on the mainland, we walked about ten minutes to Charleston’s City Market. While we really try to limit our souvenir purchases, there are plenty of items to catch your fancy here! Many of the stalls were manned by the actual owner, artist, etc. After a great lunch at the Charleston Crab House, we continued our walk to tour the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon.
Charleston Provost and Dungeon
There is a guided tour of the dungeon several times throughout the day, and you get to see the original wall that surrounded the city in its early days. This building is where the United States Constitution was ratified in South Carolina (only nine of the original thirteen buildings remain). You can add your name as well. Pictures on the way to the second floor also show the devastation of Sherman’s army as they marched through Charleston.
We finished off the first day seeing Rainbow Row, the famous pineapple fountain at the Park, and the oldest liquor store in the United States. The gas-lit lanterns are gorgeous.
Sunday
On Sunday, we had the best intentions of worshiping at the French Huguenot Church. I have one set of French Huguenot ancestors, who escaped persecution to Scotland and then to America. So, I was very interested to learn more.
Our Uber driver the night before advised us that we should have no trouble finding parking downtown on a Sunday morning, since it was the “off-season.” He was wrong! Apparently, everyone who works in Charleston parks downtown on Sundays because it is free.
We drove around and around and finally found a spot in a residential area that didn’t seem that far away. It was a good twenty-five-minute walk to the church. We got there at exactly 10:30, the start of the service. The sanctuary was packed, and they have the old box-style pews. People couldn’t have created more room if they wanted! So, we got a bulletin and left just as they were closing the door. Sort of an awkward experience, but we can’t plan for everything.
No weekend trip to Charleston could be complete without a historic carriage ride. We bought a Groupon for the Carolina Polo & Carriage Company group tour for the afternoon. We saw a lot of same sights we walked past the day before. But our driver/tour guide was amazing and really made the history of the city come alive.
At some point in our travels, we listened to the audio version of Cokie Robert’s Founding Mothers. One of the ladies she discusses is Eliza Lucas Pickney. On our carriage ride, the guide also mentioned the Pickney family and recommended her numerous biographies. Her father left her at the age of 16 to run his three plantations. She was the first to successfully grow indigo, providing a new cash crop, which helped to make Charles Town the wealthiest city in the colonies. I just finished reading The Indigo Girl, a novel based on Eiza Lucas Pickney’s letterbook. It is an inspirational story. Eliza had little control over her circumstances but she refused to give up or give in.
On our way back to the campground, we stopped to see the Angel Oak. This thing is amazing! It is considered to be the largest tree east of the Mississippi.
Angel Tree 
A weekend trip to Charleston was not long enough, and I can’t wait to go back! Be sure to check our Savannah trip soon.
