EXPERIENCE CHARLESTON

MUST SEE PLACES

These tourist attractions are “must see” places, and for good reason. Pi Kappa Phi brothers and friends alike will enjoy seeing what has given this coastal city its charm.

• Pineapple Fountain at Waterfront Park: As local legend has it, when a ship captain arrived home after one of his long journeys, he would hang a pineapple on his door as a sign that he had returned, welcoming his friends and neighbors to visit.

• Rainbow Row: Famous for its 13 historic, colorful homes on East Bay Street just along the battery, you won’t want to miss this eye-catching photo spot that legend says was painted in its famous bright, pastel shades to help sailors more easily find their way home at night.

• Angel Oak Tree: 65 feet high with a circumference of 25.5 feet and shading an area of 17,000 square feet, it’ll be hard to miss this tree in Angel Oak Park. The age of the tree remains up for debate, but many estimate it is between 400 and 500 years old, making it one of the oldest trees and living things east of the Mississippi River .

• White Point Garden: Located in the heart of downtown, this park provides views of Fort Sumter and the Charleston Harbor, and is home to displays of history in the form of many monuments and statues.

THINGS TO DO

With so much to do and see, there’s no way to be bored in a city like Charleston. Here are some recommendations from locals.

• Carriage Ride: Recommended specifically by Charming Inns owner Rick Widman, Omega (Purdue), there are numerous carriage ride services with knowledgeable tour guides in Charleston offering historic tours, haunted tours and even some special holiday tours.

• Charleston Riverdogs Baseball: Take a trip to Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park to see the Riverdogs play ball! The Riverdogs are the Single-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays.

• King Street Historic District: The heart of Charleston’s downtown district, you will experience history and beautiful architecture as you explore a variety of local, regional and national shops and restaurants.

• South Carolina Aquarium: Home to more than 5,000 animals, many of which are native to the region, the aquarium is a fun and fascinating spot for all ages to enjoy.

• Charleston City Market: As you shop the many vendors in this iconic market, pick up a Charleston sweetgrass basket, created by Gullah artisans and woven from local marsh grass.

• Sunset Sail with Schooner Pride: Hit the water on Charleston’s only three mast tall sailboat for a gorgeous view of the sunset.

CHARLESTON DELICACIES

• Shrimp and Grits: Originally called “shrimp and hominy,” this once obscure regional dish has become a staple of Southern cuisine and has been South Carolina’s state food since 1976.

• She-crab Soup: According to local legend, the first bowl of this soup was made at the John Rutledge House in the 1920’s by the mayor’s butler, William Deas, as a meal for President William Howard Taft during his visit to Charleston.

• Hush Puppies: Originating in Charleston, hush puppies are a simple sweet treat, golden fritters made of fried cornmeal batter.

• Boiled Peanuts: Nicknamed “the caviar of the south,” boiled peanuts are South Carolina’s official state snack.

FOOD & DRINK

• Peninsula Grill: South Carolina’s only member of Relais & Châteaux, an exclusive collection of renowned restaurants and hotels in the world, guests are sure to have an enchanting dining experience, complete with Peninsula Grill’s famed 12-layer Ultimate Coconut Cake for dessert.

• The Ordinary: Located on King Street, this Southern seafood hall and oyster bar is located in what used to be a bank, and supports local and regional fishermen, crabbers, oystermen, farmers and producers with their locally sourced, fresh menu.

• Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit: Whether you order a biscuit or a pimento cheese sandwich, you won’t want to miss stopping by this eatery that has been featured on The Food Network and in The New York Times, to name a few.

• The Citrus Club: Visit this cocktail lounge for rooftop view of the entire city of Charleston and the Harbor.

• Poogan’s Porch: Known for their fried green tomatoes, pimento cheese fritters and Bloody Marys, this is Charleston’s oldest independent culinary establishment.

• Caviar & Bananas: Located right near the College of Charleston, this uniquely named market, cafe and coffee shop rolled into one has a wide selection of lunch options, wine, beer, gelato and of course – coffee.

• Kudu Coffee: Situated in Charleston’s lively downtown, this coffee shop offers an outdoor courtyard, 14 beers on tap and an extensive coffee menu that ensures everyone can find something to sip on.

• Firefly Distillery: Home of the world’s first sweet tea vodka, this family-friendly distillery boasts whiskey tasting tours, maritime influenced bourbon and a lineup of 11 moonshine flavors.

CHARLESTON CHARM

Fun facts about Charleston

• Dr. Alexander Garden, a Charleston physician, first imported “Cape Jasmine” from South Africa in 1754, and the flower was later named “Gardenia” after him.

• North America’s longest cable-stayed bridge, the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, connects historic Charleston to Mount Pleasant extending across the Charleston Harbor.

• Charles Town, South Carolina was named after the British King Charles II. The name Charles Town was shortened to Charleston after the Revolutionary War when it was no longer necessary to pay tribute to British kings.

• When approaching Charleston by sea, so many church steeples are visible that it earned the nickname, The Holy City.

• Out of the hundreds of tea gardens in the world, all of them are located in Asia, Africa and South America, except for the Charleston Tea Garden, which is the only tea garden in North America.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, CHARLESTON!

Because of its beauty, Charleston and the College of Charleston have been the filming locations of many iconic films and television shows. Get “behind the scenes” of these movies and TV shows shot in Charleston.

“THE NOTEBOOK :” Based on a real-life couple, this classic love story tells of young lovers in the 1940s whose romance is threatened by their different social classes and World War II.

• American Theater: Stop by to see where Noah and Allie had their first date. The theater is now a private event space, but you can request a message to be written for you on the marquee.

• College of Charleston: When Allie heads off to Sarah Lawrence College in New York, those scenes were actually filmed on the College of Charleston’s campus.

• Cypress Gardens: Row your boat through this swamp to relive the iconic rowboat scene filled with an abundance of geese. Don’t expect to see geese, though, they were trained and brought in just for filming purposes.

“OUTER BANKS:” Set in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, this series follows a group of working-class teens on a quest for a treasure linked to a mysterious disappearance.

• Charleston Creekside Inn: Room 229 is the room that John B. and Pope break into in the very first episode; but don’t try to plan an escape route like they did, because the awning isn’t real.

• Charleston Museum: This museum, the first museum in America, is the backdrop for John B. and Big John’s season three heist. Come to see the film site, stay to learn about the history of Charleston.

• Charleston Gaillard Center: In the show, this is supposed to be the UNC-Chapel Hill Law Library, but in real life the center hosts multidisciplinary cultural programming in an effort to elevate local and regional voices.

“DEAR JOHN:” An American romantic war drama, this tumultuous love story centers around a soldier who falls for a college student before his deployment, staying in touch only through letters.

• Randolph Hall: The signature building on the College of Charleston’s campus, Randolph Hall was also Savannah’s signature letter writing spot in the film.

• Charleston Air Force Base: With special permission from the U.S. Defense Department, the film crew used an official C-17 helicopter and airmen to shoot the global airlift mission scene.

• Isle of Palms Fishing Pier: Located about 14 miles from Charleston, this is the iconic spot where John and Savannah first meet in the movie.

PI KAPPA PHI’S HIDDEN GEMS

For those wanting to get the true Pi Kappa Phi experience, these are places you simply cannot miss during your travels. You will walk in the footsteps of the founders, as you take in Charleston’s beauty from a less typical tourist perspective.

• 90 Broad Street: Now the site of Sorelle Italian restaurant, this building was once Simon Fogarty’s home and was the location of the very first meeting of Pi Kappa Phi.

• 39 Broad Street: Home to Kroeg’s law practice and to the first Pi Kappa Phi office, where the Fraternity employed only one employee, an executive secretary.

• 43 Coming Street: Built in 1920, the Alpha Chapter has called this house home since 2018. Each year, it houses four current members of Pi Kappa Phi’s original chapter.

• Magnolia Cemetery: Established in 1849, Magnolia Cemetery is the final resting place of 30,000 individuals including many prominent Charlestonians, such as Pi Kappa Phi’s founders. The cemetery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and has evolved into a museum of sorts.

AMERICAN HISTORY

• Fort Sumter: Located in the center of the Charleston harbor, this National Monument is where the first shots of the Civil War were fired in 1861.

• The Battery: Starting from the Charleston harbor and running along the Charleston peninsula, this fortified defensive seawall is bordered by historic mansions and offers beautiful views of the harbor.

• Powder Magazine: South Carolina’s oldest government building, the Powder Magazine, has served as a print shop, livery stable, wine cellar, carriage house and now museum of colonial military history.

• Charles Towne Landing State Historical Site: Explore exhibits in the visitor center, visit the natural habitat zoo and walk down the history trail to see the the very spot where South Carolina began when English settlers landed in 1670, establishing the Carolina colony.

• South Carolina Historical Society Museum: Housed at 100 Meeting Street, a National Historic Landmark building, this museum is home to interactive exhibits featuring some of South Carolina’s most fascinating history, culture and art.

THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON & THE ANNIVERSARY GIFTS

The College of Charleston has been named the most beautiful campus in America numerous times by several magazines and publications, and it’s clear why. In addition to seeing a beautiful campus, stop by the milestone gifts that Pi Kappa Phi has presented to the college at our 25th, 50th, 75th and centennial celebrations.

• 25th Anniversary, 1929: Memorial Gate

• 50th Anniversary, 1954: Clock atop Randolph Hall

• 75th Anniversary, 1979: Rose Garden

• Centennial, 2004: Bell Tower