1. The Spectacular Sunsets
These aren’t your ordinary sunsets. The view of the sky from Battery Park is stunning. Oranges, reds, yellows, purples and blues color the sky like a painting as the sun goes down. You’ll spot plenty of onlookers taking in the view every day in Charleston.
2. Knowing Where To Get The Best She Crab Soup
It’s a signature Charleston dish and just about every lowcountry restaurant serves up their own version, and you better bet there are debates about who has the best bowl. Whether you get this creamy, silky seafood bisque at 82 Queen, Hank’s, Hominy Grill, or one of the many others restaurants around town, you won’t be disappointed.
3. Antique Wrought Iron Everything
One quick glance around Charleston and you’ll notice right away that the people are a little nuts for antique wrought ironwork. Home and businesses are accented with gates, doors, window gates, fences and other decorative ironwork. Even better when it’s crawling with flowering vines or…
4. Dripping Wisteria
Charlestonians love flowers in general, but they’re particularly in love with wisteria. It’s a good thing, since the scent (is it vanilla? honey? maybe spring?) will follow you throughout the city. It climbs the houses and drapes over the wrought iron fences, arbors and trellises. You might even say Charlestonians have “wisteria hysteria.” Hey-yo.
5. Inviting You To An Oyster Roast
If you get invited to an oyster roast in Charleston, do not miss it. This social tradition is truly a grand old time—and an invitation means you’re being let into someone’s inner circle. In contrast to the stereotypical Southern affair, oyster roasts aren’t fancy.
Dress comfortably, bring beer or Bloody Mary fixings, and if you really want to impress, your own oyster knife.
6. Lowcountry Living
City life isn’t for everyone. If you love rushing from one place to the next, be warned: This lowcountry city isn’t for you. Salty air, marsh soil, marsh grass, the sounds of katydids and frogs… it all creates a relaxed pace of life that Charlestonians refer to as ‘lowcountry living’.
7. Knowing They Look Better Than You
This city knows how to dress to impress. And no wonder - with the annual Charleston Fashion Week, they have their pick of the best emerging designers. Everyone has their own unique style in Charleston, but you can bet everyone is clean and classy with a touch of Southern charm.
8. The Romantic Cobblestone Streets
There might not be much cobblestone actually left in Charleston, but lanes and alleys like Chalmers Street bring a lot of charm to the city—and many Charlestonians are so nostalgic about it that they’ve added cobblestoned walkways and driveways to their homes.
9. Dining Outside...
Charlestonians adore to dine outdoors, and why not? The weather is perfect for it just about every day. They celebrate everything outdoors and in style, and the city has countless restaurants with outdoor dining as well. Nothing like a fancy meal outdoors on a hot night with a bunch of friends.
10. With Delicious Crafty Cocktails
While the rest of the world is craft beer crazy, Charlestonians still prefer a classic, expertly crafted cocktail. And the cocktails in Charleston are nothing less than pure, drinkable art.
If you want to know where to start, try the Moscow Mule at The Rarebit, made with homemade ginger beer and served in a copper cup. They serve more than 1,000 of the suckers a week.
11. Spicy Shrimp And Grits
There are people all over the south that love shrimp and grits, but Charlestonians get to love it more, because it is a traditional lowcountry food. Since Charleston is a foodie town, you better bet that they have shrimp and grits on nearly every menu in town.
If you want to get into a heated debate, ask where the best place to get shrimp and grits...Is it Hominy Grill, 82 Queen, Lowcountry Bistro, or Slightly North of Broad? 10 Charlestonians will give you 10 different answers.
12. Lounging Under Live Oaks
Live oaks define the landscape in Charleston and there’s not a Charlestonian that doesn’t love these magnificent trees. They provide poetic and historic scenery to Charleston. Their heavy branches dripping with Spanish moss are the perfect respite from the heat on a hot summer’s day, an ideal picnic spot, and nature’s best jungle gym.
13. All 17 Days Of The Spoleto Festival
Every Charlestonian looks forward to spring for the yearly Spoleto Festival USA. Charleston’s outdoor spaces, historic theaters and churches are taken over by world-renowned and emerging performing artists in dance, theater, opera, and classical and jazz music. For 17 days and nights every Charlestonian will be out on the prowl for the best music and art, from the old-fashion sophisticates to the urban, contemporary trendsetters to the indie crowd.
14. A Swanky Night Out At The Dock Street Theatre
The Dock Street Theater is a pretty beloved spot in Charleston, not only because it’s one of the most beautiful buildings and one of the last surviving hotels from the antebellum period, but because of the fabulous stage performances year round. Charlestonians flock to see more than 120 incredible performances each year.
15. Homemade Sweet Grass Baskets
You’ll find them in everyone’s homes and for sale everywhere, including roadside stands and markets. Most are handmade by the local Gullah community and are said to be so tight they can hold water—almost. I’m not guaranteeing that.
16. Second Sunday On King Street
The second Sunday of every month is everyone’s favorite Sunday. King Street is closed off to cars all afternoon and the locals come out in droves to shop, dine, peruse the art galleries, and mingle with their neighbors.
17. All Of The Perfect Beaches
Charlestonians are only a hop, skip and jump away from surfing, sunbathing and a day of relaxing at one of their many local beaches. Kiawah Island is perfect for a bit of romance, Folly Beach has a laid back, surfer environment, and Sullivan’s Island is where you go to avoid the surfer environment crowds on Folly.
18. The Trademark Heat And Humidity, Mostly
Okay, so maybe not everyone in Charleston loves the heat and humidity, but it’s a shame if they don’t. The weather in Charleston is warm year round with long, hot summers and short, mild winters. Which also means the favorite Charlestonian attire includes sunglasses, a hat for shade and some cool cotton that can breathe easily.
19. Living In A City Of Historic Architecture
Historic architecture is huge in Charleston and loved by one and all whether their own house falls into that realm or not. They love being surrounded by Georgian, Federal, Greek Revival, Italianate, and Queen Anne architecture for businesses, churches, government buildings, and homes.
20. Knowing They Have The Best Local Seafood Year Round
Yes, they love oyster roasts for every occasion and she crab soup is traditional staple, but Charlestonians love seafood, period, especially when it’s fresh off the boat like the fresh seafood at Crosby’s Fish and Shrimp Co. That is, when they don’t have time to just fish for it themselves, since Charlestonians also love...
21. Playing Out On The Water
Whether they’re kayaking, boating, paddle boarding, sailing, fishing, or just soaking up the sun, Charlestonians love the water. There’s plenty of sailing charters, yacht schools and water sports companies to keep Charlestonians busy year round.
Feature Image Source: FIG Charleston Facebook page 
