Charleston - The Don'ts of Visiting Charleston, South Carolina

Aye don't go pass Calhoun after dark,

Dude, you're brilliant.
I'm native - like past 350 years and I work in a field where we have the reciepts, so
- DUDE. You have really cracked the code.
And the secret weapon of Charleston is... wouldn't all of these be best practices ANYWHERE?
I am thisclose to declaring you an Honorary.
BEST!

Don't ride bikes. Don't accept a sweet grass rose. Don't not have reservations on weekends. Don't go to Angel Oak. Don't eat pizza.

It is called Rainbow ROW and it is famous for the history, not just the color. Those homes are from the 1740s and were owned by merchants who painted them so drunk sailors could find their way home, and to their shop, easier. It was a popular landmark decades before Instagram.

I was in Charleston for two days and my experience was exactly how you described. Was not impressed by the Rainbow row, and yes the Market place was crowded. Lines for breakfast were huge but if you time it around 11am it is much better

I’m taking a road trip with 19 year old son through S. Carolina and Georgia and we want to visit a Southern church since he has never been to church before. Something animated not boring! Fire and Brimstone, Halelluyiah Amen!
Any suggestions?

Rainbow Road? What? Lol! But the prettiest streets are the Tradd, Legare areas. The politeness is real...teenagers will treat you with much respect and hold the door for you. The food..phenomenal! My 8 yr old grandson is coming down for his third time this summer and told me that when he grows up he wants to live in the marsh!

Thanks for touching on the stopping on the sidewalk thing! I live here, and the #1 thing that drives us crazy (me specifically) about tourists is the stopping on the sidewalk- it's super common and creates a bunch of traffic on the sidewalks because they'll stop right in the middle so everyone behind them has to then stop 😭

Ha! Loved the video! I have some questions, migth seem silly, but has I'm not from US: there's Chicken A-filet, Chili's, outlets and nba games in that city?

Love

Absolutely live Charleston and Mount Pleasant too!

You did an amazing job with this video….

The "make reservations" tip is so important. I can't tell you how many times I have heard of folks arriving here in the middle of Food & Bev Week or the middle of Spoleto and didn't have reservations and really really struggled to find places to eat.

I appreciate you mentioning African Americans History.

Go see the Citadel Military college on Friday afternoon parade. It’s really cool.

Rainbow Road lol .. Never heard Rainbow Row called that. Walking the battery and waterfront park is a must and I do agree with walking the city, ALOT of walking King and Church St's are my personal favs. and the restaurants. A history, carriage, Ft Sumter and ghost tour should also be on the do list. Maybe a drive to Sullivans and a day on Folly Beach and a plantation tour. One of several. Lodging prices have definitely increased since Covid. A well planned 3 days should be enough for a good taste of the city.

Harder to find locals The city is over run with yankees that came here to live You can tell by the rudeness , traffic , and high prices for housing now

Great video

Please add to your don'ts - DON'T ride the carriages pulled by horses! There are other options - pedicabs and bus tours for example. And if the City of Charleston would only AUTHORIZE it, the awesome e-carriage would be an option.The horses in Charleston pull the heaviest load in the entire US - 17 people PLUS heavy wood carriage - to ONE horse. Please check out the "size" of the people riding. The heat and humidity here in the summer are awful yet the horses will not be pulled unless the temperature has been measured 4X at 95 degrees. And that temperature is taken 4 STORIES ABOVE the scorching hot pavement!! 4X!!! 4X IT MUST MEASURE 95 DEGREES, NOT 3 X AND ONE 94.5. - THAT MEANS START OVER.The hottest part of the day is often late afternoon so even if by some miracle the horses are pulled, they will have worked in those horrible conditions for the majority of the day. And they pretty much never get pulled so they all suffer ALL summer. You also mentioned how awful the traffic is here - you said your UBER driver almost got into an accident a few times. That is NOT an environment that horses, who spook easily, should be working in. The streets ARE narrow and crowded! There have been over 140 incidents with the carriage horses since 2016. Please, anyone who comes here - DO NOT RIDE THE CARRIAGES PULLED BY HORSES!

Locals hang out at happy hour; I thought that was standard.

The Aiken Rhett home is an example of architectural preservation. I was there last week and the volunteers in the gift shop explained this fact. Restoration is a totally different goal. So think of it as… you can see the as is or the as is now

How the Gun laws in Charleston?

Just got back from Savannah and i stayed in a bed and breakfast. I recommend it. There was 4 people from Canada and they just left Charleston and they talked me into going. They like Charleston a little better then Savannah. Canadians r really nice. Also
Meet people from Kentucky: Ohio: Myrtle Beach: Portland: and it was cool talking and sitting and hearing stories from all
Over.

😅😅😅😅

It’s Rainbow Row not Rainbow Road!

1/17/24 Viewing; loved it!

An open gate in Charleston means you are welcome to wander about....

Watching you is always helpful!

Don't visit whilst black

You always give the best advice!!! Thanks!

Are the street lights still on the side of the road instead of hanging over like most places?

Do NOT take a carriage tour! I applied to work at one of those places, they are terrible. I remember a horse came in with a high pulse and the groom recommended the rest of the day off. The woman interviewing me told him to rest him for an hour and then he goes back out.

No, absolutely do NOT encourage this industry.

i love the history in that city of Charleston

I am a charleston native and the "friendliness" of locals is very circumstantial and has a lot do with where you are visiting FROM. A lot of us don't care for certain states and their peoples, mostly to do with a lot of midwest, northeast and west coast transplants buying up all the property and driving up the local prices. This place used to be dirt cheap and now a studio apartment is 2k a month.

How do I find Bill Murray ? :)

I grew up in the West Ashley section of Charleston, on Ashley River Road / Highway 61 literally on the river. Just a few miles from Middleton Plantation. Of course Downtown Charleston is absolutely beautiful and historic, but I would suggest that tourists come down Ashley River Road towards the plantations headed towards Summerville. The trees overhang the road most of the way there like a tunnel and it's stunningly beautiful not to mention a lot less crowded.

I'm a native. I got married at the Francis Marion, about 100 yards from where he's talking.
1. Those dudes are rich and turds.
2. Museums are cool, ghost walk are better.
3. Don't buy anything from market street.
4. Rainbow row are prisoners that are millionaires, they can't change the paint of their houses.
5. The churches are awesome, some bars are converted churches.
6. We like to talk, deal with it.
7.if you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes.
8. I've used a kayak on king street, wasn't even a tropical storm.
9. Have fun walking, stay on main streets when the sun is down.
10. He's right, be rude and find out quick.
11. Go inland if you have a seafood allergy. But it's amazing either way.
12. It's cheaper if you look for a hole in the wall.
13. DONT MISS THE BOAT BACK TO FORT SUMTER, YOULL BE STUCK THERE FOR 4 ADDTIONAL HOURS!!!
14. Folly Beach is nice, isle of palms is expensive but has a great venue for live music.
15. South Carolina aquarium is okay.
16. The irony, people as a whole are cool here as it's a very mixed community.
17. Alligators are the least of your worries, again, don't walk on back streets at dark.

Downtown, live music is everywhere on the weekends.
Boiled peanuts are amazing.
Lots of horse carriages, so it looks romantic, smells like horse pee.
Don't wear heels, I've seen them get stuck in cobblestone.
And if you drive, expect to make 5 laps around your destination before you find a place to park.

That or go inland. West Ashley, summervile are both just as nice.

Want good local BBQ, it ain’t Poogans Porch. Do your research and look at the outskirts of the area and you will find REAL SC BBQ. Generational BBQ

I lived in Charleston for many years, one of the quickest ways to clock yourself as a tourist is to say "City Market" or "Rainbow Road". 😂 We just call it The Market or Market St. and I know others have already addressed Rainbow Row in the comments. People are pretty willing to help if you ask, but doing just a little research on your own (as to locations of various places) beforehand will prepare you well for being Downtown (what locals usually call Historic Charleston). Overall, good list! 😊👍👍

Don't go to Hyman resturant. They pay people to stand outside to make it looks busy.

Visiting in two days. Tks for the info wolter!!!

I think the building at 7.05 is a museum we went in

Im from Wales and been all over the amazing deep south,From Galveston,New Orleans(twice),Biloxi,Mobile,Orange beach,Atlanta and Savanna.We loved all these places but the real stand out memory for me was Charleston,Stunning spires,Great bars and people,A memory that will last me all my life.Thank you for having us the South.

It's Rainbow Row not road.

are there a lot of asian massage parlors ?

dont you block the sidewalk or the street or get stuck in the doorway

If you can't afford to stay in the Historic area don't let it stop you from visiting Charleston, there are places you can stay in North Charleton or Summerville area, etc that are cheaper and you can drive from those places to downtown within 30 minutes or less (most days). Then you find a parking garage, spend a little money for parking the full day and then walk around from there to get to all of the Historic area.

I visited the Slave Mart Museum twice. Be prepared for sully personnel ! Both times I had employees look sour and seem bothered if I had questions. My first visit I committed a high sin by taking a photograph of something. NO ONE told me when I paid admission that photography was not allowed. A woman guide stopped her tour and berated me for taking photo's! After about five minutes of her implying that I was evil I finally told her, "I'm very sorry! No one told me about no photography I apologize and I'll stop." But she didn't stop! Finally I told her, " I told you I'm very sorry but please continue with your tour. There's no need to go on and on about this. Please let it go!" She got in one more sentence and continued with her tour. Sheesh! Talk about beating a dead horse! Otherwise the museum had some interest but mostly panels on the walls and slaves were never sold in this building. They were sold outside in the courtyard which isn't part of the tour.

Rainbow Row is older than Instagram