Inexpensive souvenirs

Greetings everyone,

I was wondering if you could help me. Whenever I go on vacation, I always like to pick up a few souvenirs for my co-workers and friends back home. However, that can be quite expensive (as we all know), especially when I have to get gifts for over fifty people.

Is there any place in the Charleston area that sells inexpensive souvenirs, or any recommendations on what to get? In the past, I have been able to pick up small plush lobsters on a visit to Nova Scotia, some Texas-sized toothpicks (mini rail spikes) on a trip to San Antonio, and some mosquito houses (tiny bird houses) on a trip to Minneapolis, all for around a dollar a piece. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you very much for your time. I am looking forward to hearing your responses.

Mac Maroon

http://www.macmaroon.com/

Inexpensive souvenirs

The farmers market on Marion Square might have some things to take back if you are going to be here on a Saturday morning. Otherwise, you might have some luck at The Market.

One of my favorite places to shop when I travel is local grocery stores. I have found some unique candies, spices, coffees, teas, jellies etc. You may be able to find tea from American Classic which is locally grown and is the only tea plantation in the U.S.A. Most of the grocery stores here have a special section of local products.

Inexpensive souvenirs

The Market (between North and South Market Streets) is probably your best bet for inexpensive souvenirs. It has a flea market quality to it and you can find everything from sweetgrass baskets (expensive) to benne seed wafers, tshirts, Charleston notecards, and magnets. (This is in addition to the vendors selling fake designer bags, sunglasses, etc.)

A DOLLAR - wow, that%26#39;s tough. The only thing I could think of is if you were to buy a giant tub of benne wafers (very delicious I think!) and divide them into little bags with a Charleston logo on it. They are made with butter so don%26#39;t put them into the bags until just before you hand them out for max. freshness and the least oil transfer to the bags! (or use plastic wrap).

';American Classic Tea'; is the only tea grown in America, and it%26#39;s grown just south of Charleston on Wadmalaw Island. Maybe some tea bags and benne wafers?

As already mentioned, grocery stores are a great idea - there is a Harris Teeter on East Bay Street just past the Ansonborough Inn going north from Market St.

Things that represent Charleston: sweetgrass baskets, pineapples, magnolia blossoms, historic homes, oleanders, azaleas, camellias, Spanish Moss, carriages, cotton, plantations, ';sweet tea';, pecans, Charleston tea, gullah things, gas street lamps, cobblestone, beautiful gardens, fountains, grits, shrimp, Civil War-related facts/places/etc, dolphins, sea turtles, egrets and herons, (I could go on...) Recently, ';Firefly Vodka'; has become increasingly popular as a local item but that might get you fired (ironically - fire-fly!).

If I had to do this for a number of people I think I%26#39;d make a big pot of American Classic tea and put out a bucket of benne wafers and give everyone a postcard with a great photo and an explanation of why the tea and benne wafers.

Good Luck!

Thank you all for your replies and suggestions, I appreciate them! I head to Charleston next week and then up the coast to Cape Hatteras and Norfolk, before heading to Richmond, then down the Blue Ridge Parkway and home!

Mac

http://www.macmaroon.com/

It sounds like a nice trip. Be safe!