SouthCarolina

CHARLESTON
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Charleston, South Carolina:

	Everyone should get to Charleston.  Ruthie had been, but Mike had not.  It is essentially the embodiment of everything those who have never been to the South think of as “Southern Charm.”  The Antebellum architecture is something out of a movie (check out the pictures of the County Courthouse – a bit nicer than Los Angeles’, eh?), and city ordinances require all new construction to stick to that aesthetic.  No buildings are over 6 stories high (to stay lower than the abundant chapels) and the city is a peninsula with great water access.  

	We spent most of our time in the “Historic District,” which not only has the aforementioned attributes, but has undergone some serious revitalization.   King Boulevard for example, has tons of boutiques interspersed with flagship stores, cafes and restaurants.  The Waterfront Park, which offers the Cooper River on one side, and beautiful 200-300 year homes on the other side, is also worth checking out, as is Battery Park, at the point of the Ashley and Cooper Rivers, complete with Civil War cannons still in place.	By the way, lunch at Gaulart & Maliclet on “Attorney Row” is a must.  The menu is fairly French eclectic, but you can get a sandwich, soup and a glass of decent wine for $7.  

	We decided to stay for the night, and stumbled upon the Inn at Vendue in the Vendue Range area of the French Quarter, which is right off Waterfront  Park, 100 feet from the beach.  The rooms are beautiful restored Victorians, complete with fireplaces, Jacuzzi tubs, wine and cheese cocktails, cookies and Kaluah nightcaps, and a full complementary breakfast, all for a very reasonable rate.  The Inn definitely ranks up there with our experience in Montreal, and is one of our favorites thus far.  After getting our room, we had cocktails and dinner on the rooftop restaurant at the Inn, with bluegrass entertainment by “The Homeboy Discount Band” – who were great!  The weather was perfect; low humidity and a stiff, steady breeze.  

	Since we were right on the water, the next morning, we ran through Waterfront Park and the Battery to the Coast Guard barracks, hit the farmers market, also a must, and headed for Savannah.
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SOUTH CAROLINA
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Charleston: South Carolina
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