Waterfront

On the east side of the Charleston peninsula is a 12 acre grassy area with a pier called Waterfront Park.  This park runs along the Cooper River for a half mile.  Prior to 1955 this area was a popular maritime shipping terminal.  When a fire on a steamship terminal burnt down the docks in 1955, the area became abandon.  In the 1980’s they began restoring the pier and creating the park.  At the north end of the park is a large fountain and a long pier.  The pier is a popular destination to sit on one of the many benches and look out over the water to watch the boats float by and occasionally a few dolphins.  From the pier you can see the Ravenel Bridge leading from Charleston to Mount Pleasant, the U.S.S. Yorktown aircraft carrier just across the water, and Fort Sumter where the Civil War began.  Just off the north side of this park is a port for a cruise ship.  Occasionally on the weekends there is a Carnival cruise liner sitting there which would account for higher traffic for the restaurants up the road and a large number of people walking up and down the pier.  Adam and I are planning on taking a trip on that cruise once we have the time and money to take a nice vacation.  We always enjoy swinging on the porch swings and listening to the local street musicians on the pier.  When you walk south you will run into another fountain, which is shaped like a Pineapple.  There are always a few people sitting around this fountain or taking their picture next to it.  On either side of this fountain are large grassy areas which are usually occupied by kids and dogs playing.  From the south end of the park you can see a house that was built on a pier out on the water. It would be awesome to live in an old house where your yard is occupied my marine life.  The park is a great place to sit and enjoy a good book under the Palmetto Palm trees or on any of the many benches that line the pier.