Over 20 Towns We Loved in South Carolina

South Carolina was my first taste of the true South, and landing in Charleston proved to be the best introduction I could have hoped for. I was immediately enthralled by the majesty of the downtown historic buildings. It was early evening and the pastel fronts of the homes were lit by flickering gas lamps casting shadows of passing ghosts from days past. Walking around the town, I saw many people jogging along the waterfront, their footfalls echoed by the clop of the horse drawn carriages filled with tourists touring the city. I worked up a good appetite and enjoyed the local favorites of creamy, rich she-crab soup and a pile of tender shrimp smothered in butter and Cajun spices. Driving around town that night and early the next morning, I was amazed by the disparity between the richness of the history in the inner city's shops and homes and the conditions of the poorer areas on the outskirts and in various neighborhoods scattered in places unseen by many. The next morning I watched the sun come up over the bay, before getting into the car, for the rest of the trip.

I set out for Georgetown, north of Charleston along the banks of the Winyah Bay. Georgetown has an outlying commercial area with a picturesque downtown containing specialty shops, antique stores and galleries. Georgetown's downtown benefits from the breeze off the water, although the view of the bay is marred in many spots by towers of heavy industry.