Like a picturesque memoir of the past, Charleston offers itself as a genteel world of cobblestone streets and stately antebellum plantations.  Stroll along the famous Battery and through the Public Market, where voices from a bygone era still resonate.  Or enjoy an intimate glimpse of the port city while riding on a romantic carriage, as your cares drift away.

After building up an appetite, dine on a breezy piazza at one of the many quaint cafes and seafood restaurants overlooking the harbor.  As night falls, let the enchanting mixture of music and laughter guide you into one of the trendy downtown nightspots.  And of course, gentle island breezes from nearby beaches always beckon.

Charleston natives are very proud to call the South Carolina coastal area home. I t has been said that Charlestonians would rather be dead in Charleston than alive in Columbia or rich in Greenville.  And it's no wonder.  When Edgar Allen Poe wrote "Annabel Lee" and referred to the "kingdom by the sea," he was talking about Charleston.

Charleston, a peninsular city, is wedged between the Ashley and Cooper Rivers and the Atlantic Ocean.  The skyline of the low-lying city is dotted with some 180 church steeples – leading some to refer to Charleston as "the holy city."  The steeple and bell tower of St. Michael's Episcopal Church dominate the city. Built between 1752 and 1761, the church is Charleston's oldest.

Gullah, one of the purest forms of Creole, originated on the plantations of the SC coast. It's still spoken today, and one of your best chances to hear it is at the Public Market or alongside Route 17, where the flower ladies gather to weave and sell sweetgrass baskets – a traditional craft that's been handed down from generation to generation.  These ladies sing soft Gullah hymns while weaving. You can expect to pay a pretty penny for one of these pieces of art – no two of which are alike.

Each spring, Charleston hosts the Spoleto Festival. Lasting just over two weeks, Spoleto features internationally recognized performances of opera, dance, jazz, theater, along with orchestral, chamber, and contemporary music.  The event is a great chance to experience America's finest celebration of the arts.

In 1989, Hurricane Hugo hit the coast of SC between Charleston and McClellanville.  Although more than $4 billion worth of damage was reported, surprisingly, Charleston's historic district suffered little damage. However, 40 miles north of Charleston, the area was not so fortunate.  Francis Marion National Forest – a 250,000-acre parcel of swamps, huge oaks, pines, and lakes that was an Indian homeland for 10,000 years – was almost leveled by Hugo's fury.

Prior to the Civil War, plantations were scattered throughout South Carolina.  When the Union Army came through, however, many were destroyed. Currently, Charleston has four plantations open to public viewing. They lie along rivers, whose waters fed fields of rice, cotton, and indigo. Other plantations exist but are private residences.

While Charleston is history-filled, it is also a college town.  In the city's early decades, The College of Charleston was a high school. In 1770 the college was founded, making it the oldest municipal college in the nation.

Rainbow Row is one of Charleston's most recognized sights, and its evocative name is visibly evident. Lying along East Bay Street, the series of homes is colored purple, salmon, yellow, terracotta, aqua, and green. These homes were built in the mid- to late- 1700s as merchants' stores and homes. In the 1900s they were restored and converted into private homes, as they are today.

Founded in 1773, the Charleston Museum is considered America's first museum. A wonderful introduction to the Low country, the museum charts Charleston's early beginnings.

Today, Sullivan's Island is a great place to go for fun in the sun.  In earlier days, though, the island wasn't a vacationer's hot spot. Most all of the slaves brought to North America entered through Charleston.  They were then quarantined on Sullivan's Island and sold in Charleston's slave marts.

Charleston is the only place I know, where when someone calls you an SOB, it's a good thing.  SOB or South Of Broad refers to the large mansions with gate house and more that are located South of Broad St. in downtown Charleston.