by Judy Bereza, guest blogger

Our first visit to Charleston was in 1997, and the highlight was two tickets to the Annual House and Garden Tour.  We had no idea such a thing existed, or how immediately it sold out every year.  Luckily, as we were walking back from the ticket counter, despondent that we had missed out, a lovely woman sensed our disappointment and gave us her tickets which she had intended to return because of a conflict.  Wow, what an introduction to Southern Hospitality!

We were enthralled with the experience, and 27 years later returned on our roadtrip back to Michigan from Florida.  Our schedule produced another disappointment.  We had missed the tour by two days.  However, we made “lemonade” out of that lemon, by booking a brand new tour by Bulldog Tours.  In fact we were the first group on a walking tour called “South of Broad Houses and Gardens”. For me, it was more of a “Secret Gardens of Charleston” tour, because I often trailed behind the group, snapping photos through stunning 18th and  19th century wrought iron gates to capture the beautifully landscaped gardens inside.

The gates themselves are part of Charleston’s rich architectural history.  Originally used for utilitarian purposes, they gained popularity after an initial example was installed in the alter of St. Michael’s Church in 1772.  

Ever more elaborate examples followed in gates, window screens, fences and balconies.  Most of the houses are constructed in close proximity to each other in the traditional “Single House” or “Double House” design.  They were built with wide porches and open windows and doors that allowed the ocean breezes to cool the interiors during the hot Charleston summers.  Nestled in between the homes are the beautifully tended gardens with pavers and bricks for walkways and driveways.  Not a bit of asphalt anywhere.  

The residents living here must consider themselves caretakers of these architectural treasures, as evidenced by the prevalence of construction workers engaged in restoration and ongoing maintenance.  

The history of Charleston is filled with turbulence, controversy, and  horrifically, the commercial heart of slavery in the 18th century.  However, it also was the first city in the nation to create a historic district in 1931. 

This law preserved the architecture and ambience that tourists like my husband and I could marvel at and enjoy. 

Judy loves to travel with family and friends, taking off on adventures far and near with her husband, family and friends.  A retired interior designer, Judy divides her time between Michigan and Florida, while making many trips each year to visit grandchildren in other states.