Charleston County

Charleston County epitomizes what the Lowcountry lifestyle is all about.  From the beautiful beaches of the Isle of Palms, Sullivans Island, Folly, Seabrook Island, Kiawah and Edisto to the history of Downtown Charleston and the Old Village in Mount Pleasant living in Charleston means a day-to-day life where many come to vacation. 

Most discussions about visiting or living in the Charleston area start and end with the food.  And when it comes to dining in Charleston – there’s probably only one place to start…with a bigger waistband!  James Beard nominees and award winners, as well as Michelin star award winners and chefs you have seen often on Food Network abound in Charleston, making it a mecca of sorts for foodies.  From old favorites like Husk, FIG, and Slightly North of Broad (SNOB), to hidden gems like Leon’s Oyster House, Le Farfalle, and the Glass Onion; BBQ joints like Lewis Barbeque, and Rodney Scott’s to up and coming eateries like Chubby Fish, Anson, and 5 Church there is something to please every palate in Charleston’s renowned restaurant scene.  Once you are here you will no doubt agree that eating out in Charleston is an event unto itself!

In addition to the delicacies available on the Charleston food & beverage scene on a daily, Charleston also hosts visitors from around the world for the Charleston Wine and Food Festival - a multiple day event held annually in March.  What began in 2005 has grown each year and in its 16-year history has seen over 335,000 festival attendees visit Charleston to sample the goodies available from local and celebrity chefs alike. The organizers are extremely (and deservingly) proud of the enormous economic impact on the Charleston community as well as their philanthropic efforts!  You can learn more about this fun filled foodie weekend by visiting them at: charlestonwineandfood.com.

Everything in moderation though and trust us you are going to need to burn some calories anytime you visit the Lowcountry! So for the fitness enthusiasts out there, almost nothing says Charleston and outdoors more than a walk, run or bike over the Arthur Ravenel Bridge that connects Downtown Charleston to Mount Pleasant.  For one day every year you can eschew the path along the side of the Highway 17 and run/walk the main lanes by participating in the annual Cooper River Bridge Run.  Starting in Mount Pleasant and finishing in Marion Square, Charleston the 10K Cooper River Bridge Run attracts tens of thousands of participants across the spectrum from professional runners, and wheelchair racing competitors to novice runners and walkers.  It is quite the event to witness or take part in every April!  Go to bridgerun.com to sign up for the next one!

You can learn more about this fantastic area by visiting the Charleston Visitors Bureau at charlestoncvb.com.