10 Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Charleston, SC
Charleston is a well-preserved Southern beauty, with her aristocratic homes surrounded by lush flora and dramatic brick streets, personifying the romantic image of the Old South. Charleston was recognized as the wealthiest town in the American South in 1773, and it retains the aura of plantation life possibly better than any other.
A stroll or a ride in a horse-drawn carriage through the Historic District, with its veranda-fronted homes and thin church towers, reveals why Gone with the Wind’s heroine decided to live in Charleston. Riding through the Historic District is like going back in time to Charleston’s glory days. A carriage ride is one of the most romantic activities to do in Charleston, especially at night, because the streets are lined with magnificent historic mansions, churches, and other buildings (Charleston has over 1,400 historic sites).
In addition to historic residences, plantations, and museums, Charleston’s tourist attractions include an aquarium, the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier, and Fort Sumter, the site of the Civil War’s opening salvo. With this helpful list of things to do in Charleston, you’ll be able to identify the greatest spots to visit.
Middleton Place Plantation
A superb plantation evokes the spirit of the Old South, and Charleston has plenty to show off. Middleton Place is highlighted by America’s oldest planted gardens, in addition to its fully furnished plantation mansion.
The grounds display their symmetrical 17th-century European architecture in a stunning set of descending terraces, walled galleries, and lakes. Rare camellias bloom in the winter and azaleas bloom in the spring, making the gardens a year-round destination.
Waterfront Park
The 12-acre Waterfront Park spans along more than 1,000 feet of waterfront and is a popular spot for tourists and locals to relax and take in the views of Charleston Harbor. Old-fashioned park benches and twin swings face the water, which is frequented by sailboats and larger ships.
At night, the fountains, especially the unique Pineapple Fountain, are illuminated, and seasonal flower beds offer a splash of color. The park’s convenient position near the City Market and historic sites, as well as its free Wi-Fi, add to its appeal.
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens
The year-round grandeur of Magnolia Plantation’s enormous gardens will dazzle everyone, not just garden aficionados. These are America’s oldest publicly accessible gardens, with portions dating back two centuries. They initially opened to visitors in 1870. In contrast to most display gardens, where nature is controlled and shaped by formal beds, walks, and landscaping, they are also the country’s last large-scale Romantic-style garden.
The gardens have grown as each consecutive owner added new features, as they have been nurtured by generations of the same family. A guided tour of the house is available, as well as visits to an Antebellum cottage, a boat excursion, exhibitions, and a nature center and petting zoo for younger guests.
Watch Basket Weavers at the Old City Market
The ancient market building, a major landmark in the historic neighborhood, is one of the most popular things to do in Charleston. It’s a lively and colorful spot that’s great for souvenir shopping and just taking in the vibe.
Locally manufactured handcrafts and traditional culinary goods such as stone-ground grits are sold by vendors, but the exquisite sweetgrass baskets are the most popular mementos of Charleston. Gullah artists in the open-air “sheds” surrounding the market hall weave these exquisite works of art from native Lowcountry rushes, creating gems that are among the country’s oldest and most cherished traditional crafts, as tourists look on in awe. These baskets are the typical Charleston souvenir, with techniques and patterns originating in West Africa.
Take a Boat to Fort Sumter National Monument
The American Civil War officially began on April 12, 1861, when the Confederacy attacked Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. Four years after the attack, the American flag was hoisted again above the ruins of Fort Sumpter at the end of the war.
The shattered fort’s ruins are beautifully preserved, and National Park Rangers describe the Fort Sumter tale and how it shaped history.
USS Yorktown and Patriots Point
Patriots Point, located directly across Charleston Harbor from the Historic District, is where you can board the USS Yorktown. This massive ship was the ninth aircraft carrier to serve in the US Navy, gaining the Presidential Unit Citation and 11 battle stars for World War II duty, as well as five battle stars for Vietnam service.
The USS Yorktown was also the ship chosen to collect the Apollo 8 astronauts, and it was featured in the 1944 film The Fighting Lady. In 1975, the USS Yorktown was decommissioned and moved to Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum. You can also visit aircraft, submarines, and other maritime displays while at Patriots Point.
Stroll through the Battery and White Point Gardens
The promenade along the seawall was washed by the Ashley and Cooper Rivers as they met and formed Charleston Harbor in 1837, but when the Civil War broke out, it was fortified as Battery Ramsey.
The park is bordered by some of Charleston’s grandest stately homes and mansions and offers a spectacular view of Fort Sumter and Charleston Harbor. Historic mortars and cannons from the war, as well as a Confederate monument, are on display, but the main reason the park is a favorite spot for tourists to stroll is that it is bordered by some of Charleston’s grandest stately homes and mansions and offers a spectacular view of Fort Sumter and Charleston Harbor.
South Carolina Aquarium
The South Carolina Aquarium is one of the most popular family attractions in Charleston. It is not only home to underwater species, despite its name. In every kid’s favorite Charleston attraction, birds, land-dwelling mammals, plants, and reptiles join the sea creatures.
The emphasis is on engagement, so you’ll find Shark Shallows, where you can touch sharks and rays, as well as a touch tank with starfish and other critters, in addition to the two-story, 385,000-gallon aquarium tank, where there are daily interactive shows.
Bike across the Ravenel Bridge
The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, which connects downtown Charleston and Mount Pleasant across the Cooper River, became a well-known landmark almost immediately after its completion in 2005. Its sleek cable-stay design is more than just a lovely bridge: it’s designed to endure winds of more than 300 miles per hour, a 7.4-scale earthquake, and even ship accidents.
Boone Hall Plantation
Boone Hall, one of America’s oldest working plantations, is best known for its three-quarter-mile Avenue of Oaks, which is moss-draped, and for retaining ancient slave huts. The trees that frame the approach to Boone Hall were planted in 1743 by the son of the original owner, Major John Boone.
Crops have been cultivated here for over three centuries, and you may purchase fruits, berries, and vegetables at their Boone Hall Farms Market, which is located near the plantation on Highway 17.
Conclusion
Hope this blog will provide the relevant information about the favourite attractions in Charleston. Do go through the blog in detail. Stay tuned with us to know more.
