Here are the best things to do in Charleston:
The Battery
One of the most popular locations for tourist and locals in Charleston is the Charleston Battery.
Located At the tip of the Charleston Peninsula, you will find the Battery and White Point Garden.
You can take a walk along Battery and defensive seawall,
and get a great view of Charleston Harbor, Fort Sumter, and the historic mansions located here.
You can also tour the Edmonston Alston House museum along the battery,
which is the home where Confederate General Beauregard watched the attack on Fort Sumter.
Rainbow Row
One of Charleston's most famous areas, and most photographed sites,
is at Rainbow Row on East Bay Street. This location is named due to the 13
colorful historic homes that are painted in pastel colors,
dating back to the 1700's. If you are visiting Charleston, make sure to stop by Rainbow Row.
Charleston City Market
The Charleston City Market, is one of the oldest public markets in the United States,
and is open everyday of the year,
except for Christmas. The market stretches for 4 city blocks in Downtown Charleston.
The City Market is a great place to visit to look for souvenirs from Charleston,
including beautiful and historic handcrafted sweetgrass baskets.
This craft originated in Africa, and has been passed down through generations.
Pineapple Fountain
Visit waterfront park in Downtown Charleston, where you will the iconic Pineapple Fountain.
During Colonial times, Pineapples were very rare expensive, and became
the ultimate symbol of hospitality if you were able to obtain one for your guests.
When you visit Charleston, make sure to look for pineapple decorations throughout the city.
Waterfront Park also has a pier where you can take a water taxi,
and a fountain that kids enjoy playing in during the hot Summer months.
Angel Oak Tree
The Angel Oak Tree on John's Island and is a must-see if you re in the area! The tree is
estimated to be approximately 400-500 years old, but some people believe it is much older than
that. It is amazing how far the branches of this tree extend, the longest being about 187 feet.
U.S.S. Yorktown
The U.S.S. Yorktown is a great location to visit for history
buffs! The Yorktown is an aircraft carrier that was used during World War 2,
and was named after the aircraft carrier that was sunk at the Battle of Midway in 1942. The
U.S.S. Yorktown was also used used during the Vietnam war, and was decommissioned in 1970.
The Yorktown can be viewed at Patriots Point naval and Maritime Museum,
along with a Destroyer and submarine, the Vietnam Experience Exhibit, Cold War Memorial,
the Medal of Honor Museum, and a variety of military aircraft from different eras.
Take a Tour of Charleston
Charleston has such a vast history that I definitely recommend that you take at
least 1 tour while you are here. You can take a horse carriage tour in Downtown Charleston,
that are about an hour long, and are a great way to get to know the City a little better!
You can also take a historic walking tour, a food tour, a ghost tour, or take a Pirate
tour and discover stories of Blackbeard and his blockade of the Charleston Harbor,
and much more! I will link to some of the most popular Charleston tours below.
Fort Sumter
You can visit the location of the first shots of the Civil War,
located in Charleston Harbor at Fort Sumter! This Fort took significant damage during the Civil War,
but you can take a tour of the fort, and see what is left.
There are two departure points for Fort Sumter, one at Liberty Square next to the
aquarium in Downtown Charleston, and the other at Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant.
There is a museum located at the fort, and You will be able to see the original
Union flag that was taken down after the battle, when the Confederacy took control of the fort.
Go to the Beach!
There are no beaches on the Charleston Peninsula, but Charleston is surrounded by barrier islands,
and there are some of the nicest beaches in the nation nearby. To the South, you can visit Folly
Beach, Kiawah, or Edisto Beach, and to the North, you can go to Sullivan s Island, or Isle of Palms.
If you'd like to know more about these beaches, be sure to watch
by video about the 5 best beaches in Charleston, which I will link to below.
If you are looking for a place to go surfing,
go camping, fishing, a place to watch for dolphins, a place to search for shark teeth,
or a place to bring your family, there is a beach near Charleston for you!
Plantations & Gardens
There are many great historic plantations and beautiful gardens to visit in the Charleston area,
including Middleton Place, Magnolia Gardens, and Drayton Hall, all located along the Ashley River
in West Ashley, McLeod Plantation on James Island, and Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant.
Try to visit the gardens during the spring if you can, so you can see the blooming flowers.
If you are willing to drive a little further out,
I also recommend visiting Cypress Gardens in Moncks Corner, which was the location
of some scenes from the movies The Notebook, and The Patriot. Cypress Gardens is a
great location to take a swamp boat ride, and to see some alligators.
Take a Boat Tour
The Charleston Peninsula is surrounded by water, and there are a lot of options for boat tours.
I recommend taking a tour of Charleston Harbor on the Schooner Pride,
which is an 84' tall ship that is modeled after an 18th century vessel.
You can sail during the day, or you can take a wine tasting, or sunset sail.
If you'd like to get out on Charleston Harbor at a very affordable price,
you can Take a Water Taxi, that will cost you around $14 for an all day pass!
The water taxis depart hourly from four location, including the Maritime Center and Waterfront Park
in Downtown Charleston and Patriot s Point and the Charleston Harbor Resort In Mount Pleasant.
The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon
The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon is one of the most historically significant
buildings in Charleston, and is a must-see if you are in the area!
The Exchange was built by the British and was finished in 1771,
and is the location that South Carolina Ratified the United States Constitution. This building
was Also used by the British as a place to keep Prisoners of War during the American Revolution.
French Quarter
If you are in the Charleston area,
visiting the French Quarter is a must! The French Quarter is located in downtown Charleston,
and is the location of the original walled in city of Charleston.
The French Quarter is home to many historic buildings, including: The Dock Street Theater,
St. Philips Church, The French Huguenot Church, the Old Slave Mart Museum,
Washington Square, and the Charleston City Market.
Morris Island Lighthouse
The Morris Island lighthouse was constructed in 1876, and can be
viewed from the northern end of Folly Beach, at the Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve.
The preserve also has a nice beach area, and is a great place to view
the lighthouse, and to spend the day on the beach.
The Morris Island lighthouse was originally created on land,
but now stands several hundred feet offshore due to erosion.
South Carolina Aquarium
The South Carolina Aquarium is located at Liberty square in Downtown Charleston,
and is a great place to bring the family. The aquarium has a touch tank, and a variety of
animals, including alligators, a bald eagle, fish, sharks, Sea turtles, and much more.
The Aquarium also has a Sea Turtle Care center, that will provide
treatment and rehabilitative care for stranded or injured turtles.
Historic Churches
Charleston is known as the Holy City , and if you visit the City,
you will see Church Steeples everywhere. Charleston quickly became a symbol of
religious freedom, and there are many historic churches that you can visit while you are here.
Some of these churches include the Gothic Revival French Huguenot Church, built in 1884,
The St. Philip's Church that was built in 1836, and Charleston oldest surviving Church, Saint Michael's
Church, where President George Washington once worshiped while visiting Charleston.
You can also visit the historic graveyards
and final resting places of some of our founding fathers,
including Charles Pinckney and John C. Calhoun located at the St. Phillips Church Graveyard.
Enjoy the Great Food in Charleston
Charleston is well known for its amazing food, and if you are in the area,
you wont need to go far to find a great restaurant. A few popular restaurants that
you can try while you are here are FIG, Husk, and Rodney Scott s BBQ.
If you are looking for a unique place to try local seafood and
oysters, I recommend Bowens Island restaurant located on James Island,
or you can go to one of the many restaurants located along Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant.
If you'd like to try a variety of different foods in Charleston,
there are a few different organizations that offer guided food tours that take around 2-3 hours,
including Charleston Culinary Tours, and I will link to some of these tours below.
Hunley Museum
The Hunley was used by the Confederacy during the Civil War,
and was the first submarine in history to sink an enemy ship. On February 17, 1864 the Hunley
attacked and sank the USS Housatonic, but the Hunley did not return to shore after the attack.
The Hunley was finally located in 1995, and raised in 2000,
and is now on display at the Hunley Museum. You can also view the gold coin that saved Hunley
Captain George Dixon s life at the Battle of Shiloh. Captain Dixon was shot at this Battle,
but had this coin in his pocket, and it absorbed the impact of the shot.
King Street
At more than 200 years old, King Street is one of the most
historically significant locations in Charleston.
King Street is one of the most famous shopping streets in the country,
and is a popular location for tourist, college students, eating, night life, and more.
King Street is in the heart of downtown Charleston,
you will see plenty of Charleston's History if you take a long walk down this historic street!
King Street has 3 different areas along the street, including; Upper King Street,
also known as the Design and Dining District. Middle King Street,
or the Fashion District, and Lower King Street, also known as the Antique District.
House Museums
Charleston has many house museums built in the 17 and 1800s that you can tour while you are here,
including: the Nathaniel Russel House, The Aiken-Rhett House, the Joseph Manigault House,
the Edmonston Alston House along the Battery, and the Heyward Washington House.
You can also view the Williams Mansion, formerly known as the Calhoun Mansion,
and at around 24,000 square feet, is the largest private residence in Charleston.
This home has a huge collection of period furniture and antiques,
and I definitely recommend taking a tour of this home if you get a chance.
Charleston Riverdogs
The Riverdogs are a minor league baseball team in Charleston,
and you will have a great time attending one of their games! Legendary actor Bill Murray
is a co-owner and the Director of Fun of the Riverdogs, and sometimes attends these games.
The Riverdogs stadium is located on the Charleston Peninsula at Riley Park, also known as "The Joe" .
Four Corners of Law
Visit the Four Corners of Law In Downtown Charleston, located at the intersection of
Broad Street and Meeting Street. This location has four buildings, representing 4 different laws,
including: 1. God's Law, at St. Michael's Church, 2. Federal Law at the Federal Courthouse and Post
Office, 3. State Law at the Charleston County Courthouse,and City Law at Charleston City Hall.
Charles Towne Landing
Charles Towne Landing is where the city of Charleston actually began,
and is located in West Ashley, not on the Charleston Peninsula.
This is the location where the first English Settlers came, dating back to the 1670s.
The settlers would eventually move to the Charleston Peninsula,
to what is now known as the historic district of downtown Charleston.
This site includes a 17th century replica sailing ship,
an animal forest and zoo, miles of trails, gardens, cannons, and an exhibit hall.
Conclusion
Alright, that was my list of the best things to do in Charleston. Again, if you are looking for
more things to do in Charleston, please visit my blog post about the best 100 things to do
in Charleston, at GarrisonCharleston.com, or click the link in the description below.
If you are considering moving to Charleston, you can give me a call or text at 843-769-1836,
and I will be happy answer any questions that you have about the area. Thanks for watching!