Charleston Walking Tours: Beat the Heat - A Guide to Charleston in the Summertime for Yankees and Scandinavians

Charleston Walking Tours have been my passion and my forte for many years. I am a member of that hardy breed that goes out all year long, so I know a few things about summer weather. Summertime weather in Charleston gets hot. It also gets humid. The combination can lead to dizziness and heat exhaustion. Every summer I am amazed to see Scandinavian visitors and the Dutch walking in full sunlight when the heat index is hitting 110. They LOVE it. Coming from a cold land, they relish the warmth. They spend their summers with the windows open.

But for most Americans in the southeast and west, air conditioning is a way of life. Yes, the South has finally won the War with a new weapon, air conditioning. So we are least prepared to spend time outside in the heat of the day. So as you tour our fair city, or attend that family reunion in July or that Gay Pride Celebration in August, here are a few tips to keep you on your feet.

Rule Number 1: HYDRATE HYDRATE HYDRATE. Drink plenty of water. Don’t be afraid to pour it over your head.

Rule Number 2: Dress For Success. Wear light colors in fabrics such as cotton, linen or seersucker. Wearing a T-shirt beneath will absorb sweat and form a cooling insulation.It also eliminates sweaty shirts and pit stains.

Rule Number 3:  Use Cooling Strategies. 

Freeze water and take it out in the morning and wrap it in a heavy handkerchief or a high  quality paper napkin. The cool condensation creates a refreshing brow wipe. It will also cool you down to wipe the cool napkin across the back of the neck.

Never rush in the heat. Plan accordingly.

Stay on the shady side of the street. Walk in  the direction of the breeze when it gets you there.

Rule number 4: Proper Planning Prevents Puny Performance. Charleston is the perfect city to see on foot. When the sun is baking the sidewalk, take a tour that has you finished up by 12:30. Charleston Old Walled City Tours offers 10 AM Walk 7 days a week.(Visit our website at http://www.walledcitytours.com/tours/charleston-walking-tours.html).This allows time for lunch before the real heat sets in between 2 and 5 o’clock. Mid afternoon is a great time to visit the cool and quiet of the Charleston Museum. It’s also a great time to get on the water and tour the harbor, Fort Sumter or even an eco tour! If we are lucky this year, and a tropical pattern sets in , the intense heat and humidity of the midafternoon gives way to a thunderstorm that drops the temperature and cleanses the air. Afternoons like these are perfect for walks before dinner. After dinner, walk south towards the Battery and see the grand mansions lit up along the way.  Check out the night vendors at the City Market.

Rule number 5: Protect your skin. Wear sunscreen. Wear a hat, not a baseball cap. They leave the nape of your neck exposed.

Charleston Old Walled City Tours offers public and private tours on foot or by car.

For information on things to see and do in Charleston go to 

//www.walledcitytours.com/things-to-see-and-do-in-Charleston.html