Charleston…what can I say? I love you so.
And I want everyone visiting Charleston to experience how wonderful this fine city is. Here are some tips to help you prepare for your time here!
Ma’am & Sir
We say “ma’am” and “sir”…to everyone. For us, it is a sign of courtesy and respect…a pleasantry. And a requirement. We say it regardless of age or role. It isn’t a sign that we think you are old. And don’t bother asking us not to say it or you might hear something like, “No ma’am, my mama would have my tail if I didn’t.”
Parking
Parking is easy…if you are prepared. There are 4 types of parking: free parking, metered parking, parking lots, and parking garages.
Free Parking
In addition to free commercial parking, there is free parallel parking in residential areas. You will often see a sign like this. The sign will indicate how many hours you can park on that street – in this case, you can park for 2 hours from 9am-6pm.
Metered Parking
You will find metered parking in some parking lots and on streets where you have to parallel park. It’s $2 an hour. You can pay for up to 2 hours of parking using quarters or a credit card, although I find the credit card machines to break easily. You can also download the Freebird app and pay through that.
But the easiest option is to text ParkCHS to 727-563. You will then get a link to pay for parking where you can enter a credit card and your license plate number. I prefer this option because you will get a text when your allotted 2 hours are almost up and you can extend the time.
Important: You do not have to pay parking meters on Sundays, holidays, or after 6pm.
Parking Lots
Parking lots are pretty common around Charleston and they will have either an attendant asking for cash or a text to pay option. Here’s the thing – these are all privately owned. So some of them are $10 for the day and some are $10 an hour (which is a rip off). Don’t feel like you are stuck, I have certainly driven off from a $10 an hour parking lot to find another option.
Parking Garages
Parking garages are usually run by the city or a hotel. They are usually $2-3 an hour and bonus, they are covered so they won’t cook under the heat.
Sidewalks
Charleston is at sea level and in some cases, below sea level. We deal with a lot of sinkage. We have a lot of beautiful greenery so we have a lot of roots. We also love bricks, cobblestone, and bluestone which is naturally made and therefore perfectly imperfect. In other words, be prepared to deal with uneven sidewalks. If you are walking outdoors, it will definitely be bumpy and irregular. Not to say that it is inaccessible for wheelchairs or other walking equipment…you just want to be prepared to push over the bumps.
I am a klutz by nature, so the sidewalks trip me up all the time.
Jaywalking
We jaywalk. We shouldn’t, but we do. Check to see if the street is free and then feel free to cross. We don’t cross at crosswalks or wait until the crosswalk is green (if the road is clear). However, like every other city, we have distracted drivers so double and triple-check before crossing. And when you are driving, watch out for pedestrians.
One Way Streets
We have lots of one-way streets that alternate directions each street. Don’t worry if you miss your intended turn-off…two streets ahead will be the same direction.
Bugs
They are everywhere, especially mosquitos and no-see-ums. Make sure to wear good bug spray or use bug patches. I keep this bug spray in my purse because it is small, very effective, and doesn’t stink.
We also have cockroaches, big ones. For some reason, we have romanticized them by calling them “Palmetto Bugs”. We even have jewelry depicting the Palmetto Bugs. Whatever you call them, they are big and sometimes they fly. They aren’t everywhere you go, but don’t be surprised if you see them.
Humidity
Charleston is in a subtropical location, right on the coast. It’s hot. And it’s humid, very humid. As in, “after a 20-minute hot shower in a small, closed bathroom” humid. July and August are the most humid months. Bring lots of water and be prepared to take breaks inside during the most humid days.
Thunderstorms
Along the same lines of humidity, we have lots of rain. The good news is that most rainstorms are quick and sporadic – so don’t let it ruin your day. It’s not uncommon for a 30-minute downpour between 3-5pm and then it clears up. That’s when the humidity is the worst (see above). Also, the rain could be heavy in one part of town and non-existent in another. So when you check the weather, make sure you check it for the location where you want to go, not just where you currently are.
Slave Market
First, no one calls it the “Slave Market”…it is just the “Market”. Or if you are a 60+ Charlestonian, it is the “mahh-ket”. Second, it is not where enslaved people were sold but where enslaved people went to purchase goods. If you want to learn about Charleston’s role in slavery, I recommend visiting the Old Slave Mart Museum. It is inexpensive, small (only taking an hour or two to complete), and incredibly enlightening.
Joggling Boards
This is definitely a uniquely Charleston treat: benches that bounce! They are around Charleston, especially at the historic plantations and gardens. They are fun to bounce on and jump on if you are brave. And to purchase one, check out Old Charleston Joggling Board Company, although they do not ship outside of Charleston anymore.
Fun Pronunciations
We have fun pronunciations of several streets. When someone points you to Taco Boy on Huger Street…they will say “ue-gee” and not “hu-gur”. To access the parking garage at The Charleston Place, you will be directed to “ha-zel” and not “hassle”…even though it is on Hasell Street. And if you want to look at some beautiful homes on Legare Street or visit the Cathedral of St. John Baptist (on the corner of Broad and Legare), you will need to go to “luh-gree” and not “le-gare”.
Bottom line…if you can’t find the street someone told you about on your maps, ask them how to spell it in addition to pronouncing it.
State Flag: Palmetto Moon
We love our state flag. We have it everywhere. You will often hear it referred to as the Palmetto Moon. It does have a palmetto – which are all over Charleston. And while it looks like there is a moon and we lean into the “moon” side…most scholars will attest that it isn’t a moon. It represents white crescent badges on the patriot guards of Fort Moultrie during the American Revolution. However, over time…the angle of the crescent changed direction to look more like a moon. At the end of the day, it’s neither here nor there. Just enjoy the Palmetto Moon!
Palmetto Roses
Palmetto Roses are beautiful flowers made of Palmetto Tree fronds. You can find them from sweetgrass basket markers and from young Charlestonians looking to make some extra money. The kids will often offer them without giving a specific price…I usually give them $1-$5 depending on what I have on me. Some locals have gone overboard trying to make it illegal because of a few assertive salespeople, a skill that will serve them well in adulthood. To me, I treat it like a lemonade stand in my neighborhood. It is just some kids trying to earn some cash. If you want one, buy one. If not, don’t.
The flowers are pretty and they last forever. And the kids are learning great skills.
Rice Beads
One of my favorite jewelry traditions in Charleston are rice beads. Very simply, it is a necklace or bracelet with beads that mimic the shape of rice. You will find them in most jewelry shops and boutiques, and, depending on the material, they are relatively inexpensive. I probably have 5 or 6 necklaces and bracelets in different materials and colors. Check out Garfield’s Jewelers, Carolina Girls or Candy Shop Vintage to get one for yourself!
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