In spite of all the changes and upheavals over the years, Rhett's endorsement of Charleston still holds true. If the Old South still lives throughout South Carolina's Low Country, it positively thrives in Charleston. Its history may be dotted with earthquakes, hurricanes, fires, and Yankee bombardments, but Charleston remains one of the best-preserved cities in the Old South. With its cobblestone streets and horse-drawn carriages, Charleston is a place of visual images and sensory pleasures. Yes, but it's well hidden.
Chic shops abound, as do a few supermodern hotels.
But you don't come to Charleston for anything cutting edge. You come to glimpse an almost-forgotten era.