Today's F5 gave you our top picks for squiring visitors around the Lowcountry, some down-home "authentic" local dining spots and five places to take the kids. But there was plenty of great stuff that came close to making the cut, and depending on your interests, some of these may be better choices...
More places to go
Downtown Summerville: Summerville is a beautiful small town that's increasing enveloped by suburban and strip development, but its historic district is stunning and its downtown commercial district is a wonderful place to spend an afternoon. Go for the shopping, the dining, the strolling, and be sure to drive around town with your camera. One last thing: All Books is now a bit off the beaten path, but if you love reading, don't miss it. It's one of the finest tiny bookshops left in South Carolina, and here's the thing: You walk in and you tell owner Michelle List what you like to read and she'll pick out a book you've never heard of. In our experience, she's never missed with a recommendation.
The ACE Basin and Historic Walterboro: If you're looking for a legit "small town Southern" experience, consider a drive down to Walterboro. There's not tons of stuff to do, but that's kind of the point, isn't it? And the ACE Basin (a wild area drained by the Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto rivers) is the most beautiful natural area of the state. You can get some of that beauty by driving through it, but it's best seen by canoe or kayak. If you've got one of those -- or the money to hire a local outfitter -- the ACE is the place.
Drayton Hall and Hampton Plantations: The "big" plantations get more visitors, but if you're interested in a more unvarnished look at the past, we recommend these. Drayton Hall along the Ashley between Charleston and Summerville is privately owned and will cost you admission ($14 adults, with various discounts and options), but what you get is a preservationist's view of the past that is unique in its accuracy. Hampton Plantation is a state historic site on the Santee (between McClellanville and Georgetown), which means you can walk the grounds for free (a tour of the Big House is $4, with some discounts). What sets these places apart is that they survived the 19th century more or less intact and their 20th century inhabitants didn't meaningfully modernize the living spaces.
The Ravenel Bridge: Yes, a bridge makes a weird destination, but the pedestrian and bike lane on the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge has become a local favorite for reasons that go beyond utility and exercise. There are seating areas at each of the towers, and if you make the trek up from Charleston or Mount Pleasant you get rewarded with the best view of Charleston harbor. From the top of the bridge you can see all the major landmarks and much of Charleston, so it makes a great place to start a multi-day visit, because you can orient your visitors so effectively from one spot. Plus it's just gorgeous up there. Be alert, though: You have to walk or bike, and there is no water or restroom on the bridge. Plan accordingly.
Mount Pleasant's Old Village: The historic village of Mount Pleasant snuggles up to the west bank of Shem Creek (look for the Coleman Boulevard turnoff right after cross the Shem Creek Bridge when driving from Charleston) and parts of it date to the 18th century. It's mostly residential, but the village has a tiny central commercial district on Pitt Street that's enjoying a 21st century renaissance. There's fine dining at the Old Post House Inn, and not-so-fine but plenty-satisfying dining at the Pitt Street Pharmacy, a local landmark that continues to offer an old-fashioned drug store lunch counter. The village has some outstanding public spaces, including the lawn and playground at Alhambra Hall (which overlooks the harbor), and the Pitt Street Bridge, a decommissioned trolley bridge that once connected the village to Sullivan's Island.
The Old Village is best explored on bicycle, and one of our 2007 Lowcountry bike tours detailed a nice but simple ride. Our suggestion: Park nearby, unload your bikes and spend a few blissful hours wandering around this romantic but utterly functional historic area.
The Old Navy Base/Riverfront Park/East Montague Avenue (North Charleston): "The North Area" is the geographic urban center of the Lowcountry but just gets ignored by visitors. They're missing a trick. The once off-limits Charleston Navy Base and shipyard is now open (well, much of it is -- the government has returned large swaths of the property to fences and guarded gates since 9/11), and it makes an off-beat but interesting drive-around. The base is the site of the Warren Lasch Conservation Center, where the CSS Hunley -- the pioneering Civil War submarine -- lies in a chemical bath during its slow restoration process. Tours are available, but you have to register in advance.
If you turn left after entering via the Old McMillan Avenue Gate, you can follow the signs through the picturesque officers' housing area to the city's new Riverfront Park. This is a nice place for a picnic lunch (Didn't pack one? You can get great sandwiches from Tracy's Cafe inside 10 Storehouse Row).
And finally: While people have long desparaged North Charleston for "not having an urban heart," its East Montague commercial district -- now the center of what the city calls Olde North Charleston -- has been transformed into one of the hottest hangouts in the Lowcountry. If you're looking for an off-the-beaten-path place to spend an evening, consider this one. The restaurants and bars along the recently upgraded streetscape attract plenty of visitors. Madra Rua, the wood-panelled Irish pub that help lead the resurrgence, is a great place to have a beer, eat some tradition pub food, and watch a game.
Old Santee Canal State Park: This fantastic park in Moncks Corner has indoor and outdoor attractions. It's kid-friendly and cheap ($3 adults). Charles Towne Landing: The site of the original Charleston settlement west of the Ashley has been through enormous changes in recent years after falling into a shameful state of neglect. Whatever its state when you visit ($5 adult), the setting is beautiful and worthy of a half-day's exploration, particularly if you're toting around children. We just haven't been out there personally in a while, and can't vouch for its current condition.
There are others, but this should be more than enough to keep your visitors happy for an extended weekend. Happy touring!
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