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6 Top Shopping Spots in Charleston — Locals’ Picks

By U.S. News & World Report

Charleston, South Carolina, offers plenty of eye candy for lovers of architecture, gardens and history, but those enticed by window displays won’t be disappointed either. Widely regarded as one of the Southeast’s best shopping destinations, Charleston’s cosmopolitan side shines along King Street and in other notable places where an array of unique boutiques, eclectic gift shops and brand-name stores beckons buyers. U.S. News asked in-the-know local experts for tips on where to find the best places to shop.

King Street

Since Charleston’s earliest days, King Street has served as the peninsula’s main commercial thoroughfare. Today, along its bluestone sidewalks lined with 18th- and 19th-century storefronts, you’ll find everything from Apple King Street and the Gap to antique dealers, jewelers, swanky home decor studios, bridal boutiques and custom designer menswear stores.

“The King Street corridor is for sure the best shopping in Charleston,” says Elliott Wright, assistant innkeeper and concierge at the Wentworth Mansion, noting its robust mix of stores. An added bonus: On the second Sunday of every month, King Street is blocked to traffic so that locals and visitors of all ages can enjoy live music, alfresco dining and shopping galore.

[Read: The Best Hotels in Charleston.]

At the southern end toward the Battery, Lower King (located between Broad Street and Market Street) is home to many of Charleston’s celebrated antique shops, locally owned clothing boutiques and art galleries. George C. Birlant and Co., a King Street stalwart since 1922, is a don’t-miss emporium of silver, estate finery, old clocks and antiques of all sorts. Ibu Movement, while locally owned, features global textiles and garments handcrafted by women artisans around the world, and RTW Charleston, another local boutique, caters to style-conscious women.

Middle King (between Market Street and Calhoun Street) is referred to as the fashion district. There, you’ll find more national apparel and accessory stores, like H&M and Banana Republic, with some local retailers in the mix as well. Worthwhile and Hampden are two fashion-forward spots unique to Charleston. And stop by Charleston mainstay M. D umas & Sons for excellent menswear, and the century-old Croghan’s Jewel Box for fine jewelry and gifts.

Upper King (between Calhoun Street and Spring Street) is known for its design and decor shops, from the national brand West Elm to lighting specialists Ro Sham Beaux and Circa Lighting. But it’s fun to wander through the surprising mix of other stores, including local favorite Blue Bicycle Books, and numerous restaurants and bars.

The Shops at Belmond Charleston Place

Although parts of it are officially on King Street, T he Shops at Belmond Charleston Place is a self-enclosed upscale mini-mall tucked into the lobby level of the luxury Belmond Charleston Place complex. Its more than two dozen high-end stores include Gucci, Louis Vuitton, L’Occitane and Calypso St. Barth.

Charleston City Market

With about 300 daily vendors in its historic Great Hall and open-air sheds, the Charleston City Market is a shopping smorgasbord.

[Read: 7 Great Charleston Water Parks and Beaches.]

“It’s fun to browse and do souvenir shopping, and of course see the sweet grass basket makers, which are iconic to Charleston,” says David Hood, head butler at The Spectator Hotel.

In addition to the baskets hand-woven by Gullah artisans, the Charleston City Market offers other authentic, locally made products, from Rewined candles to Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit mixes.

Mount Pleasant’s Old Village and Pitt Street

Across the Cooper River in Mount Pleasant’s Old Village, shoppers will find a quaint hub of fun clothing and home decor shops. Pitt Street, Old Village’s tiny commercial core and home to hand-spun milkshakes from Pitt Street Pharmacy‘s classic soda fountain, is a postcardworthy streetscape, but you’ll want to do more than stroll and window-shop.

[Read: 6 Tours Unique to Charleston.]

At Out of Hand, you’ll find a line of designer womenswear and artful accessories and gifts. Next door, you’ll find a flower shop and an organic cosmetics store that are owned by the same company. The Green Shutter just a few doors down offers antiques, art, jewelry and gifts; the nearby Charleston Artist Collective showcases original local art at reasonable prices; and Elizabeth Stuart Design carries a delightful mix of curated furniture, decor, designer jewelry and specialty gift items.

Mount Pleasant Towne Centre

For those looking for more of a one-stop shopping experience, Mount Pleasant Towne Centre is about a 25-minute drive from downtown. It offers a wide selection of local and national retail stores, including Belk, Old Navy, Barnes & Noble, Rack Room Shoes and Bed Bath & Beyond, as well as restaurants and a movie theater.

Tanger Outlets

What Tanger Outlets lacks in local character it makes up for in savings. Located in North Charleston near the airport, about a half-hour drive from downtown Charleston, the shopping mall has more than 100 outlet and factory stores of name-brand apparel, accessory, footwear and specialty retailers.

“Guests often detour to Tanger Outlets, right by the airport, on their way in or out of town,” says Devon Brusseau, concierge at The Restoration.

To experience more of what Charleston has to offer, check out the U.S. News Travel guide.

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6 Top Shopping Spots in Charleston — Locals’ Picks originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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