I have a love-hate relationship with Charleston, South Carolina. As a southern girl who knows the darker histories beneath a charming city like this, it’s sometimes hard for me to fully relax or feel at peace. When I gaze at the stately mansions and walk the cobblestone alleyways with beautiful hidden gardens, I am ever aware of the underlying wealth and white privilege and social divisions that a city like Charleston has in spades. And it’s not just the city — South Carolina’s lowcountry region rouses this conflict in me every time we visit. And yet, I LOVED our visit here and let me tell you why…
When our international trips were delayed a 2nd year due to COVID, we decided to re-visit some old favorites on the Southeast coast. We divvied up the trip between three historic cities: St Augustine Florida, Savannah Georgia, and Charleston South Carolina. I call them the “Queens” because each is majestic in their own way and (in my humble opinion) they outshine every other city in their respective states.
