Charleston has always been regarded as a shopping destination, and Time Magazine recently listed King Street on their 2009 “50 Authentic American Experiences” list. From high-end boutiques and shoe stores, to design shops and jewelry stores, King Street is the jewel of the Holy City.

Lower King St.

Here’s what Time said about King Street:

Walking along Charleston’s quaint King Street will take you back in time — luckily, not as far back as the time before credit cards were invented, because the strip remains one of the better shopping districts in the U.S. You could spend hours strolling the sidewalks, poking your head into chain stores and independent boutiques. Lower King Street is home to clothing, antique and jewelry stores, while Upper King — dubbed the design district — is newly renovated and lined with restaurants, salons and a farmers’ market. Throw in Charleston’s charming architecture and its agreeable weather and a stroll along King Street is not a bad way to spend a day. And some money.