Luxury Living in Historic Downtown Charleston
Founded in 1670, downtown Charleston exudes history, charm and culture with its cobblestone walkways and tree lined streets. Charleston is a welcoming, laid-back community and lifestyle.
Here are just 8 reasons why so many people, from young professionals to retirees, are moving to Charleston:
1. Beautiful historic homes and mansions, some with waterfront views-
Charleston historic homes are some of the most expensive real estates in the Charleston area due to home buyers that are willing to pay top dollar to own a piece of Charleston’s rich history. Most of these exclusive, historic homes are located on the southeast side of the peninsula around the Charleston Battery. Home prices go up to $8 million-plus depending on the location and the historic relevance of the property. Though you can currently find a few really nice properties in the $1 to 2 million range.
2. Award winning dining and nightlife within walking/biking distance –
Enjoy dining in Outdoor cafes served with a warm smile to fine dining Charleston restaurants where every meal is prepared to perfection. Being right on the ocean, there are plenty of restaurants serving fresh caught fish and shrimp.
3. Abundance of Mild weather with plenty of sunshine
Most of the year the weather is mild allowing you to enjoy the outdoors and many fun activities. On average, there are 209 sunny days per year in Charleston. You won’t need to worry about shoveling as it’s quite rare to get snow down in these parts. Now, I am not going to lie, Charleston’s summers are quite hot and humid but you can cool off at the nearby breezy beaches. There are also the occasional hurricanes to consider.
4. You’re never run out of things to do
Charleston has a wealth of activities to enjoy.
- Go boating in the harbor
- Visit the Charleston Aquarium
- Plenty of Festivals – Charleston Wine + Food, Wildlife Expedition to name a couple
- Historic homes and Ghost tours
- Fort Sumter National Monument
- Charleston area beaches
- Play golf on the numerous award-winning golf courses
- Play tennis
- Relax and be pampered at Charleston luxurious day spas
These are just a few of the many activities available.
5. Surround yourself with history
Charleston is surrounded in history and has many historic sites. Here are just a few:
- Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon also known as Custom House and The Exchange. Built in 1771, the Old Exchange building is site to important events in South Carolina’s history.
- Learn about some of the city’s Civil War history at the Museum at Market Hall.
- Visit Fort Sumter National Monument, and learn more about the place where the first shot was fired in the Civil War.
- Walk along what is commonly referred to as “rainbow row.” This colorful street of houses is one of Charleston’s most iconic historical sites, filled with brightly painted 18th-century homes.
- Visit the Charleston City Market, the beating heart of the Charleston Historic District stretching four city blocks. This 200-year-old city market hosts hundreds of vendors and is a wonderful place to find handmade goods, including the famed sweetgrass baskets that are braided as you watch.
6. Shopping
Living in historic downtown Charleston, means you have shops in walking and biking distance. Most of the best shopping is on King Street.
- Explore antique stores
- Find something chic to wear at the clothing boutiques
- Upscale Mini malls
- Well-known high-end retailers like Tommy Bahama, Louis Vuitton and Gucci
- Jewelers, local handmade items and one-of-a-kind home accents and furniture
7. Parks and Walking Trails
Downtown Charleston has numerous parks and walking trails for you to enjoy the outdoors and mostly mild weather. Here are just a few:
- Battery Park – waterfront views
- Brittlebank Park – marina, park with waterfront view
- Joe Riley Waterfront Park with pier and famous Pineapple Fountain
- Washington Park
- Colonial Lake Park
- Walk, jog or bike the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge with its stunning water and downtown views
8. Walk all around town
Nice thing about Charleston is how beautiful it is to stroll or bike around historic downtown with it’s quiet cobblestone street. Walk through residential area with beautiful gardens and flower boxes decorating their windows to the more bustling areas of boutiques, theaters and world class restaurants.
People move to Charleston daily to take advantage of the beautiful scenery, mild climate and cultural activities while also being part of a historic Southern city. Living downtown combines all those into one truly beautiful package.
Related Reading
“5 Top Luxury Neighborhoods of Charleston SC area”
