It’s one of the east coast’s best kept secrets - ordained as the South’s loveliest and best-preserved cities. Charleston lies on the Peninsula of South Carolina, edged by Atlantic-fed Cooper and Ashley rivers, with it’s tip touching the Atlantic Ocean.
A popular sight for weddings of the rich and famous, Charleston provides everything from beautiful picturesque boardwalks along Battery Park, carriage rides on its authentic cobblestone streets, to down-right southern foods and up-scale art studios and high-class boutiques filling the historic buildings along King Street.
Rent an oceanfront condo or beach cottage on one of Charleston’s popular beaches. It’s where the green grass meets the white sand, and Charleston’s mild climate keeps the beaches open from March to October. VRBO offers many Charleston area vacation homes and condos within easy access to these popular beaches: Kiawah Beach, about 28 mi southwest of Charleston, Folly Beach, 12 mi southwest of Charleston, and the Isle of Pals, generally have lifeguards in season, chair and umbrella rental, parking lots, snack bars, and public restrooms.
Each morning, tourists mingle among the locals and take-part in a tradition dating back to the Civil War era by visiting Charleston’s open-air market in it’s downtown center. Locals set up huts on the streets selling everything from authentic art, to wood-carved toys, homemade bread, hand-strung jewelry, sweets, and even meat and freshly-caught seafood.
Charleston is host to the famous Spoleto Festival beginning the last part of May and into early June. This internationally acclaimed arts festival features artists, opera singers, and theatrical talent from around the world. For 17 days, operas and plays are opened to the public and take place in one of Charleston’s ancient churches, and even under white canopy’s in the twilight.
If you can’t make it to the Spoleto Festival, don’t worry because the art galleries of Charleston open up their doors for the quarterly Art Walk throughout the year. Put on your cocktail dresses and sports jackets and hit several galleries in a night’s walk as artists personally greet customers, and galleries stay open late into the night offering wine and horsd’oeuvres to enthusiasts.
Just a simple walk along the streets of Charleston will keep you busy admiring the colonial architecture and your taste buds will perk up at every bakery and southern restaurant you pass. Famous for beer-battered hush-puppies, red velvet cake, Jambalaya, and an array of seafood, you’ll go home craving sweet tea and grits.
Come enjoy the slow-paced, comfortable life of Charleston. Visit the riverfront walks such as Waterfront Park featuring water fountains for kids to splash around in, or walk to the long dock and cuddle with your sweetheart on the swing chairs to watch the dazzling sunset.
Getting there - Charleston International Airport is just 12 miles from downtown Charleston with 63 flights daily, servicing 17 destinations.
Find your next Charleston Vacation Rental, Beach House, Cottage, Condo or Luxury Home Rental right here on VRBO.com.