Shopping

One-of-a-kind boutiques make up an important part of the contemporary Charleston shopping experience. Long-established Christian Michi anchors the corner of Market and King; its window displays are like works of art, and its innovative and European designs are treasured by well-heeled, sophisticated clients. Some department stores cater to younger shoppers, and high-end shops sell either their own designer fashions, or carry names that are found in Paris, New York, and South Beach, like Kate Spade in the Shops at Belmond Charleston Place.

The Upper King District is interspersed with clothing boutiques and restaurants. The revival of this neighborhood has sparked a new wave of home-fashion stores; long-term antiques hunters, accustomed to buying on Lower King, have been lured uptown as well. Charleston has more than 25 fine-art galleries, making it one of the top art towns in America. Local Lowcountry art, which includes both traditional landscapes of the region as well as more contemporary takes, is among the most prevalent styles here.

Charleston City Market. This cluster of shops, covered stands, and restaurants fills Market Street between Meeting and East Bay streets. Sweetgrass basket weavers work here amid trinket and souvenir booths, T-shirt shops, and upscale clothing boutiques. In the covered market, vendors have stalls selling everything from jewelry to purses to paintings of Rainbow Row. The middle section of the market is enclosed and air-conditioned. From April through December, there's a night market on Friday and Saturday from 6:30 until 10:30 pm, featuring local craftspeople and street musicians. E. Bay and Market Sts., Market, Charleston, South Carolina, 29401. www.thecharlestoncitymarket.com. 9:30-5 daily.

King Street. The city's main shopping strip is divided into informal districts: Lower King (from Broad Street to Market Street) is the Antiques District, lined with high-end dealers; Middle King (from Market to Calhoun Street) is the Fashion District, with a mix of national chains like Anthropologie and Pottery Barn and locally owned boutiques; and Upper King (from Calhoun to Spring Street) has been dubbed the Design District, known for both its restaurant scene and its clothing and interior-design stores. Check out Second Sundays on King, when the street closes to cars all afternoon from Calhoun Street to Queen Street. Make sure to visit the Saturday farmers' market in Marion Square throughout the spring and summer months. Charleston, South Carolina.