Look around. Breathe in the briny ocean air. Watch the dolphins frolic in the open water. Hear the "clip-clop" of horses' hooves on cobblestone streets.
Welcome to the "Holy City," where history mingles with modernity beneath the branches of centuries-old Live Oak trees.
"I'm going back to Charleston, back where I belong," Rhett Butler says to Scarlett O'Hara as he flees Atlanta in search of "charm and grace." Though Gone With the Wind is a work of fiction, the idyllic life Rhett Butler sought was and is a cornerstone of existence in Charleston.
In 1670, the English founded "Charles Towne," the first settlement in the colony of Carolina, naming it after Charles II, their king and benefactor. Today, families can visit the Charles Towne Landing state park to explore the deck of the Adventure, a 17th-century replica sailing ship.
Charleston's strategic port location made it a hotly contested area in the major conflicts in American history. During the Revolutionary War, British troops were dispelled from Sullivan's Island by the valiant efforts of Colonel William Moultrie; the remnants of Fort Moultrie, complete with cannons, still stand.
Across the harbor, Fort Sumter earned its place in history on April 12, 1861, when Confederate troops first fired upon—and successfully overtook—the Federal forces then occupying the fort. Now, nearly 250 years later, tourists can board a ferry at the Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center and enjoy unparalleled views of downtown Charleston as they sail to the isolated island fort.
After dipping a toe into the past, visitors have ample opportunities to relish the present. Public parks are interspersed throughout the city—one could spend a day traveling from the Battery and White Point Gardens, on the tip of the peninsula, to Hampton Park, a sprawling, beautifully landscaped public space located next to The Citadel.
No trip to Charleston is complete without a stroll down King Street, where locally owned boutiques and national chain stores offer browsers a chance to find the perfect souvenir.
Regardless of whether walking for exercise or for sightseeing, the fuel for the journey is available in nearly every conceivable form at Charleston's plentiful restaurants, renowned throughout the world for eclectic, melting-pot Lowcountry cuisine.
Today's Charleston is a reflection of the "charming, graceful" city that lured Rhett Butler back to the coast all those years ago, a romantic wonderland created by explorers and nurtured by friendly locals who welcome visitors with open arms, saying, "won't you join us for a spell?"
Learn about how you can own a piece of history or invest in waterfront and vacation property in Charleston and the Lowcountry. Read our Real Estate section.
Voted Best Seafood Restaurant by the Charleston Courier and News. With both waterfront and deck dining, it is reported that Charleston Crab House is the perfect family spot.
Famous for fresh local fish & seafood, steaks, pastas, chicken, salads, cold beer, great wines and frozen tropical drinks. Daily specials. Southern seafood, sensible prices and a darn good time! Three locations; Historic District, James Island and Mount Pleasant.
Whether you are interested in coming to the Lowcountry for a short stay or looking to make the Charleston area and its surrounding beaches your home, Avocet Properties is the best resource to satisfy your real estate needs. A broad and diverse collection of vacation rentals assures flexibility when planning your visit. Competent, caring, and experienced - some of the qualities that you can count on from our entire staff of dedicated professionals.
Offering three decades of personalized attention in the South Carolina lowcountry. Luxury real estate sales on Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island, Johns Island, Wadmalaw and the surrounding Charleston area. A leader in luxury real estate sales and vacation rentals for almost three decades. Seasonal vacation rentals or year-round luxury properties for South Carolina coastal living. Highly personalized service, a true commitment to patient, comprehensive representation is our priority.
Look around. Breathe in the briny ocean air. Watch the dolphins frolic in the open water. Hear the "clip-clop" of horses' hooves on cobblestone streets. 
Voted Best Seafood Restaurant by the Charleston Courier and News. With both waterfront and deck dining, it is reported that Charleston Crab House is the perfect family spot.
Famous for fresh local fish & seafood, steaks, pastas, chicken, salads, cold beer, great wines and frozen tropical drinks. Daily specials. Southern seafood, sensible prices and a darn good time! Three locations; Historic District, James Island and Mount Pleasant.
Whether you are interested in coming to the Lowcountry for a short stay or looking to make the Charleston area and its surrounding beaches your home, Avocet Properties is the best resource to satisfy your real estate needs. A broad and diverse collection of vacation rentals assures flexibility when planning your visit. Competent, caring, and experienced - some of the qualities that you can count on from our entire staff of dedicated professionals. 
Offering three decades of personalized attention in the South Carolina lowcountry. Luxury real estate sales on Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island, Johns Island, Wadmalaw and the surrounding Charleston area. A leader in luxury real estate sales and vacation rentals for almost three decades. Seasonal vacation rentals or year-round luxury properties for South Carolina coastal living. Highly personalized service, a true commitment to patient, comprehensive representation is our priority.
