The streets of Charleston feature historic houses and narrow apartment buildings with stucco walls and wrought iron balconies (make sure you check out Calhoun Mansion). There is something of a Caribbean touch to Charleston, with its palm trees and welcoming feel. After strolling through the historic district, most visitors head over to Waterfront Park, which features a landscaped square and boardwalks projecting into the river. White Point Gardens features lovely gardens, a good view of the water, and lots of gentle breezes to cool a visiting family. The Charleston Museum is the oldest in the nation, dating from 1773. The market area features old-fashioned open stalls where vendors sell all sorts of goods and services. Charleston is located on the end of a small peninsula that points into the famous Charleston Harbor, where traders and immigrants have disembarked for centuries. In the middle of the harbor sits Fort Sumter, the site of the battle that started the Civil War. A wonderful museum within the Fort tells the full story. The city was home to many dissenting Protestant denominations and is filled with old churches, many of them the first of their kind in America. Indeed, Charleston Harbor has brought many cultures to mingle in this gentle city, and the influence of black, Protestant, Huguenot, and Jewish colonists is still felt.

There are numerous points of interest just outside the city. Charleston's famous beaches draw visitors from far away for sun bathing and relaxation. Just beyond Charleston is Magnolia Plantation & Audubon Swamp Garden, modeled after a real plantation. The ornamental gardens are stunning in the summer when the flowers are in bloom. Visitors can enjoy the wild flowers and wild alligators of the swamps from the safety of a scenic tram ride.

Charleston has earned raves for its beauty and its easygoing culture, as well as its value to families and travelers. Travel & Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, and Family Fun have rated the city a Top Destination in the United States for value, #1 in friendliness, and #2 in the South for families.