2008 REED’s East Coast Edition - Pilot Notes
Virginia to Georgia
Carolina In My Mind
REED’s RECOMMENDS: One of the nicest places for an extended
stop on your way up or down the Intracoastal Waterway is Charles-
t
ton, South Carolina. Founded in 1670, it sits at the confluence of
ilo
P
two rivers. There is decent holding for anchoring above the first
bridge, as well as nearly a dozen marinas, including the Charleston
City Marina (843-722-4968), a short walk from the famous Battery.
When you come ashore you’ll find good public transportation, with
picturesque trolleys that cover most of the town.
g
ia
It’s the grand mansions and stately architecture that many people
e
or
find most interesting. Charleston has literally hundreds of antebel-
lum houses, with many of the best and biggest open to the public.
If you’re just going to see one or two, begin with the Aiken-Rhett
g
inia-G
ir
House, built in 1818, and then visit the Calhoun Mansion, with its
V
75-foot domed ceiling and the ballroom with its glass skylight. A
day spent wandering the cobblestone streets of Charleston, with its
stately houses and Spanish oaks will give you a feel for the city, one
of the most graceful in the South.
Take a break from your little boat and see the harbor from a big
boat aboard the 84-ft LOA three-masted schooner Pride. Charleston
is a very busy commercial port, and you might find sightseeing to
be less stressful on someone else’s boat. Another worthwhile water-
borne destination is the National Park at Fort Sumter, where the
first engagement of the Civil War took place in April, 1861. If visit-
ing the city in the spring, try to time your arrival with the Piccolo
Spoleto Festival (www.picolospoleto.com), an annual extravaganza
of music, art and theatre.
Some of the best houses to view are along Meeting Street, and also
the location of Tropical Toast at Diana’s, the oddly named restau-
rant where you can get your Jimmy Buffet fix, at least from a décor
standpoint. There’s tremendous live music throughout Charleston;
start at the bars and jazz clubs on Market and East Bay streets and
you won’t go wrong. Likewise, be sure to sample the outstanding
Low Country cuisine. There are dozens of great restaurants but
some of our favorites are Magnolias (843-577-7771), 82 Queen
(843-723-7591) and Slightly North of Broad (843-723-3424).
135