Landscapes/
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Falling For Charleston
by Sandy Summers

Parangtritis—A Beach Not Too Far
by Barrie Lie-Birchall

A Glimpse of Hell
by Calum Harvie

Nantucket: Nice Pants and an Attitude to Match
by James Lairdo

Hotel Palacete de Cázulas—A Mansion of Memories
by John Towler

Shanghai Surprise
by Catherine Skrzypinski

Old Orchard Beach
by Marie Logan

Playa Del Carmen, Mayan Riviera
Riu Playacar Resort
by Daphne Wilson

Family Fun in the Forest
by Rosalie Robison

The Mall: International Comfort Zone
by Benajmin Tischer

Digging Through Mexico City's Museums
by Robert Craig

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Landscapes/Cityscapes

Falling For Charleston
by Sandy Summers

Charleston turns your head like a newfound love. Eavesdrop on local conversations and you will hear voices, smooth and slow as grits poured from a simmering pot. Ask any resident along the famous Battery area what the difference is between a "Yankee" and a "Damn Yankee." You will immediately learn that "Yankees" go home.

Charlestonians constantly bemoan the influx of "Yankees" from "up North" who clog our roads and cause waiting lines at our favorite restaurants. They trample through our gardens and intrude on our Southern serenity. It's enough to make the most delicate southern bell swoon at the thought. They move here, too. They leave behind their snow, swelling our ranks and rankling the bluebloods.

On the other hand, natives are quick to boast that Conde Nast readers voted Charleston the third best destination, beaten out only by San Francisco and New Orleans. Travel and Holiday Magazine put Charleston in the top five list of romantic destinations, and Southern Living readers also say we are number one in the romance department and number two in the historic category. Oh, and excuse me for interrupting, but for the fifth year in a row, etiquette expert Marjabelle Young Stewart has selected Charleston as the Most Mannerly City in the United States. Charleston also was named as one of the top ten cities in the world for value in Travel & Leisure Magazine. The accolades just keep coming.

Magnolia Gardens is nothing short of spectacular. It includes bike and walking nature trails, picnic areas, a "street" of antebellum cabins, a nature trail, a Biblical garden, a tropical garden, and more. Magnolia Plantation is a Pre-Revolutionary War plantation house furnished with museum quality early American antiques. Its gardens are America's oldest living gardens (c.1680). The house is the original ancestral home of the Drayton family, whose many sons have played important roles throughout American history. The house has seen thirteen generations of the Drayton family. Imagine if those walls could talk! This is a great choice for families due to the petting zoo of plantation animals that children will love.

Another garden worth visiting is Middleton Place. Middleton Place is an 18th century plantation with stable yards, that has survived revolution, civil war and earthquake. It was the home of many generations of Middletons, one of whom was an original signer of the Declaration of Independence and another who was a signer of the Ordinance of Secession. The gardens are not as large as the ones at Magnolia Gardens, but they are more formal and landscaped. One of the highlights of Middleton Place is its restaurant that features excellent lowcountry cuisine, casual at lunch and more formal at dinner.

Charleston's historic district transports you back to antebellum days when its citizenry was cultured and its commerce was flourishing. It was an era of horse-drawn carriages, cobblestone streets, gaslights and a thriving city market. Historic houses, museums, beautiful churches, a brand new aquarium on the waterfront and a new IMAX theater ensure that there's something for everyone. Stop at the Visitors' Center at 375 Meeting Street to narrow your tour decisions. Choose from a plethora of boat, carriage, bus, trolley, water, air, nature, and walking tours. There are also several ethnic tours that capture the heritage and contributions of Jewish and African-American Charlestonians. I love the walking tours as they allow you to experience the city up close. Civil War and ghost walking tours further specialize your sightseeing. The Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau has a comprehensive website for pre-planning (www.charlestoncvb.com).

Historic Charleston is hard to leave, but for a change of pace, head out to one of the area beaches. Isle of Palms and Sullivan's Island are barrier islands that front on the Atlantic Ocean. If the weather is not hot enough for a swim, then you can opt for a barefooted stroll any time of year. Make that stroll early in the morning to watch the sun pop over the horizon. Watch the gulls soar and then stop for some breakfast at the Sea Biscuit on the Isle of Palms. Ah, what a perfect morning.

Hungry? Bring your appetite because Charleston is synonymous with wonderful restaurants featuring everything from casual Southern fare to the elegant and eclectic. There is wonderfully fresh fish and shellfish straight off the boats. When there's an "R" in the spelling of the month, there'll be a chance to eat some oysters (Charlestonians call raw oysters "sliders"). Months without an "R" are months without oysters. Be sure and try the she-crab soup (named because the meat in "she" crabs is supposedly less abundant than in "he" crabs, so the girls were thrown into the soup pot and the boys were eaten by pickin' and cleanin'). Ask for a dollop of sherry in the middle to complete this rich appetizer. Shrimp and grits is another favorite, as is Beaufort (sometimes called "Frogmore") stew, a wonderful spicy mix of shrimp, sausage, corn and potatoes. Fried green tomatoes were served in Charleston long before the movie made them famous. Another lowcountry delicacy is boiled peanuts that are sold on the side of the road or sometimes in convenience stores. They are not to be missed, especially the ham or Cajun flavored goobers.

Charleston is a sensuous experience. Each new season is special in its own way. Charleston's beauty, its sights and sounds, mingle with its very real history. The honeymoon with Charleston is never over.

Other articles by Sandy Summers:

• Schmoozing in the Smokies

• An Irish Welcome, Ireland Spotlight, March 2002

• Key West