By The Huffington Post News Editors
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Charleston is awash in history and Southern charm and becoming widely known as a culinary town. Each year it hosts major events ranging from the Spoleto Festival USA to the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition and the Family Circle Cup Tennis Tournament. But there are a lot of free things to do for visitors drawn to the city founded in 1670. Here are some suggestions:
THE HISTORIC DISTRICT
The Historic District is the main reason most folks visit Charleston and you don’t have to pay a dime to wander through. Start first by visiting the Charleston Visitor Reception and Transportation Center built in an old railroad warehouse a few blocks north of the Historic District. There you can see multimedia displays that provide an orientation to the city. Then you can catch a free shuttle bus from the visitor center that will take you downtown into the heart of the district that encompasses 4,800 historic structures. But Charleston is not a museum city. People live in the homes comprising the district which encompasses the city’s social and civil life. There are numerous guide books available for a price, but they are not absolutely necessary as many of the buildings in the district have small wall signs telling visitors a bit about the building’s history. Don’t forget to peer past wrought iron gates and into Charleston’s beautifully kept private gardens. Also be sure to wander through the peaceful church graveyards where many leaders who helped write the early chapters of American history are buried.