Charleston City Market
The Charleston City Market is located in the heart of downtown Charleston on Meeting Street. The market is open every day from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The market also offers night hours from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. It has been a shopping hub since the 1800s and is one of the countrys oldest city markets. The market buzzes with residents and visitors alike, perusing stalls loaded with toys, clothes, art, leather goods and regional souvenirs. There are plenty of locally made products for sale at the market.
Rainbow Row
One of Charlestons most iconic points of interest, Rainbow Row comprises more than a dozen brightly painted historic homes perched along The Batterys East Bay Street, near Waterfront Park. Dating back to the mid-1700s, the structures hold an important place in Charlestons history.
Waterfront Park
Vendue Range, Concord Street
Spanning over 8 acres and located less than a mile north of The Battery, Waterfront Park has become a beloved Charleston fixture since opening in May 1990. It is home to one of the citys most photographed sites: the pineapple fountain. In Charlestons scorching summer months, visitors (especially children) can be found cooling off in the shallow water of the fountain.
After you get your fix of the famous fruit-shaped water feature, enjoy everything else the park has to offer. Visitors can take in scenic views of the Charleston Harbor and Cooper River, stroll along the pier or a tree-lined path and set up a picnic in the shade of a park gazebo. There are also tons of benches where travelers can take a load off and people-watch while enjoying the calm breeze.
Historical Carriage Tour
Experience more than 300 years of history on this guided carriage tour of Charleston. See the many mansions, churches, and gardens as your horse-drawn carriage tour covers more than 2.5 miles and 30 blocks of historic Charleston. Belgian and Percheron draft horses will you lead you through the streets while you learn about this “Holy City” and its role in the Civil War.
Charleston Boat Tours
To get a better view of the Charleston harbor (and maybe even spot some dolphins), consider signing up for a boat tour. Not only will you enjoy some time on the water, youll also have the chance to learn more about the citys maritime history (many boat captains provide historical commentary throughout their tours). Along the way, youll likely see some of Charlestons top landmarks, including The Battery, Waterfront Park, the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge and Fort Sumter.
Charleston Food Tours
Considered one of the best foodie cities in the USA, Charleston is famous for its Lowcountry cuisine and bevy of trendy restaurants. For a crash course in the citys best eats, consider spending a few hours on a Charleston food tour. Popular tour companies include Undiscovered Charleston, Bulldog Tours, Secret Food Tours Charleston and Charleston Culinary Tours.
Folly Beach
After a few days exploring Charlestons historic sites, take some time to kick back, relax and enjoy the Southern sun. Overlooking the Atlantic – less than 15 miles south of downtown Charleston – this 6-mile stretch of coastline makes for a great daytrip away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Come here for the nature and the surfing, or head to the pier to sit and fish.
Fort Sumter National Monument
You probably remember Fort Sumter as the place where the first shot of the Civil War was fired back in 1861. Today, you can see for yourself where all the action happened by taking a ferry to the actual fort. Take your time exploring the thick stone caverns, which still house several Civil War-era cannons. You should also stop by Fort Sumters small, yet informative museum, which provides more in-depth information about the forts role in the war. According to most Charleston visitors, Fort Sumter is a must-see, especially for kids and history buffs.
South Carolina Aquarium
Home to more than 5,000 animals, the South Carolina Aquarium is a fun attraction for those traveling with young children. The aquarium is located on the Charleston Harbor downtown and boasts views of the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. Highlights for visitors include the Sea Turtle Care Center – where injured and sick turtles are rehabbed then released back into the wild – and the touch exhibit, where travelers can get up close and personal with select wildlife like hermit crabs and Atlantic stingrays.
Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum
Opened in 1976, Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum serves to educate visitors on war history. The USS Yorktown aircraft carrier – which was used by the United States Navy in World War II, then again in the Vietnam War – sits in the harbor as the attractions centerpiece. Other notable artifacts and exhibits at this Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, museum include two historic ships, a Medal of Honor Museum, 28 aircraft and a 2.5-acre Vietnam Experience, which recreates a Navy base complete with a mess hall, a fire control bunker and a river patrol boat to simulate what it was like for soldiers during the Vietnam War.
Charleston Ghost Tours
Join our passionate, knowledgeable, licensed tour guides as they explore all things spooky, spectral, and supernatural in Charleston’s most haunted — and legendary — places. Walk the jail cells and hallways where Charleston’s worst criminals lived and died. Feel the chill from the spirits of former war prisoners in the Provost Dungeon. Explore centuries old — and exclusive — cemeteries and graveyards to hear the haunted tales of the authors and poets, artists, politicians, bootleggers, prostitutes, and socialites who still “reside” there. We guarantee a frightfully good time.
The Battery
East Battery Street and Murray Boulevard
Many travelers say you cant leave Charleston without strolling this historic seawall along the citys southern tip, which they call both beautiful and what makes Charleston special. Across the street from the waterfront promenade is Rainbow Row. The free DASH bus (No. 211) provides service to Waterfront Park East Bay Street, looping back up to King Street and Meeting Street. Several of the citys best walking tours make stops along the Battery. If youre interested in the history of the mansions or the promenades role in the Civil War, consider signing up for a tour.
Angel Oak Tree
Visitors will find one of Charlestons most photographed icons on Johns Island: the Angel Oak. It is said to be the largest live oak east of the Mississippi. The gorgeous tree is 65 feet high, with a circumference of 25.5 feet. Its estimated that the tree shades an area of nearly 20,000 square feet and is between 300 and 400 years old. Visitors in the hundreds of thousands flock to the tree to pose next to its long limbs.
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens
Visitors come to enjoy camellia and azalea season in early spring and wildlife throughout the year. Observe the gators, herons and turtles in the Audubon Swamp Garden, look for local birds at the waterfowl refuge, don your helmet and bike one of the several trails, or stroll the Ashley river path shaded by graceful live oak trees. The house is worth an hour of your time to see its interior. Recent travelers agreed that the Wildlife Center and nature center make this a great place to bring the kids.
Cypress Gardens
Beautiful Cypress Gardens has been a preferred group and family destination since 1932. Visitors from all over the country come to experience this unique and exciting attraction, which has been featured in numerous national magazines and popular television shows and motion pictures including The Notebook and The Patriot. Our exciting swamp boat rides offer a unique view of our vast garden landscape. Revel in the reflections of the tall bald cypress and tupelo trees mirrored in the dark, black water. Paddle along a marked trail looking for alligators, birds, turtles, lily pads and other swamp life.
Historic King Street
The Charleston Historic District of King Street is the epitome of Southern charm. A bustling thoroughfare, it is a meeting place of Historic Charlestons past and present. With a history of more than 300 years, King Street Charleston SC is the second most historically and architecturally significant street in downtown Charleston after Meeting Street. King Street boasts some of the citys trendiest restaurants and sophisticated cocktail scenes along with hotels, art galleries, flourishing businesses, and lively nightlife - not to mention some seriously exceptional shopping. U.S. News and World Report named King Street one of the countrys Top 10 Shopping Streets. When walking through the middle of the Charleston peninsula, its wide, pedestrian-friendly sidewalks, chic boutiques, antique shops, three-story brick and buildings, and central location make it easy to see why King Street is an unforgettable dining and shopping experience.
Firefly Distillery
Tucked away off the beaten path from downtown Charleston, a stone’s throw from the beautiful Noisette Creek, sits the newly constructed Firefly Distillery. Many of the materials used to build the elegant, barn-inspired space were taken from our roots on Wadmalaw Island, with elements purchased from local craftsmen or refurbished from a rustic barn.
Home of the world’s first Sweet Tea Vodka, Firefly continues to make great spirits. From our popular original vodkas to our maritime influenced bourbon, and lineup of 11 moonshine flavors, Firefly has grown to include more than 30 innovative spirits.
Park Circle
Less than ten miles north of downtown, Park Circle is a lively community with unique character. A top local destination with a distinct neighborhood vibe, Park Circle is a planned community that dates back to the early 1900s. As its name suggests, Park Circle is anchored by a central circular park which is echoed by several other nearby green spaces—including the city’s own disc golf course, which is free to the public.
Known today as North Charleston’s old “Main Street,” Park Circle’s East Montague Ave. is lined with quite a few storefronts and eateries. Grab a cup of coffee, pop into some local shops and snag a bite to eat, all without needing to wander too far in this very walkable area.
