Rainbow Row in Charleston is one of the most visited and photographed places in the historic district. These iconic colorful homes can be found on t-shirts, photographs, paintings and postcards at gift shops throughout the city.

Rainbow Row is a series of 13 brightly-colored houses along East Bay Street on the Charleston Harbor. In the 18th century, these homes were shops and businesses on the lower level with living quarters above.

After the Civil War, these homes fell into disrepair and were viewed by many residents as the slums. In 1920, Susan Pringle Frost, a preservationist, took an interest in the area. She purchased six of the homes, but lacked the funds to restore them.

Ten years later, Dorothy Haskell Porcher Legge purchased a section of the homes and began renovating them. She told the local newspaper she wanted to uplift the area with a pretty color, so she painted them pink. The trend quickly caught on, and other owners on the street started painting their homes bright pastel colors.

Rainbow Row is unique to Charleston and continues to attract visitors from around the globe. Check out our guide for additional free things to see and do in Charleston.

Waterfront Park in Charleston is a popular park with residents and tourists, and is one of the most visited parks in the city. The park is located a few blocks from the Charleston City Market and offers fantastic views of the Cooper River Bridge and Charleston Harbor. The park has a pier, where visitors can sit on family-sized swings and watch large container ships enter and exit the harbor. The park also has two fountains, a splash fountain and the famous Pineapple Fountain. These fountains are a great place to cool off on a hot summer day, and are beautiful to watch when lit up at night. This park is a great place to visit in the evening after dinner. You can sit on one of the swings and enjoy the nighttime breeze, while taking in impressive views of the Arthur Ravenel Bridge lit up at night.

Boone Hall Plantation was founded in 1681 when Englishman Major John Boone came to Charleston and established a lucrative plantation and gracious home on the banks of Wampacheone Creek. The family and descendants of Major Boone were influential in the history of South Carolina, the colonies and the nation. In 1743, the son of Major John Boone planted live oak trees, arranging them in two evenly spaced rows. This spectacular approach to his home symbolizes southern heritage and will take root in your memory for many years to come. It would take two centuries for the massive, moss-draped branches to meet overhead, forming today’s natural corridor and a scene that NBC Daytime television says is “a must see stop on any trip to Charleston, S.C.” Boone Hall has also been recognized as the #1 Plantation in the Charleston Area by USA TODAY 10BEST.

Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, on the banks of the Ashley River near Charleston, SC, is one of the Lowcountry’s oldest public attractions. It is a phenomenal horticultural destination, a significant historic and cultural site, and a place of unparalleled natural beauty.

At Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, the show-stopping attraction is the romantic garden – and it has been for centuries. From the Audubon Swamp Garden to the historic River Walk, Magnolia has something for everyone. We invite you to stroll through these historic gardens, learn about the horticulture and nature thriving in the Lowcountry, survey the wildlife that call Magnolia home, and explore over 300 years of history.

Bishop John England, the first Bishop of Charleston, purchased a plot of land on the corner of Broad and Legare (originally Friend) in 1821. Later that same year, the original dwelling house on the lot was blessed as a temporary chapel to be used by the congregation, while a larger cathedral was being constructed. Construction of the first cathedral on the present site started in 1850 and was completed in 1854, but the structure was destroyed by the Great Charleston Fire of 1861. Fundraising for a new cathedral began immediately and the cornerstone for the present Cathedral of St. John the Baptist was laid in January of 1890. The cathedral was consecrated in 1907, but due to lack of funds, the spire in the original plans for the Gothic Cathedral would not be added for 103 years. On March 8, 2010, hundreds of people gathered on the Cathedral lawn to watch as Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone blessed the spire from a scissor lift before it was raised skyward onto the top of the cathedral. Notable features include unique stained glass windows including the Papal coat of arms and the seal of the state of South Carolina, two-light windows in the nave representing the Life of Christ from His Nativity to the Ascension and above the high altar is a five-light window copied from Leonardo DaVinci’s “Last Supper.” The rose window above it is the Baptism of Jesus by St. John the Baptist and in the clerestory of the sanctuary are windows honoring the four evangelists.

White Point Garden is one of the must-see places when visiting Charleston. The park is located at the southeastern point of the city and is bordered by the Ashley and Cooper Rivers. The first settlers originally called the area Oyster Point due to the sun bleached oyster shells on the ground. The name was later changed to White Point. This is the spot where dozens of pirates were hung and left dangling from their nooses to deter other pirates from entering Charleston Harbor. In 1837, the City of Charleston bought part of White Point to create a waterfront park. The park has numerous monuments, a gazebo, and cannons that date back to the Civil and Revolutionary War era. The park is surrounded by beautiful antebellum mansions and massive oak trees draped in Spanish moss. The park is located across the street from the historic Charleston Battery.

Charleston is widely considered to be one of the most haunted cities in America. Here at Ghost City, we like to think that all of the cities we operate in are equally haunted (kinda like loving parents, ha). However, Charleston is a city known around the World for being haunted.

Charleston always presents a shiny exterior, full of churches. They don't call it the Holy City for nothing! Although perhaps the tagline "Unholy City" might be more appropriate when it comes to ghosts and hauntings.

Smack in the middle of historic Charleston, the Charleston City Market is a central landmark for Holy City visitors. In addition to being one of the most visited historic attractions in town, the City Market—opened in 1807—is also one of the oldest continuously operating public markets in the United States.