Real buyers agent 2017 guide to charleston

Your Guide to

Charleston

Helping you find the right home in your new hometown.

Charleston's First Exclusive Home Buyers Agents

www.charlestonhome.com

The Buyer’s Advocate…

100% of the Time.

Since it’s founding in 1995 no agent

at The Real Buyer’s Agent has ever taken a listing or worked with a seller.

We believe that every buyer should be zealously represented in a real estate transaction. As the buyer, you will never have to worry about being pushed into a specific house because there is no incentive to do so, unlike some traditional agencies. Our priority is finding and negotiating on the property that fits you best. It doesn’t matter which company lists the property or if it is a For Sale By Owner; we’ll show it to you and help negotiate the best price for you. We play an active part in the entire buying process and are literally with you every step of the way. Discover the difference an exclusive buyer’s agent can make in your next transaction. We want to be your partner and advocate in your next home purchase! Call us or visit us online today.

843.884.0888 800.884.0818 info@buyersagent.net

www.Charlestonhome.com

Your closing attorney is your choice.

Make your choice count.

800 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 Telephone: (843) 884-1593 www.haineslawfirmllc.com Real Estate

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W i l l s a n d Tr u s t s

Robert W. Haines and Amy M. Haines

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www.charlestonhome.com • 800.884.0818

» WELCOME T he Charleston region is full of life, history and opportunity. You have probably already discovered this as you are considering, or have already chosen, the region as your new home.

On the surface, the region’s beauty is impossible to ignore. In fact, it’s probably one of the many things that attracted you to the area. Rivers serenely wind through scenic marshlands. Historic buildings are shaded by grand live oaks draped in Spanish moss. There are a lot of advantages to living in an area that’s easy on the eyes, whether you’ve set down roots in Summerville, Charleston, Mount Pleasant or somewhere in between.

But much deeper than the region’s beauty is its history, which dates back to 1670 when the first English settlers arrived and established Charles Towne on the banks of the Ashley River. As a

favorite destination for travelers, the Charleston region proudly celebrates its history and the people who have helped shape the area into what it is today.

In addition, quality of life is something each community takes seriously. Schools are a high priority. New pedestrian and family friendly neighborhoods are being built that mix seamlessly with established neighborhoods. There are abundant opportunities to experience arts, culture, outdoor recreation, shopping, dining and nightlife.

We invite you to explore the region, get to know your neighbors and discover the charms of the Lowcountry. It won’t take long before you become immersed in the area’s progressive Southern culture and call Charleston your new hometown.

We’re certainly glad you’re here. Welcome home.

•

WELCOME |

1

» WE’VE GOT IT ALL

Charleston was named the World's Best City and the Best City in the U.S. in 2016 by Travel & Leisure magazine. Here are a few reasons why:

Atmosphere and Ambiance Day or night, Charleston’s atmosphere and ambiance beckon. Take a carriage ride to learn about the historic area, watch a beautiful sunset at a rooftop bar or venture to the beach to relax. Charleston gets into your soul and we think you’ll agree there’s nothing quite like it.

ess Journal

Photo/Charleston Regional Busin

Our rankings as Friendliest City and Most Mannerly City are two things we’re proud of.

We take life a little slower here in Charleston and extend to visitors and newcomers the same hospitality that the city’s founders did. It won’t be long before you, too, will be saying, “Welcome, y’all!”

Lodging

Photo/Greater Charleston Restaurant Association

Restaurants Charleston has become a hot spot on the gourmet food scene. Chefs focus on using farm-fresh produce and seafood straight from local waters. Lots of festivals and events feature our local cuisine, from spontaneous Food Truck Rodeos to the annual Wine and Food Festival.

Shopping

| WELCOME

World's Best City - Travel & Leisure, 2016 No. 1 Best City in the U.S. - Travel & Leisure, 2016 No. 1 Small U.S. City - Conde Nast Traveler, Readers’ Choice

No. 4 Most Fun Place to Live in the U.S. - U.S. News and World Report, 2016 No. 4 Best Midsize City for Jobs in

Want to stay in a historic inn? No problem. Like the beach with a golf course nearby? You can stay there, too. Luxury hotel, bed and breakfast, marsh or ocean view, harbor or skyline vista?

If you can dream it, we probably have it.

2

Charleston is the No. 1

Awards, 2016

Friendliness

The Lowcountry Oyster Festival, the world’s largest, takes place in January at Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant.

YOU

The Charleston area keeps racking up the recognition in many areas.

Here are a few examples. We’re flattered...

Arts and History The Charleston area is the home of many firsts. The city was founded in 1670, and you can barely take a step in any direction without seeing a historic building, plantation or other landmark. From Rainbow Row and the Market downtown to Fort Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island, there is much to see and learn about. And the Charleston arts scene is vibrant as well.

Opening ceremonie s for Spoleto Festi val USA. Performing and visual arts come together in the annual Spoleto Festival.

WHY, THANK

Pick up a handmade sweetgrass basket in the Market or shop the latest fashions on King Street downtown. Head out to the Tanger Outlets in North Charleston if you’re looking for a great deal or swing

by Towne Centre in Mount Pleasant for trendy shops and locally owned boutiques. Whatever you’re looking for, you can find it here.

2017 -Forbes, 2016 Named to Top 25 list of America’s Best Cities - Outside, 2017 No. 19 Best Places to Live in the U.S. - U.S. News & World Report, 2015 No. 4 Best American Cities for Foodies - Conde Nast Traveler, 2014 Top 12 Technology Hubs in America - SlateTech, 2013 Sources: Charleston County Economic Development, Charleston Regional Development Alliance

» WHY I LIVE HERE Welcome messages from our sponsors

“I was born and raised here. It’s no surprise to me Charleston has been voted as a top travel destination year after year. Visitors come to this city for the same reasons locals live here the diversity of its natural and cultural history, such as McLeod Plantation Historic Site and Caw Caw Interpretive Center, and beautiful lifeguarded beaches. The mild climate in Charleston allows for year-round outdoor recreational opportunities.

For example, even in the autumn and winter, we can still spend time with our families walking on miles of wooded and scenic trails, or attending fall and holiday festivals. I wouldn’t live anywhere else.”

“I like living in the Charleston region because of the area’s dynamic contrasts: A growing economy and a deep sense of history; vibrant urban cores and a serene natural environment; countless cultural events and nothing to do on a lazy summer afternoon. But most of all, I like it because it’s home.”

Grady Johnson President and Group Publisher, SC Biz News, publishers of the Charleston Regional Business Journal

David Bennett Executive Director, Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission

“One visit to the Lowcountry and you will fall in love with the people, places and endless list of entertainment options! Charleston has rich history, great restaurants, sandy beaches and breathtaking sunsets. It’s a great place to live, work and play.”

Dr. Jairy C. Hunter President, Charleston Southern University

“Charleston is a beautiful city with a rich history, great food, vibrant arts scene, and warm people engaged in their community, and it’s evolving into a center for advanced technologies and businesses.

With the current investments underway at the MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, I believe Charleston’s health care system and research mission will shine as brightly as any of that, if not brighter. Over the next few years, South Carolinians will experience scientific breakthroughs and positive health outcomes for generations to come.”

“Charleston, and surrounding areas, are the perfect backdrop for families. Having raised an 18-, 21-, and 23-year-old here myself, I can vouch that it offers something for everyone. Where else can you spend a day at the beach, enjoy some of the country’s best food and take in a baseball game just by hopping over a bridge?”

Cregg Glover South Carolina Federal Credit Union

Gustavo W. Leone, Ph.D. Director, Hollings Cancer Center, MUSC WELCOME |

3

contents | WELCOME

» Living In 40 Historic Charleston 44 Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island 46 North Charleston 48 Mount Pleasant 51 West Ashley 53 James Island and Folly Beach 55 Johns and Wadmalaw Islands 56 Daniel Island 58 Kiawah and Seabrook Islands 60 Summerville 65 Jedburg and Ridgeville 66 Moncks Corner 68 Goose Creek

» Resource Guide 70 Sports and Recreation 74 Dog Parks 77 Golf Courses 78 Dining Out 80 Places to Stay 83 Alternative and Outdoor Venues 85 Arts Abound 88 Attractions and Tours 93 Calendar of Events 96 Newcomer Information and Map

Photo/Explore Charleston

4

2 Introduction to Charleston 3 Sponsors’ Welcome 6 Market Facts 14 Education in the Lowcountry 21 Higher Education 26 Health and Wellness

Photo/Ryan Wilcox/Charleston Regional Business Journal

Volume 9

Photo/MUSC

2017

»Welcome

Photo/Charleston County

Special Projects Editor - Licia Jackson ljackson@scbiznews.com • 803.726.7546

Parks

Associate Editor, Special Projects - Steve McDaniel smcdaniel@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3123 Creative Director - Ryan Wilcox rwilcox@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3117 Senior Graphic Designer - Jane James jjames@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3118 Graphic Designer - Andrew Sprague asprague@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3128 ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Director of Business Development - Mark Wright mwright@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3143 Senior Account Executive - Sue Gordon sgordon@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3111 Senior Account Executive - Robert Reilly rreilly@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3107 Senior Account Executive - Bennett Parks bparks@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3126 Account Executive - Sara Cox scox@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3109

South Carolina’s Media Engine for Economic Growth

What are Market Facts and Lists?

Each year, the Charleston Regional Business Journal collects all kinds of data and facts about our region. These are presented in a visual way in Market Facts, which is published annually. In the following pages, you will be introduced to a sampling of this data, presented in chart, graph and table format.

You will also be treated to samples from our annual Book of Lists. The lists are just what they sound like: listings of businesses and other organizations by category. The information is ranked by number of employees or some other criteria, and details about each company are painstakingly gathered by our researchers.

The facts and lists published here are ones that will be of interest to newcomers. We hope you enjoy both of these added features to Intro Charleston.

President and Group Publisher - Grady Johnson gjohnson@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3103 Vice President of Sales - Steve Fields sfields@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3110 Event Director - Kathy Allen kallen@scbiznews.com • 864.720.1225 Audience Development & IT Manager - Kim McManus kmcmanus@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3116 Accounting Manager - Vickie Deadmon vdeadmon@scbiznews.com • 803.726.7541

SC BUSINESS PUBLICATIONS LLC A portfolio company of Virginia Capital Partners LLC Frederick L. Russell Jr., Chairman

The entire contents of this newspaper are copyright by SC Business Publications LLC with all rights reserved.

Any reproduction or use of the content within this publication without permission is prohibited. SCBIZ and South Carolina’s Media Engine for Economic Growth are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

WELCOME |

5

Market Facts C

harleston’s economy has been growing and diversifying at a steady pace, with technology, engineering, architecture, service industries and health care ranking as the area’s fastest-growing job sectors.

The emergence of technology startups heralds a growing knowledge economy and has earned Charleston the nickname “Silicon Harbor.”

An economic driver for the entire state, the Port of Charleston has rebounded strongly after a dip in exports and imports during the recession.

Ports, logistics, manufacturing and distribution companies account for a significant amount of economic activity in the Charleston region.

As the housing market has recovered, the demand for commercial real estate and rental properties has surged. Construction has bounced back with an increase in building permits and the dollar value of the construction market.

Financial institutions operating in the Charleston area represent more than 25% of the financial assets in banks across the state.

In the pages that follow we give you a visual representation of some data on the Charleston market through Market Facts. Each year, the Charleston Regional Business Journal publishes Market Facts: data and facts about our region presented in chart, graph and table format. The information here is from the most recent Market Facts publication.

Sponsored by

6

| EDUCATION

In this section Economic Drivers.................................................8 Area Information.................................................10 Real Estate............................................................. 12

» ECONOMIC DRIVERS Manufacturing The economic landscape of the Lowcountry changed recently when two automobile manufacturers made the decision to invest a total of $1 billion in new manufacturing facilities. Mercedes-Benz Vans and Volvo Cars announced plans for manufacturing operations in the Charleston region to build and assemble commercial vans and automobiles. The companies join a slate of manufacturers in the Charleston region responsible

Port of Charleston The S.C. State Ports Authority handled more than 1 million containers through April of fiscal year 2017, a 9% increase over the same period in 2016. Charleston’s port is the eighth largest in the U.S., behind Savannah, Ga., its nearest competitor geographically, which ranks sixth in terms of the value of goods handled each year.

8

| MARKET FACTS

for more than 10,000 jobs, including Boeing, Robert Bosch, KapStone, Nucor Steel, Cummins Turbo Technologies, Century Aluminum, JW Aluminum and more. Volvo Cars picked Berkeley County for the company’s first North American manufacturing operations after going through a multistate selection process. The company expects to employ 4,000 workers at the plant near Ridgeville over the next 10 years.

Source: Charleston Regional Business Journal

The average day at S.C. ports

$75.8 billion

Five vessels sail into South Carolina’s harbors.

$75.8 billion was the total value of goods handled in 2015.

Photo/Ashley Heffernan/ Charleston Regional Business Journal

Hospitality & Tourism Hospitality and tourism pump billions of dollars each year into the economies of Charleston and South Carolina as a whole.

The robust sector serves as a major economic driver for businesses and communities across the state.

In 2015, an estimated 5.15 million people visited the Lowcountry and spent an average of $211 per visitor per day. Overall, tourism generated a total ecomonic impact of $3.7 billion.

The year-round tourist season in the Lowcountry pulls visitors to the Charleston area in support of a vibrant food-and-beverage sector with world-class cuisine and events, including the Charleston Wine and Food Festival, Charleston Restaurant Week and the annual Chef’s Feast, among other festivals and events that center around culinary arts.

Retail shopping, performing arts and history, combined with renowned cuisine and the lure of the area’s beaches and waterways, make the Charleston region a natural choice for vacationers and sightseers.

2015 tourism by the numbers

5.15 million visitors

$3.7 billion economic impact

$211 per person for expenditures per day Source: College of Charleston Tourism Analysis Photo/ Senior Airman Dennis Sloan

Defense Sector Joint Base Charleston, which was created when the Naval Weapons Station and the Charleston Air Force Base joined into one military team, serves as the largest employer in the area with more than 20,000 employees. The defense sector continues to

be a major job creator with manufacturing, technology, cybersecurity and contracting through SPAWAR Systems Center Atlantic, Lockheed, General Dynamics, SRC and many other defense contractors throughout the region.

MARKET FACTS |

9

» AREA INFORMATION

Average Daily Population Growth, 2014-2015

2016 Charleston-area population

48

By county and major city

TOTAL POPULATION GROWTH PER DAY

13

210,898

153,773

Berkeley County

Dorchester County

BIRTHS MINUS DEATHS

Seattle

Austin

42,039

109,298

84,170

Jacksonville

Mount Pleasant

Charleston

134,385

Salt Lake City

Summerville

North Charleston

396,484 Charleston County

Charleston

NET DAILY IN-MIGRATION

49,323

Goose Creek

+

35

Nashville

Raleigh

Greenville

166 157 100

84 78 48 43

Richmond

34

= 10 People

32

Sources: 2016 Regional Economic Scorecard; U.S. Census Bureau

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Fastest Growing Job Sectors, Charleston MSA

Occupation Category

% chg ‘15-’16 Chas MSA

Legal Occupations 24.2%

Community and Social Services Occupations

Construction and Extraction Occupations

Healthcare Support Occupations

12.8% 11.9%

Computer and Mathematical Occupations Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations

20.9%

8.0%

7.3%

Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations

7.1%

Source: South Carolina Department of Education

Mean travel time to work in minutes, 2015

Atlanta, GA

23.5

25.1

26.0

30.7

23.4

Knoxville, TN

Charlotte, NC

24.7

Raleigh, NC

Richmond, VA

25.9

US Average

Columbia, SC

22.5

Greenville, SC

23.4

Savannah, GA

24.8

Charleston, SC

Source: 2015 5 Year American Community Survey

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| MARKET FACTS

MARKET FACTS |

11

» REAL ESTATE – 2012

– 2013

A look ahead at residential home sales

– 2014

– 2015

– 2016

– 2017 forecast

Number of homes sold

Average Sales Price THE TREND:

THE TREND:

RAPIDLY INCREASING HOME SALES

23% 25,000

20,000

21,774 19,616 17,720 16,218

10,000

13,103 10,638

6%

That’s the forecast growth in the average sales price from 2016 to 2018.

$350K

2012 to 2018

15,000

PRICES CONTINUE TO RISE

That’s the forecast growth in the number of homes sold from 2016 to 2018.

104% increase from

14,257

– 2018 forecast

$300K $264K

$281K

$291K

$307K

$321K

$329K

$341K

$250K $200K $150K $100K

5,000

0

12

$50K 0 Sources: Charleston Trident Association of Realtors, 2016 Annual Report; Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, Economic Outlook Forecast, 2017-2018

| MARKET FACTS

Days on market until sale

– Single-family

– Condos

150 THE TREND:

HOMES SELLING FAST

140

The time it takes to sell a home continues to drop.

This is due to high levels of interest in the area as well as a lower inventory of homes for sale.

130 120

INVENTORY OF HOMES FOR SALE

110 6,498

100

6,201 6,241

5,879 4,733

90 80 2012

70

2013

2014 2015 2016

60 50

2012

2013

2014

2015 2016 Source: Charleston Trident Association of Realtors, 2016 Annual

MARKET FACTS |

13

Education T

he greater Charleston region has four school districts covering areas from downtown to suburban neighborhoods to rural and beach communities. Each district offers a variety of school programs, including magnet and charter schools with specialized programs of study.

Charleston County School District is the largest, serving more than 50,000 students countywide. Students living in the city of Charleston, North Charleston and Mount Pleasant all attend Charleston County schools as well as those on James Island, Johns Island and Sullivan’s Island.

Berkeley County School District serves about 33,000 students in more than 40 schools that span the vast county. Students in such areas as Goose Creek, Hanahan, Daniel Island and Moncks Corner attend these schools.

Dorchester County is divided into two districts. Dorchester School District 2 serves Summerville and areas around it. Dorchester School District 4 educates children in the more rural parts of the county, including St. George, Ridgeville and Harleyville.

Details on each district are given on the pages that follow.

Sponsored by

14

| EDUCATION

In this section School Districts...................................................16 Private Schools.................................................... 18 Higher Education................................................ 21 Colleges and Universities.............................. 23

Photo/Ryan Johnson/City of North Charleston Photo/Ryan Johnson/City of North Charleston

through a lottery process. Howe Hall is a model site for arts infusion in South Carolina and was selected in 2007 as a Kennedy Center Creative Ticket School of Excellence and in 2010 as a National Blue Ribbon School. The Berkeley Center for the Arts at Goose Creek High School offers programs in creative writing, dance, orchestral strings, theater, visual arts, vocal music, and wind and percussion studies.

Other innovative programs and schools include Berkeley County Middle College High School, a magnet school on Trident Technical College’s Berkeley Campus, and Scholars Academy, the district’s International Baccalaureate program. Marrington Middle School of the Arts is a National Blue Ribbon School that incorporates the arts as an essential component of the curriculum.

The Gifted and Talented program serves academically advanced students. They are enrolled in classes to enrich and accelerate learning beyond the regular school curriculum, including in English and mathematics.

Charleston County School District

High School students from throughout Charleston County participate in the Charleston Regional Business Journal's STEM Career Fair at the Charleston Area Convention Center.

Berkeley County School District 229 E. Main St. Moncks Corner, SC 29461 843-899-8600 www.bcsdschools.net For a complete list of schools in Berkeley County School District, visit www.bcsdschools.net, Schools tab.

To determine your neighborhood school based on home address, contact the school district office. Register your child online under the Students and Parents tab.

16

| EDUCATION

Berkeley County School District, the fourth-largest school system in the state, is growing by about 1,000 students per year. It serves about 33,000 students and operates more than 45 schools, including nine high schools, 12 middle schools, 24 elementary schools and three alternative and adult option schools.

Berkeley County provides arts magnet schools at each level of elementary, middle and high school. Howe Hall Arts Infused Magnet School serves students in kindergarten through fifth grade who are selected

75 Calhoun St. Charleston, SC 29401 843-937-6300 www.ccsdschools.com For information on all the individual schools in the district, along with information on registering your child in the district, visit www.ccsdschools.com/Schools.

To look up your neighborhood school based on home address, visit croppermap. com/charleston.

Charleston County School District is the second-largest school system in South Carolina, representing a blend of urban, suburban and rural schools over nearly 1,000 square miles. The district serves more than 50,000 students in 86 schools and several specialized programs.

In Charleston County, each school-aged child is assigned to a neighborhood school based on grade level and home address.

In addition, the district offers specialized programs, magnet schools and charter

» School District Overview School District Map

Student enrollment, 2015-2016

In Dorchester County, the districts divide along Eagle Drive, Indigo Road and Cummings Chapel Road.

Berkeley Dorchester County School County School District District 4

50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000

Dorchester County School District 2

Berkeley

Charleston

Dorchester 2

Dorchester 4

Dorchester 2

Dorchester 4

Average SAT scores, 2016 Charleston County School District

schools, including such specialized programming as Montessori, International Baccalaureate, military-infused, math and science, arts and technology programs.

A number of options for adult education are also offered in the Charleston district, which strives to close the achievement gap and increase the graduation rate.

The district is in the midst of completing a new strategic plan, with the focus on ensuring college, career and citizenship readiness for all students.

Dorchester School District 2 102 Green Wave Blvd.

Summerville, SC 29483 843-873-2901 www.edlinesites.net/pages/Dorchester_County_SD For a complete list of schools, look under the District Information tab on the website.

This link has a list of schools for each subdivision in the area.

For questions about attendance zones and which neighborhood school your child would attend, call the district office.

Dorchester School District 2 is the largest employer in Dorchester County. The district serves about 26,000 students in suburban Summerville through three high schools, six

1,500 1,450 1,400 1,350 1,300 Berkeley

Charleston

Source: South Carolina Department of Education

middle schools and 15 elementary schools, plus an alternative program for grades six to 12 and an adult community education program.

A school improvement program is underway that provided three new elementary schools. A new Rollings Middle School of the Arts is scheduled to open in 201. The improvement program will also fund major expansions and renovations at five elementary and three middle schools. All three high schools will have classroom additions to accommodate increased career-readiness and technology programs to prepare students for college and the workforce. The new schools are helping alleviate overcrowding at all schools in the district.

Recognized as a school system of excellence, Dorchester 2 has been awarded districtwide National Accreditation from the AdvancED Accreditation Commission.

Dorchester School District 4 500 Ridge St. St. George, SC 29477 843-563-4535 www.dorchester4.k12.sc.us For a complete list of schools in the district, visit the website and check the Schools tab.

To determine your neighborhood school zone, call the district office.

Dorchester School District 4 is home to six schools — three elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school — and the Odyssey Educational Center, serving a student population of about 2,500. The district offers honors/advanced placement, college prep, tech prep and occupational courses.

•

EDUCATION |

17

Private Schools

For more lists subscribe to:

Ranked by 2016 Enrollment

www.CharlestonBusiness.com

School

Phone / Website Email

Administrator / Year Founded

Porter-Gaud School 300 Albemarle Road Charleston, SC 29407

843-556-3620 www.portergaud.edu thirni@portergaud.edu

David DuBose Egleston Jr. 1867

950 98

10:1

NAIS, PAIS, SCISA, NAES / SAIS, SACS

Bishop England High School 363 Seven Farms Drive Charleston, SC 29492

843-849-9599 www.behs.com kbrownell@behs.com

Patrick Finneran, Nancy Heath, Kit Brownell 1915

700 57

13:1

NCEA, SCHSL, NASSP, SACAC, NACAC/SACS-CASI Catholic Diocese of Charleston / 9-12 Catholic Education Honor Roll School of Excellence

Pinewood Preparatory School 1114 Orangeburg Road Summerville, SC 29483

843-873-1643 www.pinewoodprep.com bcrom@pinewoodprep.com

Stephen M. Mandell, Nicole Bailey, Brooks Crom 1952

700 75

9:1

NAIS, PAIS, SAIS, SCISA, The College Board / SAIS, SACS

Pre-K3 through 12th

Ashley Hall 172 Rutledge Ave. Charleston, SC 29403

843-722-4088 www.ashleyhall.org info@ashleyhall.org

Jill Muti 1909

680 88

9:1

NAIS, NCGS, PAIS, SCISA / SACS, SAIS

Ages 2 through 5 (co-ed); K through 12th (girls only)

Northwood Academy 104 Charger Drive Summerville, SC 29486

843-764-2284 www.northwoodacademy.com admissions@northwoodacademy.com

Larry L. Evanoff, Darlene W. Anderson, Melanie Van Deusen 1978

670 49

14:1

ACSI, TAC, SCOIS, CEEB, IFCSA, IACEE, / SCISA, AdvancEd

Pre-school through 12th

843-884-4721 www.coksm.org -

John Byrnes, Susan Splendido 1950

600 50

16:1

Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston / Diocese of Charleston

Pre-K through 8th

843-881-9967 www.palmettochristianacademy.org lisas@palmettochristianacademy.org 843-761-8539 www.sjcacavaliers.com info@sjcacavaliers.com

JD Zubia 1992

600 78

14:1

SCISA / ACSI, SACS

Preschool through 12th

Eric M. Denton 1966

325 35

10:1

SCISA / SCISA 5 year advanced; AdvancEd

K3 through 12th

Christ Our King-Stella Maris School 1183 Russell Drive Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 Palmetto Christian Academy 361 Egypt Road Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 St. John's Christian Academy 204 W Main St. Moncks Corner, SC 29461

Fall Enrollment/ Student:Teacher Affiliations / Teachers Ratio Accreditations

Because of space constraints, only the top-ranked companies are printed. For a full list of participating companies, visit http://www.scbiznews.com/buy-business-lists. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to lists@scbiznews.com.

18

| EDUCATION

Grades 1st through 12th

Researched by Business Journal staff

EDUCATION |

19

Private Schools

For more lists subscribe to:

Ranked by 2016 Enrollment

www.CharlestonBusiness.com

Administrator / Year Founded

Fall Enrollment/ Student:Teacher Affiliations / Teachers Ratio Accreditations

School

Phone / Website Email

Mason Preparatory School 56 Halsey Blvd.

Charleston, SC 29401 Cathedral Academy 3790 Ashley Phosphate Road North Charleston, SC 29418

843-723-0664 www.masonprep.org mainoffice@masonprep.org 843-760-1192 www.cathedralacademy.com contact@cathedralemail.com

Erik Kreutner 1964

302 31

Chris Bateman 1999

Charleston Collegiate School 2024 Academy Drive Johns Island, SC 29455

843-559-5506 www.charlestoncollegiate.org amulkey@charlestoncollegiate.org

Hacker H. Burr 1970

Northside Christian School 7800 Northside Drive North Charleston, SC 29420

843-797-2690 www.northsidecharleston.com jwtwitch@gmail.com

Charleston Day School 15 Archdale St. Charleston, SC 29401 Faith Christian School 337 Farmington Road Summerville, SC 29486

843-377-0315 www.charlestondayschool.org admissions@charlestonday.org 843-873-8464 www.faithchristiansc.com admin@faithchristiansc.com

Ridge Christian Academy 2168 Ridge Church Road Summerville, SC 29486

843-873-9856 www.ridgechristian.info mrsbray@ridgechristian.info

The Oaks Christian School 505 Gahagan Road Summerville, SC 29485

843-875-7667 Robin B. Boehler www.oakschristianschool.org theoakschristianschool@gmail.com 1998

13:1

K through 8

300 26

15:1

Cathedral of Praise / SCISA, ACSI, AdvancEd

K4 through 12th

300 45

8:1

CES, ERB, NACAC, NAIS, PAIS, SCISA, SACAC, SACS, SAIS, TCAC / SAIS, SACS

Pre-K through 12th

300 26

13:1

Northside Baptist Church / SCACS

K2 through 12th

250 35

6:1

NAIS, SAIS, ERB, PAIS, NBOA / SAIS, SACS, NAIS

kindergarten through 8th

David Freberg 1987

250 28

15:1

AdvancED, ACSI, SCISA / AdvancED, SCISA

K3 through 12th

Gentry Ard, Maria P Bray, Brian Benedict 1997

225 28

10:1

Ridge Baptist Church / SCISA

Birth through 12th

Cecil Beach, Brian H. Washburn, Jonathan D. Washburn 1975 Brendan J. O'Shea 1937

205 17

Community Church, K3-K5 18:2; 1st-8th Crossroads SCISA, AdvancEd / K3 through 8th 18:1 SCISA, AdvancEd

Because of space constraints, only the top-ranked companies are printed. For a full list of participating companies, visit http://www.scbiznews.com/buy-business-lists. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to lists@scbiznews.com.

20

| EDUCATION

Grades

NAIS, ERB, SAIS, PAIS, SCISA / SAIS/AdvancEd

Researched by Business Journal staff

Photo/College of Charleston

The College of Charleston readying for commencement.

» HIGHER EDUCATION

W

hether you are a college-bound student, a college football fanatic, an employee or a resident interested in lectures and continuing education opportunities, there’s a good chance you will find what you are looking for in South Carolina’s higher education system.

Enrollment number have remained steady in recent years. More than 244,000 students were enrolled in South Carolina’s public and independent two- and four-year institutions as of April 2015.

Founded in 1770, the College of Charleston is the city’s oldest institution. It is a nationally recognized public liberal arts and Photo/Charleston Southern University

sciences university located in the heart of historic Charleston. Students attend class in centuries-old buildings, and many spend their evenings working as waiters and bartenders — or pedaling tourists around in rickshaws. Because of their work ethic and spending power, the students are a vital part of Charleston’s thriving hospitality industry.

The Citadel is another college with deep roots in Charleston. It’s not uncommon to spot a “knob” walking the Lowcountry’s streets. The freshman class is easily identified by the men’s shaved heads that resemble doorknobs — hence the nickname.

South Carolina is home to 84 institutions of higher learning, including: •

Three research institutions

•

10 comprehensive teachi ng institutions

•

Four regional campuses of

•

16 technical colleges

•

23 independent senior ins

•

Two two-year independe nt institutions

•

Two private professional

•

24 out-of-state degree gra nting institutions

USC

titutions

schools

EDUCATION |

21

Photo/ Shutterstock.co m

ffernan/ Photo/Ashley He nal Business Journal Charleston Regio

Left: The Cistern Yard at the College of Charleston.

Right: Young cadets marching at The Citadel in Charleston.

22

| EDUCATION

graduate studies, medicine, nursing and pharmacy. It is also one of the region’s largest employers, and the research conducted there is a vital part of the region’s high-tech biomedical industry.

The Charleston School of Law is a private institution located in downtown Charleston. While the school was founded in 2003, like most things in this city, it is steeped in history.

In November 1825, a group of Charleston attorneys petitioned the S.C. General Assembly for a charter institution. The following

Photo/Art Institute of Charleston

A few dozen women also attend the military college, although females were not allowed until 1996. The school is unique because it offers a classic military education described as “intense, meaningful and academically strong.” It differs from the nation’s traditional military schools because students are not required to join the service upon graduation.

The Medical University of South Carolina is one of the area’s premier hospitals and includes a strong teaching component. Its specialty degree programs include dental,

Graphic design students at the Art Institute learn the skills they’ll need to enter the thriving design scene in Charleston.

Colleges and Universities

For more lists subscribe to:

Ranked by Total 2016 Enrollment

www.CharlestonBusiness.com

Phone / Website Email

Enrollment / Faculty

Public/ Private

Top Three Undergraduate Majors, by Enrollment

Administrator

843-574-6111 www.tridenttech.edu infocenter@tridenttech.edu

13,562 318

Public

Associate in Arts Associate in Science Nursing

Mary Thornley 1964

843-953-5507 gradschool.cofc.edu admissions@cofc.edu

11,294 574

Public

Business Administration Biology Psychology

Glenn F. McConnell 1770

843-863-7057 www.charlestonsouthern.edu graduateschool@csuniv.edu

4,103 185

Private

Nursing Computer science Business

Jairy C. Hunter Jr. 1964

The Citadel 171 Moultrie St. Charleston, SC 29409

843-225-3294 www.citadel.edu ocm@citadel.edu

3,602 192

Public

Business Administration Criminal Justice Engineering

John W. Rosa 1842

Medical University of South Carolina 171 Ashley Ave. Charleston, SC 29425

843-792-2300 www.musc.edu eslweb@musc.edu

2,979 1,294

Public

Nursing Cardiovascular Perfusion

David J. Cole 1824

Lowcountry Graduate Center 3800 Paramount Drive North Charleston, SC 29405

843-953-4723 www.lowcountrygradcenter.org info@lowcountrygradcenter.org

423 INP

INP

None

Nancy Muller 2001

The Art Institute of Charleston 24 N. Market St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-727-3500 www.artinstitutes.edu/charleston aicscadm@aii.edu

393 11

Private

Culinary Arts Graphic and Web Design Fashion

Todd Harrison 2006

843-414-0350 www.ecpi.edu jweaver@ecpi.edu

320 16

Private

Health Science Computer and Information Science Electronics Engineering Technology

James Weaver 1966

843-745-1100 www.limestone.edu ecsuccess@limestone.edu

297 3

Private

Business, Social Work, Liberal Studies

Walt Griffin 1845

843-760-1324 www.webster.edu/charleston charleston@webster.edu

262 3

Private

Management Psychology

Vivian GallmanDeRienzo 1915

843-554-2111 www.saintleo.edu/northcharleston northcharleston@saintleo.edu

87 3

Private

Business Administration Health Care Administration Criminal Justice

Elizabeth Heron 2012

USC Darla Moore School of Business 151 Market St. Charleston, SC 29401

803-777-2730 www.moore.sc.edu gradadmit@moore.sc.edu

70 108

Public

International Business Finance and Marketing

Peter Brews INP

American College of the Building Arts 649 Meeting St. Charleston, SC 29403

843-577-5245 www.buildingartscollege.us handall@buildingartscollege.us

61 9

Private

Timber Framing Architectural Iron Trowel Trades

Colby M. Broadwater III, James M. Waddell V 2004

Institution Trident Technical College 7000 Rivers Ave. North Charleston, SC 29406

College of Charleston 66 George St. Charleston, SC 29424

Charleston Southern University 9200 University Blvd.

Charleston, SC 29406

ECPI University & Medical Careers Institute 7410 Northside Drive, Suite 100 Charleston, SC 29420

Limestone College Charleston Extended Campus 4500 Leeds Ave., Suite 208 Charleston, SC 29405

Webster University 4105 Faber Place Drive, Suite 100 North Charleston, SC 29405

Saint Leo University - North Charleston Center 7499 Dorchester Road North Charleston, SC 29418

Because of space constraints, only the top-ranked companies are printed. For a full list of participating companies, visit http://www.scbiznews.com/buy-business-lists. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to lists@scbiznews.com.

Researched by Business Journal Staff

EDUCATION |

23

Photos/Gibson Pitts

Students in the aerospace training program at Trident Technical College.

year, the Forensic Club started offering law lectures, beginning the Southeast’s earliest law school. In 2002, prominent Charleston judges and attorneys set out to establish a law school that would continue the 19th-century club’s tradition. The school earned accreditation in 2006 and graduated its first class the following year.

The Charleston region is also home to several technical colleges that offer a host of two-year degrees and trade certifications.

These include Trident Technical College, the

Culinary Institute students at Trident Technical College work in a commercial-grade kitchen.

region’s largest two-year school. Upon the Boeing Co.’s 2009 announcement that it would locate an assembly plant for its 787 Dreamliner in North Charleston, Trident Tech announced it would expand its aviation electronics programs and dedicate nearly 10,000 square feet of space for Boeing-related training programs at its main campus.

Students also have the option of attending satellite campuses for specialty training, such as Embry Riddle Aeronautical University's two Lowcountry locations at Joint Base

Charleston and in North Charleston.

The Art Institute of Charleston opened in 2007 and is a branch of the Art Intitute of Atlanta. Its programs include commercial photography, culinary arts, fashion and retail management, graphic design and more.

Charleston is also home to the American College of the Building Arts, which trains students in historical building trades such as ironwork or plaster.

The Lowcountry Graduate Center in Photo/College of Charleston

The College of Charleston Observatory.

24

| EDUCATION

Photo/Charleston Southern University

North Charleston is an organization that formed to help working professionals gain advanced degrees through collaboration between the state’s colleges and universities.

Despite myriad choices, South Carolina, like many states, is at a crossroads when it comes to higher education.

Many exciting programs are underway here, including the South Carolina Centers for Economic Excellence program.

The state created the Centers for Economic Excellence program in 2002 to provide incentives for the state’s research universities to raise capital from private sources to fund endowments for specialized research professorships. The professorships serve a unique role in helping cultivate critical public-private industrial partnerships and expanding the state’s knowledge base.

At the same time, South Carolina is grappling with decreasing state funds and increased tuition costs. Without money for new facilities, demand in the coming years may outstrip capacity. And schools are constantly challenged with training students for the evolving high-tech industry.

The good news is that university officials and lawmakers spend countless hours studying, debating and creating innovative ways to advance higher learning in South Carolina — without putting the financial burden on students and their families.

The state’s colleges and universities — including many in the Lowcountry — offer a competitive education to traditional and returning students.

They also help fuel the local economy by serving as some of the area’s largest employers, by luring students and families to town, and by fostering relationships with the community and businesses. The Lowcountry’s institutions of higher learning are — and will continue to be — a major part of the cultural fabric of this region.

For more information on higher education institutions in South Carolina, visit the S.C. Commission on Higher Education at www.che.sc.gov.

Students in the computer lab at Charleston Southern University.

•

EDUCATION |

25

Health and Wellness W

e like to take things easy here in the Lowcountry, but that doesn’t mean we don’t give attention to a diet and activity level that contributes to our health and wellbeing.

In this section you will read about all the reasons living here can help inspire you to healthy living. And when medical care is what you need, we offer the finest in physicians, clinics and hospitals. Charleston has long been home to some of the top hospitals in South Carolina.

When you are moving to a new place, finding out about health care can be a challenge. In these pages, we give you a list of urgent care centers, hospitals and retirement communities with full information about each.

We hope you’ll find our guide useful in helping you settle into a healthy lifestyle. It’s one of Charleston’s charms.

Sponsored by

26

| HEALTH AND WELLNESS

In this section Urgent Care Centers........................................ 32 Hospitals................................................................ 34 Retirement Communities............................... 35

Photo/provided by City of Isle of Palms

2016 Wellness Fair at Isle of Palms.

A

ll the pieces are in place for a healthy lifestyle when you move to Charleston. The weather is mild all year, fresh food and outdoor activities are readily available, and when you need it, topnotch medical care is close by.

So what are you waiting for?

If you need a nudge to get started, there are organized efforts to help you.

Just one of the many possibilities is Adventure Out, an outdoor fitness program presented by a partnership of Medical University of South Carolina and City of Charleston Recreation Department. Every week, a free fitness class is offered in a city park. It might be yoga at Brittle Bank Park or kickboxing at Cannon Park. It’s a great way to try out something new. For a schedule, see www.musc.edu/adventureout or the Adventure Out page on Facebook.

If you prefer to exercise independently, try walking, swimming or hiking, suggests Suzie Walters, fitness specialist program coordinator in Health Sciences at Trident Technical College. “You have to enjoy what you do,” Walters said, so that you’ll stick with it.

Just think about walking across the Arthur J. Ravenel Jr. bridge over the Cooper River or jogging along Folly Beach for inspiration. If you tire of the scenery in your own neighborhood, go walk downtown or

28

| HEALTH AND WELLNESS

along the water.

You’re never more than 10 minutes away from a public park, and Charleston area parks have dozens of activities on the weekend. MUSC also partners with other groups on programs that promote the active lifestyle.

One of those programs is the Charleston Healthy Business Challenge. It is free for any business and includes a website with scorecard and tips to help improve the culture of wellness with stress management, healthy eating and exercise. Go to www.chbchallenge.com for more information.

Like to run or walk with a lot of new friends? Find organized events and get registered at www.eventbrite.com/d/sc-Charleston/races/ Honoring a former MUSC president, the Greenberg Greenway is a series of greenscapes that connect people with places that support the environment and ecology of the MUSC campus, provide opportunities for hands-on learning, and create an inviting space for exercise and other health-promoting activities.

Components of the Greenway include the MUSC Arboretum, Urban Farm, Porcher Medicinal Garden, Walking Trails, and the MUSC Fitness Park. The greenway will continue to evolve with the campus. For infor-

mation, visit musc.edu, Office of Health Promotion.

For learning about healthy food – and observing how it grows – the Urban Farm at MUSC is a marvelous resource. “It’s five acres on the MUSC campus. We grow crops year-round, with 40 varieties of fruits, herbs and vegetables,” said Susan Johnson, director of Health Promotion at MUSC. The farm, at the corner of Bee and President streets, offers free gardening and health programs, field trips for school children, a wellness and dietitian program, guest speakers and community events. Visitors are invited to take a self-guided tour, or volunteer to help with gardening tasks. You won’t go home empty-handed, as the harvested crops are shared with the community.

“It’s a free resource for our community,” Johnson said. Every other Saturday, there’s a work and learn program with a kid focus.

You just might be inspired to plant your own garden – and the Lowcountry climate is congenial for that.

During the growing season, fresh foods are always available at the many farmers markets in the Lowcountry. Two of the larger ones are at Marion Square downtown and in Mount Pleasant. Another way to get your fresh food is by CSA – Community Supported Agriculture. About 10 farms in the area

HEALTH AND WELLNESS |

29

30

| HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Photo/Brian Fancher Photography

deliver fresh produce weekly to those who purchase a CSA membership. Information about CSAs, farmers markets and roadside markets can be found at agriculture.sc.gov.

“When you buy local, you’re not promoting use of fossil fuels,” said Walters of Trident Tech. “It’s also fresher and better for us.”

She pointed out that fresh seafoods are also easily found in the Lowcountry. The local seafood won’t contain the antibiotics of farmed seafoods and will be much fresher.

When your quest for wellness means you need medical care, you’re in a good place. The Lowcountry is home to several major hospitals and many specialty clinics, rehabilitation services, nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

MUSC is building a new hospital dedicated to the care of women and children.

The MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital and the Women’s Pavilion are scheduled to open in 2019. The hospital will have a 10-story patient tower, with the top floor dedicated to children’s cancer care, and a

Race at Mullet Hall Equestrian Center.

five-story inpatient procedure area, with a dedicated floor for labor and delivery.

Ground was broken for the hospital, at Calhoun and Courtenay streets, in August 2016. Patient rooms will be larger and furnished to accommodate short or long stays by patients and their families.

In addition to the cancer care floor, the hospital will have the largest neonatal intensive care unit in South Carolina and a

comprehensive pediatric heart center. The Advanced Fetal Care Center will be the state’s first comprehensive prenatal center for families expecting babies with complex congenital birth defects and medical problems.

In addition, Roper St. Francis is constructing a hospital and medical office building at Carnes Crossroads, where U.S. Highways 17-A and 176 intersect near Goose Creek, which will serve growing Berkeley County.

•

Urgent Care Centers

For more lists subscribe to:

Listed alphabetically Blalock Urgent Care & Family Care blalockfamilycare.com info@blalockfamilycare.com 843-884-8121 1405 Ben Sawyer Blvd.

Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-7 p.m Emergency services, family care, gynecology, pediatrics, and preventive medicine Centre Point Emergency www.tridenthealthsystem.com 843-849-2400 5249 Emmett I. Davis Jr. Ave. North Charleston, SC 29406 Hours: 24/7 Full service ER

www.CharlestonBusiness.com

Doctors Care Moncks Corner www.doctorscare.com Info@doctorscare.com 843-899-3870 459 U.S. Highway 52 N. Moncks Corner, SC 29461 Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Online check-in. Urgent care, family care. Onsite lab and X-rays; foreign travel medicine; sports and camp physicals; cold, flu and allergy testing and care; sprains, cuts, burns and other minor injuries.

DOT physicals and employer health services. Open late and on weekend, walk-ins welcome.

Doctors Care Mount Pleasant www.DoctorsCare.com Info@doctorscare.com 843-881-0815 631 Johnnie Dodds Blvd.

Doctors Care Charleston West Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 www.DoctorsCare.com Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Info@doctorscare.com Online check-in. Urgent care, family care. Onsite 843-402-6834 lab and X-rays; foreign travel medicine; sports and 3424 Shelby Ray Court camp physicals; cold, flu and allergy testing and Charleston, SC 29414 Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. care; sprains, cuts, burns and other minor injuries.

Non-surgical osteoarthritis knee treatment. DOT Online check-in. Urgent care, family care. Onsite lab and X-rays; foreign travel medicine; sports and physicals and employer health services. Open late and on weekend, walk-ins welcome. camp physicals; cold, flu and allergy testing and care; sprains, cuts, burns and other minor injuries.

Doctors Care Northwoods Non-surgical osteoarthritis knee treatment. DOT physicals and employer health services. Open late www.DoctorsCare.com Info@doctorscare.com and on weekend, walk-ins welcome.

843-572-7000 8091 Rivers Ave. Doctors Care Dorchester Road North Charleston, SC 29406 www.DoctorsCare.com Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Info@doctorscare.com Online check-in. Urgent care, family care. Onsite 843-871-7900 lab and X-rays; foreign travel medicine; sports and 10160 Dorchester Road camp physicals; cold, flu and allergy testing and Summerville, SC 29485 Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. care; sprains, cuts, burns and other minor injuries.

DOT physicals and employer health services. Open Online check-in. Urgent care, family care. Onsite lab and X-rays; foreign travel medicine; sports and late and on weekend, walk-ins welcome. camp physicals; cold, flu and allergy testing and care; sprains, cuts, burns and other minor injuries. Doctors Care Summerville www.DoctorsCare.com Non-surgical osteoarthritis knee treatment. DOT physicals and employer health services. Open late Info@doctorscare.com 843-871-3277 and on weekend, walk-ins welcome.

410 N. Main St. Summerville, SC 29483 Doctors Care Ivy Hall Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. www.DoctorsCare.com Online check-in. Urgent care, family care. Onsite Info@doctorscare.com lab and X-rays; foreign travel medicine; sports and 843-884-6424 camp physicals; cold, flu and allergy testing and 3074 U.S. Highway 17 North care; sprains, cuts, burns and other minor injuries.

Mount Pleasant, SC 29466 Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Non-surgical osteoarthritis knee treatment. DOT physicals and employer health services. Open late Online check-in. Urgent care, family care. Onsite lab and X-rays; foreign travel medicine; sports and and on weekend, walk-ins welcome. camp physicals; cold, flu and allergy testing and care; sprains, cuts, burns and other minor injuries. Doctors Care West Ashley DOT physicals and employer health services. Open www.DoctorsCare.com Info@doctorscare.com late and on weekend, walk-ins welcome.

843-556-5585 1851 Sam Rittenberg Blvd.

Doctors Care James Island Charleston, SC 29407 www.doctorscare.com Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Info@doctorscare.com Urgent care, family care. Onsite lab and X-rays; 843-762-2360 foreign travel medicine; sports and camp 743 Folly Road physicals; cold, flu and allergy testing and care; Charleston, SC 29412 Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. sprains, cuts, burns and other minor injuries.

Non-surgical knee pain treatment. DOT physicals Online check-in. Urgent care, family care. Onsite lab and X-rays; foreign travel medicine; sports and and employer health services. Open late and on weekend, walk-ins welcome. camp physicals; cold, flu and allergy testing and care; sprains, cuts, burns and other minor injuries.

Non-surgical osteoarthritis knee treatment. DOT physicals and employer health services. Open late and on weekend, walk-ins welcome.

32

| HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Health First - Mount Pleasant www.healthfirstcares.com 843-572-5990 2863 U.S. Highway 17 N. Mount Pleasant, SC 29466 Hours: Mon.-Sat. 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Urgent care, including treatment of cough, flu, cold, fever, sore throat, sinus and ear infections, allergic reactions and allergies, sprains Health First - North Charleston www.healthfirstcares.com 843-572-5990 8740 Rivers Ave. North Charleston, SC 29406 Hours: Mon.-Sat. 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Sun. 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Urgent care, including treatment of cough, flu, cold, fever, sore throat, sinus and ear infections, allergic reactions and allergies, sprains Health First - Summerville www.healthfirstcares.com 843-572-5990 1675 N. Main St. Summerville, SC 29483 Hours: Mon.-Sat. 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Urgent care, including treatment of hacking cough, flu, cold, fever, sore throat, sinus and ear infections, allergic reactions and allergies, sprains Health First - West Ashley www.healthfirstcares.com 843-572-5990 1115 Savannah Highway Charleston, SC 29407 Hours: Mon.-Sat. 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Urgent care, including treatment of cough, flu, cold, fever, sore throat, sinus and ear infections, allergic reactions and allergies, sprains MedCare Urgent Care Center - North Charleston www.medcareurgentcare.com info@medcareurgentcare.com 843-552-3629 8720 Dorchester Road North Charleston, SC 29420 Hours: Mon.-Sun. 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Walk-in treatment for injury and illness; coughs, colds, fevers, rashes, allergic reactions, abdominal pain, lacerations, sprains, fractures workers’ compensation injuries; on-site lab, digital X-ray, CT scans, EKGs, IV fluids, immunizations and vaccinations; annual physicals, sports physicals MedCare Urgent Care Center - West Ashley www.medcareurgentcare.com info@medcareurgentcare.com 843-793-6093 1850 Sam Rittenberg Blvd.

Charleston, SC 29407 Hours: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon.-Sun. Walk-in treatment for injury and illness; coughs, colds, fevers, rashes, allergic reactions, abdominal pain, lacerations, sprains, fractures workers’ compensation injuries; on-site lab, digital X-ray, CT scans, EKGs, IV fluids, immunizations and vaccinations; annual physicals, sports physicals

Palmetto Urgent Care www.palmettoprimarycare.com/urgent-care-clinic 843-302-8840 2550 Elms Centre Road North Charleston, SC 29406 Hours: Mon.-Sun. 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

General medical care Roper St. Francis After Hours Care www.rsfh.com/late 843-402-5283 Cross Creek Village, 325 Folly Road, Suite 101 Charleston, SC 29412 Hours: Mon.-Fri. 5-9 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

After-hours primary and urgent care Roper St. Francis After Hours Care www.rsfh.com/late 843- 402-5283 180 Wingo Way, Suite 110 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 Hours: Monday-Friday, 5 - 9 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

After hours primary and urgent care.

Roper St. Francis Express Care www.rsfh.com/late 843-763-7906 5070 International Blvd., Suite 131 North Charleston, SC 29407 Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Treatment of many minor injuries or illnesses such as: cold or flu symptoms, sore throats, sinus infections, earaches, upset stomachs, diarrhea or vomiting, sprained ankles, minor cuts or scrapes Roper St. Francis Express Care www.rsfh.com/express-care 843-203-2245 8901 University Blvd., Suite 131 North Charleston, SC 29406 Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Treatment of many minor injuries or illnesses such as: cold or flu symptoms, sore throats, sinus infections, earaches, upset stomachs, diarrhea or vomiting, sprained ankles, minor cuts or scrapes Roper St. Francis Express Care www.rsfh.com/express-care 843-212-8070 1114 N. Main St. Summerville, SC 29483 Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m.-4 p.m, Sun. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Treatment of many minor injuries or illnesses such as: cold or flu symptoms, sore throats, sinus infections, earaches, upset stomachs, diarrhea or vomiting, sprained ankles, minor cuts or scrapes Roper St. Francis Express Care www.rsfh.com/express-care 843-402-5283 4278 Ladson Road Summerville, SC 29485 Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m.-4 p.m, Sun. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Treatment of many minor injuries or illnesses such as: cold or flu symptoms, sore throats, sinus infections, earaches, upset stomachs, diarrhea or vomiting, sprained ankles, minor cuts or scrapes

Hospitals Ranked by No. of Licensed Beds Hospitals

For more lists subscribe to:

Ranked by No. of Licensed Beds Facility Facility

Phone / Website Email Phone / Website Email

www.CharlestonBusiness.com

Administrator(s) / Year Founded Administrator(s) / Year Founded

Licensed Beds / 2015 Admissions Licensed Beds / 2015 Admissions

Active Staff Physicians / Registered Nurses Active Staff Physicians / Registered Nurses

MUSC Medical Center 169 Ashley Ave. Charleston, SC 29425 MUSC Medical Center 169 Ashley Ave. Charleston, SC 29425

843-792-2300 www.muschealth.org 843-792-2300 www.muschealth.org -

David J. Cole, Patrick J. Cawley 1824 David J. Cole, Patrick J. Cawley 1824

709 36,660

860 2,799

Roper Hospital 316 Calhoun St. Charleston, SC 29401 Roper Hospital 316 Calhoun St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-724-2901 www.rsfh.com/roper 843-724-2901 www.rsfh.com/roper -

Matthew Severance, Lorraine Lutton 1829 Matthew Severance, Lorraine Lutton 1829

316 12,014

419 619

316 12,014

419 619

Trident Medical Center 9330 Medical Plaza Drive Charleston, SC 29406 Trident Medical Center 9330 Medical Plaza Drive Charleston, SC 29406

843-797-7000 www.tridenthealthsystem.com 843-797-7000 www.tridenthealthsystem.com -

Todd Gallati 1975

313 17,295

374 743

Todd Gallati 1975

313 17,295

374 743

Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital 2095 Henry Tecklenburg Blvd.

Charleston, SC 29414 Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital 2095 Henry Tecklenburg Blvd.

Charleston, SC 29414

843-402-1000 www.rsfh.com 843-402-1000 www.rsfh.com -

Allen Carroll, Lorraine Lutton 1882

204 8,845

357 415

Allen Carroll, Lorraine Lutton 1882

204 8,845

357 415

East Cooper Medical Center 2000 Hospital Drive Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 East Cooper Medical Center 2000 Hospital Drive Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-881-0100 www.eastcoopermedctr.com ECInfo@tenethealth.com 843-881-0100 www.eastcoopermedctr.com ECInfo@tenethealth.com

Jason Alexander 1986

130 5,321

431 223

Jason Alexander 1986

130 5,321

431 223

Summerville Medical Center 295 Midland Parkway Summerville, SC 29485 Summerville Medical Center 295 Midland Parkway Summerville, SC 29485

843-970-5000 www.tridenthealthsystem.com/SummervilleMedical-Center 843-970-5000 www.tridenthealthsystem.com/SummervilleMedical-Center -

Lisa Valentine 1989

94 6,300

525 280

Lisa Valentine 1989

94 6,300

525 280

Roper St. Francis Mount Pleasant Hospital 3500 U.S. Highway 17 N. Mount Pleasant, SC 29466 Roper St. Francis Mount Pleasant Hospital 3500 U.S. Highway 17 N. Mount Pleasant, SC 29466

843-606-7000 www.rsfh.com 843-606-7000 www.rsfh.com -

Lorraine Lutton, Anthony Jackson 2010 Lorraine Lutton, Anthony Jackson 2010

85 1,637

270 124

85 1,637

270 124

Vibra Hospital of Charleston 1200 Hospital Drive Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 Vibra Hospital of Charleston 1200 Hospital Drive Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-375-4111 www.vhcharleston.com 843-375-4111 www.vhcharleston.com -

Dan Dunmyer, Leah Willis, Lindsey Fisher 2004 Dan Dunmyer, Leah Willis, Lindsey Fisher 2004

59 937

83 80

59 937

83 80

Roper Rehabilitation Hospital 316 Calhoun St. Charleston, SC 29401 Roper Rehabilitation Hospital 316 Calhoun St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-724-2842 www.rsfh.com cathy.therrell@rsfh.com 843-724-2842 www.rsfh.com cathy.therrell@rsfh.com

Troy Powell, Matthew Severance, Lorraine Lutton 1992 Troy Powell, Matthew Severance, Lorraine Lutton 1992

52 1,109

8 33

52 1,109

8 33

Moncks Corner Medical Center 401 N. Live Oak Drive Moncks Corner, SC 29461 Moncks Corner Medical Center 401 N. Live Oak Drive Moncks Corner, SC 29461

843-761-8721 www.tridenthealthsystem.com 843-761-8721 www.tridenthealthsystem.com -

Todd Gallati 1986

8 0

42 16

Todd Gallati 1986

8 0

42 16

Cognitive & Behavioral Health Center of Charleston 29 Leinbach Drive Cognitive Behavioral Charleston,&SC 29407 Health Center of Charleston 29 Leinbach Drive Charleston, SC 29407

843-501-7001 cbhealthcenters.com j.monnier@cbhealthcenter.com 843-501-7001 cbhealthcenters.com j.monnier@cbhealthcenter.com

Cindy Carter, Jeannine Monnier 2014

0 0

0 0

Cindy Carter, Jeannine Monnier 2014

0 0

0 0

Roper Hospital - Berkeley 730 Stony Landing Road Moncks Corner, SC 29461 Roper Hospital - Berkeley 730 Stony Landing Road Moncks Corner, SC 29461

843-899-7700 www.rsfh.com 843-899-7700 www.rsfh.com -

Brenda R. Myers, Lorraine Lutton 1992

0 0

29 18

Brenda R. Myers, Lorraine Lutton 1992

0 0

29 18

Because of space constraints, only the top-ranked companies are printed. For a full list of participating companies, visit http://www.scbiznews.com/buy-business-lists. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur.

Email additions or corrections lists@scbiznews.com.

Because of space constraints, only thetotop-ranked companies are printed. For a full list of participating companies, visit http://www.scbiznews.com/buy-business-lists. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to lists@scbiznews.com.

34

| HEALTH AND WELLNESS

709 36,660

860 2,799

Researched by Business Journal staff Researched by Business Journal staff

Retirement Communites Ranked by No. of Beds/Units in the Charleston Area Retirement Communites

For more lists subscribe to:

Ranked by No. of Beds/Units in the Charleston Area

www.CharlestonBusiness.com

Skilled Care Skilled Care

Salon/Barbershop Salon/Barbershop

Fitness Facility Fitness Facility

General Store General Store

Guest Apartment Guest Apartment

Library Library

Personal Personal Laundry Laundry

PhysicianPhysician Office Office

Scheduled Scheduled ActivitiesActivities

Transportation Transportation

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Alzheimer's Alzheimer's Care Care

Assisted Assisted Living Living

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No. of Beds/Units

Company Bishop Gadsden Episcopal Company Retirement Community 1 Bishop Gadsden Way Charleston, SC 29412 Bishop Gadsden Episcopal Retirement Community 1 Bishop Gadsden Way Charleston, SC 29412 Lutheran Homes of SC, Inc. dba Franke At Seaside 1885 Rifle Range Road Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 Lutheran Homes of SC, Inc. dba Franke At Seaside 1885 Rifle Range Road Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

Phone / Website

Administrator/ Year Founded

Total Beds/ Units/Total Employees

Phone / Website

Administrator/ Founded C.Year William Trawick

Total Beds/ Units/Total Employees

1948

402 275

C. William Trawick 1948

843-406-6298 www.bishopgadsden.org 843-406-6298 www.bishopgadsden.org

843-856-4700 www.FrankeAtSeaside.org 843-856-4700 www.FrankeAtSeaside.org

Mark H. Lee, Sandy Stoll, Mark H. Lee 1892 Mark H. Lee, Sandy Stoll, Mark H. Lee 1892

Services

Independent Independent Living Living

No. of Beds/Units

Services

The Village at Summerville 201 W. Ninth North St. Summerville, SC 29483

843-873-2550 www.preshomesc.org/communities/ summerville

Robin Miller 1958

273 220

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The Village at Summerville 201 W. Ninth North St. Summerville, SC 29483

843-873-2550 www.preshomesc.org/communities/ summerville

Robin Miller 1958

273 220

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Somerby of Mount Pleasant 3100 Tradition Circle Mount Pleasant, SC 29466

843-849-3096 www.somerbyofmtpleasant.com

Lisa Kinsella 2008

247 100

158

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Somerby of Mount Pleasant 3100 Tradition Circle Mount Pleasant, SC 29466

843-849-3096 www.somerbyofmtpleasant.com

Lisa Kinsella 2008

247 100

158

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The Bridge at Charleston 2590 Elms Plantation Road North Charleston, SC 29406

843-553-6342 www.thebridgeatcharleston.com

Michelle Nelson 1998

65 36

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The Bridge at Charleston 2590 Elms Plantation Road North Charleston, SC 29406

843-553-6342 www.thebridgeatcharleston.com

Michelle Nelson 1998

65 36

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843-556-8314 www.charitiessc.org

Janine N. Bauder 1929

25 25

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Janine N. Bauder 1929

25 25

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Evergreen Residential Care Inc. 1612 Evergreen St. Charleston, SC 29407

843-402-6860 -

Evergreen Contact 1984

8 -

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Evergreen Residential Care Inc. 1612 Evergreen St. Charleston, SC 29407

843-402-6860 -

Evergreen Contact 1984

8 -

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Carter-May Home/St. Joseph Residence 1660 Ingram Road Charleston, SC 29407 Carter-May Home/St. Joseph Residence 1660 Ingram Road Charleston, SC 29407

Because of space constraints, only the top-ranked companies are printed. For a full list of participating companies, visit http://www.scbiznews.com/buy-business-lists. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to lists@scbiznews.com.

Researched by Business Journal staff

Because of space constraints, only the top-ranked companies are printed. For a full list of participating companies, visit http://www.scbiznews.com/buy-business-lists. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to lists@scbiznews.com.

Researched by Business Journal staff

HEALTH AND WELLNESS |

35

» RETIRING WELL Photo/File

E

ach year, more and more retirees discover the benefits of relocating to the Charleston area. The mild weather, historic surroundings, cultural arts and idyllic location on the water make it a picturesque place to celebrate days of leisure.

South Carolina also has low property taxes and no estate tax, enticing retirees to move to the area. The cost of living is at the national average, a typical home sells for about $248,000, and crime remains low in the Charleston area.

A robust economy, quality health care facilities and a host of recreational activities give the Charleston area everything retirees require for a relaxing lifestyle.

The population of those 65 years and older is growing nationwide, and the Charleston area is no exception. That means planning for more health care facilities, more afford-

able housing and recreational activities to address the needs of the aging population.

The Medical University of South Carolina, Roper St. Francis Healthcare and East Cooper Medical Center all serve area health care

needs. Trident Health Care System is another provider in the Charleston area, with locations in Summerville and Moncks Corner.

The Summerville Medical Center has found a niche in treating ailments common in se-

Senior Centers

For more lists subscribe to:

Listed alphabetically

Berkeley County

Moncks Corner Senior Center Berkeley Seniors Inc. (BSI) 103 Gulledge St. Moncks Corner, SC 29461 843- 761-0390

www.CharlestonBusiness.com

Charleston County

Awendaw Senior Center South Santee Senior and Community Center 6655 N Highway 17 Awendaw, SC 29429 843-928-3280

Senior Program at Echo House Coastal Catholic Charities 3921 St. John’s Ave. North Charleston, SC 29405 843- 308-9361

Dorchester

St. Stephen Senior Center Berkeley Seniors Inc. (BSI) 1264 Russelville Road St. Stephen, SC 29469 843- 761-0390

CASC Senior Center Charleston Area Senior Citizens Inc. (CASC) 259 Meeting St. Charleston, SC 29401 843- 722-4127

Faith Sellers Senior Center Dorchester Seniors Inc. 312 North Laurel St. Summerville, SC 29483 843- 871-5053

South Berkeley Senior Center Berkeley Seniors Inc. (BSI) 103 Thurgood Road Goose Creek, SC 29455 843- 761-0390

Lowcountry Senior Center 865 Riverland Drive Charleston, SC 29412 843-990-5555

David Sojourner Senior Center 5361 E. Jim Bilton Blvd.

St. George, SC 29477 843-563-3707

Mount Pleasant Senior Center 840 Von Kolnitz Road Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 843- 856-2166 36

| HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Photo/File

niors, routinely scoring top points from the Joint Commission for its treatment of heart attacks, heart failure and pneumonia. Palmetto Primary Care Physicians is building a new medical campus in the Nexton mixed-use community in Summerville.

Berkeley County is scheduled to have its first full-service hospital when Roper-St. Francis’ new facility at Carnes Crossroads in Goose Creek opens in 2019.

Strong retirement communities and long-term assisted living facilities are abundant in and around the Charleston area.

The Charleston area offers a number of public recreational activities and options for a healthy lifestyle. The Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission has a host of parks and waterfront piers and offers discounts on yearly memberships for seniors.

The James Island County Park, Mount Pleasant Palmetto Islands County Park and North Charleston Wannamaker County Park offer walking trails, canoeing, kayaking and shelters for gatherings.

For those looking for an easy stroll along the beach, there’s the Isle of Palms County Park and Kiawah Beachwalker Park. The Folly Beach Edwin S. Taylor Fishing Pier has become a hot spot for catching fish.

The Charleston County Parks and Recreation Department wants to create more biking options in the area. In the next several years, Charleston County also plans to construct the Lowcountry Lowline, which will add miles of bike trails to connect all of

the county’s parks.

Numerous farmers markets address the need to purchase fresh, local produce.

A weekly Saturday morning market draws hundreds to downtown Charleston between April and November. A similar market draws residents and visitors in Mount Pleasant on Tuesday afternoons. Food stands dot the landscape, and most accept vouchers for seniors under the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP).

•

HEALTH AND WELLNESS |

37

Living In N

ow that you have decided to make the Charleston area your new home, you’ll need to decide where you want to live. There are so many choices, and all have something unique to offer.

You could live in the historic downtown, across the harbor in Mount Pleasant, in a suburban neighborhood or at the beach. You really can’t go wrong, whether you settle in booming North Charleston or neighborly Moncks Corner.

In these pages, we tell you at length about each of the possibilities. We talk about the community, the history, the neighborhoods and businesses and a touch of the lifestyle you can expect. To help you visualize, we show some photos of each area.

And when you get ready to move in, you’ll find phone numbers and websites to help you get settled.

Enjoy!

In this section Historic Charleston........................................... 40 Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island............ 44 North Charleston............................................... 46 Mount Pleasant................................................... 48 West Ashley........................................................... 51 James Island and Folly Beach..................... 53 Johns and Wadmalaw Islands..................... 55 Daniel Island........................................................ 56 Kiawah and Seabrook Islands..................... 58 Summerville.......................................................... 60 Jedburg and Ridgeville.................................... 65 Moncks Corner................................................... 66

SC Safe Home

Goose Creek......................................................... 68

In coastal South Carolina, hurricanes sometimes threaten. The S.C. Department of Insurance offers help through SC Safe Home. This program awards grants of up to $5,000 in matching and nonmatching funds to assist homeowners in coastal communities in strengthening their properties against the severe winds associated with hurricanes and other natural disasters. To learn more, visit the website, www.scsafehome.com, or call 803-737-6209.

Sponsored by

38

| LIVING IN

Photo/Ryan Wilcox/Charleston Regional Business Journal

LIVING IN

Historic Charleston A blend of old Southern charm and new development

W

ith all the grace and charm of a Southern city, Charleston draws in visitors and residents with its historic charisma and waterfront panoramas. Stroll down King Street to browse boutiques, wander through art galleries in the French Quarter, or tour some of the city’s historic homes. The peninsula is home to a rich history that is revealed in nearly all of its buildings, streets and parks.

Charleston is home to a vibrant higher education community. The College of Charleston was granted a charter in 1785 and the school maintains a large presence downtown.

In 1824, the Medical University of South Carolina was founded, becoming the first medical school in the South. The MUSC campus and hospital occupy a large area

40

| LIVING IN HISTORIC CHARLESTON

on the peninsula’s western side between Calhoun and Bee streets, where a cluster of other health care providers have hospitals, such as Roper St. Francis and the VA Medical Center.

Despite a major earthquake in 1886 and Hurricane Hugo in 1989, Charleston still has some of the most historic homes and buildings in the South. A designated “historic district” preserves many residential properties.

Neighborhoods The housing options downtown range

MOVING IN

Sweetgrass Baskets One of the oldest handcrafts of African origin in the U.S. Numerous resident artists still create these baskets from indigenous plants at the Charleston City Market.

All phone numbers are 843 area code, except where noted

City of Charleston................................................. 577-6970 www.charleston-sc.gov Charleston County School District.........937-6300

Building permits....................................................577-5550 Charleston Water System..............................727-6800 S.C. Electric & Gas Co..............................800-251-7234 Trash and recycling............................................724-7364

Photo/Kim McManus/Charleston Regional Business Journal

THE MUST

DO’S Photo/Andrew Cebulka courtesy of Charleston Wine and Food Festival

Charleston Wine and Food Festival Held in late February/early March, this annual festival celebrates the culinary history and culture of the Lowcountry.

Photo/Ryan Wilcox/Charleston Regional Business Journal

The Pineapple Fountain is an iconic landmark in downtown Charleston.

Spoleto Festival USA This 17-day festival draws dozens of music, dance and theater companies to Charleston with more than 120 performances at many historic and unique venues starting in May. Photo/Paul Mulkey, SEWE

Southeastern Wildlife Exposition Conservation exhibits, birds of prey, retriever demonstration and Dock Dogs are among the highlights of this expo held each Crowds flock to the Charleston Farmers Market at Marion Square every Saturday from April through December.

February.

LIVING IN HISTORIC CHARLESTON |

41

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| LIVING IN HISTORIC CHARLESTON

Photo/Rutledge Cab Co.

Rainbow Row is one of the most famous landmarks on the peninsula.

from the sprawling, pastel-colored, multimillion-dollar homes to new luxury condos overlooking the Ashley River. The median price of homes downtown is higher than surrounding areas.

South of Broad is the neighborhood literally south of Broad Street that includes the often-photographed Battery and Waterfront Park. Full of large traditional homes, this area has some of the most expensive real estate in Charleston with most of the houses coming with a price tag in the millions. Walk down the streets in this quiet, storied neighborhood to catch a glimpse of traditional Charleston gardens and verandas.

The French Quarter, above Broad Street, is bound by Market and Meeting streets and Waterfront Park. It is characterized by the many art galleries, cobblestone streets and restaurants that fill the area, and it is named for the French merchants who once occupied the area.

Above the French Quarter is Ansonborough, the peninsula’s first neighborhood, although much of it was destroyed in a fire

Rutledge Cab Co. is a favorite of residents from the Wagener Terrace and Hampton Park neighborho ods.

in 1838 and had to be rebuilt. Many of the houses have Greek Revival characteristics and were built by some of Charleston’s oldest family names, such as Joseph Legare and Edward McCrady.

Harleston Village is another one of the old neighborhoods that was developed in 1770. It encompasses the area north of Broad Street to Calhoun Street. It includes Colonial Lake, which was set aside for public use in 1768. Renovations in 2016 added more seating and pathways, popular with joggers and dog walkers. The architecture includes Italian and Georgian, as well as

Photo/Jay Wayne Productions

Local craft breweries, such as Revelry Brewing seen here, dot the landscape of Charleston.

styles that span the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.

Radcliffeborough is bound by King, Vanderhorst, Smith and Radcliffe streets and contains much of the College of Charleston campus. Many of the houses have Italian and Gothic Revival influences.

To the west and north of Radcliffeborough are Cannonborough and Elliottborough, where homes are being renovated at a rapid rate. Close to MUSC, this area is popular with medical students and families who want a house downtown without the price of a lower-peninsula property.

New developments are opening up residential spaces, such as the Midtown project, expected to help revitalize upper King Street with condominiums and single-family houses mixed in with commercial space. The recently constructed Bee Street Lofts offer views of the Ashley River. With their proximity to the Medical University of South Carolina, the lofts have been popular with physicians moving to the area. To the east of Radcliffeborough is the Mazyck-Wraggborough neighborhood,

The peninsula is home to a rich history that is revealed in nearly all of its buildings, streets and parks. which stretches from King over to Washington Street. Anchoring the area is the landmark Marion Square, the 10-acre public park that houses a farmers market on Saturdays from April to December The area also includes the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry, the Charleston Museum and the newly renovated Gaillard Center, Charleston’s premier venue for performances and special events.

Farther up the peninsula, Hampton Park Terrace and Wagener Terrace offer more housing options with turn-of-the-century and brick bungalow homes. The Citadel campus also falls in the Hampton Park area.

LOCAL

KNOWLEDGE Many of the streets and buildings around the peninsula are pronounced in a very distinct way by the locals. Mispronunciation will be a telltale sign that you’re “from off.” Here are a few pronunciations and sayings that will have you sounding like a local, right from the start.

Huger Street Pronounced (Hugh-Gee)

The Gaillard Center Charleston’s premier venue is pronounced (Gil-yard)

From off If you weren’t born in Charleston, then come and live here, you’ll always be “from off ”

Pluff mud The mud of the tidal marshes that emit the signature smell of the Lowcountry

•

LIVING IN HISTORIC CHARLESTON |

43

Photo/City of Isle of Palms

Aerial vew of Isle of Palms.

LIVING IN

Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island For a day’s visit or a lifetime, islands’ beaches beckon

E

ast Cooper’s two beach-front islands are connected by one bridge but represent two distinct lifestyles.

Sullivan’s Island lies at the entrance to Charleston Harbor and spent much of its history as a slave port. Its strategic position made it a key to the seaward defense of the city of Charleston and it was fortified well into the 20th century. To Charlestonians of the late 19th and early 20th century, Sullivan’s Island was the beach to which they escaped by boat when the summer heat grew unbearable.

Today, the island’s military and beach-retreat heritage give the place an elegantly shabby, slow-moving style that is unique among Southern beach communities. Islanders have adapted abandoned fortifications and disused buildings from Fort Moultrie’s sprawling past into creative liv-

44

ing spaces and public uses. Victorian homes line shaded streets.

About 2,000 people live on the 3.3-square-mile island, which remains a popular destination for beach-goers from Charleston and Mount Pleasant. But with no hotels, the beach is seldom crowded.

Easements and strict regulations protect the island’s dunes and maritime forests, and its lighthouse, which began operation in 1962, was conveyed to the National Parks Service in 2008.

Though Sullivan’s Island was home to

MOVING IN

All phone numbers are 843 area code, except where noted

City of Isle of Palms...........................................886-6428 www.iop.net Town of Sullivan’s Island.................................883-3198 www.sullivansisland-sc.com Charleston County School District.........937-6300 Isle of Palms building permits...................886-9912 Isle of Palms Water and Sewer.................886-6148

| LIVING IN ISLE OF PALMS AND SULLIVAN’S ISLAND

Release program Sea turtles that have been rehabilitated at the S.C. Aquarium are released at the Isle of Palms.

City of Isle of Palms trash..................................720-7111 Sullivan’s Island building permits...........883-5727 Sullivan’s Island water system................. 883-3947 Sullivan’s Island trash.......................................884-8518 S.C. Electric & Gas Co..............................800-251-7234 Recycling (Charleston County).....................720-7111

Photo/Poe’s Tavern

THE MUST

DO’S Sullivan’s Island Polar Bear Plunge Every New Year’s Day people flock to the shores of Sullivan’s Island for the annual Polar Bear Plunge.

Poe’s Tavern is one of the lively restaurants Sullivan’s Island residents enjoy.

Start the year by diving in the cold

million-dollar homes line the water and its Front Beach commercial district bustles with restaurants and shops.

The IOP’s Windjammer Lounge is a classic beachfront bar and music venue, and the annual Polar Bear Swim on Sullivan’s Island, which draws thousands of high-spirited bathers every New Year’s Day, originates at Dunleavy’s Pub in the island’s tiny downtown.

Life on the islands offers distinct choices for those who can afford them — the upscale energy of the IOP versus the quirkier charms of Sullivan’s Island. Residents of both islands benefit from one of the area's finest elementary schools, enjoy easy access to shopping via the Isle of Palms Connector and can often be spotted tooling around in their ubiquitous electric golf carts.

winter water of the Atlantic.

Isle of Palms Connector Run Run one of the most scenic bridges in the Lowcountry, then enjoy the Isle of Palms for a post-race party.

LOCAL

KNOWLEDGE “Meet me at Station 12.”

•

Photo/File

two settlements in the 19th century, the neighboring Isle of Palms remained a remote, sparsely populated vacation spot until the early 20th century. A 50-room hotel opened in 1906, followed in 1912 by a beach pavilion and amusement park.

First known as Hunting Island, and then Long Island, developers renamed it the Isle of Palms in 1913 to attract tourists. Development of the 5.6-square-mile island didn’t begin in earnest until the 1940s.

The boom started in 1944 with the purchase of 1,300 acres by The Beach Co., which laid out roads and began building a mixture of vacation and affordable housing.

The Ben Sawyer Bridge connecting Mount Pleasant to Sullivan’s Island completed the Charleston-to-IOP automobile link in 1945 and more growth followed.

By the 1970s, developers turned their eyes toward a 1,600-acre tract and began construction of what is today the gated Wild Dunes Resort. This exclusive community features two golf courses, extensive tennis facilities and a system of walking and bicycling trails.

Hurricane Hugo destroyed 95% of the IOP’s buildings in 1989 and the influx of insurance cash led to a burst of luxurious gentrification. Today, the island has a population of more than 4,500, multi-

All of the cross streets on both Sullivan’s Island and Isle of Palms are called stations. Each one is numbered, so an easy way to make plans to meet on the beach is to pick a station and let all of your friends know.

Where the waves are The Isle of Palms is the place to go to catch a wave on this side of town. Surfers of all types and skill levels can be seen catching the waves on most days.

Storage of old barrels of civil war gun powder in Fort Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island in South Carolina.

LIVING IN ISLE OF PALMS AND SULLIVAN’S ISLAND |

45

Photo/City of North Charleston

O.A.R. plays Riverfront Park in North Charleston during their XX Tour.

LIVING IN

North Charleston

Area is home to Boeing, ice hockey, concerts and conventions

N

orth Charleston is an area in transition. With industrial and military roots, the city in recent years has committed to redeveloping its central neighborhoods and reinventing itself as a trendy yet affordable place to live.

The area north of Charleston was developed as plantations by early colonists, but after the Civil War, it grew into an industrial center. Just after the turn of the 20th century, the U.S. Navy targeted a huge swath of land along the Cooper River for a new naval base, and planned neighborhoods began to unfold to house workers, the military and their families.

The North Charleston area boomed during World War II. The dynamic area incorporated as a city in 1972 and has expanded to include land in Charleston,

46

| LIVING IN NORTH CHARLESTON

Dorchester and Berkeley counties.

In the 1990s, the federal government closed the navy base in North Charleston.

The city of North Charleston has since partnered with developers to infuse new life into the area’s historic neighborhoods.

Redevelopment areas include Park Circle, a community of neighborhoods planned early in the 20th century. Park Circle is now a trendy and vibrant community with a number of restaurants and bars.

Residential developments such as Oak Terrace Preserve have earned a reputation for their sustainable building practices. Nearby

MOVING IN

In one of the largest economic development announcements ever made in the Lowcountry, Mercedes-Benz Vans, a division of Daimler, announced plans in 2015 to create 1,300 jobs and invest about $500 million to build a new van plant in North Charleston.

All phone numbers are 843 area code, except where noted

City of North Charleston ..............................554-5700 www.northcharleston.org Charleston County School District ........937-6300 Building permits .................................................. 740-2578

Charleston Water System ............................727-6800 S.C. Electric & Gas Co. ...........................800-251-7234 Trash ...............................................................................745-1026 Recycling (Charleston County).....................720-7111

Photo/City of North Charleston

THE MUST

DO’S Photo/Ryan Johnson/City of North Charleston

The City of North Charleston's municipal building houses city hall, administrative and departmental offices.

Montague Avenue is a Main Street of the past alive again with shops and restaurants.

Redevelopment is ongoing on the former naval base as well, where once-empty military buildings now bustle with art studios, private offices and other commercial activity collectively known as the Navy Yard at Noisette.

North Charleston remains a center of business activity for the region, with many of the Charleston area’s commercial and industrial employers located there. Boeing Co. announced plans in late 2009 to locate its second assembly line for its 787 Dreamliner in North Charleston. In 2011, South Carolina officials along with Boeing celebrated the completion of the assembly plant.

One of the area’s major attractions is the North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center and adjacent Charleston Area Convention Center. The complex is home to the Stingrays, a minor league hockey team, and is a venue for concerts, performances and meetings large and small. The Charleston International Airport is also located in North Charleston.

Nearby shopping centers include the Tanger Outlet Center and Northwoods Mall. Interstate 26 runs through North Charleston as it carries travelers east to Charleston and west toward Columbia. Interstate 526, which has terminal points in Mount Pleasant and West Ashley, reaches its peak in North Charleston.

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day The largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration in the Lowcountry is the best place to channel your inner Irishness. East Montague Street is closed and Park Circle comes alive for this annual tradition.

LOCAL

KNOWLEDGE

•

Photo/Ryan Johnson/City of North Charleston

Craft brewery capital of the Lowcountry

The Eternal Father of the Sea Chapel that once served the Charleston Navy Base has been fully restored and is now available for public use.

North Charleston currently boasts five breweries, with more on the way.

To imbibe on the local brews check out: • Coast Brewing Co. • Freehouse Brewery • Holy City Brewing Co. • Lo-Fi Brewing • Rusty Bull Brewing Co. LIVING IN NORTH CHARLESTON |

47

Photo/File

Shrimp boats at Shem Creek Marina.

LIVING IN

Mount Pleasant

Town across the harbor offers many residential options

D

espite its reputation as a suburban gateway to Charleston and the East Cooper beaches, the historic heart of Mount Pleasant can still be found near picturesque Shem Creek, where the local fishing fleet dock beside popular locally owned eateries. The Old Village, founded in 1680 and incorporated in 1837, sits on breezy bluffs that overlook the harbor just seaward of Shem Creek.

The opening of the $650 million Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge in 2005 marked the beginning of a new era for what has become the state’s fourth-largest municipality, now home to more than 80,000 people.

Locals still treasure the area’s 18th century homes, quaint Pitt Street commercial district and the neighborhood’s authentic shade-drenched ambiance. Residents and

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| LIVING IN MOUNT PLEASANT

visitors alike enjoy trips to Alhambra Hall Park and the nearby Pitt Street Bridge, which once connected the town to Sullivan’s Island by trolley but now offers views of Charleston Harbor and easy access to fishing and crabbing.

Other glimpses of Mount Pleasant’s past can be found across town on scenic Long Point Road.

On one side of the road, motorists may turn off and wander down a broad alley of oaks that leads to Boone Hall Plantation.

Settled in 1743, it remains a working plantation. Its “you-pick ’em” fields and seasonal

MOVING IN

Shrimp season Fresh shrimp can be bought right off the boat on Shem Creek. Typically, brown shrimp are caught from May to August and white shrimp from September to December.

All phone numbers are 843 area code, except where noted

Town of Mount Pleasant .................................884-8517 www.tompsc.com Charleston County School District ........937-6300 Building permits ..................................................884-5184

Mount Pleasant Waterworks ....................884-9626 S.C. Electric & Gas Co. ...........................800-251-7234 Blue Flame Gas ......................................................884-2017 Trash and recycling ...........................................884-8518

Photo/File

THE MUST

Photo/Chart Photography

DO’S Cooper River Bridge Run Tens of thousands of runners participate

This historic wooden pier known as Pitt Street Bridge is part of a modern greenway for pedestrians and bicyclists.

in this world-class 10K held in late March

events are beloved by local families.

On the other side of Long Point Road, the Charles Pinckney National Historic Site interprets life at Snee Farm Plantation, home of one of the original signers of the U.S. Constitution. The U.S. Park Service staff makes a special effort to explain and preserve the region’s Gullah culture.

Glimpses of that Gullah heritage can be seen along U.S. 17, where the area’s “basket ladies” still make and sell the Lowcountry’s signature sweetgrass baskets from simple roadside stands.

A weekly farmers market on Tuesday afternoons from April to October gives access to affordable, healthy food. The town unveiled two new modern hospitals in 2010.

East Cooper Regional Medical Center and Roper St. Francis Mount Pleasant Hospital.

Fitness has also been on the upswing since the new bridge opened with a lane for bicyclists and pedestrians. Residents make extensive use of the town’s numerous parks, ballfields and gyms, and recreational sports leagues are numerous.

Palmetto Islands County Park, a 943acre facility, has nature trails, picnic areas, a water park and pedal boat rentals. Patriots Point on Charleston Harbor boasts a staterun military museum that displays four World War II-era vessels and more than a dozen vintage aircraft. Patriots Point also

or early April. The race starts on the Mount Pleasant side of the Arthur Ravenel Bridge.

Runners get amazing views of Charleston Harbor as they run over the bridge to Charleston.

Photo/Greater Charleston Restaurant Association

Lowcountry Oyster Festival More than 65,000 pounds of oysters are loaded on tractor trailers ready for hungry folks during this annual January event at Boone Hall Plantation.

LOCAL

KNOWLEDGE The Pitt Street Bridge Tucked away at the end of Pitt Street in the Old Village area of Mount Pleasant, the Pitt Street Bridge offers sweeping views of the Lowcountry and plenty of spots to drop a fishing line.

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| LIVING IN MOUNT PLEASANT

connects to the Ravenel Bridge by way of Memorial Waterfront Park.

Mount Pleasant’s neighborhoods have varying styles and offer residents a range of choices, including large historic homes in the town’s “Old Village,” new family home construction in many neighborhood developments and upscale condominium communities.

I’On, a new-urbanist development off Mathis Ferry Road, is an award-winning neighborhood of beautiful homes, elaborate public spaces and mixed-use construction.

Farther out, the sprawling new developments of Park West and Carolina Park are moving the geographic center of town more to the north.

With people come businesses, most of them oriented on either U.S. Highway 17 or Coleman Boulevard. The town’s most prominent shopping area is Towne Centre, between the Isle of Palms Connector and the end of Interstate 526 along U.S. 17.

In keeping with tradition, the town loves a good festival. Mount Pleasant hosts festivals for the arts, oysters, Scottish games, local foodies and children. Every April, the town turns out for the annual Blessing of the Fleet at Memorial Waterfront Park. The Christmas parade is a big draw, as is the Cooper River Bridge Run, which attracts runners and walkers by the tens of thousands each spring.

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Photos/Charleston Regional Business Journal

The Avondale Point area of West Ashley bustles with shops, salons, restaurants and bars.

LIVING IN

West Ashley

One of the first suburbs has old plantations, visionary greenway

T

he area west of the Ashley

New residential development has continued

River in Charleston is home to

in recent years, especially past the western

some of the area’s oldest sub-

boundary of Interstate 526, in neighborhoods

urban neighborhoods and, a

like Shadowmoss and Carolina Bay.

little farther out, some of the newest.

West Ashley, as it’s called, also features a

Long-ago residents of West Ashley have left behind several historic plantations and

range of old and new shopping centers and

gardens that have been preserved and are

restaurants, historic plantations and other

open for tours. Magnolia Plantation, Middle-

Hidden art

attractions, and a unique outdoor walking trail.

ton Place and Drayton Hall Plantation allow

Neighborhoods closest to the Charleston

visitors to learn about the architecture and

Stroll Avondale and you’ll find art commissioned by the chART Outdoor Initiative & Gallery, which consists of public community art spaces supporting contemporary artists working in the visual arts.

peninsula were built in the 1920s through the

life of South Carolinians in the 1700s and the

1950s. Among the older subdivisions are Old

centuries following.

Windermere, Byrnes Down, Moreland, Avondale and The Crescent. Development continued through the 1970s and 1980s in neighborhoods farther out from the city, such as Northbridge, Northbridge Terrace and Wespanee Plantation.

MOVING IN

All phone numbers are 843 area code, except where noted

West Ashley/City of Charleston ..............724-3765 www.charleston-sc.gov Charleston County School District ........937-6300 City of Charleston building permits ..... 724-7320

Charleston Water System ............................727-6800 S.C. Electric & Gas Co. ...........................800-251-7234 Trash ..............................................................................724-7364 Recycling (Charleston County).....................720-7111 LIVING IN WEST ASHLEY |

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Photo/Magnolia Gardens

THE MUST

DO’S Photo/Julia Lynn Photography

Spoleto Finale Middleton Place has historically been the location for the annual Wells Fargo Festival Finale of Charleston’s 17-day Spoleto Festival in June. Guests pack a picnic and explore Middleton Place’s landscaped gardens while local and regional bands play throughout the afternoon.

Photo/Avondale 5K board

Photo/Gavin Lyons

Magnolia Gardens boardwalk.

Another historic destination in West Ashley is Charles Towne Landing, the site of the English settlement that would become the Carolina colony. The 664-acre attraction is a state park.

When getting around by car, main highway corridors in West Ashley are U.S. 17, called Savannah Highway, and S.C. 61, also known as Ashley River Road. The two highways are

Avondale 5k This popular annual neighborhood 5k race winds through the scenic Avondale subdivision in West Ashley with a

Boulevard. Interstates 526 and 26 connect West Ashley to North Charleston to the north and Mount Pleasant to the east.

For those interested in seeing West Ashley

Shopping is plentiful in West Ashley. The area is home to Citadel Mall, one of the area’s two enclosed malls. Shopping centers anchored

lively after party at the Triangle Char +

by foot or bike, the West Ashley Greenway is a

by national retailers and restaurants surround

Bar parking lot. Strollers and dogs are

good option. This 10.5-mile walking and biking

Citadel Mall, which is located just inside I-526

welcome! The race benefits Charleston’s

path weaves among residential areas and

near the intersection of U.S. 17 and Sam Rit-

Charles Webb Center, which serves children

shopping centers and through small marshy

tenberg Boulevard. West Ashley also includes

areas and swaths of trees. The trail starts near

eclectic shopping strips filled with many locally

the South Windermere Shopping Center and

owned stores and eateries, such as the Avondale

stretches to Johns Island.

shopping area along U.S. 17.

with special needs.

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connected by S.C. 7, also called Sam Rittenberg

The Oak Barrel Tavern is a regular stop for the residents of the Avond ale neighborhood.

| LIVING IN WEST ASHLEY

•

Photo/File

Located on the "Edge of America," Edwin Taylor Folly Beach Fishing Pier boardwalk attracts tourists and saltwater fishermen.

LIVING IN

James Island and Folly Beach Looking for the beauty of nature? You’ll find it here.

J

ames Island and Folly Beach, located just south of Charleston, represent a distinctly independent streak in the Lowcountry character.

Long a semirural area, James Island has seen its population boom since the early 1990s and the opening of the James Island Connector, a bridge that links the island directly to the Charleston peninsula.

James Island is bounded by Wappoo Creek, Charleston Harbor and the Stono and Folly rivers. Its network of marshes, inlets, sounds and creeks gives it one of the most scenic natural environments in the region. It was a strategic key to Charleston during the Revolutionary and Civil wars.

The Confederate attack on Fort Sumter began in 1861 with a shot from the island’s Fort Johnson, modern-day home of a stateof-the-art government marine science research facility.

McLeod Plantation, with its alley of slave cabins visible from Folly Road near the foot of the Wappoo Bridge, stands near the entrance to the private Country Club of Charleston. The Riverland Terrace neigh-

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borhood, located between Maybank Highway and Wappoo Creek, features enormous live oaks and deeply shaded lanes. A nearby commercial district offers fine restaurants, antiques and the Terrace Theatre, the area’s only art-house cinema.

Recreational options include the Charleston Municipal Golf Course and James Island County Park, a 643-acre facility with trails, fishing docks, a 50-foot

All phone numbers are 843 area code, except where noted

Town of James Island .........................................795-4141 www.jamesislandsc.us City of Folly Beach .............................................588-2447 www.cityoffollybeach.com Charleston County School District ........937-6300 City of Charleston building permits ..... 724-7320

Charleston Water System ............................727-6800 S.C. Electric & Gas Co. ...........................800-251-7234 Berkeley Electric Cooperative...................559-2458 James Island trash .........................795-9060, ext. 118 Folly Beach Public Works ...............................513-1831 Recycling (Charleston County).....................720-7111

LIVING IN JAMES ISLAND AND FOLLY BEACH |

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Photo/Charleston County Parks

THE MUST

DO’S Photo/Vive Media

Folly festivals Folly Beach street festivals are held throughout the year. The Sea & Sand Festival, FollyGras, Taste of Folly, Follypalooza and the Follywood Oyster Roast are major events that feature live music, food and art vendors.

the holidays with more than three miles of 700 light displays. It has been named one of the best holiday displays in the country.

LOCAL

KNOWLEDGE Milton P. Demetre Park Formerly known as 'Sunrise Park,' it offers sweeping views of the harbor from James Island.

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| LIVING IN JAMES ISLAND AND FOLLY BEACH

ntures

The James Island County Park lights up for

n Outdoor Adve

Photo/Piwakawaka Photo

Holiday Festival of Lights

climbing wall, kayak rentals, picnic areas and a campground. The park’s Splash Zone water park is extremely popular with families during summer months, and the county park’s annual Holiday Festival of Lights attracts motorists on winter nights.

James Island ends where Folly Road enters a marsh marked by the landmark “Folly Boat,” an abandoned hull that was deposited on the roadside by Hurricane Hugo. Locals have been painting messages on it ever since. Another treasured local landmark – Bowen’s Island Restaurant – sits on a tidal creek in a hummock of trees in the vast marsh between James Island and Folly Beach.

Folly Beach calls itself “The Edge of America,” and the seven-mile island certainly seems to take the nickname seriously. The island celebrates its bars, fishing shacks, funky eateries and nefarious characters, and East Coast surfers swarm to the spot they call “The Washout” whenever an Atlantic swell pushes big waves ashore.

A county-run 1,000-foot fishing pier

Photo/Charlesto

Above: James Island County Park swing.

Right: A dolphin swims by the Morris Island lighthouse.

Each benefits a local nonprofit.

marks the center of the island.

The undeveloped eastern end of the island was the longtime site of a Coast Guard station. Morris Island, where the Union assault depicted in the movie Glory took place, lies across the inlet from the old station. The island has been heavily eroded, and the Morris Island Lighthouse has been surrounded by water for decades.

Long described as the Lowcountry’s “poor man’s beach,” Folly’s signature shacks ceased to be affordable escapes for drifters, starving artists and beach bums a decade ago. Nonetheless, the island’s 2,300 yearround residents preserve its identity as a place where corporate homogenization hasn’t taken over – yet.

•

LIVING IN

Johns and Wadmalaw Islands Home to many farms, plant nurseries and produce stands, these are among the Lowcountry’s last rural sea islands Photo/Liz Segrist/Charleston Regional Business Journal

J

The Angel Oak’s age is the subject of much debate. Estimates range from 400 years to more than 1,500 years.

The Charleston Executive Airport is a small facility that offers convenience to resort visitors and flying lessons for locals.

A 16,000-square-foot library, completed in 2004, is the county’s largest branch.

Much of the development on the island today is upscale, including The Preserve at Fenwick Hall. Other developments offer a mixture of affordable and luxury choices, varying from waterfront lots to Charlestonstyle urbanism to custom rural seclusion.

The island’s central commercial district is located at the intersection of Main, Maybank and Bohicket roads.

Johns Island is a stronghold of Gullah culture and holds a special place in the Lowcountry’s civil rights history. Native son Esau Jenkins, despite no formal education beyond fourth grade, understood in the 1950s and ‘60s that the future of the island’s black communities would depend on bootstrapping programs for their education

MOVING IN

and health. He and others founded “Citizenship Schools” that helped residents — many illiterate — qualify to vote, and their Sea Island Health Corp. brought doctors and nurses to rural corners that had never received proper care.

•

Photo/Charleston Tea Plantation

ohns Island, the Lowcountry’s last remaining rural sea island, is a vast swath of land between James Island, the mainland west of Charleston and the private barrier islands of Kiawah and Seabrook.

Its future is one of the most important undecided questions in the Lowcountry.

The island grows much of the area’s fresh organic produce and is home to numerous farms, nurseries, packing houses and produce stands. And though its main transportation arteries are heavily trafficked, the island has miles of long, quiet, tree-lined roads that attract Lowcountry bicyclists.

Traffic remains one of the island’s most pressing issues. The debate continues, as opponents don’t want to trade their rural way of life for the suburban development better roads would bring.

The island boasts the Angel Oak, believed to be one of the oldest trees east of the Mississippi. Estimates of its age range from 400 years to more than 1,500 years.

However old it is, this ancient oak is a graceful giant, 65 feet tall and more than 25 feet around. Owned by the city of Charleston, it is open to the public.

Another local gem is the village of Rockville at the end of neighboring Wadmalaw Island. This remote, picturesque village plays host each August to the Rockville Regatta, an event that dates back more than 100 years and marks the end of the Lowcountry’s competitive sailing season.

Horses raised for work, transportation or recreation have long been a part of life on the island. The public Mullet Hall Equestrian Center at Johns Island County Park provides facilities for horse shows, plus 20 miles of riding trails.

Charleston Tea Plantation Hundreds of thousands of tea bushes stretch out acre after acre at this working tea plantation. Tours of the tea factory and a trolley tour let guests get a peek at the America’s only tea factory and the tea-making process.

All phone numbers are 843 area code, except where noted

City of Charleston ............................................... 724-3745 www.charleston-sc.gov Charleston County School District ........937-6300 City of Charleston building permits ..... 724-7320 Charleston Water System ............................727-6800

St. John’s Water Co..............................................559-0186 S.C. Electric & Gas ....................................800-251-7234 Berkeley Electric Cooperative...................559-2458 Republic Services (trash)............................. 937-4048 Recycling (Charleston County): ..................720-7111 LIVING IN JOHNS AND WADMALAW ISLANDS |

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LIVING IN

Daniel Island

A master plan guides development of luxury neighborhoods

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| LIVING IN DANIEL ISLAND

Photos/Daniel Island Real Estate

T

he Lowcountry’s newest address is also one of its most attractive. Daniel Island has grown from an undeveloped expanse of forest and farmland into a thriving community of more than 5,000 people.

The 4,000-acre island at the tip of the Cainhoy Peninsula was essentially uninhabited when Interstate 526 crossed it in the 1990s, linking the land between the Wando and Cooper rivers to the mainland for the first time. Development, guided by a master plan worked out in conjunction with the Guggenheim Foundation (which owned the island from 1947 to 1997), began in the late 1990s. Today, the Daniel Island community spans nine neighborhoods, a central commercial district, more than 400 acres of public parkland, two golf courses, a professional soccer stadium and a world-class tennis facility.

Daniel Island is incorporated into the city of Charleston, even though it is located in Berkeley County and residents must pass through Mount Pleasant or North Charleston to reach it. Though generally considered a bedroom community, the island’s daytime population swells to an estimated 8,500, thanks to employers such as software firm Blackbaud and the 34-acre campus of Bishop England High School, which moved to the island in 1998 after more than 80 years in downtown Charleston.

Home prices range from the $300,000s to more than $3 million, with select lots selling for upward of $1 million.

Condominiums are available for less than $200,000, but the island’s network of public spaces, services, shopping, education and amenities generally tends to put a premium on property values. Plans point

toward an eventual population of 15,000.

Life on the island benefits from 23 miles of shoreline, much of it open to the public, and the extensive system of parks and docks give neighborhoods plenty of public spaces and room to socialize.

The island’s event calendar gets more crowded every year, thanks in large part to the Family Circle Tennis Center, which hosts the world-class Volvo Car Open Women’s Tennis Association tournament in April, and MUSC Health Stadium, home pitch for the Charleston Battery Soccer Club. These modern facilities are increasingly in demand for concerts and festivals.

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MOVING IN

LOCAL

KNOWLEDGE

Osprey Osprey are large raptors that nest near water. Several osprey nests are located on Daniel Island, prompting The Daniel Island School to name the bird as its mascot. The Daniel Island Garden Club built an “Osprey Trail” garden oasis with an 11-foot-tall copper osprey sculpture for the community to enjoy.

All phone numbers are 843 area code, except where noted

Daniel Island/City of Charleston .............724-3765 www.danielisland.com Berkeley County School District ............899-8600 City of Charleston building permits ..... 724-7320

Charleston Water System ............................727-6800 S.C. Electric & Gas Co. ...........................800-251-7234 Trash (City of Charleston) .............................724-7364 Recycling (Berkeley County).......................719-2383

Photo/Kiawah Island Resort

Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course played host to the 2012 PGA Championship and will do so again in 2021.

LIVING IN

Kiawah and Seabrook Islands Life on private islands is like a vacation every day

K

iawah and Seabrook islands, two private resort communities south of Charleston, offer a quality of life that includes world-class golf, upscale homes and breathtaking views of the Lowcountry’s landscape.

Pottery found on Kiawah Island dates as far back as 4,000 years. Ownership of the island changed many times through the years from the Indians to the British and then to some of the earliest “Charlestonians.” Its history is linked to names you may already be familiar with: Gibbes, Vanderhorst and Middleton, to name a few.

Development of the island loosely began in the 1950s when C.C. Royal, who made his fortune in the lumber business, purchased

58

the island. He built a home for his wife and seven children and then sold 65 lots to friends. In 1974, the Kuwait Investment Co. purchased the island from Royal’s heirs and created a land plan that consisted of a resort and residential development. Kiawah Development Partners is currently the master developer of the island.

Approximately 1,200 full-time residents inhabit the island, but the population swells in the spring and summer when about 600

| LIVING IN KIAWAH AND SEABROOK ISLANDS

MOVING IN

Strand feeding Bottlenose dolphins along the Kiawah River feed on mullet by herding them onto shores and sandbars. The dolphins then launch themselves on shore to feed on their catch.

All phone numbers are 843 area code, except where noted

Town of Kiawah Island .................................... 768-9166 www.kiawahisland.org Town of Seabrook Island .................................768-9121 www.townofseabrookisland.org Charleston County School District ........937-6300 Town of Kiawah building permits .......... 768-9166

Kiawah Island Utility (water)......................768-0641 Berkeley Electric Cooperative...................559-2458 Kiawah trash and recycling ....................... 768-9166 Seabrook Island building permits............768-9121 Seabrook Island Utility Commission......768-0102

Photo/Seabrook Island Club

THE MUST

DO’S Photo/Chris M Rogers Photography

Horseback riding The Equestrian Center on Seabrook Island offers a rare opportunity for visitors and

An ariel view of the Beach Club clubhouse on Seabrook Island.

and conference center location, the island has evolved into a private oceanfront community. There are more than 2,500 properties on Seabrook Island and more than 700 families live on the island year round.

There is no shortage of things to do on Seabrook Island, from golfing on two private courses, to playing tennis, horseback riding and boating. There are also several restaurants to choose from.

Inhabitants of both islands place a high value on the environment and have made sure that the buildings are constructed in harmony with the natural surroundings.

There are also plenty of opportunities to observe and study wildlife, whether strolling on the beach or exploring the waterways via kayak or canoe.

Just 30 minutes from Charleston, the islands are close enough for a day trip into the city. However, if shopping is your pleasure, there are several opportunities for excursions on both islands. Freshfields Village on neighboring Johns Island offers a variety of stores, from sporting goods to groceries, as well as several restaurants.

•

beautiful trails along the beach. A full-service Equestrian Center caters to riders of all skill levels.

LOCAL

KNOWLEDGE Photo/Charleston Regional Busines Journal

of the island’s properties are rented.

The island is also home to the Kiawah Island Golf Resort, which includes five public golf courses and two private courses; The Sanctuary, a AAA Five Diamond hotel; an award-winning spa; and several restaurants.

In August 2012, the PGA Championship was played at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort’s Ocean Course. The PGA major brought more than $200 million of economic impact to the area, including millions of dollars worth of worldwide exposure. The Ocean Course will host the event again in 2021.

Outside of golf, the island also caters to tennis players and is a destination for runners during the annual Kiawah Island Marathon, held each December.

Seabrook Island, just across the marsh from Kiawah Island, is a 2,200-acre mix of forest, salt marsh and beach. The island was discovered by settlers in 1666 and indigo and rice were its first cash crops. The island was first called Jones Island, then Simmons Island and finally Seabrook when it was purchased by William Seabrook in 1816.

Originally developed in 1972 as a resort

residents to ride horseback on three miles of

Rory McIlroy won the 2012 PGA Championship.

PGA bragging rights Kiawah Island is home to five championship golf courses. The PGA Championship will return to Kiawah’s Ocean Course in 2021, nine years after first hosting the PGA Tour major. The Ocean Course is one of only four courses in the U.S. to have hosted every major PGA of America event.

LIVING IN KIAWAH AND SEABROOK ISLANDS |

59

Photo/Town of Summerville

Hutchinson Square in Summerville's historic downtown.

LIVING IN

Summerville

Town is alive with family friendly festivals and natural beauty

S

ummerville is a community that still gathers at Town Square to celebrate the Fourth of July and a place where Friday night high school football draws a spirited crowd. In early December, the holiday season is ushered in with an annual Christmas tree lighting downtown. In this modern Southern city, progress and preservation are inextricably intertwined, making it a dynamic and diverse place to live and work.

Downtown Restoration, Enhancement and Management (D.R.E.A.M.), a nonprofit group spearheaded by local residents, has done much since its inception in 1992 to bring focus and support to Summerville and its historic downtown district. The commercial area is bustling again with unique

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| LIVING IN SUMMERVILLE

shops, a local bookstore, art galleries and eateries. Guerin’s Pharmacy — the oldest still operating in South Carolina — contains antiques, a full-service pharmacy and an old-style soda fountain that serves drug store classics such as cherry and vanilla Cokes, milkshakes and chili dogs.

The Summerville Dorchester Museum documents cultural and natural history with a film and exhibits of colonial settlers, early churches and architecture. More than 700 buildings have been placed on the National

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Register of Historic Places.

Summerville traces its roots to the 1780s, when it was known as Pineland Village to plantation owners wanting to escape the swamp fever and insects of the Lowcountry summer. After being deemed by medical specialists in 1899 as one of the best areas in the world for lung and throat disorders, the area experienced a golden era, with special lodgings and resorts springing up to accommodate pulmonary patients. The most famous was Pine Forest

All phone numbers are 843 area code, except where noted

Town of Summerville..........................................851-4201 www.summerville.sc.us Dorchester District 2 schools......................873-2901 www.dorchester2.k12.sc.us

Building permits....................................................851-4220 Public Works............................................................851-4225 S.C. Electric & Gas Co. ...........................800-251-7234 Waste Pro (trash)..................................................619-0800

Photo/Town of Summerville

THE MUST

DO’S Photo/Summerville Family YMCA

Flowertown Festival One of the largest arts and crafts festivals in the Southeast, the Flowertown Festival is held every spring with thousands of festival-

Azalea Park

goers and more than 200 artists set up in Azalea Park among the blooming azaleas and wisteria. The charity festival supports the Summerville YMCA.

LOCAL

KNOWLEDGE Photo/Kim McManus/Charleston Regional Business Jounral

Largest glass of sweet tea Summerville was awarded a trademark to be considered the birthplace of sweet tea, and the town holds the Guinness World Record for the largest glass of sweet tea made from scratch—more than 2,500 gallons of the drink set a new record in June 2016.

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| LIVING IN SUMMERVILLE

Inn, which sometimes served as the Winter White House for Presidents William Howard Taft and Theodore Roosevelt.

Today, Summerville is Dorchester County’s largest city with an estimated population of more than 49,000. Named one of the 50 best small towns in America by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine, Summerville offers residents the best of both worlds in terms of quality of life and housing. Known for its stately Victorian homes, the city also offers a variety of new construction options attracting families, businesses and military personnel to the area.

Dubbed “Flower Town in the Pines,” Summerville still gets high marks for natural attributes. The Flowertown Festival draws more than 200,000 people every spring for a weekend dedicated to artisans and crafts amid the profusion of blooms in Azalea Park.

This event is consistently ranked one of the Top 20 events in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society.

Azalea Park, a 12-acre oasis of ponds, paths, fountains and tennis courts, has also been the site for one of South Carolina’s premiere outdoor arts events, Sculpture in the South. This exhibit and sale of original

sculpture typically features more than 30 artists from across the country representing a range of sculpture from Western to whimsical. During the event, patrons also can explore 22 permanent sculptures displayed in public places in Summerville.

Summerville residents can take to the trails at nearby Givhans Ferry State Park, on the former site of an 18th-century ferry that once crossed the Edisto River. The park features camping, cabins, fishing, picnic areas and river access.

At Francis Beidler Forest in Four Holes Swamp, shaded boardwalks wind through ancient groves of towering cypress and Pleistocene swamps. The forest — a National Natural Landmark — is protected and managed by the National Audubon Society and is the largest remaining virgin stand of bald cypress in the world.

A popular destination for visitors, Summerville offers plenty of hotel rooms and bed and breakfast inns, including the Linwood Bed & Breakfast, built in 1883 by Julia Drayton Hastie, heiress to Magnolia Plantation. The Victorian mansion is surrounded by nearly two acres of award-winning landscaped gardens. The mansion itself

Photo/Provided by West Rock

The Parks Apartments at Nexton are within walking distance of corporate offices, the Brown Family Park and the Carolina Ale House.

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| LIVING IN SUMMERVILLE

Photo/Provided by WestRock

is appointed with heart of pine floors, high ceilings, chandeliers, Victorian bays and triple sash windows, many with original glass.

Summerville has plenty of fine and fun dining options. Across the board, restaurants use style and originality to create menus that appeal to an array of tastes.

Summerville’s eateries include both chain and independently owned restaurants.

Downtown, you’ll find an area called Short Central, a cobblestoned, pedestrian-only streetscape with shops and cafés just a block from Town Hall.

For those interested in stocking up on ingredients to create a feast at home, Summerville’s farmers market is a popular event. It runs weekly on Saturdays from April to November and is located near Town Hall. The market features artisanal foods and local produce.

With many established neighborhoods and communities, an up-and-coming neighborhood is Nexton, a 4,500-acre master planned community located at the intersecton of U.S. Highway 17-A and I-26. It includes offices, hotels, apartments, schools, parks and trails, and several options for dining, entertainment and shopping.

The Corner House Cafe and Information Studio at newly built Summers Corner provides a place for residents, newcomers and people in the community to gather, learn about the planned residential development and enjoy fresh, local food and beverages.

The community is South Carolina’s first gigabit community, which means internet speeds will be 100 times faster than the average fixed high-speed Internet connection, a plus for businesses that want to send large files quickly. Nexton was selected as the 2015 Community of the Year by the Charleston Home Builders Association.

Adding to the town’s many things to do and places to go, Summerville officials have created a Sweet Tea Trail that promises an adventure in Southern hospitality through

history, food and shopping.

The trail tells the story of sweet tea’s birth in Summerville. It’s said that tea plants landed in Summerville in the late 1700s by way of the Ashley River. Andre Michaux, a French explorer and botanist, imported them along with varieties of camellias, gardenias and azaleas near Charleston at what is now known as Middleton Place Plantation.

In 1888, a wealthy scientific philanthropist acquired 600 acres in Summerville and established the Pinehurst Tea Plantation.

The plants were eventually moved to a spot on Wadmalaw Island, which is now known as the Charleston Tea Plantation and is owned by Bigelow.

The town has held a Sweet Tea Festival in recent years to celebrate Southern traditions and, of course, sweet tea.

From its Friday night football games to its annual festivals, Summerville is a place where rich history and progress mix seamlessly. Leaders focus on stimulating economic development in and around Summerville while making sure Flower Town in the Pines does not lose its smalltown charm.

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Jedburg and Ridgeville Rural countryside poised to change with industrial development

Photo/Kathy Allen

T

Photo/Liz Segrist

he suburban sprawl that has enveloped the Lowcountry slowly fades as you head northwest out of Summerville on U.S. Highway 78, past Jedburg Road, and approach the town of Ridgeville.

But that rural, small-town feel belies the fact that this part of Dorchester County is undergoing a profound change.

That transformation started in 2015 when Swedish automaker Volvo announced it would build its first North American production facility at the Camp Hall tract, about seven miles northeast of Ridgeville across Interstate 26 in Berkeley County.

The plant is expected to hire nearly 2,000 workers initially and begin producing cars in 2018 with an ultimate goal of hiring up to 4,000. That influx of high-paying, skilled workers will change forever this sleepy stretch of pine forests, farmland and small communities.

A drive through Ridgeville’s business district will take you into a quintessential Southern railroad town, past barbecue restaurants, a general store and other small businesses. It’s a place where just about everybody knows each other, where store owners have served multiple generations of the same families. The U.S. Census lists Ridgeville’s population at approximately 1,600, but that includes nearly 900 inmates at the state’s Lieber Correctional Institute on the outskirts of town.

Quiet and close to nature, Ridgeville is just minutes from the Francis Beidler Forest, a National Audubon Society wildlife sanctuary, and Givhans Ferry State Park, along the Edisto River. The Cypress Methodist Camp Ground off S.C. Highway 173, a religious and community gathering place

Downtown Ridgeville (above) is a mix of family owned restaurants, retail and other businessess typical of a small Southern town. The final assembly facility (right) for Volvo’s new automotive manufacturing plant near Ridgeville is the largest building on the site.

established more than 200 years ago, is still in use and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Volvo project, still in the construction phase, is already attracting new industry and infrastructure improvements.

India-based Sundaram-Clayton Ltd. announced that it would spend $50 million and hire up to 130 workers for a facility in Ridgeville to supply cast molds for use in automotive production. An industrial park is being planned for the area near the intersection of Highway 78 and S.C. Highway

MOVING IN

27 to accommodate expected demand from Volvo suppliers.

Developers already have turned their attention to several properties for retail centers, residential projects and other industrial customers, and a water main system upgrade is coming to the area as part of the Volvo deal.

Companies that are among the town’s largest current employers include Showa Denko Carbon, which supplies a key component for steel manufacturing, and Key West Boats, a recreational boat maker.

•

All phone numbers are 843 area code, except where noted

Town of Ridgeville mayor’s office.............871-7960 Email................................ridgevillecityhall@sc.rr.com Dorchester School District 4......................563-4535 Building permits..................................................... 832-0011

Ridgeville Water Dept.......................................873-3286 S.C. Electric & Gas Co..............................800-251-7234 Edisto Electric Cooperative............................245-5141 Waste Pro (trash and recycling)..............619-0800 LIVING IN JEDBURG AND RIDGEVILLE |

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Photo/Ryan Wilcox/Charleston Regional Business Journal

The Old Santee Canal Park commemorates the historic canal system built from 1793 to 1800.

LIVING IN

Moncks Corner

Quiet, close-knit community also home to Google’s data center

M

oncks Corner was a colonial trading post with a history that dates back to 1735. It was founded by landowner Thomas Monck, for whom the town was named. In 1853, Moncks Corner became an official scheduled stop on the North East Railroad and two buildings were subsequently built to accommodate freight and passengers.

The original train depot was destroyed by fire in 1915, and the existing building was constructed at the current site. The train depot was an important social landmark for residents in the early 1900s, just as it is today. Officials renovated the historic building in 2000 to serve as the town’s visitor and cultural center. Special events are held at the depot throughout the year, including the Fourth of July Street Dance and Christmas festivities. Residents also

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| LIVING IN MONCKS CORNER

can rent it for special events.

Moncks Corner today has more than 9,000 residents and is the Berkeley County seat. The original downtown is populated with progressive shops and restaurants and the town has positioned itself for growth.

Moncks Corner is home to the corporate office for Santee Cooper, a state-owned utility company. The area was selected by Google in 2007 as the site for a $600 million investment for two data centers. Early in 2013, Google announced another $600 million investment to expand its current campus.

With the area’s growth, Moncks Corner’s neighborhoods offer residents a convenient

MOVING IN

location in a quiet community. Neighborhoods include Cypress Ridge, Fairmont South, Stoney Creek and Foxbank Plantation. Foxbank Plantation was developed on a former rice plantation of the same name.

It spans 800 acres and includes community lakes, ponds and plenty of green space.

Amenities include a swimming pool, parks and walking paths. A Foxbank Elementary School is set to open in 2018.

There are several options for schools in Moncks Corner. Students attend public schools within the Berkeley County School District, which received 22 Palmetto Gold and Silver awards for excellence in for the 2014-15

All phone numbers are 843 area code, except where noted

Town of Moncks Corner...................................719-7900 www.monckscornersc.gov Berkeley County School District.............899-8600 www.berkeley.k12.sc.us Moncks Corner building permits..............719-7900

Berkeley Electric Cooperative.....................761-8200 Public Works Commission.............................719-7965 Berkeley County Water & Sanitation...... 761-8817 Santee Cooper Electric Utility....................761-8000 Republic Services (recycling).....................552-4751

being closed since sustaining damage in the October 2015 floods.

World-class waterskiing, wind surfing, sailing, boating and fishing are popular on Lake Moultrie, as well as the state’s largest lake, Lake Marion. The Palmetto Trail, a recreational trail that stretches statewide, takes trekkers off the beaten path for a closer experience with Southern fauna and wildlife.

In addition to these options, the town has built a 52-acre recreation complex opened in 2015 which now holds four lighted baseball fields, paved parking, a concession stand/ press box, event signs, paved access road, an irrigation system and walking trails. The complex is also home to the Moncks Corner Farmers Market from 3-7 p.m. Thursdays through December.

The town invested $5.4 million into phase one of the center with future plans for tennis courts and a recreation center with a basketball court, swimming pool, jogging track and community rooms. Picnic areas and playgrounds are also planned for the complex.

•

THE MUST

DO’S Photo/Santee Cooper

school year. Private schools also are available.

Moncks Corner’s proximity to area attractions, parks and more make it a match for residents who enjoy outdoor living.

Old Santee Canal Park commemorates America’s first summit canal, which began operating in 1800. In addition to tours of the historic site, the park features the Berkeley County Museum and Heritage Center. Exhibits and artifacts portray the region’s history, including that of Brig. Gen. Francis Marion, who was also known as the “Swamp Fox” and was born near Moncks Corner. The museum also includes the history of Native Americans, colonial life, the Civil War and the Francis Marion National Forest.

Mepkin Abbey, a former plantation perched on the river’s bluffs, now serves as home to a Trappist monastery with a garden and chapel open to the public. Visitors can tour the monastery and gardens, or take part in spiritual retreats.

Cypress Gardens, a county-owned public park and well-known tourist attraction, is scheduled to reopen in spring 2018 after

Lights at Santee Cooper This popular event includes a driving tour of dozens of holiday light displays, a Holiday Fair and “Tinsel Trot” Holiday Fun Run. A car admission fee of $5 goes to local charities.

Presented by Santee Cooper, the lights are fully powered with renewable energy from Santee Cooper’s Green Power program.

LIVING IN MONCKS CORNER |

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Photo/City of Goose Creek

The City of Goose Creek’s Sounds of Summer concert series draws a crowd to Crowfield Golf Club.

LIVING IN

Goose Creek

New homes spring up where rice plantations once ruled

T

he magazine Bloomberg Businessweek reported in 2012, “Goose Creek is on our list of best places to raise kids for the second year in a row. There are more than a few reasons. This quiet, pretty suburb of Charleston has much to offer, from great parks to solid schools, to rolling bike trails.”

Indeed, Goose Creek, located about 20 minutes north of Charleston, has become a very desirable place to live in the Lowcountry. It ranks as the state’s eighth largest municipality with more than 42,000 residents.

While the exact origin of the city’s name is unknown, this area of the Lowcountry has been called Goose Creek since the late 1600s. Early settlers were planters from

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| LIVING IN GOOSE CREEK

Barbados who brought with them knowledge of various crops, including rice and indigo. These crops were successfully grown in the region for more than 100 years.

Fast forward to 1961, when the city of Goose Creek was incorporated and farmlands in the area began to be sold and subdivided to accommodate the fast-growing area and subsequent housing boom.

Today Goose Creek is the most densely populated city in Berkeley County. Its easy

MOVING IN

access to I-26 and its proximity to Charleston continue to make it a popular bedroom community in the region. Well-known housing developments include Carnes Crossroads, Crowfield Plantation and Cane Bay Plantation. Crowfield, a former rice plantation, spans 382 acres and includes residential housing, as well as commercial development, churches and schools. Its recreation amenities include a golf course and country club, lakes, hiking and biking trails,

All phone numbers are 843 area code, except where noted

City of Goose Creek............................................ 797-6220 www.cityofgoosecreek.com Berkeley County School District.............899-8600 www.berkeley.k12.sc.us/ Building permits..............................797-6220, ext. 1100 Garbage......................................................................824-2200

Berkeley Electric Cooperative.....................761-8200 S.C. Electric & Gas......................................800-251-7234 Goose Creek water service...........797-6220, ext. 0 Berkeley County Water & Sanitation...... 761-8817 Charleston Water System ............................727-6800

Photos/City of Goose Creek

Goose Creek Mayor Michael Heitzler dedicates the city’s latest historical marker in 2016.

THE MUST

DO’S Photo/Berkeley County Chamber of Commerce

City of Goose Creek Police officers on bike patrol.

Goose Creek Fall Festival Thousands of residents and visitors attend

Goose Creek is home to the Naval Weapons Station, which is part of the Lowcountry’s largest employer, Joint Base Charleston. The Naval Weapons Station employs nearly 13,500. The base is the command center for the U.S. Navy’s Nuclear Power Training program.

Other major employers in Goose Creek include aluminum manufacturers Alcoa Mount Holly and JW Aluminum, and lighting manufacturer Quoizel Lighting. Quoizel, founded in 1930 in New York, relocated its headquarters to a state-of-the-art, 500,000-square-foot facility in Goose Creek.

Google built a $600 million data center in 2008 in Mount Holly, which is between Goose Creek and Moncks Corner. In 2013, the Internet search engine announced it would invest another $600 million to build a second data center.

In addition to creating jobs, Google helped fund the city’s free WiFi network that has been implemented at four locations in the county, including Central Avenue downtown.

The free WiFi service complements improvements such as new sidewalks, buried power lines and street lamps downtown and encourages more growth in the area.

•

this popular, family friendly event with live entertainment, vendors, a kids’ play area, climbing wall and plenty of food. Proceeds from the festival go to Helping Hands of Goose Creek. Held behind the Goose Creek municipal center on U.S. Highway 52 (Goose Creek Boulevard) every October.

LOCAL

KNOWLEDGE Photo/City of Goose Creek

and recreational areas. Cane Bay Plantation spans 4,500 acres and includes several neighborhoods — including Del Webb, an active senior living neighborhood — as well as schools, parks, playgrounds, athletic fields, hiking and biking trails, and retail centers.

Carnes Crossroads is a another sprawling, planned community of 2,300 acres near the intersection of U.S. Highways 176 and 17-A. It is projected to be home to more than 15,000 people at final buildout.

Opportunities for outdoor living in the Lowcountry are plentiful and Goose Creek is no different. The city’s recreation department has constructed several parks throughout the area featuring playgrounds, picnic areas and ball fields. Golf enthusiasts can enjoy 18 holes at Crowfield Golf and Country Club, which also has tennis and swimming.

There also are plenty of activities within a short drive of Goose Creek. Soccer enthusiasts can enjoy a Charleston Battery game at MUSC Health Stadium, or tennis fans can watch the annual Volvo Car Open tennis tournament, held each spring at the Family Circle Tennis Center. Both stadiums are located on nearby Daniel Island.

Hiker biker trail A popular hiking and biking trail behind the City of Goose Creek Municipal Center draws a number of recreation enthusiasts. The trail encircles a lake behind the municipal center at 519 N. Goose Creek Blvd. and connects to a trail that goes up U.S. Highway 52/ Goose Creek Boulevard.

LIVING IN GOOSE CREEK |

69

Sports and Recreation O

ne of the best things about life in the Lowcountry is the myriad opportunities for outdoor activities.

The weather is good most of the year, and sports and recreational activities are there for the taking. You can join an organized team or take up an individual activity, such as kayaking or paddle boarding.

Every community in the Charleston area has a well-developed sports and recreation program. In the pages that follow, we tell you about the recreation offerings for each city and town, with some of the highlights of the year.

There is also a listing of other recreational possibilities beyond the municipal departments, such as bocce, roller derby or rugby.

So, pick your favorite and get out there and enjoy yourself!

In this section City of Charleston Recreation Department...................................72 Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission..............74 Dog Parks...............................................................74 North Charleston Parks and Recreation.......................................75 Mount Pleasant Recreation...........................76 Golf Courses.........................................................77 Dining Out............................................................. 78 Places to Stay...................................................... 80 Alternative and Outdoor Venues............... 83 Arts Abound......................................................... 85 Attractions and Tours....................................... 88 Calendar of Events............................................ 93 Newcomer Information and Map.............. 96

Sponsored by

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| SPORTS AND RECREATION

Photo/City of Charleston Recreation Dept.

City of Charleston Recreation Department 823 Meeting St., Charleston, SC 29403 Laurie Yarbrough, director www.charleston-sc.gov check under departments tab for recreation The City of Charleston Recreation Department serves downtown Charleston, James Island, Johns Island, West Ashley and Daniel Island.

Sports offered: Soccer, tennis, football, baseball, softball, basketball, track, cross country, golf, wrestling, lacrosse, volleyball, aquatics, karate

Other activities: Cheerleading, gymnastics, double dutch, camps, dance, yoga, cooking, art, environmental education, therapeutic recreation, bocce, bowling, Ultimate Frisbee, fencing

Top three citywide events of the year

Easter Eggstravaganza: held near Easter; egg hunt, activities, games; Hampton Park.

Celebration of Summer: An end-of-summer party held in Hampton Park in late July. Family friendly with pony rides, jump castles and more.

Trick or Treat in the Park: just before Halloween; wear costumes and trick or treat at decorated cars; Hampton Park.

A few places to check out Park hours are dawn to dusk unless otherwise posted. Some of the city’s popular parks are:

azel Parker Community H Center and Playground 70 E. Bay St. "Let's Play" and "Let's Create" family days

James Island Recreation Complex 1088 Quail Drive camps and classes, and sports for all ages

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| SPORTS AND RECREATION

Youth baseball and softball programs are offered in all areas.

I

n the Lowcountry, outdoor living is a special draw. You can go surfing, kayaking, fishing or biking – all in the same weekend. But outdoor recreation is just the start.

When you move your family to a new community, a concern may be whether your new hometown offers the sports and recreational activities your family enjoys. In the Lowcountry, you will find most activities are available, even some you might not expect, such as lacrosse and ice hockey.

This section includes a listing of the offerings by the major parks and recreation departments in the area. The largest are City of Charleston, Mount Pleasant and North Charleston, but smaller departments such as Summerville and Isle of Palms also have a lot to offer.

While recreation departments are set up to serve the residents of their communities, most allow non-residents to register for programs for an added fee.

Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission provides mostly indi-

vidual park-based activities, such as kayaking, climbing and water parks. The county does run team sports in some rural areas that aren’t served by other departments.

Most parks offer programs for all ages, from preschool to senior adults. In general, permits are required to hold an event in a park; check with the local parks department to see what is needed.

And if your interest runs to college or professional sports, the Charleston area has a lot to offer. Charleston Southern University, The Citadel and College of Charleston all have standout sports programs.

The Lowcountry is home to three professional teams: the Charleston RiverDogs (baseball), a Class A affiliate of the New York Yankees; the Charleston Battery (soccer) of the United Soccer Leagues; and the South Carolina Stingrays (hockey), a member of the East Coast Hockey League affiliated with the Washington Capitals.

And one more thing: Charlie is the mascot of the Riverdogs.

(Photo/Charleston Riverdogs)

861 Riverland Drive, Charleston 29412 843-795-4386 David Bennett, executive director www.CharlestonCountyParks.com A clickable map is available at www.ccprc.com/index.aspx?NID=8 Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission provides park and recreation services but does not duplicate services provided by municipalities and other special recreation districts. The county commission has developed a countywide park system that emphasizes individual and family activities such as outdoor recreation, environmental education and public beach access. The commission runs rural recreation sports programs in areas not otherwise served at McClellanville, Johns Island and Hollywood.

Activities: Summer camps, water parks, climbing wall, geocaching, group and corporate services, nature and history programs, outdoor adventure, youth and school programs, swimming lessons and water safety

Top events Holiday Festival of Lights: family event held in November and December, James Island County Park

Charleston Sprint Triathlon Series: swim 600-yard freshwater lake; bike 12 miles; run 5K; separate dates in May, June, July and August; James Island County Park

Photo/Larry Monteith/Charleston Moves

Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission

Bird watching on Folly Beach

The Volvo Car Open tennis tournament brings women’s tennis greats to Daniel Island every spring.

For outdoor fun, Folly Beach is considered a top surfing destination on the East Coast, and you can check conditions at its storied “Washout” via webcam.

Kayaking in the blackwater rivers and swamps or quieter areas of Charleston Harbor is a favorite. Outfitters along Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant rent equipment.

Recreational boating and sailing are local passions. Each April hundreds of sailors take to Charleston Harbor for Charleston Race Week, sponsored by the Charleston Ocean Racing Association. Deep sea fishing charters are available at Shem Creek and

A few places to check out

Dog Parks

Some of the most popular parks are:

City of Charleston

SK8 Charleston Skate Park 1549 Oceanic St., Charleston

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| SPORTS AND RECREATION

Ackerman Park Dog Run, 55 Sycamore Drive Bees Landing Recreation Complex, 1530 Ashley Gardens Blvd.

Governor’s Park, 165 Fairbanks Oak Alley Hampton Park Dog Run, corner of Rutledge Avenue and Grove Street Hazel Parker Dog Run, 70 E. Bay St. James Island Recreation Complex, 1088 Quail Drive

Charleston County

James Island County Park, 871 Riverland Drive North Charleston Wannamaker County Park, 8888 University Blvd.

Mount Pleasant Palmetto Islands County Park, 444 Needlerush Parkway All dogs must be up to date on vaccinations and must be under their owners’ supervision at all times.

rks

5200 Savannah Highway, Ravenel

Photo/Steve Aycock

C awCaw Interpretive Center

Here are some parks set up expressly for dogs and their owners.

ston County Pa

871 Riverland Drive, James Island camping, challenge course, climbing wall, water park

•

Photo/Charle

James Island County Park

other locations.

Locals fish off piers at Folly Beach or the Memorial Waterfront Park in Mount Pleasant, or net crabs in tidal creeks.

Running has grown in popularity since the founding of the Cooper River Bridge Run in 1978. The Bridge Run takes place each April, attracting world-class 10K runners and tens of thousands of amateur athletes and walkers. The race begins in Shem Creek and finishes in downtown Charleston.

The area’s flat roads make for fast cycling. The Lowcountry hosts a series of popular cycling events, including group rides and races.

So, test out your old favorites or try something new. It’s all here.

Photo/City of Charleston Recreation Dept.

North Charleston Parks and Recreation

2500 City Hall Lane North Charleston, S.C. 29406 843-740-5814 Ed Barfield, recreation director www.northcharleston.org North Charleston Parks and Recreation serves the city of North Charleston.

Sports offered: Softball, baseball, basketball, football, soccer, wrestling, volleyball, track and field

Activities: adult and senior fitness, after-school programs, aquatics, camps, ceramics, dance, disc golf, cheerleading

Top events Youth Pitch, Hit and Run: local competition held in April; winners advance to sectional competition The City of Charleston Swampfox Track Team hosts an annual meet each fall for school teams and individuals.

Other parks and recreation departments Isle of Palms Parks and Recreation

Hanahan Recreation and Parks 3100 Mabeline Road, Hanahan, SC 29410 www.cityofhanahan.com The department serves the city of Hanahan. Offered are basketball, football, baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball, as well as T-ball, dance, tumbling, camps and fitness.

515 W. Boundary St., Summerville, SC 29485 843-851-5211 www.summervillesc.gov Among the sports offered are softball, baseball, tennis, football and cricket. The town has a major sports center, the Jerry Blackwell Sports Complex, at 515 W. Boundary St. Also unique are the Sawmill Branch Trail and a skate park.

A few places to check out Among North Charleston’s gems are: Photo/City of North Charleston/Ryan Johnson

24 28th Ave., Isle of Palms, SC 29451 www.iop.net This department serves the Isle of Palms with baseball, softball, basketball, volleyball and soccer. Also offered are fitness, dance, taekwondo, gymnastics, and camps. Events include the Sand Sculpting Contest; the IOP Beach Run and the IOP Connector Run.

Summerville Parks and Recreation

Winter Wonderland: held in December for young children at Armory Park

Goose Creek Recreation 843-569-4242 www.goosecreekrecreation.com Goose Creek Recreation serves residents at Goose Creek Community Center and Casey Community Center, as well as a city pool and community parks. Activities offered include baseball, softball, golf, basketball, volleyball, football, cheerleading, gymnastics, camps, soccer and tennis.

Moncks Corner Recreation Department 118 Carolina Ave., Moncks Corner 843-719-7900 The recreation department offers baseball, T-ball, football, soccer, cheerleading basketball and softball.

Riverfront Park 1001 Everglades Ave. On the Cooper River with beautiful views, a performance pavilion and meadow

Park Circle Butterfly Garden 4800 Park Circle Butterflies and plants, picnics, walking paths

SPORTS AND RECREATION |

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Photo/College of Charleston

Mount Pleasant Recreation 3 91 Egypt Road, Mount Pleasant 29464 843-884-2528 Ken Ayoub, director www.tompsc.com Mount Pleasant Recreation Department serves the town of Mount Pleasant.

Sports offered: Tennis, baseball, basketball, golf, soccer, softball, track, cross country, football, lacrosse, volleyball

Also: Camps, art, therapeutic recreation, music, aquatics, dance, skate park

Top events Spring Carnival: held in May, children’s activities; at Alhambra Hall Park

Blessing of the Fleet and Seafood Festival: held in April; blessing of the fleet ceremony, boat parade, seafood sampling, music, arts and crafts; Memorial Waterfront Park

ld Village 5K Run, Walk, Stroller and O Dog Jog: held in November starting at Alhambra Hall Park; for all ages

Mount Pleasant Junior Regatta: late summer, Hobcaw Yacht Club

A few places to check out Some of Mount Pleasant’s best-loved parks are:

Alhambra Hall and Park 131 Middle St. Reception hall, waterfront green space, playground.

Park West Recreation Complex 1251 Park West Blvd.

Lighted tennis courts, indoor pool, athletic fields, lake pavilion, walking trails.

The College of Charleston Sailing Center (www.sailing.cofc.edu) features more than 53 boats.

Other Sports and Rec Sports Event Organizers, Volunteer Groups, Training Resources and Sports Facilities

ARENA SPORTS

Arena City Soccer and Sports www.arenacitysoccerandsports.com

BADMINTON

Charleston Badminton Group www.facebook.com/ badmintoncharleston

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

Charleston Beach Volleyball & Social Club www.charlestonvolleyball.net

BOCCE

Chucktown Bocce League www.facebook.com/pages/ChucktownBocce-League/101115219964370

BOXING

Hurricane Boxing Club hurricaneboxing.net

DANCE

FENCING

Hyde Park Polo Club hydeparkpoloclub.com

Fencing Fight Club facebook.com/fencingcharleston/

ROCK CLIMBING (WALLS)

FOX HUNTING

Middleton Place Hounds Hunt Club www.middletonplacehounds.com

GYMNASTICS

Gymnastics Academy of Charleston www.gymnasticsacademyofcharleston. com

HIKING

West Ashley Greenway Bike/Hike Trail www.westashleygreenway.org

ICE HOCKEY /SKATING

Carolina Ice Palace www.carolinaicepalace.com

LACROSSE

Summerville Miracle League www.summervillemiracleleague.org

DODGEBALL

| SPORTS AND RECREATION

Carolina Polo & Carriage Company www.cpcc.com/polo.htm

Charleston Shag Club www.charlestonshagclub.com

Special Olympics of the Lowcountry www.facebook.com/solowcountry

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DOG SPORTS

Low Country Dog Agility Club www.lowcountrydogagility.com

Figure Skating Club of Charleston www.fscofcharleston.com

Charleston Miracle League www.charlestonmiracleleague.org

of Alhambra Hall.

Charleston Polo Club charlestonpoloclub.com

Ballroom Dance Club of Charleston www.ballroomdancecharleston.org

DISABLED SPORTS

The view from the porch

POLO

Arena City Soccer Sports arenacitysoccerandsports.com

Charleston Sports & Social Club www.charlestonssc.com

Charleston County PRC ccprc.com Coastal Climbing coastalclimbing.com

ROLLER DERBY

Lowcountry Highrollers Women’s Derby team www.lowcountryhighrollers.com

RUGBY

Charleston Outlaws Rugby Football Club www.charlestonrugby.com Charleston Hurricanes Women's Rugby www.charlestonwomensrugby.org

STANDUP PADDLE BOARDING www.charlestonsupsafaris.com

Charleston Hurricanes Men’s Lacrosse Club facebook.com/CharlestonHurricanesLax Lowcountry Lacrosse Youth League www.lowlax.com

SURFING

MARTIAL ARTS

Charleston Ultimate Players Association www.charlestonultimate.com

OCEAN RACING

WAKEBOARDING & WATERSKIING

Charleston Martial Arts http://chas-ma.com Charleston Ocean Racing Association www.charlestonoceanracing.org

Southern South Carolina/ Eastern Surfing Association ssc.surfesa.org

ULTIMATE FRISBEE

Trophy Lakes Watersports Center www.trophylakesports.com

Source: Charleston Area Sports Commission

Golf Courses Berkeley Berkeley Country Club at Exeter Plantation 772 Exeter Plantation Road Moncks Corner, SC 29461 Semiprivate with event facilities 843-761-4653 www.berkeleycc.com Crowfield Golf Club 300 Hamlet Circle Goose Creek, SC 29445 Semiprivate public 843-764-4618 www.crowfieldgolf.com

Charleston Beresford Creek course at Daniel Island Club 600 Island Park Drive Daniel Island, SC 29492 Private with event facilities 843-971-3555 www.danielislandclub.com Bulls Bay Golf Club 995 Bulls Bay Blvd.

Awendaw, SC 29429 Private 843-881-2223, ext. 14 www.bullsbaygolf.com Charleston Municipal Golf Course 2110 Maybank Highway Charleston, SC 29412 Public 843-795-6517 www.charleston-sc.gov/golf Charleston National Golf Club 1360 National Drive Mount Pleasant, SC 29466 Semiprivate 843-884-4653 www.charlestonnationalgolf.com

Coosaw Creek Country Club 4110 Club Course Drive North Charleston, SC 29420 Semiprivate with event facilities 843-767-9000 www.coosawcreek.com

Ralston Creek at Daniel Island Club 600 Island Park Drive Daniel Island, SC 29492 Private with event facilities 843-971-3555 www.danielislandclub.com

Cougar Point Golf Club, Kiawah Island Golf Resort 1 Sanctuary Beach Drive Kiawah Island, SC 29455 Public resort with event facilities 843-266-4020 kiawahresort.com

RiverTowne Country Club 1700 RiverTowne Country Club Drive Mount Pleasant, SC 29466 Semiprivate with event facilities 843-849-2400 www.rivertownecountryclub.com

Dunes West Golf & River Club 3535 Wando Plantation Way Mount Pleasant, SC 29466 Semiprivate with event facilities 843-856-9000 www.duneswestgolfclub.com The Links at Stono Ferry 4812 Stono Links Drive Hollywood, SC 29449 Semiprivate with event facilities 843-763-1817 www.charlestongolfweddings.com The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort 1000 Ocean Course Drive Kiawah Island, SC 29455 Public resort with event facilities 843-266-4670 kiawahresort.com Osprey Point at Kiawah Island Golf Resort 1 Sanctuary Beach Drive Kiawah Island, SC 29455 Resort with event facilities 843-266-4640 www.kiawahresort.com Patriots Point Links 1 Patriots Point Road Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 Public 843-881-0042 www.patriotspointlinks.com

Shadowmoss Plantation Golf Club 20 Dunvegan Drive Charleston, SC 29414 Semiprivate with event facilities 843-556-8251 www.shadowmossgolf.com Snee Farm Country Club 1200 Club Drive Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 Private with event facilities 843-884-8571 www.sneefarmcc.com Turtle Point at Kiawah Island Golf Resort 1 Turtle Point Drive Kiawah Island, SC 29455 Public resort with event facilities 843-266-4050 www.kiawahresort.com Wild Dunes Resort Harbor Course 5881 Palm Blvd.

Isle of Palms, SC 29451 Resort with event facilities 843-886-2004 www.wilddunes.com

Dorchester The Golf Club at Wescott Plantation 5000 Wescott Club Drive Summerville, SC 29485 Public with event facilities 843-871-2135 wescottgolf.com Legend Oaks Golf Club 118 Legend Oaks Way Summerville, SC 29485 Semiprivate with event facilities 843-821-4077 www.legendoaksgolf.com Pine Forest Country Club 1000 Congressional Blvd.

Summerville, SC 29483 Semiprivate 843-851-1193 www.pineforestcountryclub.com Summerville Country Club 400 Country Club Blvd.

Summerville, SC 29483 Semiprivat public 843-873-2210 www.summervillecountryclub.com Summerville Country Club, Miler Golf Course 400 Country Club Blvd.

Summerville, SC 29483 Semiprivate with event facilities 843-873-2210 www.summervillecountryclub.com

Wild Dunes Resort Links Course 1 Sundial Circle Isle of Palms, SC 29451 Resort with event facilities 843-886-2002 www.wilddunes.com

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Photo/Poe’s Tavern

Nothing caps off a day on Sullivan’s Island like a burger from Poe’s Tavern.

» DINING OUT C harleston loves to eat well.

The view is beautiful, the things to do are fun, the beach beckons – but soon after you get here (maybe even before), you’ll find yourself hungry.

And luckily, there’s a world of good food to choose from.

The signature dish of Charleston may be shrimp and grits. It’s so popular that most every restaurant has its own version, sometimes in a tomato sauce, other times in a cream sauce. The shrimp will be fresh from the sea and the grits ground in a nearby mill. It makes a filling meal that marries the two flavors perfectly.

If grits aren’t on your menu of likes, then you might like to try Lowcountry boil.

This hefty stew generally includes shrimp, sausage, corn and potatoes, but once again, everybody has their own version. Some

78

| DINING OUT

recipes include oysters, fish or mussels, depending on the season. In any event, when the concoction is turned out hot and steaming onto a sideboard, you’ll find your mouth watering.

Speaking of oysters, there’s no better season of the year than oyster season – late fall through March – in our opinion.

The plump bivalves roasted outside are the food of the gods. There’s just enough work involved to get them out of the shell.

Immediately, you feel a connection to the sea.

Seafood not your favorite? Then head out for barbecue. South Carolinians lay claim to originating mustard-based sauce, but many places offer a variety including vinegar-based and tomato-laden. The slowsmoked meat is the most important factor anyway.

If your passion is fried chicken, then you’re in luck. Southern home cooking restaurants and even pickup places pride themselves on the tastiness of their chicken.

And you’ll want to pair it with fresh biscuits and sweet tea.

Charleston is home to dozens of topnotch restaurants. Eating out or meeting friends for drinks is treated with reverence here. Whenever there’s a contest for the best city for food, Charleston is in the running.

If you’re feeling like something more casual, we’ve got that too. There’s no shortage of bar and grill, coffee shop and drive-in eateries.

And you won’t have to look far for food-related events. The Charleston Wine and Food Festival and the Lowcountry Oyster Festival are just two of many.

•

Photo/Edmunds Oast

Photo/Leigh-Ann Beverley

The kitchen at Edmund’s Oast opens right into the dining room. They also have 48 taps of craft beers, including some that are brewed on premises.

Photo/Ryan Johnson,City of North Charleston

The Forage Board at Harold's Cabin.

Mellow Mushroom in North Charleston.

Photo/Liz Segrist/Charleston Regional Business Journal

Photo/Chrys Rynearson

People head to EVO Pizza in North Charleston for their award-winning pizza.

Carrie Morey sold her biscuits online for nine years before opening Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit on Upper King Street.

DINING OUT |

79

» PLACES TO STAY

C

harleston is a top travel destination – and that means plenty of places to stay the night when you’re visiting. You’ll find rooms available at historic inns and bed and breakfasts, beachfront resorts and everything in between. Wake to the sound of the ocean or the sight of yachts in the harbor.

The Charleston area has the perfect accommodations for you and your family, whatever your needs.

And should you want to plan your wedding in Charleston, as hundreds of people do every year, there’s a whole list of possible venues awaiting you.

They are also available for family reunions, meetings

or conferences.

In these pages, we give you a comprehensive list of hotels in the area, starting with those with the largest number of rooms.

You’ll also find a list of the area’s alternative and outdoor venues for events.

For more lists subscribe to:

Hotels

www.CharlestonBusiness.com

Properties in the Charleston Area, Ranked by No. of Guest Rooms Property

Phone / Website Email

General Manager/ Year Founded

# of Rooms # of Meeting Rooms Corporate Rate Hotel Amenities

Sales Manager

Kiawah Island Golf Resort 1 Sanctuary Beach Drive Kiawah Island SC 29455

843-768-2121 www.kiawahresort.com reservations@kiawahresort.com

Terry Treuting, Brendon Bashford, Bill Lacey, Missy Wurthmann 1976

Belmond Charleston Place 205 Meeting St. Charleston SC 29401

800-455-2427 CharlestonPlaceMeetings.com info.cph@belmond.com

Paul Stracey 1986

434 36 $395

North Charleston Marriott 4770 Goer Drive North Charleston SC 29406

843-747-1900 www.marriott.com/chsmn mhrs.chsmn.sales@marriott.com

Patrick Rogers 1983

291 14 $139

The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort 1 Sanctuary Beach Drive Kiawah Island SC 29455

843-768-6000 www.kiawahresort.com reservations@kiawahresort.com

255 15 $383

Francis Marion Hotel 387 King St. Charleston SC 29403

843-722-0600 www.francismarioncharleston.com info@thefrancismarion.com

Brendon Bashford, Bill Lacey 2004 Gayle Karolczyk 1924

Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina 20 Patriots Point Road Mount Pleasant SC 29464

843-856-0028 www.charlestonharborresort.com sales@charlestonharborresort.com

Nick Saltmarsh 1999

217 9 $149

The Mills House Wyndham Grand Hotel 115 Meeting St. Charleston SC 29401 DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Suites Charleston, SC - Historic District 181 Church St. Charleston SC 29401 Hyatt Place Charleston - Historic 560 King St. Charleston SC 29403 Courtyard Charleston Waterfront 35 Lockwood Drive Charleston SC 29401 Hampton Inn Charleston - Historic District 345 Meeting St. Charleston SC 29403 The Dewberry Hotel 334 Meeting St. Charleston SC 29403 Holiday Inn Express Charleston Downtown Ashley River 250 Spring St. Charleston SC 29403 Hilton Garden Inn Charleston Waterfront 45 Lockwood Drive Charleston SC 29401 Aloft Charleston Airport & Convention Center 4875 Tanger Outlet Blvd.

North Charleston SC 29418

843-577-2400 www.millshouse.com info@millshouse.com

Brad Baer 1853

216 10 $200

Free Wi-Fi, on-site restaurant, pool, 24-hour room service, airport shuttle, fitness center, spa, business center On-site restaurant, pool, 24-hour room service, airport shuttle, fitness center, business center Free Wi-Fi, on-site restaurant, pool, 24-hour room service, airport shuttle, fitness center, spa, business center Free Wi-Fi, on-site restaurant, fitness center, spa, business center Free Wi-Fi, on-site restaurant, pool, 24-hour room service, fitness center, spa, business center Free Wi-Fi, on-site restaurant, pool, fitness center, business center

843-577-2644 www.doubletree3.hilton.com CHSCS_DT_Guest@hilton.com

Reggie A. Edwards 1998

212 10 $0

Free Wi-Fi, fitness center, business center

843-414-4900 www.hyattplacecharlestonhistoricdistrict.com 843-722-7229 www.marriott.com/chscy chscy@jhmhotels.com 843-723-4000 www.charlestonhistoricdistrict.hamptoninn.com chshd_hampton@hilton.com 843-558-8000 thedewberrycharleston.com sales@dewberryhotels.com

Kelsey Stoffel, Lauren Smith 2015

Scott Dawson 2016

191 3 $379 179 2 $144 170 1 $170 155 3 $299

Free Wi-Fi, pool, fitness center, free breakfast, business center Free Wi-Fi, on-site restaurant, pool, fitness center, business center Free Wi-Fi, pool, fitness center, free breakfast, business center Free Wi-Fi, on-site restaurant, 24-hour room service, fitness center, spa

843-722-4000 www.charlestonhiexpress.com gm@charlestonhiexpress.com

Matthew Cunningham 2013

153 1 $169

Free Wi-Fi, pool, fitness center, free breakfast, business center

843-637-4074 www.charlestonwaterfrontdowntown.hgi.com chsdw-salesadm@hilton.com 843-566-7300 www.alofthotels.com/charleston sales@aloftcharlestonairport.com

Charles Reed 2014

141 3 $279 136 1 $139

Free Wi-Fi, on-site restaurant, pool, fitness center, business center Free Wi-Fi, on-site restaurant, pool, airport shuttle, fitness center, business center

Mark Thomas 1997 Kevin Eichman 1992

James Bynum 2008

Because of space constraints, only the top-ranked companies are printed. For a full list of participating companies, visit http://www.scbiznews.com/buy-business-lists. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to lists@scbiznews.com.

80

| PLACES TO STAY

1,500 20 $295

235 14 $169

Free Wi-Fi, on-site restaurant, pool, 24-hour room service, airport shuttle, fitness center, spa, free breakfast, business center

Marty Couch

Charlie Wellman

Alan Strozier

Marty Couch

Tressa Wright

Shannon Hall Hartman

Joseph Kramer

Angela Muschek

Rachel L. Frost Christine Greenleaf Connie Hess, Tanya Reagor Tanya Matthews

Lindsey Lambrakos

Mamie Bush Amy H. Houchins

Researched by Business Journal staff

Hotels

For more lists subscribe to:

Properties in the Charleston Area, Ranked by No. of Guest Rooms Property

Phone / Website Email

General Manager/ Year Founded

Hilton Garden Inn Charleston/Mt. Pleasant 300 Wingo Way Mount Pleasant SC 29464

843-606-4600 www.charlestonmtpleasant.hgi.com Jennifer.maxwell@hilton.com

Jennifer Colangelo 2015

Tides Folly Beach 1 Center St. Folly Beach SC 29439

843-588-6464 www.tidesfollybeach.com -

Courtyard by Marriott Mount Pleasant 1251 Woodland Ave. Mount Pleasant SC 29464 Town & Country Inn and Suites 2008 Savannah Highway Charleston SC 29407

www.CharlestonBusiness.com

# of Rooms # of Meeting Rooms Corporate Rate

Hotel Amenities

Sales Manager

133 7 $149

Free Wi-Fi, on-site restaurant, pool, fitness center, business center

Jennifer Maxwell

Matt Zengerle 1985

132 5 $189

Free Wi-Fi, on-site restaurant, pool, fitness center

Hope Johnston

843-284-0900 www.marriott.com/chscm juliana.shores@marriott.com

Cheryl M. Craven 2007

130 5 $159

Free Wi-Fi, on-site restaurant, pool, fitness center, business center

Ashley Miller

843-571-1000 www.thetownandcountryinn.com sales@thetownandcountryinn.com

Stephen P. Clarke 1984

129 6 $105

Free Wi-Fi, on-site restaurant, pool, fitness center

Stephen P. Clarke, Erin T. England

843-735-5000 www.charlestonairport.homewoodsuites.com chshm_ds@hilton.com

Christopher Wernham 2008

128 4 $175

Free Wi-Fi, pool, airport shuttle, fitness center, free breakfast, business center, in-room kitchen

Jenna Joseph

843-744-4202 Dawalt www.charlestonairportconventioncenter.home2suites.com Linda 2011 chscc_ds@hilton.com

122 0 $149

Free Wi-Fi, pool, airport shuttle, fitness center, free breakfast, business center, in-room kitchen

Tom Brinkerhoff

843-352-5100 www.wyndhamgardenmtpleasant.com jparsons@wyndhamgardenmtpleasant.com

Tommy Loeber 2014

120 3 $119

Free Wi-Fi, on-site restaurant, pool, fitness center, business center

Judy M. Parsons

843-375-2600 www.hiemountpleasant.com mlytton@charlestownehotels.com

James Poole 2009

116 1 $99

Free Wi-Fi, pool, fitness center, free breakfast, business center

Marianne McNeeley, Meredith Lytton

843-735-7500 www.hamptoninn3.hilton.com -

Anthony Smith 2007

115 2 $109

Free Wi-Fi, pool, fitness center, free breakfast, business center

Rachel Hassell

Hyatt House Charleston - Historic District 560 King St. Charleston SC 29403

843-207-2299 www.hyatthousecharlestonhistoricdistrict.com rachel.frost@hyatt.com

Lauren Smith, Kelsey Stoffel 2015

113 5 $239

Free Wi-Fi, pool, fitness center, free breakfast, business center, in-room kitchen

Rachel Frost

Suburban Extended Stay Hotel 7582 Stafford Road North Charleston SC 29406

843-414-6800 -

Elnora Gathers 2008

112 0 $79

Free Wi-Fi, pool, fitness center, business center, inroom kitchen

CJ Westerman

Quality Inn & Suites at Patriots Point 196 Patriots Point Road Mount Pleasant SC 29464

843-856-8817 www.choicehotels.com qisales@hgmhotels.com

Stephen Haws 1999

103 2 $100

Free Wi-Fi, pool, fitness center, free breakfast, business center

Peggy Foltz

843-553-1600 www.hiexpress.com/chastni-26 gm@hiexpressnorthwoods.com

Cheryl Q. Clark 1999

98 1 $109

Free Wi-Fi, pool, fitness center, free breakfast, business center

Tara McConnell

843-553-4444 www.charlestonwingate.com ANikay@charlestonwingate.com

Ron Jaicks 2008

97 1 $99

Free Wi-Fi, pool, fitness center, free breakfast, business center

Alyssa Ruiz , Alyssa Nikay

843-723-7451 www.kingcharlesinn.com reservations@kingcharlesinn.com

Maureen Sheridan 1960

91 $200

Free Wi-Fi, on-site restaurant, pool, fitness center, business center

Ray Berrouet

Residence Inn by Marriott Mount Pleasant 843-881-1599 www.marriott.com/chsmp 1116 Isle of Palms Connector juliana.shores@marriott.com Mount Pleasant SC 29464

Melissa Zimmerman 2002

90 1 $179

Free Wi-Fi, pool, fitness center, free breakfast, business center, in-room kitchen

Ashley B Miller

Best Western Charleston Inn 1540 Savannah Highway Charleston SC 29407

843-571-6100 www.thecharlestoninn.com brichards@charlestownehotels.com

Bill Richards 1982

87 $99

Free Wi-Fi, pool, free breakfast, business center

Bill Richards

The Vendue 19 Vendue Range Charleston SC 29401

843-577-7970 www.TheVendue.com -

Pietro Giardini 2014

84 1 $289

Free Wi-Fi, on-site restaurant

Mirka Siewicki

Homewood Suites by Hilton Charleston Convention Center/Airport 5048 International Blvd.

North Charleston SC 29418 Home2 Suites by Hilton, Charleston Convention Center 3401 West Montague Ave. North Charleston SC 29418 Wyndham Garden Charleston Mount Pleasant 1330 Stuart Engals Blvd.

Mount Pleasant SC 29464 Holiday Inn Express & Suites Mount Pleasant 350 Johnnie Dodds Blvd.

Mount Pleasant SC 29464 Hampton Inn & Suites North Charleston University Boulevard 2688 Fernwood Drive North Charleston SC 29406

Holiday Inn Express & Suites CharlestonAshley Phosphate 7670 Northwoods Blvd.

North Charleston SC 29406 Wingate by Wyndham at Charleston Southern University 9280 University Blvd.

North Charleston SC 29406 King Charles Inn 237 Meeting St. Charleston SC 29401

Because of space constraints, only the top-ranked companies are printed. For a full list of participating companies, visit http://www.scbiznews.com/buy-business-lists. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to lists@scbiznews.com.

Researched by Business Journal staff

PLACES TO STAY |

81

Hotels

For more lists subscribe to:

Properties in the Charleston Area, Ranked by No. of Guest Rooms

www.CharlestonBusiness.com

General Manager/ Year Founded

# of Rooms # of Meeting Rooms Corporate Rate

Hotel Amenities

Sales Manager

Free Wi-Fi, pool, free breakfast, business center

Rachel Elliott

Property

Phone / Website Email

North Charleston Inn 2934 W. Montague Ave. North Charleston SC 29418

843-744-8281 www.northcharlestoninn.com sales@northcharlestoninn.com

Rachel Elliott 1973

80 2 $64

Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Charleston 2455 Savannah Highway Charleston SC 29414

843-225-4411 Paul Multani www.hawthorn.com charlestonhawthornsuites@gmail.com 2006

77 1 $79

Free Wi-Fi, pool, fitness center, free breakfast, business center, in-room kitchen

Charmae Othman

Sleep Inn Charleston 1524 Savannah Highway Charleston SC 29407

843-556-6959 www.sleepinn.com/hotel/sc212 brichards@charlestownehotels.com

74 0 $99

Free Wi-Fi, pool, free breakfast, business center

Bill Richards

Best Western Patriots Point 259 McGrath Darby Blvd.

Mount Pleasant SC 29464

843-971-7070 Tiffany A. Bell www.bestwestern.com mtpleasantbestwestern@earthlink.net 2004

70 $120

Free Wi-Fi, pool, airport shuttle, free breakfast, business center

-

The Palms Hotel 1126 Ocean Blvd.

Isle of Palms SC 29451

843-886-3003 www.thepalmshotel.us info@thepalmshotel.us

Matthew Cunningham 2000

68 0 $149

Free Wi-Fi, pool, free breakfast, business center

-

The Restoration 75 Wentworth St. Charleston SC 29401

843-518-5100 www.therestorationhotel.com frontdesk@therestorationhotel.com

Mike Scavo 2010

55 14 $199

Free Wi-Fi, on-site restaurant, pool, fitness center, spa, free breakfast, business center, inroom kitchen

Karen Winn

The Inn at Middleton Place 4290 Ashley River Road Charleston SC 29414

843-556-0500 www.theinnatmiddletonplace.com -

Abigail Martin 1987

54 3 $139

Free Wi-Fi, on-site restaurant, pool, free breakfast

Abigail Martin

HarbourView Inn 2 Vendue Range Charleston SC 29401

843-853-8439 www.harbourviewcharleston.com gm@harbourviewcharleston.com

Chris Harvey 1998

52 1 $209

Free Wi-Fi, free breakfast, business center

Jessica Bowman

Shem Creek Inn 1401 Shrimp Boat Lane Mount Pleasant SC 29464

843-881-1000 www.shemcreekinn.com info@shemcreekinn.com

James Poole 1986

51 $159

Free Wi-Fi, on-site restaurant, pool, free breakfast

-

French Quarter Inn 166 Church St. Charleston SC 29401

843-722-1900 www.fqicharleston.com frontdesk@fqicharleston.com

Brent Gresham 2002

50 2 $199

Free Wi-Fi, free breakfast, business center

Jessica Bowman

Grand Bohemian Hotel 55 Wentworth St. Charleston SC 29401

843-722-5711 www.grandbohemiancharleston.com -

Olivier Bottois 2015

50 1 $275

Free Wi-Fi, on-site restaurant, fitness center

Jeannie Green

Fulton Lane Inn 202 King St. Charleston SC 29401

843-720-2600 www.fultonlaneinn.com -

Lisa Anderson 1994

45 1 $139

Free Wi-Fi, free breakfast

Jennifer Huber, Linn Lesesne

Kings Courtyard Inn 198 King St. Charleston SC 29401

843-723-7000 www.kingscourtyardinn.com kci-concierge@charminginns.com

Lisa Anderson 1980

41 1 $139

Free Wi-Fi, free breakfast

Jennifer Huber, Linn Lesesne

Spectator Hotel 67 State St. Charleston SC 29401

843-724-4326 www.thespectatorhotel.com info@thespectatorhotel.com

Brent Gresham 2015

41 2 $219

Free Wi-Fi, free breakfast, business center

Jessica Bowman

Wentworth Mansion 149 Wentworth St. Charleston SC 29401

843-853-1886 www.wentworthmansion.com wm-concierge@charminginns.com

Noreen Marchant 1998

21 2 $289

Free Wi-Fi, on-site restaurant, spa, free breakfast, business center

Linn Lesesne, Jennifer Huber

Woodlands Mansion 125 Parsons Road Summerville SC 29483

843-875-2600 www.woodlandsmansion.com stay@woodlandsmansion.com

Tom Limehouse 2012

18 3 $325

Free Wi-Fi, pool, free breakfast, business center

Becky Harper

Zero George St. 0 George St. Charleston SC 29401

843-817-7900 www.zerogeorge.com contact@zerogeorge.com

Dean Andrews 2012

18 1 $299

Free Wi-Fi, on-site restaurant, free breakfast

-

21 East Battery Bed & Breakfast 21 East Battery Bed & Breakfast Charleston SC 29401

843-556-0500 www.21eastbattery.com info@21eastbattery.com

Abigal M. Martin 1825

3 3 $199

Free Wi-Fi, free breakfast, inroom kitchen

Abigail Martin

Bill Richards 2000

Because of space constraints, only the top-ranked companies are printed. For a full list of participating companies, visit http://www.scbiznews.com/buy-business-lists. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to lists@scbiznews.com.

82

| PLACES TO STAY

Researched by Business Journal staff

Alternative & Outdoor Event Venues Ranked by Maximum Capacity

For more lists subscribe to:

www.CharlestonBusiness.com

Venue

Phone / Website Email

Top Local Official(s)/ Year Founded

Max. Capacity / Outdoor / Reception Description

Exchange Park 9850 U.S. Highway 78 Ladson, SC 29456

843-572-3161 www.exchangepark.org denise@exchangepark.org

Michael Carney, Denise Carner 1979

50,000 50,000

Venue buildings, open land with pond, 70 acres of indoor and outdoor event space and 100 acres of parking space

MUSC Health Stadium B 1990 Daniel Island Drive Charleston, SC 29492 North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center 5001 Coliseum Drive North Charleston, SC 29418

843-971-4625 www.charlestonbattery.com info@charlestonbattery.com

Andrew Bell 1999

14,000 5,100 -

Home of the Charleston Battery, 1,400 parking spaces plus overflow available

843-529-5000 Mariah Nasrollahi, www.northcharlestoncoliseumpac.com Frank Lapsley mnasrollahi@northcharlestoncoliseumpac.com 1993

14,000 2,000 7,600

A premier destination for live entertainment and sports with the coliseum providing a 13,000 seat capacity, the performing arts center with a 2,300 seat proscenium theater and the convention center offering a 77,000 square foot exhibit hall

Hyde Park Farm & Polo Club 6763 Davis Rd. Ravenel, SC 29470

704-609-6866 www.hydeparkpoloclub.com info@hydeparkpoloclub.com

Amy Vann Flowers 2009

8,000 8,000 350

Unlimited parking, 400 acres, 17 miles to downtown Charleston, open air pavilion with fireplace, beautiful barn with brick floors, bridal suite

Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park 360 Fishburne St. Charleston, SC 29403

843-723-7241 www.riverdogs.com melissa@riverdogs.com

Melissa Azevedo 1997

6,000 5,000 1,000

Outdoor picnic areas available as well as the stadium's sky suites

McAlister Field House 171 Moultrie St. Charleston, SC 29409

843-953-2665 www.citadel.edu/events ocm@citadel.edu

Allison Bringardner 1939

6,000 0 6,000

McAlister Field House is a 6,000-seat multipurpose facility and home to The Citadel's basketball, volleyball and wrestling teams

Charleston Maritime Center 10 Wharfside St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-853-3625 www.cmcevents.com atchisonb@charleston-sc.gov

Alysia Olshinski, Atchison Bob 1997

4,000 1,500 450

Downtown waterfront event and conference venue with space available for indoor and outdoor receptions and ceremonies; free parking available

Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum 40 Patriots Point Road Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-881-5989 www.patriotspoint.org info@patriotspoint.org

Mac Burdette, Bobby Kotlowski, Chris Hauff 1975

3,500 3,500 1,500

With unmatched views of the harbor and Charleston city skyline, the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier is the most unique venue; we offer competitive pricing and more than 20 venues for groups of 15 to 3,500 on board the ship and landside

Middleton Place 4300 Ashley River Road Charleston, SC 29414

843-556-6020 www.middletonplace.org info@middletonplace.org

Charles H. Duell, M. Tracey Todd 1741

2,000 2,000 2,000

18th-century plantation, America's oldest landscaped gardens, house museum and plantation stableyards with indoor and outdoor reception sites

Because of space constraints, only the top-ranked companies are printed. For a full list of participating companies, visit http://www.scbiznews.com/buy-business-lists. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to lists@scbiznews.com.

B Formerly Blackbaud Stadium

Researched by Business Journal staff

PLACES TO STAY |

83

Alternative & Outdoor Event Venues Ranked by Maximum Capacity

For more lists subscribe to:

www.CharlestonBusiness.com

Venue

Phone / Website Email

Top Local Official(s)/ Year Founded

Max. Capacity / Outdoor / Reception Description

Charleston Gaillard Center 95 Calhoun St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-724-5212 www.gaillardcenter.com bookings@gaillardcenter.com

Kevin T. Carlon 2015

1,800 -

The 1,800-seat Martha and John M. Rivers’ Performance Hall creates an inviting setting where artist and audience come together and connect; state-of-the-art ballrooms and meeting rooms are also available

Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina 20 Patriots Point Road Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-856-0028 www.charlestonharborresort.com sales@charlestonharborresort.com

Oliver Rooskens 1999

1,500 2,500 1,500

We offer a variety of venues including 6,500 private beach front with tiki bar and 4,500 sq ft pavilion, in addition to our 9 traditional meeting spaces including our largest indoor event space, the Yacht Club, which features panoramic views of the Charleston Harbor and downtown skyline.

Scottish Rite Center 1051 Sam Rittenberg Blvd.

Charleston, SC 29407

843-779-7533 www.ksacharleston.org reservations@ksacharleston.org

J. Wallace 1801

1,500 2,000 800

Auditorium: 500+ plush seats, stage/presentation floor, tiled dance floor, full audio/video control booth; banquet hall and prep kitchen: tables and chairs included, raised stage lectern/audio, kitchen/prep area included

Memminger Auditorium 56 Beaufain St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-724-1196 www.memmingerauditorium.com info@memmingerauditorium.com

Spoleto Festival 2008

1,000 250 600

Multiuse space available year-round featuring 2,500 square feet of storage space, catering setup and backstage needs; banquet room-style partition wall available and six dressing rooms

South Carolina Aquarium 100 Aquarium Wharf Charleston, SC 29401

843-579-8656 www.scaquarium.org nsoroka@scaquarium.org

Kevin Mills, Nicole Soroka 1992

800 200 500

Guests can mix and mingle with over 5,000 resident animals in 60 exhibits.

Candlelite Pavilion at Summerville Country Club 400 Country Club Blvd.

Summerville, SC 29483

843-873-2210 www.summervillecountryclub.com sblanton@knology.net

Bufort Blanton 2009

800 800 500

Outdoor covered pavilion with extended deck, prep kitchen, lighting, portable bars, wireless PA system, dance floor, tables, chairs; outdoor patio extension suitable for oyster roasts, fundraisers; 40'x40' tent also available for patio

Summerville Country Club, Miler Golf 843-873-2210 Course www.summervillecountryclub.com 400 Country Club Blvd. sblanton@knology.net Summerville, SC 29483

Bo Blanton Jr. 1925

800 800 500

Covered outdoor pavilion with pull-down curtains if needed; large outdoor patio suitable for oyster roasts and weddings with 40' x 40' tent available; tables and chairs on site

The Golf Club at Wescott Plantation 5000 Wescott Club Drive Summerville, SC 29485

843-871-2135 wescottgolf.com susannave@wescottgolfclub.com

Susan Nave, Lindsey Monroe, Perry Green 2000

600 500 500

Antebellum-style clubhouse with wraparound porch, hardwood floors, twin fireplaces and vaulted ceilings; 6,000-square-foot tented patio for weddings and outdoor events

The Grand Pavilion 1 Sundial Circle Isle of Palms, SC 29451

888-845-8880 Jody Harris www.wilddunesmeetings.com wilddunesreservations@destinationhotels.com 1972

600 800

Ocean-front space in the heart of Wild Dunes Resort with sweeping views of the Atlantic; ideal for casual corporate gatherings, cocktail parties, dinners or receptions

Lowndes Grove Plantation 266 St. Margaret St. Charleston, SC 29403

843-853-1810 www.pphgcharleston.com hello@pphgcharleston.com

Jennifer Goldman 2007

600 600

Downtown Charleston's last great waterfront estate boasts panoramic sunset views of the Ashley River; 1786-era architecture and period furnishings; expansive piazza; grand lawn framed by century-old live oaks and private river dock

Wild Dunes Resort 1 Sundial Circle Isle of Palms, SC 29451

888-845-8880 www.wilddunesmeetings.com wilddunesmeetings@destinationhotels.com

Jeff Payne 1972

600 500 600

From the Grand Pavilion overlooking the ocean to the Sweetgrass Pavilion Conference Center, Wild Dunes offers a wide variety of impressive space for your next event.

Beresford Creek course at Daniel Island Club 600 Island Park Drive Daniel Island, SC 29492

843-971-3555 www.danielislandclub.com diinfo@danielislandclub.com

Greg Keating 1999

500 500

Nationally ranked Tom Fazio layout available on a limited basis for member-sponsored charity and corporate events when course is closed for member play (Tuesdays)

Daniel Island Club 600 Island Park Drive Daniel Island, SC 29492

843-971-3555 www.danielislandclub.com info@danielislandclub.com

Greg Keating 1999

500 500

Private country club featuring two championship golf courses; 7,100 square foot ballroom, dividable; private board room; outdoor venues; full-service catering options. Popular for weddings, corporate events and fundraising events

Harborside East 28 Bridgeside Blvd.

Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-606-2718 www.harborsideeast.com chelsea@harborsideeast.com

Chelsea Banias 2006

500 500 500

One of Charleston’s premier venues located minutes from downtown at Patriot’s Point, Harborside East offers a spacious interior reception space and a stunning waterfront patio with breathtaking view of the Ravenel Bridge and downtown Charleston

Laurel Hill County Park 1400 N. Hwy 41 Mount Pleasant, SC 29466

843-795-4386 ccprc.com/2005/Laurel-Hill-County-Park customerservice@ccprc.com

Tom O'Rourke 2015

500 500 -

Features an oak allee, large open meadows, and gorgeous backdrops; Laurel Hill can handle very large groups up to 500 people, but is still intimate enough for a small private function

Magnolia Plantation & Gardens 3550 Ashley River Road Charleston, SC 29414

843-571-1266 www.magnoliaplantation.com office@magnoliaplantation.com

Leanza Kauffman, Tom Johnson, Mary Ann Johnson 1676

500 500 500

Features three scenic locations for weddings and corporate events; America's oldest public garden and 19th century Romantic style garden

Because of space constraints, only the top-ranked companies are printed. For a full list of participating companies, visit http://www.scbiznews.com/buy-business-lists. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to lists@scbiznews.com.

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| PLACES TO STAY

Researched by Business Journal staff

Photo/Julia Lynn Photography

Streamers fill the air during the final moments of the 40th season Celebration Concert for the Spoleto Festival at the Gaillard Center in Charleston.

» ARTS ABOUND The depth and breadth of Charleston’s arts scene may surprise you. From established galleries and historic theaters to funky festivals and improv comedy, the Holy City and surrounding areas have much to offer. The following is just a small selection of what’s available to satisfy your artistic cravings.

Visual arts Charleston Renaissance Gallery fineartsouth.com Focusing on fine art of the American South, the Charleston Renaissance Gallery has offerings ranging from 18th century portraits and engravings to contemporary paintings and sculpture. 103 Church St., Charleston; 843-723-0025

Charleston Gallery Association www.charlestongalleryassociation.com The Charleston Gallery Association is made up of more than 40 galleries showcasing local, regional and national artists’ work.

The association holds art walks four times a year, on the first Friday of March, May, October and December.

City Gallery at Waterfront Park citygalleryatwaterfrontpark.com The City Gallery presents several exhibits each year focusing on contemporary visual arts created by local, regional, national and international artists. 34 Prioleau St., Charleston; 843-958-6484.

ARTS ABOUND |

85

Photos/Ryan Johnson,City of North Charleston

Gallery Chuma www.gallerychuma.com Specializing in the works of the Gullah people of coastal South Carolina, Gallery Chuma features Gullah art, books, crafts, storytelling, tours and food.

188 Meeting St., #N1, Charleston; 843-722-1702.

Gibbes Museum of Art www.gibbesmuseum.org As Charleston’s only visual arts museum, the Gibbes also offers educational programs, group tours and art discovery walking tours. The museum recently completed extensive renovations.

135 Meeting St., Charleston; 843-722-2706.

Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art halsey.cofc.edu Administered by the School of the Arts at the College of Charleston, the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art was created to advocate, exhibit and interpret visual art, with an emphasis on contemporary art.

161 Calhoun St., Charleston; 843-953-4422.

North Charleston City Gallery www.northcharleston.org/arts and culture tab Located in the commons area at the Charleston Area Convention Center, the North Charleston City Gallery features exhibits that are rotated on a monthly basis.

5001 Coliseum Drive, North Charleston; 843-740-5854.

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Piccolo Spoleto www.piccolospoleto.com Piccolo Spoleto was created in 1979 to coincide with the international Spoleto Festival USA and primarily features artists from the Southeast. Held at a variety of locations in downtown Charleston. 843-724-7305.

Spoleto Festival USA https://spoletousa.org/ Held each spring since 1977, this 17-day festival features visual art exhibits and more than 120 performances from opera to jazz music. 843-579-3100.

Photo/Ryan Wilcox/Charleston Regional Business Journal

MOJA Arts Festival www.mojafestival.com Started in 1984, the annual MOJA Arts Festival is a celebration of African American and Caribbean arts and features music, visual art, storytelling, performances, crafts, children’s activities and more.

843-724-7305.

Sculpture artists from across the nation applied to the 11th annual National Outdoor Sculpture Competition and Exhibition, a component of the 2016 North Charleston Arts Festival. Presented by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, this unique, 12-month exhibition offers established and emerging artists the opportunity to display their thought-provoking, extraordinary sculptures.

Hometown favorite Shovels and Rope play a concert at the Charleston Music Hall.

Performing arts The Actors’ Theatre of South Carolina www.actorstheatreofsc.org Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Charleston, the Actors’ Theatre has members who travel the state presenting a full season of performances as well as acting classes and a film division. 843-588-9636.

American Theater www.pphgcharleston.com/venues/ the-american-theater The American Theater opened in 1942 as one of Charleston’s premier movie houses.

It closed in 1977 but was revitalized and reopened in 2005 as a state-of-the-art meeting

and conference facility. It also hosts a variety of performances, including Spoleto activities. 446 King St., Charleston; 843-853-1810.

Charleston Music Hall www.charlestonmusichall.com Said to offer some of the best acoustics in Charleston, the Charleston Music Hall welcomes a variety of performers throughout the year from bluegrass to blues.

37 John St., Charleston; 843-853-2252.

Footlight Players Theatre www.footlightplayers.net Since 1931, the Footlight Players Theatre has presented a variety of stage productions and has become known as one of the top community theaters in the South. A typical season includes six performances.

20 Queen St., Charleston; 843-722-4487.

Charleston Stage www.charlestonstage.com Charleston Stage, which calls the renovated Dock Street Theatre home, was founded in 1978 and is the state’s largest professional theater company. 843-577-5967.

The Gaillard Center www.gaillardcenter.com Recently renovated and reopened, the $142 million Gaillard Center is a world-class performing venue. It hosts a multitude of events and performances from Charleston Symphony Orchestra concerts to rock-‘n’roll. 95 Calhoun St., Charleston; 843-242-3099.

Charleston Symphony Orchestra charlestonsymphony.org Founded in 1936, the Charleston Symphony Orchestra is known for its Masterworks and Pops series. The CSO also offers holiday performances and family concerts throughout the year. CSO makes its home at the newly renovated performance hall at the Gaillard Center. 843-723-7528.

The Have Nots! Comedy Improv theatre99.com Theatre 99 has developed into a company of about 50 individuals, who along with visiting artists create affordable improv, sketch and stand-up offerings three nights a week. Local shows are held at Theatre 99, the group’s own theater. 280 Meeting St., Charleston; 843-853-6687.

Dock Street Theatre https://www.charlestonstage.com/dockstreet-theatre.html The historic Dock Street Theatre reopened after undergoing a three-year, $20 million renovation. It originally opened in 1736 and was the first building in America built specifically for theatrical productions. It is a performance venue for Spoleto Festival USA and home of Charleston Stage.

135 Church St., Charleston; 843-577-7183.

Memminger Auditorium memmingerauditorium.com Built in the 1930s as an auditorium for Memminger High School, the building had stood vacant since the 1960s and was severely damaged by Hurricane Hugo in 1989.

Spoleto Festival USA played a large part in the building’s recent $6 million renovation and the facility reopened in 2008. Now used for a variety of performances and also available for rental for events.

56 Beaufain St., Charleston; 843-724-1196.

Flowertown Players www.flowertownplayers.org This community theater presents a range of productions from musicals to serious dramas as well as performances and classes for children. 133 S. Main St., Summerville; 843-875-9251.

North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center www.northcharlestoncoliseumpac.com The North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center have hosted events

as varied as hockey games and Broadway shows throughout the year. The coliseum seats 13,000-plus for concert performances.

The Performing Arts Center seats 2,300.

5001 Coliseum Drive, North Charleston; 843-529-5000.

PURE Theatre puretheatre.org PURE Theatre has gained respect as a small professional theater focusing on the works of contemporary playwrights.

477 King St., Charleston; 843-723-4444.

Sottile Theatre sottile.cofc.edu The Sottile Theatre opened in 1927 as the Gloria Theater and hosted the premiere of Gone With the Wind in 1939. It’s now the home of various events, including Charleston Comedy Festival performances.

44 George St., Charleston; 843-953-6340.

South of Broadway Theatre Co. southofbroadway.com The South of Broadway Theatre Company produces a season of seven shows plus PlayFest, showcasing local playwrights and actors. The theater also offers classes and Summer Theatre Camp.

1080 E. Montague Ave., North Charleston; 843-745-0317.

Woolfe Street Playhouse Woolfestreetplayhouse.com The 200-seat Woolfe Street Playhouse is home to the Village Repertory Co., which brings bold productions of new and established works. The company moved into a century-old meatpacking warehouse in the former industrial center of the Charleston peninsula. 34 Woolfe St., Charleston; 843-856-1579.

•

For more about arts events in the area, visit charlestonarts.org.

ARTS ABOUND |

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Photo/Charleston County Parks

Edwin S. Taylor Folly Beach Fishing Pier

Âť ATTRACTIONS AND TOURS Aiken-Rhett House Museum 48 Elizabeth St. Charleston, SC 29403 843-723-1159 www.historiccharleston.org/aiken-rhett Admission: $12 Intact mansion and associated outbuildings demonstrating urban life in antebellum Charleston.

Audubon Center & Sanctuary at Francis Beidler Forest 336 Sanctuary Rd. Harleyville, SC 29448 843-462-2150 sc.audubon.org Admission: $10 1.7-mile boardwalk, canoe trips and night walks in authentic, old-growth swamp.

Boone Hall Plantation 1235 Long Point Rd. Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 843-884-4371 www.boonehallplantation.com Admission: $20 One of America’s oldest working, living plantations. Presents over 300 years of history, beauty and grace.

Angel Oak Park 3688 Angel Oak Road Johns Island, SC 29455 843-559-3496 www.angeloaktree.com Admission: free 65-foot-high live oak tree provides 17,000 square feet of shade; estimated by some to be more than 1,500 years old.

Berkeley County Museum & Heritage Center 950 Stony Landing Road Moncks Corner, SC 29461 843-899-5101 scberkmuseum.org Admission: free with park admission Exhibits displaying Lowcountry culture and natural history; located in Old Santee Canal Park.

Calhoun Mansion 14-16 Meeting St. Charleston, SC 29401 843-722-8205 www.calhounmansion.net Admission: $16 The largest privately owned Guilded Age house museum on the Charleston peninsula.

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| ATTRACTIONS AND TOURS

Carolina Ice Palace 7665 Northwoods Blvd.

North Charleston, SC 29406 843-572-2717 www.carolinaicepalace.com Admission: $6-$10 Two National Hockey League-size ice skating rinks, sports lounge, meeting rooms, pro shop, birthday party rooms, catering, figure skating and hockey.

Caw Caw Interpretive Center 5200 Savannah Highway Ravenel, SC 29470 843-889-8898 www.ccprc.com Admission: $2 654-acre site with intact rice fields, interpretive trails, exhibit center and wildlife.

Charles Pinckney National Historic Site 1254 Long Point Road Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 843-881-5516 www.nps.gov/chpi Admission: free Country estate of Charles Pinckney; Constitution history, archaeology, African-American history.

Charleston Fun Park 3255 U.S. Highway 17 N. Mount Pleasant, SC 29466 843-971-1223 www.charlestonfunpark.com Admission: $1-$100 Mini golf, go-karts, climbing wall, virtual reality coaster, bumper cars, mini bowling and arcade. Birthday parties and group events too.

Charleston Museum 360 Meeting St. Charleston, SC 29403 843-722-2996 www.charlestonmuseum.org Admission: $12 America’s first museum, showcasing a variety of cultural and natural history artifacts relating to the South Carolina Lowcountry.

Charleston Stage at the Historic Dock Street Theatre 135 Church St. Charleston, SC 29401 843-577-7183 www.charlestonstage.com Admission: varies South Carolina’s largest professional theatre company, produces a full season of plays, musicals and theatre for youth programs.

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| ATTRACTIONS AND TOURS

Photo/Charleston County Parks

Center for Birds of Prey 4719 U.S. Highway 17 N. Awendaw, SC 29429 843-971-7474 www.thecenterforbirdsofprey.org Admission: $15 See nearly 50 species of birds of prey from around the world including eagles, hawks, falcons and owls; guided tours and flight demonstrations.

Dock Street Theatre 135 Church St. Charleston, SC 29401 843-720-3968 www.charleston-sc.gov Admission: varies Site of America’s first theater, houses the state’s largest professional acting company and is the centerpiece of Spoleto Festival USA.

Caw Caw Nature & History Interpretive Center.

Charleston Tea Plantation 6617 Maybank Highway Wadmalaw Island, SC 29487 843-559-0383 www.charlestonteaplantation.com Admission: Factory tour free; trolley ride $10 Tea plantation with informational tours of the on-site factory and trolley rides designed to educate the public on the growing and processing of tea.

Charleston Zipline Adventures 1152 Guerins Bridge Road Awendaw, SC 29429 843-928-3947 www.charlestonziplineadventures.com Admission: $79 Zip Line Canopy Tour - A two-hour adventure zipping through the trees, swinging bridges and a grand finale extreme zip at 750 feet. Kids Zip. Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site 1500 Old Towne Road Charleston, SC 29407 843-852-4200 www.charlestownelanding.travel Admission: $10 Birthplace of the Carolinas. Charleston’s largest natural habitat zoo, costumed interpretation, 17th-century trading ship, picnic areas and bike rentals.

Deep Water Vineyard & Winery 6775 Bears Bluff Road Wadmalaw Island, SC 29487 843-559-6867 www.deepwatervineyard.com Admission: $5 tastings Winery tour and tasting area.

Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry 25 Ann St. Charleston, SC 29403 843-853-8962 exploreCML.org Admission: $10 The museum offers learning adventures for children, birth to 10 years, and their families.

Coastal Carolina Fair 9850 U.S. Highway 78 Ladson, SC 29456 843-572-3161 www.coastalcarolinafair.org Admission: $10 Annual fair that opens for 11 nights, starting last Thursday in October. The Exchange Club of Charleston donates all proceeds to local charities.

Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site 300 State Park Road Summerville, SC 29485 843-873-1740 www.southcarolinaparks.com/ colonialdorchester Admission: $2; $1.25 for S.C. seniors Archaeological park on the site of Dorchester, an inland trading town on the Ashley River that flourished from 1697 through the Revolutionary War.

Drayton Hall Preservation Trust 3380 Ashley River Road Charleston, SC 29414 843-769-2600 www.draytonhall.org Admission: $22 Founded in 1738, an icon of Colonial America and the nation’s oldest preserved plantation house open to the public with 1790s African-American cemetery.

Edisto Island Serpentarium 1374 S.C. Highway 174 Edisto Island, SC 29438 843-869-1171 www.edistoserpentarium.com Admission: $14.95 Reptile zoo and gift shop.

Edmondston-Alston House 21 E. Battery Charleston, SC 29401 843-722-7171 Edmondstonalston.com Admission: $12 Daily tours, private tours available as well as reception and dinner space.

Fort Moultrie 1214 Middle St. Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482 843-883-3123 www.nps.gov/fosu Admission: $3 History of American seacoast defense from 1776-1947; visitor center with museum exhibits, film and bookstore.

Photo/Coleman Photography

Fort Sumter Tours 360 Concord St., Suite 201 Charleston, SC 29401 843-722-2628 www.fortsumtertours.com Admission: $21 Daily tours departing from Liberty Square in Charleston and Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant.

Friends of the Hunley 1250 Supply St. North Charleston, SC 29405 843-743-4865 www.hunley.org Admission: $16 See the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley undergoing restoration at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center.

Magnolia Plantation & Gardens 3550 Ashley River Road Charleston, SC 29414 843-571-1266 www.magnoliaplantation.com Admission: $15 Pre-Revolutionary War plantation house with early American antiques, biblical garden, antebellum cabin, train tour, nature boat tour and slave cabin tour.

Gibbes Museum of Art 135 Meeting St. Charleston, SC 29401 843-722-2706 www.gibbesmuseum.org Admission: $15 Houses one of the foremost collections of American art from the 18th century to the present, in addition to six to eight special exhibitions annually.

Heyward-Washington House 87 Church St. Charleston, SC 29401 843-722-2996 www.charlestonmuseum.org Admission: $12 Charleston’s Revolutionary War house; Townhome of Thomas Heyward Jr., signer of the Declaration of Independence; rented by George Washington in 1791.

Hopsewee Plantation 494 Hopsewee Road Georgetown, SC 29440 843-546-7891 www.hopsewee.com Admission: $20 Original rice plantation attic-to-cellar tour; birthplace of Thomas Lynch Jr., Declaration of Independence signer and member of Continental Congress.

Karpeles Manuscript Museum Library 68 Spring St. Charleston, SC 29403 843-853-4651 www.rain.org/~karpeles/chasfrm.html Admission: free Displays historical manuscripts on a wide variety of cultural, scientific, social, intellectual, economic and historical subjects.

Mepkin Abbey 1098 Mepkin Abbey Road Moncks Corner, SC 29461 843-761-8509 www.mepkinabbey.org Admission: $5 Gardens are open to the public

The climbing wall at James Island County Park.

James Island County Park Challenge Course 871 Riverland Drive Charleston, SC 29412 843-762-2172 www.charlestoncountyparks.com/ challengecourse Admission: $20-$80 High and low ropes course for teambuilding; customized programs for all ages and abilities.

James Island County Park Climbing Wall 871 Riverland Drive Charleston, SC 29412 843-795-4386 www.charlestoncountyparks.com/wall Admission: $12-$14 50-foot climbing wall and 1,000-squarefoot bouldering wall for supervised climbing.

James Island County Park Splash Zone 871 Riverland Drive James Island, SC 29412 843-795-7275 www.splashparks.com Admission: $11.99 Two 200-foot slides, lazy river, Caribbean play structure, concessions, kiddie pool, lockers, lifeguards, vending.

Joseph Manigault House 350 Meeting St. Charleston, SC 29403 843-723-2926 www.charlestonmuseum.org Admission: $12 An exceptional example of Federal period architecture with a remarkable collection of early 19th-century furnishings.

Middleton Place 4300 Ashley River Road Charleston, SC 29414 843-556-6020 www.middletonplace.org Admission: $28 A National Historic Landmark and home to America’s oldest landscaped gardens.

Learn about the rice barons of South Carolina and enslaved people here.

Nathaniel Russell House 51 Meeting St. Charleston, SC 29401 843-723-1623 www.historiccharleston.org Admission: $12 200-year-old Federal townhouse with elaborate plasterwork, fine furnishings and a magnificent free-flying staircase.

North Charleston Fire Museum and Education Center 4975 Centre Pointe Drive North Charleston, SC 29418 843-740-5550 northcharlestonfiremuseuem.org Admission: $6 ATTRACTIONS AND TOURS |

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Photo/Charleston County Parks

Guest of all ages will love the museum’s interactive exhibits, hands-on equipment, play area with functioning fire pole and theater experience.

Old Exchange Building and Provost Dungeon 122 East Bay St. Charleston, SC 29401 843-727-2165 www.oldexchange.org Admission: $10 Revolutionary War museum completed in 1771, featuring historical artifacts from Charleston’s Colonial, Revolutionary and Civil War periods.

Palmetto Islands County Park 444 Needlerush Parkway Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 843-406-6950 www.charlestoncountyparks.com/picp Admission: $2 943-acre nature-based park with playgrounds, trails, boating, biking, shelters, water park, special events.

Palmetto Islands County Park Splash Island 444 Needlerush Parkway Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 843-884-0832 www.splashparks.com Admission: $7.99 200-foot slide, Cyclone swirling water ride, 16-foot otter slide, kiddie pool, sprays, waterfalls, geysers, vending.

Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum 40 Patriots Point Road Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 843-881-5989 www.patriotspoint.org Admission: $22 Patriots Point is home to the USS Yorktown, USS Laffey, the interactive Vietnam Experience Exhibit and the Medal of Honor Museum.

Sewee Visitor & Environmental Education Center 5821 U.S. Highway 17 N. Awendaw, SC 29429 843-928-3368 www.fws.gov/seweecenter Admission: free Center features tourist information on recreational opportunities available in

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| ATTRACTIONS AND TOURS

Mullet Hall Equestrian Center. the Francis Marion National Forest Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge.

SK8 Charleston 1549 Oceanic St. Charleston, SC 29403 843-795-4386 http://ccprc.com/1725/SK8-CharlestonSkate-Park Admission: $3 SK8 Charleston is handicappedaccessible and has a raised building with a large viewing deck overlooking all the action along with a skate shop.

Sky Zone Charleston 411 Wando Park Blvd.

Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 843-588-5777 www.skyzone.com/charleston Admission: $10 for 30 minutes 15,000 square feet of wall-to-wall trampolines.

South Carolina Aquarium 100 Aquarium Wharf Charleston, SC 29401 843-579-8656 www.scaquarium.org Admission: $24.95 Discover more than 5,000 animals. Enjoy interactive dive shows and explore the Zucker family sea turtle recovery.

SpiritLine Cruises and Events 360 Concord St., Suite 201 Charleston, SC 29401 843-722-2628 www.spiritlinecruises.com Admission: $57.95 Fleet is available for private charters and dinner cruises.

The Alley 131 Columbus St. Charleston, SC 29403 843-818-4080 www.thealleycharleston.com Admission: $12-$25 Full service restaurant & bar, event space, eight lanes of bowling, arcade games, outdoor space The Reel Deal Charters LLC 1 Seafood Drive Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 843-388-5093 www.thereeldealcharters.com Admission: $300 Year-round inshore and offshore, deep sea and big game saltwater fishing.

Licenses, bait and tackle included Wescott Park 9006 Dorchester Road North Charleston, SC 29420 843-767-0782 www.northcharleston.org Admission: varies by event

Enclosed shelter, open shelters, playgrounds, adult fitness area, ball fields, batting cages, Ripken training area, dog parks Whirlin’ Waters Adventure Waterpark 8888 University Blvd.

North Charleston, SC 29406 843-572-7275 www.splashparks.com Admission: $19.99 27,000-square-foot wave pool, lazy river, treehouse play structure, kiddie pool area, seven-story multislide complex, racer slides, birthday parties.

Wild Blue Ropes 1595 Highland Ave. Charleston, SC 29412 843-225-1555 wildblueropes.com Admission: $45 Aerial adventure park experience with high climbing ropes and challenge course.

Yorktown Ghost Tours 40 Patriots Point Road Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 843-277-0587 www.yorktownghosttours.com Admission: $25 Explore the sacrifice, heroism and mystery of the USS Yorktown, including the devastating history and documented strange activity.

Photo/Greater Charleston Restaurant Association

The Lowcounty Oyster Festival is the world’s largest and takes place in January at Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant.

» CALENDAR OF EVENTS Charleston is a busy city – there’s always a race, festival or tour of homes going on. If it’s January, there must be oysters; if it’s spring, there must be a race over the bridge. You can count on it. Here are some of the main events that shape our year.

JANUARY Happy New Year, Charleston This is a time to celebrate as only the Lowcountry knows how. There will be crowds everywhere as Charlestonians and visitors welcome the New Year at venues all over the area. Folly Beach and Sullivan’s Island both have popular “polar bear” plunge events on New Year’s Day and hundreds of people run from the beach into the freezing ocean water to celebrate the new year.

Lowcountry Oyster Festival www.charlestonrestaurantassociation. com Each January, two tractor trailer loads of oysters – more than 65,000 pounds – are brought in for the annual Lowcountry Oyster Festival at Boone Hall Plantation.

Contests, live music and other activities are scheduled throughout the day, including an oyster shucking contest, oyster eating contest and a contest among local chefs for the best oyster recipe.

FEBRUARY Southeastern Wildlife Exposition sewe.com Known for its world-class original art, diverse exhibits and animal demonstrations, the annual Southeastern Wildlife Exposition brings 120 artists and more than 350 exhibitors to venues throughout Charleston for a long weekend. Conservation exhibits, birds of prey and retriever demonstrations, and Dock Dogs are among the highlights.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS |

93

Photo/Paul Mulkey/Southeastern Wildlife Exposition

Center for Birds of Prey flight demonstrations at the annual Southeastern Wildlife Exposition.

Charleston Wine and Food Festival charlestonwineandfood.com Starting in late February and continuing into early March, this festival celebrates the culinary history and culture of the Lowcountry. Foodies can enjoy dozens of events during the four-day event. Marion Square is the center of the action.

MARCH Charleston Fashion Week charlestonfashionweek.com This week showcases emerging designers and modeling talent under the tents on Marion Square. More than 30 runway shows are featured. The latest trends from local designers and boutique owners are featured.

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| CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Charleston Antiques Show www.historiccharleston.org Each year in mid-March, collectors and enthusiasts are treated to an array of English, European and American antiques from dealers across the country. Visitors can learn through educational presentations and purchase furnishings, decorative and fine art, architectural elements, garden furniture, vintage jewelry and silver. Held at Charleston Gaillard Center, 95 Calhoun St. Spring Festival of Houses and Gardens www.historiccharleston.org Starting in late March, this monthlong event opens some of Charleston’s finest historic gardens and houses for touring. Let the Historic Charleston Foundation be your guide for one of the tours that give a rare chance for a glimpse inside private homes.

APRIL World Grits Festival worldgritsfestival.com Who could resist a festival that’s all about grits? This family oriented festival in St. George celebrates all forms of coarsely ground hominy and crowns a winner in the official Grits Rolling Contest.

Summerville Flowertown Festival www.flowertownfestival.com The three-day event showcases the beautiful blooming azaleas, wisteria and dogwood in Summerville, a northern suburb of Charleston. The festival brings a host of artisans, food vendors, children’s activities and musical performances. It is organized by the Summerville Family YMCA.

Photo/Ryan Wilcox/Charleston Regional Business Journal

Fourth of July fireworks shot from Patriots Point are one of many displays that can be enjoyed around the Lowcountry.

Cooper River Bridge Run bridgerun.com Start in Mount Pleasant and run across the Cooper River on the expansive Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. You’ll wind up in downtown Charleston. Held in late March or early April each year, the event features a popular world-class 10K run as well as a walk.

Volvo Car Open www.volvocaropen.com In 2015, the week-long Charleston women's professional tennis tournament became the Volvo Car Open. Home to the tournament is the Family Circle Tennis Center, built through a partnership between the city of Charleston and Family Circle magazine.

The tournament is held at the Daniel Island center each April. Watch the stars play, then come back to attend concerts and events held throughout the year.

Piccolo Spoleto USA www.piccolospoleto.com This festival, running concurrently with Spoleto Festival USA, focuses primarily on artists from the Southeast, offering theater, music, visual arts, dance, ethnic culture presentations, comedy, crafts and film. It takes place at a variety of locations around Charleston.

JULY Fourth of July www.patriotspoint.org Fireworks launched from the flight deck of an aircraft carrier at Patriots Point and a shoreside party with beach music make Independence Day in Charleston fun. Communities all over the area have their own celebrations. Sit on the beach and watch fireworks all around.

SEPTEMBER

Spoleto Festival USA spoletousa.org Each year since 1977, dozens of music, dance and theater performances as well as visual arts exhibits have come to the Charleston area for Spoleto USA. The 17day festival begins in late May and continues into June. It fills Charleston’s historic theaters, churches and outdoor spaces with more than 120 performances

MOJA Arts Festival www.mojafestival.com In late September through early October, the MOJA Arts Festival celebrates African American and Caribbean arts. Featured are music, visual arts, storytelling, performances, crafts and children’s activities at various locations.

Fall Tour of Homes and Gardens www.preservationsociety.org Charleston’s historic homes and gardens welcome visitors on a rotating basis, starting in late September through most of October. Over five weeks, you can experience history close up while helping the Preservation Society raise funds.

NOVEMBER & DECEMBER Holiday Festival of Lights www.ccprc.com Experience the spirit of the holidays with millions of sparkling lights at James Island County Park. The display opens the second week of November and continues through New Year’s. There are more than 600 light displays, many reflected in the park’s waterways.

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Photo/Charleston Cou nty Parks

MAY & JUNE

OCTOBER

CALENDAR OF EVENTS |

95

17

26

78

17A

Berkeley County

78

Dorchester County

Summerville

Goose Creek

17A

17A 52

61

17

165

Hanahan

33 41

North Charleston

17 7

642

Daniel Island

26

526

Mt. Pleasant

517

17

Ravenel

West Ashley

17

162

Isle of Palms

Charleston 30

Charleston County

699

703

Sullivan's Island

James Island

Atlantic Ocean

164 700

Johns Island

171

Meggett Folly Beach Kiawah Island

174

Seabrook Island

» NEWCOMER INFORMATION TELEPHONE AT&T 800-331-0500 www.att.com Home Telecom 843-761-9101 www.homesc.com WOW! 843-225-1000 www.wowway.com

CABLE

ELECTRICITY AND NATURAL GAS Berkeley Electric Cooperative 843-761-8200 www.becsc.com Edisto Electric Cooperative 800-433-3292 www.edistoelectric.com Santee Cooper 843-761-8000 www.santeecooper.com

Comcast 800-266-2278 www.comcast.com

South Carolina Electric & Gas 800-251-7234 www.sceg.com

WOW! 843-225-1000 www.wowway.com

GARBAGE

Spectrum (formerly Time Warner) Cable 866-892-7201 www.spectrum.com

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City of Charleston 843-724-7364 www.charleston-sc.gov City of Goose Creek 843-824-2200 www.cityofgoosecreek.com

| NEWCOMER INFORMATION

City of Hanahan 843-529-3413 www.cityofhanahan.com

Town of Summerville 843-619-0800 www.summervillesc.gov

City of Isle of Palms 843-886-6148 www.iopwsc.com

City of Isle of Palms 843-886-8956 www.iop.net

WATER AND SEWER

James Island Public Service District 843-795-9060 www.jipsd.org

James Island Public Service District 843-795-9060 www.jipsd.org Town of Moncks Corner 843-719-7900 www.monckscornersc.gov Town of Mount Pleasant 843-884-8518 www.tompsc.com City of North Charleston 843-745-1026 www.northcharleston.org Town of Sullivan’s Island 843-883-3198 www.sullivansisland-sc.com

Berkeley County Water & Sanitation Authority 843-572-4400 www.bcwsa.com Charleston Water System 843-727-6800 www.charlestonwater.com Dorchester County Water and Sewer Dept.

843-563-0075, 843-832-0075 www.dorchestercounty.net City of Folly Beach 843-588-2447 www.cityoffollybeach.com City of Goose Creek 843-797-6220, ext. 1 www.cityofgoosecreek.com

Town of Moncks Corner 843-719-7900 www.monckscornersc.gov Johns Island 843-559-0186 St. Johns Water Co. Town of Sullivan’s Island 843-883-5733 www.sullivansisland-sc.com Summerville Commissioners of Public Works 843-871-0810 www.summervillecpw.com Mount Pleasant Waterworks 843-884-9626 www.mountpleasantwaterworks. com