Charleston on a TIGHT budget - Consignment Anyone?

My sis and her famikly were just transferred and I am the proud owner of a ticket to visit in a few weeks.

What do the locals know and can teach this Yankee? I love ';deals'; -- food shopping happy hours little pleasantries.

Also, what is the proper dress for women? Sundresses?

I am so excited!

PS Do I need bug spray as I have been warned?

Charleston on a TIGHT budget - Consignment Anyone?

I%26#39;m not a local, but since no one else has responded yet, I thought I%26#39;d jump in.

You%26#39;ll definitely want to stop by the visitor%26#39;s center to pick up some coupons and read a lot of the earlier posts and reviews on here for suggestions.

Since your budget is very tight, you can do some very nice things for free. One example is Battery Park. It has an interesting history and it%26#39;s surrounded by water and historic mansions. You can have a picnic at the gazebo and watch carriages and sailboats go by.

You can also visit several of the churches and cemeteries. Check their websites for service times. Some of the cemeteries are open most days of the week but they are often only open during certain hours. Magnolia Cemetary looks especially interesting and I hope to go next time I%26#39;m there.

Walking around is completely free. You might want to read up on Charleston before you come so that you%26#39;ll be familiar with more of the history, esp. if a guided tour isn%26#39;t in your budget. I%26#39;ve actually been looking for some good history books about Charleston. Maybe some locals will suggest their favorites? I bought a walking tour guide at the visitor%26#39;s center, but I would like something with more detail that I can read ahead of time. (Also, I don%26#39;t like to walk and read--esp. in Charleston where there are historic sidewalks!)

I haven%26#39;t been to the 1400 year-old oak on John%26#39;s Island, but I believe that it%26#39;s free to go there. I also read on the reviews that the restaurant at Middleton Place is expensive, but that you get free evening admission to the plantation grounds if you have dinner there. The prices weren%26#39;t listed on the menu on their website, so I%26#39;m not sure if the amount you save on admission is worth what you%26#39;re spending on the meal.

I would assume that you would need bug spray. You definitely need it up here right now!

A local would have to tell you if there are any rules for attire that I missed. If you enjoy wearing sundresses in Boston, I%26#39;m sure that would be okay in Charleston too, although I admit that I didn%26#39;t notice anyone wearing one on my visit. What is the ';proper dress for women'; in Boston? It varies so much by occasion and activity, etc. that it would be hard to answer that if someone asked that for Indianapolis!

I hope this helps! Have a great trip!

Charleston on a TIGHT budget - Consignment Anyone?

You are so kind to give me some direction -- often one has SO many options that it is difficult to find the true jewels given a specific time frame.

As I%26#39;ve traveled I%26#39;ve noted diffferences in dress: in Chicago sneakers on women are the norm, whereas few Bostonians and New Yorkers would be caught dead in them except at the gym. And the left coast is much more casual -- yuppie and hip in the south and comfortable in the north. Not being a Southerner, I have visions of dresses more frills and fancy collars and lace. Naive I guess.

Again, I appreciate the information you imparted.

Dress in Charleston is ';neat casual';, dictated by comfort in the warm humid climate. Sundresses are great. You might want a light shawl, or other wrap, for the chilly AC in come places.

Some ladies wear sun hats - more for shade than for style. Sneakers are OK, but you might be more comfortable in sturdy, open sandals that let the air in.

You won%26#39;t see a lot of jeans (for women or for men) in Charleston, but cotton trousers or bermuda shorts are fine.

For dinner in the eveing, proper dress for gentlemen, even in the fanciest restaurants, is trousers and a collared shirt.

Bug spray is a good idea, especially if there has been recent rain. Mosquitos are active until the deepest winter months.

Hi - Travelled from Boston to Charleston and Myrtle Beach this past April - I would recommend that you go to Visitor Center - This Visitor Center is great - lots of information

Check out the Heritage Passport - I didn%26#39;t know about this and probably would not have time to use all that it offered but it is a great bargain . If you put in Heritage Passport just above your posting to the right several posters tell how they benifited from the passport. This is particularly good if you are interested in going in some of the mansions and visiting 2 of the plantations and enjoy museums Middleton is very expensive during the day (actually I paid more for entrance into this plantation than what the Passport costs.) If you do go to Middleton on the Passport I would recommend lunch there - very good , nice setting, and very reasonable - I hear the dinner is expensive although it lets you on the grounds without paying an entrance fee.

A friend of mine went to Magnolia this summer - The entrance fee is far more reasonable

Also - At the Visitor center book a carriage tour

The prices are cheaper if you get the tickets there

Sweetgrass baskets woven by the women of the area and passed down from generations is the unique craft you will see

The baskets are available at the visitor center , the maketplace , and along Highway 17 going north just outside Charleston - They are expensive . We bought one from one of the stands along the highway - at least pick up a brochure - I think you will enjoy reading the history .

I see from your postings you have visited one of my favorite of all places to travel - Paris

My daughter and I visited Angel Oak on John%26#39;s Island in early August. It is a bit outside of Charleston - but if you have a car, it is a pleasant drive and the tree is just incredible! And it is indeed free!

We love Charleston so much - we have been back twice in just 6 months time. A charming city, friendly, beautiful and so historic.

One of the neatest free things to do in our city is to walk, run, or bike the Ravenel Bridge. It spans Charleston and Mt. Pleasant and is simply delightful early morning, late afternoon, and particularly at night during full moon. You MUST park on the Mt. P side to do this. Our local newspaper, the Post %26amp; Courier, puts out a Preview section every Thursday that highlights what is going on for the upcoming week. It is a great place to check things out. Check the Charleston websites for dates of our 4 annual Art Walks. They are free and much fun with opportunities to meet locals.

Regarding the Bridge walk; I read on the bridge website that the length of the walk is approximately 2.4 miles. i%26#39;m assuming this is one way but hoping it is round trip so that I can convince my travel mate to walk with me.

Can you confirm?

It is one way so suggest just turn around at any point (even half way) and turn back as you will still get some wonderful views.

Thanks for clarifying. we%26#39;ll plan accordingly :-)