CHARLESTON
, one of the finest-looking cities in the US, today spreads way beyond its original confines on the tip of a peninsula at the confluence of the Ashley and Cooper rivers, roughly one hundred miles south of Myrtle Beach and north of Savannah, Georgia. It's a compelling place to visit, its historic district lined with tall, narrow houses of peeling, multicolored stucco, adorned with wooden shutters and ironwork balconies wrought by slaves from Barbados. The Caribbean feel is augmented by palm trees, a tropical climate and easygoing atmosphere, while the town's pretty hidden gardens and leafy patios evoke New Orleans.
Arrival And Information : Charleston International Airport
is about twelve miles north of downtown, off I-526; the airport
shuttle
(tel 843/767-7113) costs $10, while a
taxi
ride with Yellow Cabs (tel 843/577-6565) costs around $21. Both Amtrak - 4565 Gaynor Ave, eight miles north of downtown - and Greyhound - at 3610 Dorchester Rd, out near I-26 - are in inconvenient and potentially dangerous locations. From downtown, a taxi ride to either location will cost $14. Local
public transportation
isn't bad, however: CARTA buses (75¢ in exact change; day pass $2, 3-day pass $5; tel 843/747-0922) cover most areas, including near Amtrak (due to an unavoidable walk down an embankment to the train station, CARTA recommends a cab at night) and in front of Greyhound, for 75¢; Downtown Area Shuttles (DASH; tel 843/724-7420) runs a variety of routes through the historic district south of Calhoun Street, which all stop at the visitor center (Mon-Fri every 15min from 8am; last bus times vary; same prices). You can rent
bikes
from The Bicycle Shoppe, 280 Meeting St (tel 843/722-8168). More Charleston information...
HISTORIC AREA / CHARLESTON Welcome to the Harbourview Inn] Overlooking the historic harbour and waterfront park, the HarbourView Inn hotel is Charleston, SC's most acclaimed inn.
Call toll free..
US and Canada: 1-800-780-5733
Europe: 00-800-11-20-11-40
Use discount code: 89865
