Downtown Charleston vs. Downtown Jacksonville

[vicupstate]

Ben,

You bring up a lot of good points.  You are right that many people do the 'touristy' areas and think that is representative of all of the peninsula.  The area North of Broad is less 'pastel' and touristy, in particular. 

The Cruise Ship issue is a hot one there, and will continue to be but since the new terminal will be right next to the 'trinket' area, I think the 'anti-' forces are largely off-base.   Continued monitoring is certainly required though.

Regarding streetcars, CARTA's focus is more on a light rail connection from Summerville to DT Charleston (Visitor's Center area).  Historically speaking I don't remember Charleston having streetcars in the early 1900's either.   CARTA has had considerable success with expanding bus transit useage though.  JTA could learn from them on that.

[sandyshoes]

We honeymooned in Savannah and Charleston a few years ago.  We found Charleston so unfriendly that we soon returned to Savannah and spent the rest of our honeymoon there - had a much more enjoyable time! 

[ben says]

We honeymooned in Savannah and Charleston a few years ago.  We found Charleston so unfriendly that we soon returned to Savannah and spent the rest of our honeymoon there - had a much more enjoyable time!

I think that's the first time I've ever heard the words 'Charleston' and 'unfriendly' in the same sentence!

[sandyshoes]

We were disappointed, too.  Our first day there, we ventured downtown, around the corner from our B&B, and found that people don't wish to stop their cars for you, even if you are in the crosswalk;  they do like to use their horns if you even look like you're going to make them have to stop;  shopkeepers would ignore us when we walked in to their establishments, this is downtown, on the trendy street, mind;  all but one restaurant frowned at us and seated us in the back...  We were not unwashed or underdressed, by any means, but somehow they could tell that we weren't local bluebloods.  So we went back to Savannah and had way more fun with the artsy crowd and hit a few new favorite spots again!