November 5, 2012 - Charleston (YRE)

I have already written about this volkswalk (September 3, 2011), but the opportunity arose to walk this charming route again. This time, the temperature was much more comfortable. (For more about Charleston, please see my earlier post.)

Entrance to City Market

Using the instructions from my last visit, we started at the City market, which is only about a block from the end of the cruise dock.

 

We deviated from the route by about a half block to visit Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, the fourth oldest Jewish congregation in the U.S. and the first Reform congregation in the U.S. Founded in the 1740's. We were lucky to find a docent available to give us a tour. 

The front entrance to Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim faces the side lot line

The present Greek Revival building was built in 1840 and is the second oldest synagogue building in the United States and the oldest in continuous use. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1980.     

Interior of KKBE

There are a lot of great places to eat and shop along this route. Almost every building is historic. There is a lot to do in the area - you could easily fill up three or four days sightseeing.  There is also a volkswalk at Magnolia Plantation.

 

In 2011, Charleston was named #1 U.S. City by Conde Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards and #2 Best City in the U.S. and Canada by Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards. Also in 2011, Bon Appetit magazine named Husk, located on Queen Street in Charleston, the Best New Restaurant in America. 

America's most-published etiquette expert, Marjabelle Young Stewart, recognized Charleston 1995 as the "best-mannered" city in the U.S, a claim lent credibility by the fact that it has the first established Livability Court in the country. In 2011, Travel + Leisure named Charleston "America's Sexiest City", as well as "America's Most Friendly." Subsequently, Southern Living  named Charleston "the most polite and hospitable city in America." In 2012, Travel + Leisure voted Charleston as the second best-dressed city in America, only behind New York City.