Among the fascinating visual aspects of Charleston is the city's amazing array of iron work. Fabulous gates, grilles, balconies and balustrades frame the Holy City's historic architecture with beauty, strength and grace. There is a common story that one man did most of this, when that, like many stories about Charleston iron, is completely false as you will find.

Charleston is flanked by the Ashley and Cooper rivers, over which are some remarkable bridges in terms of history and design. The 2003 cable-stayed Arthur Ravenel bridge over the Cooper River hosts one of the most popular road races in the world thanks to its majestic position towering over historic Charleston and the Carolina coast. The Ashley bridges are less imposing to the eye, but follow a long legacy of tribulation for those passing by.

Charleston is famously surrounded by barrier island beaches that have a history that is far more grand than just sand. One of the most crucial American victories during the Revolutionary War was won behind the dunes of Sullivan's Island, which are in a battle for survival with unsound, potentially-dangerous environmental efforts. There is also a laid-back legacy on sandy islands to which vacationers flock, including the Bohemian beach area nicknamed The Edge of America.

Charleston's two historically castellated structures are very visible, yet mostly overlooked. One was built as harbor fort, the other as a menacing district jail, but the fort never fought and the ominous appearance of the jail did not deter crowds of prisoners who languished there. The old fort did serve briefly as a jail in the Civil War, but is slowly deteriorating, and any help in saving it can be direct toward castlepinckey.org

Scuba may seem more at home in Aruba, but some good thinking in doing some sinking has South Carolina's ocean bottom burgeoning with life. What was mostly sandy bottom has been greatly enhanced by the creation of artificial reefs, made up of everything from old U.S. Army tanks to former New York City subway cars. And altogether, the sunk junk has paid off in attracting formerly unfathomable finds in fins and flippers.

The Swamp Fox, the Fighting Gamecock, the Wizard Owl, and Old Danger were militia leaders who essentially won the Revolutionary War in the South. Few realize how important South Carolina was in the Revolution and that more than 200 battles and skirmishes occured here. The key to patriot victory was the corps of clever militia leaders such as Francis Marion, Thomas Sumter, Andrew Pickens, and William Thomson, who saved the day for the American side.

Off-the-wall, odd balls, odd halls, odd calls have all given Charleston a full tank of cranks, pranks and eccentricities. Charleston is historically unique, with a distinctive culture affected by its diverse melting pot and its significant role America's colonial, antebellum and modern history. There's no place like Charleston, and here are some reasons why.

Fights against boozing were always a recipe for losing in the Charleston area, despite some inventive efforts to make this waterfront city high and dry. Charleston has been through several eras of prohibition, and was the last state to use the mini-bottle. But no matter what methods were made to curb imbibing, spirits in Charleston were always thriving.