Charleston hid their tea instead of throwing it in the harbor—and that's just one of the surprising stories that the historic city has to share with visitors.

In this IPW 2025 episode, recorded live from the conference floor in Chicago, Explore Charleston president and CEO Helen Hill sits down with Afar editorial director Billie Cohen to share how Charleston recently broke records for hotel nights and airport passengers—and how the city has expanded its tourism impact over the years.

As Charleston celebrates more than 350 years of history and gears up for America's 250th anniversary, Hill reveals how the city ditched the "Moonlight and Magnolias" narrative to tell authentic stories—from their capitalist Tea Party to the Revolutionary War fort built with spongy palmetto logs that absorbed British cannonballs. Plus, she shares why heirloom tomatoes and Gullah Geechee cuisine are helping bring the community together.

What You’ll Learn

That Charleston is home to the country’s very first museum, the Charleston Museum.

That Charleston is showcasing its true, sometimes painful history with sites such as the International African American Museum.

The unusual role Palmetto trees played in the revolutionary war

The country’s oldest synagogue is in Charleston, the Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Synagogue.

Key Moments

[02:56] New luxury properties are opening, including a Four Seasons.

[04:55] Explore Charleston’s decision to showcase all of its complex history

[8:28] Some of the city’s most celebrated chefs are bringing Gullah Geechee food culture to a wider audience 

[17:07] South Carolina’s deep agricultural traditions lead to plenty of local produce 

Featured Topics

The impact increased flights to Charleston has had on tourism

The oldest museums and synagogues in the country

The importance of reconciling with and showcasing painful history

Visitors booking trips closer to their travel dates

Resources

Read the transcript of this episode

Visit Explore Charleston’s site

Find Explore Charleston on Instagram and Facebook

See Afar’s take on what to do in Charleston

🇺🇸 America 250 Update: The fall 2025 opening of the Cooper Hotel on Charleston Harbor, a Revolutionary War site

Stay Connected

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Explore our other podcasts, Travel Tales, where we share first-person narratives of trips that have changed us, and ⁠⁠Unpacked⁠⁠, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week.

This IPW 2025 special series was recorded live in Chicago. View From Afar is a production of Afar Media and a part of Airwave Media’s podcast network (email [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast). The podcast is produced by Aislyn Greene and Nikki Galteland, with assistance from Michelle Baran and Billie Cohen. Music composition from Epidemic Sound.