My base of operation while I was in Charleston was Colleton State Park. Now, if you want a place that is close to I-95 for an overnight stop on your way north or south, this would be an excellent park or if you wanted a place on the river so you could kayak or canoe, this would be a great spot.
Unfortunately, I wanted to see what Charleston had to offer and it was at least an hour out of town.
But, the reservation was made and paid for, so I settled in.
I managed to get backed in and unhooked without any problem. I was fascinated by the pop up trailer across the road. I think they must have been working in the area – but then, again, I guess they could have been playing tourist. After all, that is why I was there. It seemed like kind of unpleasant weather for camping in a soft-sided trailer.
When it was dusk, I heard someone getting settled in next to me. When I looked out the door in the morning, I was thrilled to find an Airstream in the next site over.
We had a nice chat that evening. They were on their way north. This was at the beginning of December, and there was a big storm heading their way. I wished them safe travels.
Speaking of safe – there’s Safelite. It was time to get the windshield taken care of.
The chip turned into a rather spectacular crack and my one day visit to the repair shop turned into two.
They did their best to make the wait as pleasant as possible. Free drinks and snacks, TV (unfortunately, it was Fox News) and free WiFi.
Everyone was looking down at their own screens. All except for the guy sitting by the door. Look at him.
He’s reading an actual book – and a hard covered one at that!
They are making progress on Bart.
Man, the windshield is really clear now! Oh, wait – there’s no glass in it! Oops!
But, soon enough, I was ready to roll.
I went into the city to see what I could see. I parked near the visitor center and picked up some literature. I didn’t have a lot of time that day, but a little visit is better than no visit.
I strolled through Marion Square. The tallest monument in the square is dedicated to South Carolinian native son, John C. Calhoun. According to information from the National Park Service, Calhoun was a renowned orator, Secretary of War, U.S. Senator and Vice President. He was born in 1782 and died in 1850 at the age of 68.
The cornerstone of the monument was laid in 1858, but construction was halted by the Civil War. They included some interesting items in the cornerstone: a cannon ball used in the Revolutionary battle of Fort Moultrie, which was right across the harbor from Charleston, a banner used in his funeral, $100 in Continental money, a lock of his hair and the last speech he delivered in the U.S. Senate, on March 4, 1850. He died in Washington on March 31, shortly after delivering the speech.
My monument scaling days are behind me, so the climbing prohibition did not affect me seriously.
They were getting ready to celebrate Christmas while I was in town, and the square was in the process of being decorated.
It was cute the way they situated the tree right in the center of the square.
They have openings in it so you can walk right through.
The walkways had a grove of Christmas trees decorated by local schools.
This one was an international tree
by the Buist Academy.
I liked this gratitude tree, too.
It was sponsored by The Cooper School.
Gratitude lasts all year – if we make it so!
Another monument in Marion Square that I appreciated was Holocaust Memorial. It was dedicated June 1, 1999 and it includes the names of the survivors that settled in South Carolina after World War II.
Inside the screen is a 12 foot bronzed tallit, a Jewish prayer shawl.
In addition to the names and bronze plaques that outline what happened, they list some of the killing centers used by the Nazis.
I visited Dachau back in 1976, when traveling after my Junior Year Abroad in Spain. Okay, it was only a semester, but since I wasn’t a Spanish major, I figured that I was lucky to get a semester in.
After spending time in Marion Square, I decided to just walk around and see what I could see.
This building caught my eye. There wasn’t any information on it, but it kind of reminded me of the old fashioned firehouses.
Or not.
There were architectural details everywhere. Up high, like the capitals on these pilasters,
and down low, like the street signs. I took this one because my father’s name was George.
I liked the water meter covers in the pavement, too.
I would have gladly stopped in to see what Pounce Cat Cafe and Wine Bar had to offer, but it wasn’t open when I visited. According to its website, its open now, if you happen to be in the area. Reservations are recommended.
Another option for refreshment is Sticky Fingers on Meeting Street. What drew me inside was a poster in the window that invited us in to look at the portrait from The Stephen Colbert Show. Stephen Colbert is from Charleston.
This is the entrance to the Washington Light Infantry building.
According to its website, it was organized in 1807 in anticipation of a second war with Britain. The citizens of Charleston planned for a number of volunteer corps, but this is the only one that still survives.
I decided to keep on strolling until I reached the City Market.
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney ceded the land to the city of Charleston in 1788 for the express use as a public market. He was a clever man, as he stipulated that the land must remain in use as a market for perpetuity.
The hall at the top of the market was built in 1841. The top floor is the Confederate Museum, according to the sign. It was getting late in the day and I didn’t check to see if it really was.
Back in the day, the market sold all sorts of food stuffs. These days, it caters to the tourist market.
I made my way to the end of the sheds. People were busily packing up their goods and loading their trucks and vans to take their goods home. I spoke to one vendor as he was putting the last of his paintings in his van. He told me that he had been doing this every day for twenty-two years. Wow!
My last stop before I headed back to the campground was the Moon Pie General Store. I had picked up a brochure for it, and for some reason I got the idea that Moon Pies were from Charleston. I asked the clerk, and he told me that they are from Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Since I had never had a Moon Pie, I felt I needed to rectify that deficit.
I have to say that I didn’t much care for it, but now I have had one – and I don’t have to do it again.
And then my first day of touring Charleston came to a close.