What 14 things should I not miss in Charleston SC

Charleston, South Carolina is truly one of the best cities in The United States. Year after year, Charleston keeps getting voted as one of the best cities to visit in North America. What things should I not miss in Charleston SC, you may ask yourself? Once you see the beautiful city, you will understand why I decided to make this my home in 2007.

Charleston, is nicknamed “The Holy City” because when settled, there was religious tolerance. There was true freedom of religion in the colony, unlike many other colonies that were religious-specific. You can see this today with the steeples dotted across the skyline.

What I love about Charleston is its people. Being from the Midwest, I feel that we fit with Southern hospitality. Everyone is nice and open. It has a small city feeling to it, though it is growing at an incredible rate. For this reason, and those that I will be talking about is the reason why I chose to make Charleston my home.

What 14 things should I not miss in Charleston SC

There are many things to do in Charleston, how to pick what to do? With this list, I hope to help you make that decision a little easier. These are the must things to do in Charleston while visiting.

1. Walking and Horse Carriage Tours

When someone visits Charleston and has no idea what to do, I always recommend to them to take a walking or horse carriage tour. There is a lot of information given to make a great list of locations to come back to visit.

There are many great walking tours that will show you landmarks and other amazing points of interest in the city.

These are the best walking tours that I recommend:

If you are looking to sit back and enjoy a ride instead of walking, there are plenty of horse carriage tours. You will see lots of horses downtown. These are great to cover a lot of distance in a short time while learning about Charleston. I do want to let you know that the horses are all taken care of extremely well.

These are the best carriage tours that I recommend:

If you are interested in more tours in Charleston that covers from history to food and paranormal to the Outbanks TV show, check out my 32 Best Tours In Charleston SC page.

2. The Restaurants

Charleston has become a culinary hotspot in the country. Most people travel to Charleston and have no idea how amazing the food is. Other people travel to Charleston just because of the food.

Charleston has been featured on many television shows from The Food Network that come here to film our chefs and restaurants. I suggest trying these three Charleston-specific restaurants.

Halls Chophouse – Located at 434 King St. This place treats you like family and gives you the best restaurant experience you have ever had. Halls Chophouse is American-Fine Dining, serving prime steaks, Lowcountry, and fresh seafood specialties in an energetic, visually striking environment.

Hank’s Seafood Restaurant – Located at 10 Hayne St. It has been the best seafood restaurant in Charleston for 18 consecutive years. Hank’s has fresh seafood specials and a raw bar. Make sure to ask about daily fish and shellfish specials.

Magnolias – Located at 185 East Bay St. Looking for true southern cuisine? Magnolias is your place to go. True low country, southern, Charleston food.

If you look at the forecast and see that Charleston is suppose to be a rainy day, this is a perfect way to find something to do on a Charleston rainy day.

3. The Beaches

What should I not miss in Charleston SC? The beaches. No trip to Charleston is complete unless there is a trip to the beach when you are on the coast. Charleston has plenty of places to soak up the sun and dip your toes in the water. I made a post about our three most popular beaches and things to do at them. Make sure to check out the popular beaches of Folly, Sullivan’s Island, and Isle of Palms. Find out more here.

4. Plantations

When I think of the South, plantations always come to my mind. Rows of trees with Spanish Moss hanging from them. Takes you back in time. Of course, it does come with a dark past. Charleston plantations have attacked it head-on and have educated visitors about the history of slavery and plantations. Charleston has plenty of movies and TV shows that have been shot on different plantation grounds: North Vs South, The Notebook, Dear John, The Patriot, and Army Wives to name a few.

Boone Hall Plantation – Located at 1235 Long Point Rd. Boone Hall has been recognized as the #1 plantation in Charleston. Plus, it is actually still a working plantation.

Middleton Place – Located at 4300 Ashley River Rd. Home to America’s oldest landscaped gardens. The grounds have the famous lawn steps seen in The Patriot.

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens – Located at 3550 Ashley River Rd. Magnolia Plantation is Charleston’s most visited plantation and has been voted as one of America’s most beautiful gardens. There is a really great petting zoo here as well.

Drayton Hall – Located at 3380 Ashley River Rd. Drayton Hall is an iconic 18th-century estate. This plantation has been voted as one of the best places to see in South Carolina.

5. Fort Sumter

South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union making Charleston a spark area for the upcoming conflict.

This is arguably one of the most famous sites in American History. At one time, the fort was occupied by Union troops and surrounded on the mainland by Confederate Troops. The Union garrison was bombarded for a day only to surrender the fort the next day. Home to the first battle of the Civil War, Fort Sumter is a national landmark.

Fort Sumter sits on a small island that was used to protect Charleston and the harbor. You will have to take a ferry out to reach the fort from Fort Sumter Tours. If you are lucky, you will be able to see dolphins swimming by.

6. Rainbow Row

Rainbow Row is one of the picturesque spots in Charleston. Don’t be surprised if you see wedding parties taking pictures here. The amazing pastel-colored houses make the perfect background for all your memorable photos.

Rainbow Row is located between 83-107 East Bay St. It took its look in 1931 when Dorthy Porcher Legge and her husband purchased a house and painted it pastel pink. Soon the neighbors followed and painted theirs around its pastel colors. There are many theories as to why houses are painted these colors that date back to before the purchase in 1931. This is truly a treasure spot in Charleston.

7. The Battery

After visiting Rainbow Row, keep walking down East Bay St. to get to The Battery. Here you will be on the edge of the water on one side with some of the most amazing houses on the other. This is a great place to take a stroll and clear your head. While taking in the view of the houses and water, you will understand why this is a top thing to do in Charleston SC.

At the point of the peninsula, you will run into White Point Garden. Take some time to walk around the park looking at the statues and enjoying the breeze off the water. Many people believe this is the site for one of the locations of the 12 treasures from the book, The Secret : A Treasure Hunt.

The Battery was first used as the defense of Charleston from incoming water invasions. After military advances, the seawall remained and was improved to help protect Charleston from tidal sea levels and storm surges.

8. Rooftop Bars

Charleston is a great place to go out and have a drink with family or friends. There are many different places to pick from throughout the city. With Charleston having amazing weather throughout the year, yes it can be hot in the summer, I suggest checking out one of the amazing rooftop bars.

At the majority of these rooftop bars, you will be able to sit down and enjoy a great meal as well. Many of the locations have their unique twists on the food and drinks they serve.

It can be so relaxing to sit or stand on a rooftop bar with a drink in hand just taking in the view. One of my favorite times to go is right before the sunset so that I can get an amazing view as the sun is setting. Check out my page here on rooftop bars in Charleston to get a list of where you should go.

9. The Angel Oak Tree

The Angel Oak Tree is located at 3688 Angel Oak Rd., Johns Island, SC. It is a short drive from downtown Charleston to get to it. No picture does the tree justice. It is one of those things that you have to see in person. Seeing the Angel Oak Tree is one of the top things that you should ask yourself, “What should I not miss in Charleston SC?”

It is a Southern live oak tree that is estimated to be between 400-500 years old making it the oldest living tree east of the Mississippi River. The tree stands over 65ft tall and has a circumference of 28ft. It is free to visit the tree.

10. Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum

Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum is an amazing place to walk in the steps of the heroes of our military family. First, to tour, the USS Yorktown is an Essex Class Aircraft Carrier that served from 1943 to 1970. You can tour many decks and different parts of the ship. You will see the main engineering, mess hall, quarters, ammo rooms, the flight deck that holds 28 naval aircraft, and the bridge.

After the USS Yorktown, make your way to the destroyer, USS Laffey. The Laffey served from 1944 to 1975. This is “The Ship That Would Not Die”, getting this nickname from uses in the D-Day Invasion and The Battle of Okinawa. Next, you will want to make your way to the Vietnam Experience. This area is built like a USMC Artillery Firebase. There are 4 helicopters in the exhibit to view.

You will be able to see the USS Yorktown across the water from downtown Charleston. This is definitely a thing to see in Charleston SC for those that are into military history.

11. Shem Creek

Shem Creek is located in Mount Pleasant just north of Charleston. There are plenty of restaurants lining the creek on both sides. You will notice shrimp boats with fresh catches coming to the restaurants when visiting the area.

Also, you will notice people pulling up their personal boats, kayaking, paddle boarding, and even dolphin swimming in the creek. This is one of my favorite locations and when someone visits, I always take them here first.

This is a perfect spot to have a great beer on the water while reminiscing about your day in Charleston. Shem Creek is absolutely the best place to go after a long day at the beach. You will also see some of the most beautiful sunsets at this location. You are also able to rent kayaks for kayak tours too. Here are a couple of my recommendations for restaurants to go to while visiting Shem Creek.

Saltwater Cowboys – Located at 130 Mill St. Their slogan says it all, Seafood – BBQ – Drinks – Happiness. This is a dog-friendly restaurant as well.

Red’s Ice House – Located at 98 Church St. Voted the best waterfront bar. With live bands, 2 outside bars, and nothing but fun. Red’s will have everything you need to enjoy your evening.

Make sure to put this on your list of, “What should I not miss in Charleston SC.” You will enjoy every moment of Shem Creek.

12. Breweries

Charleston has a strong local craft beer scene that has come on strong. There are plenty to choose from, and you will be happy with it. I have said for a while now, that it is a great time to be a beer lover.

If you are looking for a day of tasting some great beers while in Charleston to get out of the rain, I recommend that you visit these three breweries. These places will definitely help you get through the rainy day blues.

Revelry Brewing Company – Located at 10 Conroy St. Charleston, SC 29403

Edmund’s Oast Brewing Company – Located at 1505 King St. Charleston, SC 29405

Palmetto Brewing Company – Located at 289 Huger St. Charleston, SC 29403

13. Ghost Tours

From ghost haunting to the supernatural, Charleston is known to be in the top 20 most haunted cities in The United States. Charleston has plenty of reasons for the city to be haunted, including piracy, The Revolutionary War, The Civil War, and the atrocities of slavery. In the 300-year history of Charleston, there are a lot of stories to be told. There have been plenty of television shows to showcase Charleston in ghost hunting.

Here are the tours that you should definitely go on while visiting Charleston:

If you are interested in more tours in Charleston that covers from history to food and paranormal to the Outbanks TV show, check out my 32 Best Tours In Charleston SC page.

14. Charleston City Market

The Charleston City Market is located on Market St between Meeting St and East Bay St. This spot is probably the most touristy spot in Charleston. It spans about 4 blocks with tons of stands and shops inside. About 1/3 of it is inside with some food stands. On each side of The Market, you will find tons of shops lining Market St as well. At this spot, you will be able to purchase just about any Charleston souvenir.

Where to stay in Charleston SC?

Charleston has many options to pick from when picking a place to stay. Are you looking for a historic downtown experience, a beach experience, a vacation build around food? People come to visit Charleston for many different reasons.

I have put together a great list for everyone in search of the perfect spot to stay to make your vacation memorable. The prices do vary in each location of the city area. Of course, downtown in the historic areas, it will be more pricey.

Use my post here, Where To Stay In Charleston SC: Best Hotels And Locations to find the perfect place for you.

Get your Charleston Tour Pass today to save money on things you should not miss in Charleston SC

With so many things to see and do in Charleston, the best way to get your money’s worth is to purchase a Charleston Tour Pass. If you are planning on going to half of these places among so many more in Charleston, you should look into purchasing. You will be happy to have this pass when visiting the city.

Have Your Bags Picked Up While You Explore With Charleston Bag Valet

Don’t want to haul your luggage all around Charleston while waiting for your flight to leave or for your hotel to be ready? Good News! Charleston Bag Valet will help you out with that. As they say, you explore, they store.

Charleston Bag Valet will pick up your bags curbside anywhere in Charleston and secure each item with a customizable tamper-proof lock. They will store your bags in an insured and secured climate-controlled environment while you explore. When you are ready, they will deliver your bags to you where you want them and when you want them. You can even have them delivered to the airport for your ease.

Is Charleston SC worth visiting?

Many parts of Charleston make it unique. The award-winning restaurants, the beaches, all the history, and the architecture; make this place an amazing destination. You can spend an entire week exploring just one of these parts.

Charleston is a city that is easy to fall in love with. People love visiting Charleston and usually end up moving here.

What is Charleston SC most known for?

Charleston is known for its southern charm. The city has a perfect blend of history and modernity. The laid-back lifestyle tied in with award-winning restaurants makes Charleston a gem of a city. We always say there are many parts to Charleston. People visit just for the beach, the history, and its food.

That is why it was hard to come up with my, “what should I not miss in Charleston SC” list. There are just so many things to see and do here. Hopefully, you will start with it and add more to your “What should I not miss in Charleston SC” list.

Is Charleston a walkable city?

The best thing about your “What should I not miss in Charleston SC” list, is that most of it is walkable. Charleston is on a peninsula so there is only so much room to go. This is a perfect city to walk in. It is easy to get lost for hours just discovering the streets of Charleston.

However, if you get tired and need to find another way around, Charleston has plenty of other options for you.

  • Horse and Carriage – There are tours throughout Charleston with these, which should already be in your “What should I not miss in Charleston SC” list.
  • Rickshaw – Downtown has a lot of rickshaws that would love to take you and your kids all over.
  • Rideshare – There are always plenty of rideshare options throughout Charleston.

What month should I not miss Charleston SC?

The best months to visit Charleston are either between March to May or September to November. Both of these times you will not be too uncomfortable with the heat and humidity.

However, if you are looking for the best beach time, late May or September to November is best. The water will be warm enough to swim in. Of course, in the fall, it is like bath water.

If you are a fan of the heat, then you will enjoy the true Southern summer in Charleston if you visit in June, July, or August.

How much time do I need in Charleston SC?

There are a lot of visitors that come down here on long weekends, roughly 3-4 days. I would recommend at least a week. But do not worry about it, because you will be back to visit after your first visit. Everyone comes back to Charleston.

What should I not miss in Charleston SC in a nutshell

As you can see, there are so many things to do in Charleston SC. When you visit, please check out all these items while including some of your own to make the trip your own true experience. One of the best things about downtown Charleston is that it is not too big. Make sure to try everything and find your own “What should I not miss in Charleston SC” list. Everything is basically within walking distance. Just remember to wear comfortable shoes!

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