Founded in 1670, “Charles Towne,” as it was originally named in honor of King Charles II, quickly became a city known for its wealth, plantations, and import and export industry. Cotton was a major commodity, and the steady stream of slaves coming into port from Africa provided the plantation owners with enough manpower to work thousands of acres. Imports included exotic goods from far-off countries, which actually attracted some of the earliest “tourists” to Charleston. This port city had access to products that couldn’t be found anywhere else in the colonies.

Some of the first visitors to recognize the riches of this colonial city were pirates. Even the famed Blackbeard came to Charleston and held the entire city and its harbor hostage until his demand for a trunk of medicine was met. Another famous pirate came to Charleston as a young girl. She soon found the pirate’s life much more fitting to her strong personality than living on her father’s plantation. That young girl was Anne Bonney. After meeting her soon-to-be husband who dabbled in piracy, she allegedly burned down her family’s home and took to the high seas. When she was finally caught, she used her gender to her advantage, claiming she was with child to avoid being executed with the rest of her crew.

The wealth of the area allowed Charleston residents to indulge in luxuries that others couldn’t. In 1736, the first theater in the country was established here. While the original building is believed to have burned down in 1740 and a hotel was built in its place, the theater was re-established at the site in the 1930s and still exists today as the Dock Street Theatre. After a $19 million renovation in 2010, it is now home to the Spoleto Festival and over 120 other performances a year.

Another first for the city was the Charleston Museum. Founded in 1773, the Charleston Museum is believed to be the earliest American museum. Although much of it was destroyed by fire in 1778, and operations had to be suspended for both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, the museum persevered and is now accredited by the American Association of Museums.

According to its website, the Charleston Museum’s mission is “To document and explain the natural and cultural history of Charleston and the South Carolina coastal region through the maintenance, improvement and expansion of collections documenting the natural forms and material culture of this region.”

As evidenced by the Dock Street Theater and the Charleston Museum, the people of Charleston have always been committed to preserving the history of their city. One woman who played a large part in this was Susan Pringle Frost. Born to an affluent family in 1873, Frost enjoyed the luxurious side of Charleston until her father’s businesses fell apart. She became a stenographer, working first for an architect, then for the U.S. District Court. She turned her attention and her finances to saving homes from the 1700s that were falling into disrepair and became Charleston’s first female realtor. Dwelling Houses, now known as the Charleston Preservation Society. Eleven years later, this group established the first protected historic district in the nation.

Don’t be fooled by Charleston’s commitment to preserving history. It is not a city that only looks back. Today, Charleston is a modern municipality with a population of about 110,000. Called “the culinary capital of the South” by Southern Living magazine, the city is known for its cuisine, including the bountiful fresh seafood available, and for its commitment to using local ingredients. The James Beard Best Chef Award, the most coveted honor among U.S. chefs, was been awarded to Charleston chefs three years in a row. HUSK, a farm-to-table restaurant featuring exclusively Southern foods, was named the Best New Restaurant in America by Bon Appetit in 2011.

The theater scene has grown immensely since the founding of the Dock Street Theatre in 1736, earning Charleston the honor of being one of the top 10 cities for theater in recent years. Music of all types also thrives in this city. The Charleston Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1936 by Miss Maude Winthrop Gibbon and Mrs. Martha Laurens Patterson, has been recognized as a “metropolitan” symphony by the League of American Orchestras since the 1970s. These classically trained musicians now provide concerts throughout the community and educational programs for schools in addition to their regular concert series. If classical music is not your style, you can chill out to the cool jazz sounds of the 30-piece Charleston Jazz Orchestra at Charleston Music Hall, or venture out and find anything from blues to indie rock to reggae.

Between the history and culture of the area, and access to the water, parks, and year-round events no one should ever run out of things to do in Charleston.

Walking tours are abundant in Charleston and cover a wide range of interests, from the history, food and architecture of the city to its rumored supernatural sightings and ghostly residents. If you prefer not to walk, tours by bus and boat are also available. You can go further and see more of Charleston in a shorter amount of time by taking a bus tour. Or for a unique view of the city - from the water - you can do a sightseeing cruise. Other cruise options include a blues and BBQ cruise and a boat trip to see the Morris Island Lighthouse.

For the animal lovers in your family, the South Carolina Aquarium offers over 5,000 fish, mammals, reptiles, and birds. You can look at all of the animals in the exhibits, and even touch some of them, like bonnet sharks and manta rays. If you prefer to see animals in their natural habitat, Coastal Expeditions offers kayaking that puts you in the water with dolphins and other sea animals, and Audubon Swamp Garden has 60 acres teeming with wildlife, including birds, turtles, and of course, alligators.

Brewery fans and shopaholics will find Charleston heavenly. With 10 breweries in the immediate area, craft beer drinkers can get their fill at several different places, such as Revelry Brewing, Frothy Beard Brewing Company, Charles Towne Fermentory, and Holy City Brewery. If you prefer cocktails, the Charleston Mixology Walking Tour will take you to three different bars to enjoy a signature drink and learn about the city’s history of alcohol, including its moonshining past.

TripAdvisor lists over 90 shopping destinations in Charleston. Enjoy independent shops selling everything from chocolate at Charleston’s Candy Kitchen and Christophe Artisan Chocolatier to artwork at Meyer Vogl Gallery and Principle Gallery. The Shops at Charleston Place offers several high-end stores in one location, or if you are looking for mementos of your trip to the Lowcountry, Charleston City Market has vendors selling all types of trinkets and souvenirs.

Although it is known for its quaint downtown, food scene, and history, Charleston is also home to scores of businesses, large and small. Boeing, Robert Bosch, and Nucor Steel are the largest manufacturing companies in the area, and the healthcare industry and education employs tens of thousands. Smaller companies range from boutique marketing agencies to orthodontists, and everything in between.