Nestled in the mountains of North Carolina is a village commonly known as Little Charleston. But for those unfamiliar with this charming little community, the nickname is not what you would think.
North Carolina's "Little Charleston" is nothing at all like the Charleston in the Carolina to the South.
The historic village of Flat Rock, North Carolina was where wealthy Charlestonians flocked to in large numbers to escape the notoriously hot Lowcountry summers. Affluent plantation owners started building summer homes in Flat Rock beginning around 1800.
The mountain town is still a haven for those seeking to escape the triple digit figures that can persist during the summer months in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. Summer temperatures in Flat Rock barely break eighty degrees during the day, and usually plummet all the way down into the low sixties at night.
Plus, there is much to do and admire in the quaint little town. Both year-round and summer residents assemble at the Flat Rock Playhouse, widely regarded for their quality productions and theatrical presentations.
Flat Rock's residents (year-round and summer) also love the historic buildings found throughout Historic Flat Rock. The extraordinary architecture found within the village, like the Carl Sandburg Home (now a national historic site), is a constant reminder of their heritage here, even if only as seasonal residents.
If Little Charleston has one thing in common with the other Charleston, it's the wide variety of restaurants available in the small town. Residents and visitors alike appreciate the abundant fine dining establishments, like Postero.
And they also love the elegantly casual eateries that offer a bit of fresh air in their outdoor dining areas. The Hubba Hubba Smokehouse (below) is a loved local eatery with the best doggone BBQ in these parts.
North Carolina’s Little Charleston is a small, quiet and historic village surrounded by large outcroppings of flat granite rock. Hence, the name Flat Rock. You can call it Little Charleston if you want; but locals just know it as home.
Have you visited Little Charleston? We’d love to know!
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