In Part 1, I answered questions I often get from people looking to move to Charleston from outside the area on the subjects of hurricanes, floods, making friends, and more.
Today’s blog is a little lighter, answering the questions I often get about beaches, golf, art, and more. If you’re thinking about moving to Charleston, SC, here’s what you should know.
What is the Art Scene Like in Charleston?
Charleston has a robust fine arts scene for a city its size. You’ll find many small galleries downtown on Broad Street (on “Gallery Row”) and in the French Quarter. A great way to see them is during a quarterly First Friday Art Walk in the French Quarter, when the galleries keep their doors open after hours and offer wine to art lovers who go from gallery to gallery to take in the art. (Note that these have been suspended for the time being; check with the Charleston Gallery Association for when they’ll start back up.) Larger galleries and museums featuring fine art include the Gibbes Museum of Art and the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art at the College of Charleston
That’s just for fine arts; Charleston also boasts strong theater and music scenes. Numerous theaters including the Dock Street Theater, PURE Theater, and the Queen Street Playhouse put on plays and musicals, and larger shows touring nationally often come to the North Charleston Coliseum. The excellent Charleston Symphony performs classics and pops concerts at its home in the Gaillard Center, and the jazz scene is vibrant, too, with the annual 2-day Charleston Jazz Festival in late summer drawing people from all over. Plus, dozens of venues across the city host musical acts of all genres, large and small.
Finally, Spoleto Festival USA is held in Charleston in late spring, an exceptional 17-day festival celebrating music, dance, theater, fine arts, and more, featuring national and international acts of the highest caliber. Piccolo Spoleto runs alongside it, featuring local talent in more intimate settings.
In short, if you’re passionate about the arts, Charleston is a great place to be!
Which are the Best Beaches in Charleston?
Charleston has some of the best beaches on the East Coast, and luckily for residents, there are a number to choose from.
Folly Beach, located east of James Island, is both the name of the beach and the name of the town, nicknamed Edge of America. It’s a fun and laid-back place to eat, drink, sunbathe, swim, and surf. Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island – which are next to each other and a short drive from Mount Pleasant – are also great places to bring the family for a day at the beach or stroll along at sunset.
Further afield, you’ll find gorgeous beaches in places about an hour’s drive from Charleston. These include the beaches on Kiawah Island and Edisto Beach.
Where’s the Best Place to Golf in Charleston?
Golf lovers will find excellent golf courses in Charleston and the chance to play nearly year-round, thanks to the great weather.
Close to downtown Charleston you’ll find two golf nationally-ranked courses at the Daniel Island Club on Daniel Island, Patriots Point Links on Charleston Harbor in Mount Pleasant, and the City of Charleston Municipal Golf Course on James Island. A little further away, the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island is a challenging course that’s consistently ranked as the best golf course in the state.
How is the Commute from Daniel Island and Mount Pleasant to Charleston?
Downtown Charleston, also called the peninsula, is what people think of when they think of Charleston. It’s the heart of the area. I often get asked how long the drive or commute to downtown Charleston is from Daniel Island or from Mount Pleasant. Just as with all commutes, it depends heavily on traffic.
Without traffic, the drive from the heart of Daniel Island to Calhoun Street in downtown Charleston is just about 20 minutes. During rush hour, it can be closer to 30 or 35 minutes. Similarly, from Towne Centre in Mount Pleasant (located in the middle of Mt. Pleasant on Hwy. 17 by the Isle of Palms Connector), it’s also about 20 minutes to Calhoun Street without traffic, and about 35 minutes in rush hour.
Is Charleston too Good to Be True?
I love this question! Charleston appears to be a beautiful, friendly, interesting place to live, work, and raise a family – and it is. It’s got the Southern hospitality, sunshine, and incredible food that the South is known for, plus an abundance of opportunities for indulging in sports (especially water sports), art, music, history, and culture. The city itself is beautiful and the people are friendly. So no, Charleston is not too good to be true – it’s a great city and a wonderful place to live!
Buy Your Dream Home in the Charleston, SC Area with Kenton
If you’re thinking of buying a home in the Charleston, SC area, call me. My name is Kenton Selvey and I’m a Realtor who helps families buy and sell homes in the greater Charleston area. I can advise you on which area is right for you and your family, and I’m happy to answer any questions you have about what life is like here in the Lowcountry! Call me today at 843-806-7222 or email me here and let me know how I can help. I look forward to hearing from you.
