Top Five Destinations of Charleston, SC

Maybe I hadn?t thought about it, but I didn?t realize that Charleston, South Carolina was on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Then, I realized that there aren?t too many cities where I don?t have a general idea of their geography. When I was younger, I remember that I thought that West Virginia was one big coalmine and not worthy of tourism, but traveling through later, I realized it was much more. So, I started to think of other cities where I might not know much about their geography.

For example, did you know that Walla Walla, Washington is in the middle of the eastern Washington desert? It always sounded much more coastal to me. Then I looked up what it means to be a desert, and though eastern Washington and eastern Oregon are sparse and brown, not how you imagine the states as we think about the western verdant parts, it still receives almost 20 inches of rain a year. That?s not a desert. However, the record highs in the months of May to September are all at or above 100 degrees.

Speaking of deserts, Timbuktu, Mali is on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert. Heck, I?m not sure if I knew the country was in Africa before I traveled down this rabbit hole of internet research on cities that sound familiar but I have no clue of anything about them. Now after looking on Wikipedia, I find out that last year rebels took the city and declared it part of a new country called Azawad. Don?t worry if you didn?t hear about it either, it only lasted three months.

So, in the spirit of learning more about a city that has been in the outer periphery of my knowledge, here are the five things that look cool to do on a visit to Charleston.

Visit Fort Sumter National Monument

Speaking of things that I didn?t know (or maybe this is one that I didn?t remember), the Civil War started at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor and Fort Sumter National Monument commemorates those events. The museum tells the story of the fort and wandering around outside can give you a glimpse of seacoast artillery and marine birds.

Eat at Hominy Grill

The first page when I bring up the Hominy Grill website gives me all I need to know about wanting to go to there. I see a gravy-covered piece of chicken on a biscuit, a bowl of greens next to some red beans and rice, cornbread and boiled peanuts. Looking at the menus just makes me want to get there sooner.

Golf at Kiawah Island Golf Resort

There are a few golf courses that make me want to spend a lot of money. Looking at the pictures of the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, I have a new one for my list. Located on the shores of the Atlantic this course hosted the 1991 Ryder Cup and the 2012 PGA Championship. For about $250 a night for two people, you can get a villa and a round a golf a day for four days, though it costs extra for the Ocean Course.

Watch the Charleston Riverdogs play baseball

Eventually the Yankees will go back to home grown talent to replace the members of the AARP on their roster, and when they do, the place to see them start will be with the Charleston Riverdogs. Right now, the team has last year?s first round pick Dante Bichette, Jr.

Eat at Fat Hen

Let?s get more of the stuff I don?t know out on the table. I have no clue what Lowcountry French cuisine is, but when I look at the menus at Fat Hen, I think I like it. Tomato, roasted corn, boiled peanut salad sounds great. Bacon blue cheese cole slaw sounds like the best cole slaw ever. Then I see the Cr?me Brulee French Toast and I want to live all day at a table.

Any suggestions for things that I missed? Any additional recommendations for the area? Just let me know in the comments.