Recently in the local newspaper, the Post & Courier (www.Charleston.net ), there was an article naming Charleston, the Holy City, as a top destination to visit in 2010. The honor was bestowed by Lonely Planet, one of the world’s more popular global tourism guides. This is rather noteworthy because other cities included on the list are Kyoto, Japan, Istanbul, Turkey, and Cork, Ireland…..none of which I’ve been to so I have no basis of comparison, but I will agree….Charleston is tops in my book. In fact, since I’ve moved here, I have had little desire to travel elsewhere. I feel that I have it all here…..sunshine and mild temperatures, beautiful beaches, historic architecture, fantastic restaurants, and plenty of other arts and entertainment. Need I mention….Charleston has very friendly people too!

Charleston area beaches are much different than other beach areas I've visited. We don’t have high rise buildings or hotels littering the beachfront. Our beaches are wide, pristine, and natural. We don’t have many condos, and single family homes are either older tyle beach cottages or one story homes, or large beautiful elevated homes with all the “bells and whistles.” For the golf or tennis lover, Wild Dunes provides some of the best amenities in this gated community on the Isle of Palms. Isle of Palms has some wonderful restaurants and one of my favorites on Isle of Palms is Huck’s which overlooks the beach. Yes, even in November we can sit outside and watch the dogs and children play on the beach. Occasionally, you can see a brave soul in the water….yes, in November!

November has been perfect weather to view beach properties with blue skies and bright sun….just the perfect temperature to be visiting Folly Beach, also known as the “local’s beach,” “the surfer’s beach,” or “the funky beach.” Folly Beach has so much color and energy with several great restaurants, tee shirt shops, surf shops, and plenty of real estate offices. One of the best things about Folly Beach is that it’s a short drive to downtown historic Charleston. There is a Holiday Inn and a Holliday Inn, but VERY dissimilar. My client and I viewed beautiful townhomes with Folly River views, gorgeous duplexes just blocks from the beach, a couple of small single family homes that have been renovated, as well as, several condos overlooking the beachfront. It’s wonderful to have so many property choices. It’s all about your desired lifestyle, and that’s something a Realtor can’t decide…..it’s very personal. However, I was able to provide my client all the data necessary to make a decision….expenses and rental income history….but it’s still a hard decision that needs much consideration.

I'm preparing to show property on Seabrook Island and Kiawah....two magnificent gated beach resort areas with beautifully manicured golf courses, top notch tennis facilities, and miles of lovely, quiet beaches. Kiawah has an outstanding hotel/spa called The Sanctuary that has all sorts of dining to suit your taste. Seabrook now boast a newly renovated club house that provides all the best amenities for its owners. Property choices are varied but almost all provide some sort of views: ocean, marsh, creek, golf course, tennis course, or private woods. If you want a luxurious vacation or retirement home, there are many grand choices on the beaches around Charleston.

Many years in the planning, the 22-acre park was built at a cost of $14 million and opened to the public on July 4, 2009. One of its most impressive features is its 1,250-foot fishing and pedestrian pier, the longest such facility in the Lowcountry and one of the longest in the Southeast. The pier is constructed of tabby concrete – oyster shells mixed with concrete – an important, traditional building material throughout the Charleston area.
Fun, Fishing and a Shrine to Fallen Heroes

Partly as a practical matter but also as homage to the past, the pilings that supported what was once the Silas Pearman Bridge were cut down and now form the base of the Memorial Waterfront Park pier. East Cooper residents now travel to Charleston on the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, a spectacular span opened in 2005 that rises above the park and provides welcome shade from the sometimes scorching South Carolina sun. The dominant feature of the park is its colorful and innovative children’s area. Well-lighted and featuring numerous security cameras, the playground boasts a host of unusual and safety-oriented attractions for the kids and comfortable seating areas nearby for their parents. The perimeter of the playground is discreetly fenced, with access only to the rest of the park, not to nearby roads or parking areas.

As a tribute to Mount Pleasant’s heritage as a home port for working shrimpers, the playground features a kids’ shrimp boat, part of a complex of bridge-like structures that mimic the Ravenel Bridge overhead. These bridge-like structures are complete with slides, stairs and netting attached to the shrimp boat so kids can climb easily from one to another. Beneath it all is a light blue rubber pad, for safety and to represent the blue waters that surround Mount Pleasant.

At the park, a tidy shop sells snacks, gifts and tackle and rents fishing gear for use on the pier, and there are plenty of restrooms and picnic areas, as well as a visitors’ center. A sweetgrass pavilion educates visitors about the Gullah tradition of sweetgrass basket making and to honor the artisans who continue that tradition today along a designated section of U.S. Route 17.

As the park’s name suggests, its outstanding feature is the memorial itself. Dedicated to the serviceman and women from Mount Pleasant and its precursor, Christ Church Parish, who lost their lives fighting for the cause of freedom, it was created at a cost of nearly $1 million. The memorial includes a reflective pool, brick-lined paths and a sculpture by celebrated artist Raymond Kaskey, whose other architectural sculptures include the National World War II Memorial on the Mall in Washington, D.C. Kaskey’s Mount Pleasant work is a bronze female figure representing contradictory emotions of loss and hope. In her left hand, she holds a tri-folded flag – similar to the one presented to grieving widows and mothers. Her right hand rests upon a World War II helmet, supported by a rifle.

For family fun, fishing, an evening of entertainment or the opportunity simply to relax and reflect, Memorial Waterfront Park is a special attraction in a town that thrives on offering its residents and visitors nothing but the best.

Weather in Separate Window