You will hear this area referred to as the Lowcountry everywhere you go.  The Lowcountry describes this lowland area that expands from the Myrtle Beach area to Savannah and inwards to Columbia.

Eats...

Magnolia’s – A great restaurant located on East Bay that offers excellent southern style food.  It is a nice place so you need to dress respectfully.  I love their shrimp and grits which is a true Charleston classic, but I honestly would recommend their fried chicken it is the best. – posted by joeylaw

Jestine’s Kitchen – This restaurant has southern style food that is unbelievable.  It is tucked away on Meeting St. and is not too expensive or formal.  The pecan fried chicken is unbelievable with the Dijon mustard sauce they offer.  Definitely, do not pass up the Coca-Cola cake for dessert. – posted by joeylaw

California Dreaming – This is an awesome restaurant with a little bit of everything including an unbelievable view of the Charleston Marina.  It is a little tricky to find and the wait is long, but the food is well worth the price.  I would recommend getting the steak, the marinade they use is unbelievable and you truly do not even need steak sauce!  Do not forget to get the basket of croissants with the honey butter (you can get a coupon for a free-order at the visitor’s center downtown.)  Also, get the house dressing with salad it is very good.  Make sure you call ahead to put your name on the list, but still be prepared to wait awhile. – posted by joeylaw

Things to do...

Middleton Plantation – This is a very beautiful way to spend a half-day.  The gardens here are kept up very well and there are many free tours that you can go on.  The price of admission is expensive but worth it.  There are additional fees if you want to go to on a carriage ride or house tour.  The restaurant is also very good.  You pay a flat rate (for lunch) and get a three course meal.  Wear comfortable shoes because it is a lot of walking to see everything.  It is a 25 minute drive from downtown, right up 61. – posted by joeylaw

The Battery – This is a great area to walk around on a nice night.  There is a park with mock-up cannons showing their placement when this area was a major stronghold preventing ships from entering the harbor.  The break-wall holds back the Charleston Harbor waters on one side and the other side there is the view of multi-million dollar homes. – posted by joeylaw

Waterfront Park – This a park bought with money leftover from federal relief money after Hugo.  It is a great place to relax by the numerous picturesque fountains.  Or you can sit in the swings on the dock and enjoy views of the Cooper River Bridge and the Charleston Harbor.  Children love to play in the main fountain when the weather is hot. – posted by joeylaw

Marion Square – There is the farmer’s market on the weekends that offer fresh produce.  It is also home to movies in the park during the summer and beautiful sights during the winter.  To get a true taste of the Lowcountry, get a bag of boiled peanuts!  – posted by joeylaw

Children’s Museum – This is a great place to take children.  There are many activities that are fun and education.  There is a golf ball room that allows you to roll them on a rollercoaster or ramp them into a container.  There is the tiny tots play area with all sorts of things for them to climb on.  There are many more areas including a crafts area, a garden and my favorite the castle.  The admission applies to everyone but pretty cheap for the amount of fun you will have.  It is located near the visitor’s center downtown. – posted by joeylaw

Angel Oak – The Angel Oak tree is the oldest living thing east of the Rockies.  There is not an exact age known, but it is believed to be between 1400 and 1500 years old.  It has survived many hurricanes, Civil War and who knows what else.  It is a very majestic sight and a great way to spend a couple of hours or to even have a nice picnic.  The cost is nothing and there is a souvenir stand located near it.  It is located on John’s Island off of Main road.  – posted by joeylaw

Fort Sumter – Is where the American Civil War began.  You can tour the grounds of the fort and check out the massive cannons that are there.  There is a museum built on the grounds that houses some interesting info.  The only way to the fort is by ferry and you can catch one from downtown or the USS Yorktown. – posted by joeylaw

Patriot’s Point – This is the home of the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, a destroyer, Coast Guard vessel and a submarine.  The Yorktown alone could take all day to tour.  There is also a Vietnam camp set up by the ticket counter that shows how the US soldiers lived during the war.  If you are in town during the 4th of July there is an awesome fireworks display with the Cooper River Bridge as a backdrop.  Patriot’s Point is located in Mount Pleasant just north of the bridge. - posted by joeylaw

Shopping – There are three main shopping attractions.  The first is King Street in Downtown Charleston.  The next is Town Center in Mount Pleasant which offers outdoor shopping.  Finally, there are the outlets in North Charleston.  No matter where you are staying these locations are not too far away. - posted by joeylaw

Places to stay...