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Charleston Continues to Wow Newcomers - My Top 4 Reasons Why

As you’ve likely heard, people from across the country have begun to notice Charleston.

They are deciding that it’s the perfect place to raise a family, embark on a new lifestyle, retire, or just soak up some sun. The continued recognition from nationally respected lists like “World’s Best Cities” has now led to approximately 35 people a day moving to Charleston. As a transplant myself, and as someone who’s had absolutely no regrets about taking the plunge, here are just a few of the reasons why I think Charleston is the perfect place to live.

1. Outdoor Life & Parks

Charleston Parks and Recreation offers a diverse and vast network of beautiful parks to explore -- with your children, your dogs or just you, and each park is unique in its own way. When walking through Palmetto Island County Park, for example, it feels like you’re in the Caribbean -- tropical plants and trees line the beautiful viewing towers, picnic areas, and hidden trails. Alternatively, Wannamaker Park is extremely kid-friendly and has the largest water park of all the county parks, including a lazy river, wave pool and plenty of slides. James Island County Park features a rock wall, huge dog park, and hosts many amazing events such as Reggae Nights, a Cajun Festival and the Festival of Lights around the holidays. The parks truly offer something different for everyone!

2. Culinary Scene

If you consider yourself a foodie (even an amateur one), Charleston is most definitely the place for you. Not only does the city house 5-star and James Beard awarded restaurants and chefs, but the variety offered is also something worth mentioning. Pick a spot that fits your mood -- rooftop chill, upscale and romantic, creek side and casual, funky and fun, and so much more. With the well-respected Culinary Institute of Charleston in our backyard influencing the booming culinary scene, you’ll never go hungry or thirsty in this city.

3. Culture & History

Walking down the cobblestone streets of downtown, often palm tree-lined and accompanied by secret gardens, you truly feel like you’re in a different world. With each historic mansion and art gallery, you pass, you get a slight look into the city’s culture and history. For the true history buffs, a few places not to miss include the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum, Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon and Fort Moultrie. And don’t forget the long list of plantations -- Magnolia, Boone Hall, McLeod, Middleton Place, and others.

4. A Place to Live for Everyone

Whether you want to be near the action of downtown or have a few acres of land for peace and quiet, you’ll most certainly find a place to call home in Charleston, SC. If you want to live on a beach, Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island, Seabrook or Kiawah may be your landing spot. If you want to live near the beach with a relaxed vibe, James or John's Island may be the place for you. If you want to be close to bars and restaurants, but not quite downtown, Mount Pleasant is the place for you. And areas like North Charleston have a lot to offer too -- beautiful areas like Park Circle, Deer Park, and many surrounding neighborhoods perfect for families. If you don't mind a little travel to downtown Charleston, towns like Goose Creek and Summerville are also going through an extreme transformation, with infrastructure being rebuilt and new developments going up every day.


Bonus answer - Oh, and yes, of course, the weather. In Charleston, you get all the seasons but not the extreme winters I became accustomed to up North in Boston. To me, Charleston is paradise.

If you’re interested in dipping your toes into your personal slice of paradise, from one transplant to another, let me help you choose the perfect home for you.