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Keys to the City
Facts & Fundamentals
Tourism is a primary source of revenue for the Holy City, and other top industries include medical research, manufacturing and healthcare. Medical University of South Carolina, Port of Charleston and the U.S. military are among the city's major's employers.
Sales tax in Charleston County is 7.5 percent.
Over 125,000 people live within the Charleston city limits; meanwhile, the metropolitan area has a population of close to three quarters of a million.
Weather
Charleston's sub-tropical climate allows for pleasant temperatures for most of the year. In the summer, highs are usually in the 90s and exceed 100 degrees occasionally, and lows are generally in the high 60s or low 70s. In the fall, highs drop to the 70s and 80s and lows to the 40s by November. Throughout winter, highs are usually no cooler than 59 degrees, and lows linger in the 30s. Mid-to-late spring highs are in the 70s and 80s; lows reach the 50s. Average yearly rainfall is 52 inches, with the summer months seeing the most rain.
Holidays & Business Hours
On federal and state holidays, many offices and businesses close or have truncated hours. Naturally, policies vary, but in general, the following holidays are broadly observed:
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Coming & Going
Charleston International Airport is 9.6 miles from downtown and serves 63 flights each day. Amtrak provides service from North Charleston to Washington D.C., Savannah, Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa/Miami. If you're driving, Charleston lies at the eastern terminus of I-26 and may be accessed from Interstates 20, 85, 40, 77 and 95.
Making Your Way
Historic Charleston and the downtown district are pedestrian-friendly and parking is limited, so explore the city on foot if you can. To see major landmarks in a short period of time, guided carriage tours are extremely popular. If you're hoping to explore Mount Pleasant, nearby beaches and other destinations outside the city, driving your own or renting a car is suggested. CARTA buses do provide public transportation thoughout the metropolitan area; fares are $1.50 for a one-way trip.
News & Views
For daily local news, Charlestonians rely on the Post and Courier. Charleston City Paper keeps track of arts and entertainment news. Charleston Magazine offers in-depth stories about local events, people and businesses. Charleston Regional Business Journal reports on economic development in the metro area.
Quirks & Curiosities
Some folks insist that lurking beneath Charleston's genteel facade are ghosts from the city's pasts. Many of its formidable old homes and churches, burial grounds and unoccupied quarters entertain common superstitions that, if nothing else, draw a slew of curious visitors.
Getting Your Bearings
When you're not familiar with a city, you feel completely adrift. That's exactly what local visitors' centers hope to ward off. They've compiled a vast collection of resources to help you better understand a particular city, and they're more than eager to share their time, hints, and literature. In the Charleston area, the Charleston Visitor Center (843-853-8000) operates several offices to assist travelers. Their locations and contact information are as follows:
Charleston Visitor Center
375 Meeting Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Mt. Pleasant - Isle of Palms Visitor Center
Johnnie Dodds Boulevard, Highway 17 North
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
Daily 9am-5:30 pm
Kiawah Island Visitor Center
22 Beachwalker Drive
Kiawah Island, SC 29455
Mon-Fri 9m-2pm
Necessities - Post Offices
It's usually not too difficult to spot a drop box when you're out and about, but if you need to conduct more serious postal business, it's not always that easy. In the heart of Charleston, several locations are convenient to travelers and residents. They include:
Charleston
83 Broad St
Charleston, SC 29401-2202
Mon-Frid 9am-5pm
843-760-5430
East Bay
557 E Bay St
Charleston, SC 29403-6322
Mon-Fri 8:30am-5:30pm
843-727-1129
Citadel Campus
171 Moultrie St
Charleston, SC 29409-0002
Mon-Fri 9am-4pm
843-953-7690
Common Courtesies
Although tipping is generally a personal matter, there are some guidelines that prove helpful to travelers. At restaurants, servers typically get 15% of the bill, although 10% acknowledges basic assistance, and 20% awards exceptional service. It is also common now for some restaurants to charge an automatic gratuity of 18% for groups. You should be aware of this possibility before providing an additional tip. Taxi drivers usually fit into similar guidelines by receiving a tip equivalent to 15% of the tab.
Often, a dollar tip covers many situations. Bartenders are customarily given $1 per cocktail, hotel maids are provided $1 for each day of a stay, bellhops get about $1 per bag, and a coat-check clerk typically receives $1 as well. The exception is a concierge, who generally receives $5-$10 for standard service (additional assistance suggests more).
Eat Out and Save Money!
