Wanderlust Travel Magazine (UK)
…Charleston, USA. How the charming east-coast city is embracing its history
The South Carolina city has always been high on Southern charm, but new efforts to recognise its slave heritage lets visitors get a more rounded view of its past, says Lynn Brown
South Carolina’s oldest city, Charleston was founded by the English in 1670 and named after then-king Charles II. Its location on the Atlantic, at the confluence of the Cooper,wando and Ashley rivers, meant it was a centre for all kinds of trade, a fact evidenced by its opulent antebellum mansions and historic shopping districts. It’s a charming, welcoming place. But what’s often unseen is the fact much of the city’s beauty and prosperity was gained at the expense of enslaved people, many of whom came through the port here. Recently the city has made strides to more fully represent this, and the contributions of all of its residents, creating and promoting ventures such as Gullah Geechee Tours and the new International African American Museum. Now visitors can get a more nuanced view of Charleston’s history, and better understand what makes visiting such a vivid experience.
At the airport
PRE-COVID-19, BA flew direct from the UK to Charleston; hopefully this will resume. For now, connections are available via Newyork, Chicago and other hub cities in the USA.
Getting into town
The airport is 20km from downtown Charleston. CARTA Bus 11 runs to/from the airport ($2pp). There is also an airport shuttlebus ($15pp).taxis/ Ubers are available outside the terminal; the drive takes 20 minutes.
Other ways to arrive
Amtrak trains (amtrak.com) call at Charleston two to five times a day, connecting to cities on the east coast. Greyhound buses (greyhound.com) serve Charleston daily; main destinations include Myrtle Beach and Columbia (within South Carolina) and Savannah and Atlanta in Georgia.