Florence South Carolina provided a perfect Midway point while we were traveling between Washington…read moreDC and our trip back home to Florida. While staying at the Hyatt Place, we were happy to visit Town Hall restaurant which is directly diagonal across the street. The restaurant is very attractive and modern - it appears that Florence is going through somewhat of a Renaissance, and they are developing around some very nice hotels and restaurants, complemented by a small town feel. At this restaurant, there is apparently a rooftop bar/patio, we enjoyed the dining room instead. Our server, Lara quickly approached and offered drinks and some menu suggestions. We wanted to sample many things, so we ordered a number of appetizers rather than going with entrees. Some that I would highly recommend include the cornbread, the seared scallops, and the grilled chicken wings. We also enjoyed some shrimp skewers which were good / not great, and some calamari which is prepared very differently than we're accustomed to - if you do get the calamari, ask first about the preparation. This is a moderately priced restaurant, for us it was about $50 per person, you can certainly get reasonably priced entrees for less, and it may be quite a bit more for people who may be drinking. Since there is a full bar, it appeared that many tables were coming as much for the drinks as they were for the food. If you happen to be in the Florence, SC area, this is certainly a great choice with a beautiful dining area, wonderful service, great food, and a walkable and safe downtown area.

The ambiance was nice. The restaurant has a semi formal set up was perfect for the occasion. They…read moreaccommodated a party of 15 with relatively short notice. Pricey, for subpar food. The duck was extremely salty!! I mean tasted like they don't measure and had a bad taster. It was terrible. The calamari was the tiniest and saltiest appetizer I've ever seen for $15, The catfish had a bed of extra spicy, salty rice again with the salt. The collard greens were both too salty and too sweet. Cucumber salad had an unpleasant taste. The shrimp skewers, steak, burger, truffle fries, mashed potatoes and cornbread with guava butter and were seasoned well. I ordered the $49 filet mignon and my receipt showed a $54 charge, with not 1 side. The waitress dropped the birthday cake off and kept going. I asked if they would sing happy birthday she said no and walked off, extremely cold. They made us sort the $1027 bill out among 18 people, awful experience. Almost all of the group's food needed to go back bc of the salt overload, except the burgers, shrimp and steak. Definitely won't be returning.

Kiawah Island really doesn't have much of a town. A convenience store next to the guard check-in…read morestation and a small well laid out shopping area that's really cute with some good restaurants, fun shops and a pretty decent grocery store. There are lots of condos & beach houses, many of them regularly rented. Several golf courses & communities dot the island and The Sanctuary is a nice high end hotel & spa located on the island. As mentioned, you must have either a resident or renters pass to access the island or you can get a short term pass for a specific destination from the guards at the entrance. Since access is so controlled, everything feels very safe here. The rental bikes aren't even locked up, which actually boggled my mind when I first saw it. That level of safety & comfort is pretty awesome. The beaches here are spectacular! The beach at low tide is about 100 yards deep and so flat and perfectly packed down that you can ride bikes on the beach. Amazing! The nearest city is Charleston, SC and it's about a 45 minute ride away from Kiawah. That's honestly Kiawah's biggest shortcoming - it's pretty remote from actual civilization. It's darned pretty when you get there, though.

Bathrooms on both sides of the building! This was where we waited for the Kiawah Half Marathon to…read morestart and it was awesome to be inside instead of freezing outside.

The building that stands at 80 Broad St. now was built between 1800 and 1804 to serve as a bank…read more However, the bank failed and by 1818 it had become City Hall. It is a fascinating building and one that most people probably do not think to set foot in for something other than City business. It's really worth the visit. The most famous piece of art is a painting by John Trumbull of George Washington during his visit to Charleston in 1791 -- and, very significantly, Washington's horse. Incidentally, City Hall is part of what Robert Ripley (Yes, folks same Ripley's Believe it or Not! fame) called the "Four Corners of the Law." The four buildings on each corner of Market and Broad represent four different arms of the law- 1. City Hall (local), 2. The Charleston County Courthouse (state), 3. The U.S. Post Office and Federal Courthouse (Federal), and 4. St. Michael's Episcopal Church (ecclesiastical). Admission is free and restroom too ;)

Charleston City Hall is the oldest, continuously used city hall building in the United States. It…read morewas built in 1801 originally as a branch of the National Bank of the United States. It is architecturally beautiful and is open to the public for limited tours of the City Council Chambers which includes beautiful, historic artwork on the walls. There are also very nice public bathrooms on the ground level including a water fountain. Adjacent to the building is Washington Park, a historic centuries old park commemorating President George Washington's visit to Charleston in 1791. Behind City Hall is the South Carolina Historical Society Museum which is absolutely also worth a visit if you are into historic buildings and artifacts.

This is definitely a very funny little town the town of James Island is been battling with the city…read moreof Charleston for a long time as the city of Charleston tries to annex all of the physical James Island which they've done about half of it so it's almost like the town of James Island is fighting a losing battle but they do try and you try to do some nice things I can only give them three stars because they really just haven't got the job done yet and I don't really see how they're going to do it and there's no real city center of James Island really call it A town unless they build one which maybe will happen will see

I'm only a huge fan on JI, cause it's where I'm from. JI ain't the same as when I first left it…read more It's overcrowded, way too expensive, and just too much going on now. When I was there, it was maybe around 10,000 people at the most. It was slower and people were much nicer. It's sad to see the place you grew up in, change for the worst like that. I wish I could give it a 5, but with the way it is now, it's lucky to get a 3. Sorry, it does really hurt me more than it hurts you.

Just over the Cooper River Bridge from Charleston is the Town of Mt. Pleasant. It's not merely a…read more"suburb" of Charleston- Mt. Pleasant is a thriving community. The roads here are excellent, with synced traffic lights and an access/frontage road that helps with traffic along Hwy 17. Mt. Pleasant has a dedicated Farmer's Market space and holds markets every Tuesday. If you're looking for something to do on Friday nights, there are often concerts and "Party in the Park" events. Happy Hour on Shem Creek or at one of the many restaurants is a great way to spend time, especially at restaurants on the water. Besides that you're super close to two beautiful beaches- Isle of Palms and Sullivan's Island. Charleston's only one bridge away, and if you're into the more rural and rustic scene, you're not TOO far from the Francis Marion Forest. Growing up somewhat close to the area, I've seen Mt. Pleasant thrive in the last 20-25 years. I remember when Towne Center was built in the late 1990s and people wondered who would ever drive that far north to go to the mall. I also remember the "old" Wando high school. A lot has changed over the years, but MTP is a booming place to be!

I moved to MP just over a year ago. We looked all over the Charleston area and settled on MP based…read moreon drive time to work and proximity of shopping we were used to. I truly enjoy the fact that I don't have to spend 45 minutes to an hour driving to work. Parks throughout Charleston and MP leave allot to be desired and considering the amount of taxes we pay doesn't make sense. Street lighting is another failure by the city. The Waste Management department in MP is subpar. What I enjoy about MP is the shopping. MP has the shops I was used to in my previous city and has allot of upscale grocery stores spread throughout the city. The food scene has definitely improved since just year and will be even better in the coming years

Sullivan Island is a fun place to watch the 4 of July fireworks. Standing right in front of the…read moreCity of Sullivans Island town hall with the fireworks right over our heads. Very quaint little town, I would love to live here. Next year we are coming back with chairs and a cooler with water.

I love Sullivan's Island! If I go to the beach, I come here - it's definitely not as touristy as…read moresome of the others around Charleston. We would love to live here and may one day in the future. It's a quiet, quaint town and absolutely beautiful! My husband and I were married at the beach on Sullivan's island - that's how much we love it here.

Visited: February 16, 2026…read more The Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon was the perfect blend of history and hustle. From the moment you step onto the grounds, you feel the weight of Charleston's past. Inside, the immersion begins immediately -- postcards, patches, and meaningful souvenirs that make it easy to bring a little history home for friends and family. The highlight, though, was the tour. Our guide was a jolly local with razor-sharp, dry Southern wit -- the kind of storyteller who can pivot from Revolutionary War imprisonment to a perfectly timed sarcastic aside without missing a beat. Equal parts charm and "bless your heart," she made centuries-old history feel present and personal. Down in the Provost Dungeon, those brick walls carry gravity. British occupation. Prisoners of war. Pirates passing through. It's one of those rare spaces where you instinctively lower your voice. You don't just learn history -- you feel it. History hit different here. If you appreciate immersive storytelling, preserved architecture, and a tour that balances education with personality, this is absolutely worth your time.

Fact: Provost Dungeon is older than our country!…read more The British originally owned it and used it as a commercial exchange and customs house. Also used as a post office, prison, and city hall, it is currently a museum. In addition, in 1788 South Carolina approved the US Constitution here. Yet another testament to the rich history of Charleston, Old Exchange, and Provost Dungeon a fascinating places to visit. Built in 1771, it has changed roles countless times: it was a British dungeon during the American Revolution, an elegant hall during George Washington's 1791 visit to Charleston, and a meeting place for the ratification of the Constitution, In 1780 the British occupied Charleston for two years and housed many prisoners in one large cell in this basement making it a provost, or dungeon. Because of the awful conditions here, disease was rampant due to crowding, and no bathroom facilities. Under these conditions, many people died while in prison here. This prison held all types of people, including American and British soldiers, private citizens, and slaves. The first and second floor of the building is home to a museum dedicated to the other uses of the Exchange Building. Fee: Admission to this historic building is only $12 for adults. For a small fee, a guided tour through the lower level and you can learn a lot from the guide.

Nice beach to walk. Free pier to walk. The pier has nice chairs to sit in and relax and eat. Plenty…read moreof fishing spot in the Pier as well.

Folly Beach is the laid back community town at the "Edge of America!" City offices are all located…read moreon Centre Street amidst the bars, restaurants, and shops. There's a Fire Station around the corner too. This city has something for everyone. There's a pier for fishing, beach for sunning, ocean for swimming. There's a County Park at the West End, and the lighthouse at the East End. There's a nice boat landing on the Folly River just as you come onto the island. Beautiful sunset views. Watch the sun rise behind the lighthouse. Watch the posted rules at each overpass. No dogs from 10 am - 6 pm most of the year and they must be on leashes at other times. No glass or alcohol allowed. Don't walk on the sand dunes because you will destroy the precious sea oats. It's a rule with a purpose. We want future generations to enjoy what we have today. Also, pack it in, pack it out. Do not litter! When parking, make sure all tires are off the road. You also need to park in the direction of the traffic flow. There are still some free parking spots on side streets, but there is a convenience with parking and paying the station. Unfortunately, the pay stations are kind of spread out and not always easy to coordinate. You must guess how long you will be there and pay accordingly. There are pay lots on the first few blocks off of Centre, but prices vary based on the time of year.