CHARLESTON, SC -- This is a city of firsts: First decisive
American
victory during the Revolutionary War. First regularly scheduled passenger
train service in America. First shot of the Civil War.
Charleston, founded in 1670, has more than three centuries of history,
making it a natural for families with similar interests.
But, yes sir, this once tumultuous-city is also an obvious bulls-eye for
visitors who are aficionados of military history.
Children will like the military history side of the city, which includes
Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum. It's home to the famous (and
immense) World War II aircraft carrier Yorktown, as well as other large
ships such as destroyers and submarines.
Here also is something military-related you won't find anywhere else: The
world's first submarine to sink an enemy ship in combat. It's the
Confederate sub H. L. Hunley, which attacked and sank the U. S. S.Housatonic in the Atlantic ocean on Feb. 17, 1864.
On her way home, the ship disappeared in the dark sea. Her crew also went
down. More than 136 years later, the ship was raised again in 2000. She wasbrought to the Warren Lasch Conservation Center.
The Citadel Museum on the Citadel Campus is also popular with all ages. It
preserves the history of the military college from 1842 to the present with
photographs, uniforms and archival documents. If you're here during the
academic year, you might look for a Dress Parade by the South Carolina Corps
of Cadets almost every Friday at 3:45 p.m.
The Confederate Museum contains flags, uniforms, swords and other
Confederate memorabilia, and the Military Museum has hundreds of uniforms
and artifacts displayed from all branches of the armed forces.
There are also historical forts. The best known is Fort Sumter National
Monument, where the first shot of the Civil War was fired on the man-made,
Union-occupied fort. Confederates occupied it and endured a dramatic
two-year siege when 46,000 shells estimated at 7 million pounds were fired
at the fort. Visitors today arrive by sightseeing yachts that have snack
bars.
Charleston in some ways had a lucky turn of events that has led to its being
perhaps the most preserved city in America, architecture and historically
speaking.
After the Civil War, residents were too poor to remodel. So the city simply
adapted the old buildings.
Tours are always a good way to orient yourself to an area. A good one here
in part because of its choices is the "Best of Charleston," where options
include carriage tours, harbor cruises, home tours and a tour of the patriot
area, among others. The tours come with discounts to 14 restaurants and
choices of tickets to other attractions.
There are also upwards of a dozen walking tours that include homes and
gardens, ghosts who have passed through here and pirate-themed pathways.
One of the best is The Story of Charleston/Tour Charleston, LLC, with guides
profiling the area's legendary personalities and recounting the impact of
wars and disasters.
There are dozens of restored historical homes to tour, most with furnishings
that show life in the early 1800s. Tour guides or docents are among the best
I've ever seen, but It's questionable how many such homes will be tolerated
by youngsters who want more action.
Other historical structures that may interest them more include the OldExchange and Provost Dungeon, where American patriots were held prisoner
during the Revolutionary War.
The area is also well known for its gardens, parks and plantations. One of
the most popular is Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens, which illustrates how
cotton was grown. Adults will marvel at the majestic collection of
moss-draped live oaks, one of the biggest anywhere in the south. Children
will undoubtedly find the nine slave quarters, circa 1830, of at least some
interest.
A good picnic park is White Point Garden, located along the Charleston
Battery. Apparently inspired by the life-sized cannons, a common sight here
is visiting children pretending they are fighting British soldiers.
A variety of attractive islands usually within 20 minutes of downtown are
worth exploring. Kiawah Island, for one, has ten miles of beaches. Theisland abounds in natural beauty with endless acres of marsh and thick pine
forests. The oceanfront Kiawah Island Inn is among housing choices or you
can stay at a privately owned home, villa or cottage.
If you really want to get far from the crowd, a good choice is Folly Beach.
This peaceful island, which might make you think you're in Hawaii or
Bermuda, is full of rare birds, historical sites, fishing and surfing.
Other things
to do with kids include:
The South Carolina Aquarium, with more than 65 exhibits.
Angel Oak, a live oak tree thought to be 1,400 years old.
Azalea Park, with widening paths, bridges and streams to explore for
fish, bugs and more.
The Carolina Ice Palace, one of the largest indoor ice skating
facilities in the Southeast.
Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site, a 663-acre historic nature
preserve that was the first permanent English settlement in the Carolinas
(1630).
Splash Island, water sprays and waterfalls.
Frankie's Fun Park, miniature golf and go-karts.
When it comes to dining, Hyman's Seafood is rightly famous for its excellent
food at low prices, but be warned: you have to wait for a table even at
non-peak times. Routinely chosen the best seafood restaurant in the state,
Hyman's usually offers up to 25 fish on its "daily board."
For authentic
local food, Diana's breakfast has a Cajun
eye-opener, which is shrimp and crawfish etouffe served with creamy Carolina
stone ground grits. It's all topped with fried green tomatoes. More
conservative diners can order an omelet.
One of the
best times to visit Charleston (perhaps THE best) is
during the Holiday Festival of Lights. Held from November to early January,
visitors can take a three-mile driving tour of the city ablaze with one
million shimmering lights.
But there's
more than lights. Christmas is a magic time here,
with a Holiday Village constructed by hand with 30 tons of sand. Gift shops
and other Christmas-related displays are on hand.
At the Winter
Wonderland, there's an 18-animal carousel ride to
whirl children around.
All year
round, children as well as adults will enjoy the view
from the RoofTop Bar and Restaurant at the Vendue Inn. It overlooks the
Charleston Harbor and the city's vast collection of rooftops and steeples.
A lot of
visitors make it a point to catch the sunset there.
The Vendue
Inn itself has charming rooms decorated with
authentic antiques and 18th century reproductions. Some suites have gas
fireplaces and marble baths.
Rates are
$164 to $295, all year-round, but if that sounds
pricey, you might save some on rental cars. Bicycles are complimentary and
the inn is within easy walking distance of many shops and restaurants in the
city's historic district.
To visit Charleston on the web, click to
www.historiccharleston.org, or call 843-723-1623.
