Charleston, South Carolina, played a major part in the early history of America and the city still retains much of its colonial charm with beautifully-preserved stately mansions, tree-lined streets and carefully landscaped gardens. The Old Exchange and Customs House is perhaps the most famous historical building in the city – it features a dungeon where several signers of the Declaration of Independence were once detained and where the US Constitution was ratified. Civil War history can be experienced at the nearby Fort Sumter, where the first shot of the Civil War was supposedly fired. Several Civil-War era plantations, like Boone Hall, can also be visited.

Modern Charleston is a city that embraces the arts. The Gibbes Museum of Art is one of the oldest art organizations in the country and houses over 10,000 pieces. The city also hosts the Spoleto Festival, a 17-day celebration of various disciplines in the art world. The Charleston Fine Arts Dealers´ Association Fine Art Auction, held each November, brings hundreds of fine art collectors to the city each year and the Food and Wine Festival and Charleston Fashion Week also bring big crowds.

Several nearby beaches lure visitors with the promise of sun, sand, and gentle surf and the mild, almost tropical climate, makes Charleston a great place to visit any time of year.

Links –
Old Exchange - http://www.oldexchange.com/
Fort Sumter - http://www.nps.gov/fosu
Boone Hall - http://boonehallplantation.com/
Gibbes Museum - http://www.gibbesmuseum.org/
Spoleto - http://www.spoletousa.org/
Food and Wine - http://www.charlestonfoodandwine.com/2009/
Fashion Week - http://www.charlestonfashionweek.com/