The Holy City

We were up early to pack the most we could into our one full day in Charleston.  We decided to try to get lots of walking in, so walked an hour beforehand around the incredibly beautiful historic district and it's good we did, because when we arrived at the tour meeting place, the guide informed us that even though he told us he had room in the tour for four, between the time he told me that and the hour later that I got my credit card info to him via email, he had already sold the spots!  So John quickly found us a carriage tour, which turned out to be lovely.  We learned alot about the history of the city including its nickname, the Holy City.  Charleston has dozens of historic churches, many of which are the oldest in the south.  All the buildings in the historic district are limited to three stories to ensure the spires of the churches remain the most visible features of the skyline.

Debbie had been searching and searching for a dress to wear as mother of the groom in Kyle's upcoming wedding, so she and I went dress shopping downtown.  Charleston has some lovely formal wear shops.  We found her a few beautiful dresses to choose from and then we went art and antique shopping.  We liked the rooftop bar experience so much, we tried another one that evening at the Market Pavillion Hotel, which was unique enough that when we entered the deck area with its harlequin patterned stone floor and pretty pool, he realized it was at the hotel he had stayed at several years earlier as part of his Trip Across America excursion by car.  After drinks we headed to Magnolia's Restaurant which was so so so so delicious it is definitely in lead for best meal of the trip so far.