Unknown: These 10 Charleston life hacks are something that
you absolutely need to know. What's up everybody? Welcome
back. As always, I am Bill Olson, your favorite YouTubing
Charleston realtor. And recently over on the Charleston Reddit,
someone posed the question, what is a Charleston life hack? And
let me tell you, as usual, the people of Reddit did not
disappoint. Life Hacks ranged from the brilliant to the little
bit absurd. And some of them weren't even life packs, they
were just solid advice for living or visiting here. So I
compiled 10 of my favorites of we're going to break those down
right now. Touring the Charleston Harbor can get a
little expensive, whether you're going to charter your own boat,
or go on a harbor cruise or a tour, they can cost anywhere
from 30 to $40 per person on the high end, or even more, if it's
a private tour. But there is the Charleston Water Taxi trial,
some water taxi is $14 per person, for an entire day pass.
You can get on and off as many times as you want. It has four
stops, it stops at the maritime Center, where the aquarium is it
goes to Patriots Point and the Yorktown the Charleston Harbor
Resort and waterfront park where the pineapple fountain is. Now a
total round trip takes one hour. Again, you can get on and off as
many times as you want. We went out there. Unfortunately, we
didn't see any dolphins the water was a little choppy, but
we had a great time it was a beautiful day. So if you're
looking to get an affordable trip around the Charleston
Harbor, go check out the Charleston Water Taxi, one hour
round trip on their website, they have the times that they
leave each port a number two hack has to do with the
Charleston County park system. Now, this came from Reddit or
Toots McGee, it's me, which I've never thought I would ever say
on this channel. But however, what they said was if you are a
volunteer of the Charleston County Parks, and you put in 35
hours per year, you get what is called a reciprocal pass. Now
this pass just doesn't get you into the Charleston County
Parks. But there are other events and venues around town
that you and a guest can get into for free one of them being
the aquarium, which is about $35 per person to get in. So if you
think about it, 35 hours, then you're getting two tickets,
almost $70 worth of tickets just for the aquarium. Some other
things that this can get you into are some other museums,
their gardens, and even some harbor cruisers, check out their
website for all the lists of what they have available to
volunteer, a lot of it is checking tickets or maybe
pouring beers at events. But I think it's a great way to get
out there and meet people. If you're new to the area. This is
a great place to meet people and save some money. Now staying on
the parks with number three really isn't a hack. But it is
just absolutely solid advice for anyone who loves the outdoors.
And that is to purchase a Charleston County Parks gold
pass. Now for a Charleston County resident is $70 per year
now, but this gets you into any of the Charleston County Parks,
which normally is $2 per person for entry. But it's not just the
entry into the parks, you also get entry into the events that
they're having, including the festival of lights that runs
from November through December. And this isn't really up to $30
per car to get in during peak times. So you add that into that
and anytime you go to the parks plus, you also can get and park
at the public beach parks as well. This includes the parks on
Isla poms, Folly Beach and Kiawah Island, this could be $15
per day to park there. So when you add that all up, you're
gonna hit that $70 Pretty quick and you're just going to be
saving money after that. Number four is to always keep a pair of
rain boots in your car. Now, as a realtor, this is especially
you know, I'm always running around whether I'm in a house or
looking at land, you never know when a storm is going to pop up.
I always joke around that if there's a 20% chance of rain,
you can pretty much guarantee that it's going to pour down
rain for 20 minutes that day. If you don't have a pair of boots
in your car and you're just wearing flip flops, your feet
are gonna get wet. So if you're gonna be out and about for most
of the day, I say just keep a pair of rain boots on your car.
Number five is something I actually did today and it is
dress in layers. Now a little known fact about here in
Charleston is we can go through all four seasons in just one
de Winter usually starts at 6am. Spring comes around at 10.
around lunchtime, we hit summer and then fall comes in between
four and five right before dinner. So you may have to leave
the house in the morning wearing a jacket. But then at lunch,
you'll be taken that off, but then you'll be putting it on to
head back home after work. And this is the one that falls under
the absolutely absurd. And number six is from redditor,
squid and Zlata. Who said, keep your blinker fluid topped off.
Now I find this really funny because my wife always always
yells at me for failing to use my blinker. So I am guilty of
that. But Charleston and South Carolina in general tends to
have some of the worst drivers in the country. So please just
use your blinker when you can. If you see me not using my
blinker feel free to let me know. Hey,
I don't know how I gave my God just grabbed the steering wheel.
The next two are actually stuff that my wife taught me before I
saw them here on Reddit and I can vouch that they absolutely
work. And number seven is to bring baby powder with you to
the beach. Now I thought this was absolutely insane when she
was looking for it to bring but it works especially if you have
kids. Before you get in the car and you're trying to brush off
the sand to get as little sand in the car as possible. Sprinkle
some baby powder on the sand and it will rub right off. It's
absolutely amazing how it works. So just keep baby powder in your
car for anytime you want to go to the beach, put it on your
feet right when you're done and you can brush that sand right
off. And then number eight, we all know that the mosquitoes
here are bad and always have bug spray with you. That is a no
brainer. But that hat comes in when we're talking about the no
CIOMS if you're unfamiliar noseeums are nets that bite and
they are a pain in the ass. But there is a product called hemps
H E MPs z it is a hemp lotion, moisturizing lotion that the
noseeums absolutely hate. So if you're going if you're eating
outside or you're going to be outside during the dusk hours,
usually when they're the worst. Just bring some of that rub it
on your arms, your legs, your face wherever you need it, and
it will keep the nursing homes away. Number nine is for those
who enjoy going out for a good meal. Now on Reddit, they said
avoid the downtown restaurants on Fridays and Saturdays. I'm
going to take this one step further. And say try and avoid
the downtown restaurants, Thursdays, Fridays, and
Saturdays. These tend to be the busiest days of the week for
these restaurants. Now if it is a brand new hotspot restaurant,
it's going to be busy all the time. But most locals will go
out to eat Sunday through Wednesday because they know that
they're going to get better service and a better table and
not have to wait forever to get seated or get a drink or get
their food. And lastly, we have a parking hack for downtown. Now
parking is not cheap. It's $2 every half hour, just a park.
But after six during the week, parking is completely free. And
it is completely free on Sundays. And city holidays. Now
this is only in city lots and street parking not in the
private lots, you're still going to have to pay for those. So I'd
say if you want to spend a day downtown, do something else on
Saturday and then head downtown on Sunday so that you don't have
to pay for that parking all day. So which acts did I miss? Let me
know down in the comments. If there are any that you think
that we absolutely need to know. And if you haven't already,
please go ahead and hit that subscribe button and ring that
little bell so you're informed about all the great videos I'm
making about what it's like to live, work and play right here
in the greater Charleston area. Again, my name is Bill Olson.
I'm a local realtor and if you're looking to sell or buy a
home anywhere in the greater Charleston area, hit me up. I'd
love to chat and see how I can help you. I'll see you over on
this video because I really think you're going to enjoy it.
Have a great day. Bye