College of Charleston - Local Atmosphere

College Prowler Take

Charleston is a city preserved by care and novelty, but this isn’t to say that Charleston is outdated or boring. Aside from being a beautiful and historic city, Charleston offers a variety of activities and events to choose from. The city is a national tourist destination that attracts those from far and wide to the annual Piccolo Spoleto arts festival and the Festival of Houses and Gardens. Three other colleges, CSU, the Citadel, and Trident Tech, are nearby, so even though Charleston is not a huge college town, there are enough college students to go around. Whether you’re into sports or art, outdoor activities or indoor, shopping or surfing, there is always something to do. Shops on King and Meeting streets are only blocks away from campus. Beaches (yes, more than one) are only a 20-minute drive, and there are more restaurants downtown than anyone could ever eat at in a lifetime.

You may hear some stories of Hollywood celebrities graduating from the College or building a summer home here, but there are more stories to tell that are rich in history, meaning, and significance. Even students who have come to know Charleston as their home are freshly impressed and amazed by the beauty and history this city has to offer. The vendors on Market Street and the spooky ghost and dungeon tours are popular among students and tourists alike. Even just taking a leisurely walk around town is sure to be a feast for the eyes—mansions and spectacular gardens are in abundance south of Broad Street. If you are looking for skyscrapers, rush-hour traffic, and the hustle and bustle of a metropolis, search elsewhere. If you’re looking for laid-back, sweet-tea drinking, easy-going Southern culture, Charleston is just right for you.

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Students Speak Out

CofBM says: College of Charleston 2013 Other

Charleston is a charming place... Charleston is a charming place with tons to do. When the weather is nice, you'll have to fight the tourists for sidewalk space. Make you you take advantage of discounted student rates to historic sites and houses. It would be a shame to live here and miss out. Also, the farmer's market in Marion Square is right off of campus and the perfect thing to do to start off a Saturday in warmer months. 12345 Local Atmosphere: March 21, 2009 Report

CofMD says: College of Charleston 2015 Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Charleston is probably the best... Charleston is probably the best city on the East Coast in terms of balancing beauty and a small-town feel with a high variety of events to participate in and enjoy. The weather is for the most part beautiful from mid-March until late-September. Folly Beach and Marion Square are great places to hang out during the day, and the downtown nightlife is certainly robust. 12345 Local Atmosphere: March 19, 2009 Report

CofGM says: College of Charleston 2013 Communication and Journalism

The atmosphere is laid-back. It is... The atmosphere is laid-back. It is a walking city. On a warm day, of which there are many, there are lots of people outside everywhere. There are a lot of historical things to see and many restaurants and bars close to each other. The beach is close too. Carry pepper spray and a cell phone with you at night, and count on your bike getting stolen. 12345 Local Atmosphere: February 28, 2009 Report

Coflb says: College of Charleston 2015 Arts, Visual and Performing

The local atmosphere is awesome!... The local atmosphere is awesome! There's a mix between skaters, beach bums, preps, and hippies. Charleston is a semi-big tourist city. There are cute carriage ride tours you can take, and there are spooky and interesting ghost tours. The Battery is where the ocean is, and there's a big pineapple fountain with a dock and swings so people can look out and take pictures. I suggest eating at Fleet Landing because it's a great view and good food. There are multiple beaches nearby; Folly Beach is the most popular for students. There is also great shopping and fun bars on King and Market streets. Marion Square is a pretty park where tons of students hang out, tan, play sports, and do homework, and there's a farmer's market on the weekends. Neighboring schools are The Citadel, Trident, and Coastal Carolina. Citadel boys are frequently spotted downtown (they're always in uniform), and they sometimes follow the CofC girls to find out what parties are fun. But other than that, I don't hang out with people from Trident or Coastal Carolina. 12345 Local Atmosphere: February 24, 2009 Report

Anonymous says:

I’m from Atlanta, and this city... I’m from Atlanta, and this city seems kind of small and quaint in comparison. But it’s peaceful and quiet. You can still get crazy though, don’t get me wrong. It’s fun. It’s just not big. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Facts

Did You Know?

Fun Facts about Charleston:
• The College of Charleston is the oldest city-run college in the United States, and one of the five oldest colleges in the country.
• Every year, the city of Charleston rakes in over four billion dollars from over five million tourists.
• Gone With the Wind, White Squall, The Patriot (with Mel Gibson, not Steven Seagal), O, Cold Mountain, and many other movies were filmed in Charleston.
• Just take if from Scarlett O’Hara: Charleston tops the list of best-mannered cities in the United States for the ninth consecutive year.
• The Spoleto Arts Festival, which is held every spring in Charleston and lasts two and a half weeks, is the most comprehensive arts festival in the country.
• Charleston, South Carolina’s oldest city, has a sixteenth place ranking for the best quality of life in the nation, according to easidemographics.com.
• Travel + Leisure magazine named Charleston "America’s Friendliest City" in 2008.
• The Notebook was filmed in Charleston and on C of C’s campus.

Famous People from Charleston:
Andy Dick – Comedian and actor
James B. Edwards – Governor of South Carolina
Dubose Heyward – Author of Porgy, later adapted into the famous musical Porgy and Bess by George Gershwin
Orlando Jones – Actor/comedian
Padgett Powell – Author of Edisto and Aliens of Affection

Local Slang:
Chucktown – Charleston
Y'all – You all

Most Recent Contributing Author

Name: Robyn Burrows
Hometown: Sewickley, PA
Major: Historic Preservation and Community Planning

Robyn loves yoga!

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