Best things to do in Charleston

Palmetto Carriage Works

Sightseers ride behind horses in old-fashioned carriages while receiving a narrated history lesson.

USS Yorktown Ghost Tour

Nighttime ghost tour aboard the decommissioned WWII carrier docked across the harbor in Mount Pleasant.

Lowcountry Walking Tours

Guided walking tours of the peninsula led by locals who know Charleston's history past the brochure version.

Pirates of Charleston

Family-run pirate adventure cruise departing Ashley Point, blending local maritime lore with hands-on activities for kids on the Charleston Harbor.

Tiki Tours of Charleston - Party Boat and Booze Cruises

BYOB pontoon boat tours departing from Lockwood Drive along the Charleston Harbor and Ashley River.

Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum

Visitors can explore a retired Naval aircraft carrier, destroyer & submarine docked here year-round.

Folly Beach County Park

Swimming beach with seasonal lifeguards & pelican rookery featured in preserve with limited parking.

Pineapple Fountain

Multi-layered, pineapple-shaped fountain facing the waterfront, popular for photos.

James Island County Park

This serene park with tidal creeks & trails is a popular spot for biking, crabbing & camping.

Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve

Oceanside preserve featuring a lighthouse, a beach, surf fishing, birdwatching & more.

Hampton Park

Featuring extensive floral displays, this park also offers a baseball diamond, playground & trail.

Epic Game Show Experience

Hosted trivia and game show competitions for groups at a Market Street venue in the heart of the tourist district.

Shem Creek Park

Boardwalks, trails & fishing boats highlight this tranquil town park with creek & wetlands views.

Cypress Gardens

Swamp garden with giant cypress trees offering boat tours plus a butterfly house attraction.

Friends of the Hunley

Waterfront museum offering weekend tours of a 19th-century historic submarine, artifacts & exhibits.

Carolina Marine Group

Charter fishing and eco-tour outfit on the Ashley River, running inshore trips for families and serious anglers alike.

International African American Museum

Waterfront museum on Gadsden's Wharf, the precise site where enslaved Africans first arrived in America, documenting that history through galleries and genealogy resources.

Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park

A nautical-themed playground, 1,250-ft pier with bench swings, cafe/gift shop & scenic harbor views.

Angel Oak Tree

400+ year old live oak on Johns Island. Free to visit. Branches that touch the ground.

White Point Garden

This public garden beside the water offers paved paths, military statues, canons & picnic areas.

Colonial Lake Park

Historic tidal pond & dog-friendly park with paved pathways, benches, fishing & open green space.

Escape in 60

Downtown escape room operation on Market Street with multiple themed puzzles for groups.

Kiawah Beachwalker Park

The only public access to Kiawah Island's ten miles of hard-packed sand. Wide, flat, walkable.

Isle of Palms County Park

Beachfront park offering a playground & umbrella rentals, plus grills & a sand volleyball court.

Middleton Place

Sprawling Ashley River rice plantation dating to the 1730s, with gardens and refined lodging.

Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon

Self-guided tours offered in a historic building, formerly a Revolutionary prison & City Hall.

Campground at James Island County Park

Campground with a store, bathrooms, free Wi-Fi, grills & activity center in a 643-acre natural park.

Adventure Sightseeing

Family-friendly bus and boat tour operator running sightseeing routes through the historic peninsula since 1967.

Palmetto Islands County Park

A 943-acre nature setting with paved trails, picnic sites & access for fishing, crabbing & kayaking.

Waterfront Park

Well-known park with Charleston Harbor views, plus a large lawn, walkways & fountains.

North Charleston Wannamaker County Park

Sprawling expanse of woodlands & wetlands with grills & picnic spots, plus a fee-based water park.

Shem Creek Boardwalk

Tidal boardwalk along a working shrimp boat dock in Mount Pleasant, where pelicans outnumber tourists on slow weekday mornings.

Melton Peter Demetre Park

Waterfront city park on James Island with marsh views, a fishing pier, and open green space for dogs and families.

Gibbes Museum of Art

Portraits & landscapes dating back to the 1700s, housed in a century-old beaux arts-style building.

Ocean Walk at Pitt Street Bridge Park

Paved waterfront path along a converted rail bridge in Old Mt Pleasant, with marsh views, dog walkers, and open sky in every direction.

Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park

A pair of historic military sites with roots dating from 1776 & featuring Charleston Harbor views.

Stono River County Park

Tidal park on Johns Island with boat access, walking trails, and marsh views along the Stono River.

Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site

Colonial-era settlement with many original buildings & ruins, archaeological digs & guided tours.

Washington Square

Urban park with oak trees & flower displays centered on a 42-ft. model of the Washington Monument.

The Battery

Seawall promenade at the tip of the peninsula where antebellum mansions face the harbor and cannons point toward Fort Sumter.

Aiken-Rhett House Museum

Tours of this historic home of an influential 1800s family include a back lot where slaves lived.

Liberty Square

Grassy national park on Cooper River featuring a small museum, aquarium & ferry to Fort Sumter.

Powder Magazine Museum

Colonial military history museum & gift shop in a 1713 gunpowder storage building.

Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens

1681 working plantation known for its moss-draped Avenue of Oaks & original slave cabins.

Station 21 - Public Beach Access, Sullivan's Island

Paved public beach access on Sullivan's Island with free parking, a boardwalk, and dog-friendly shoreline off Middle Street.

Fort Sumter National Monument

Accessed by boat, this fort with ruins, gun emplacements & a museum saw the Civil War’s first shots.

Gadsdenboro Park

Small urban park on the edge of the upper peninsula, with a playground, open lawn, and direct views of the Cooper River.

Marion Square

Urban green space with historic significance, hosting regular events including a farmer's market.

The Charleston Museum

America's first museum, founded in 1773, exhibits relics from South Carolina & Confederate history.

Hampton Plantation State Historic Site

Established in 1735, this historic plantation is an interpretive site about slavery & offers tours.

Carolina Polo and Carriage Co.

Horse-drawn carriage tours through the historic district, departing from Pinckney Street since the 1980s.

McLeod Plantation Historic Site

Preserved historical plantation with a Georgian-style mansion, slave cabins & interpretive tours.

Night Heron Park

Wooded park on Kiawah Island with beach access, a nature center, and dog-friendly trails along the marsh edge.

Mace Brown Museum of Natural History - College of Charleston

Free natural history museum inside College of Charleston's science building, with fossil collections, minerals, and regional specimens.

Nathaniel Russell House Museum

Ornate, circa-1808 home known for its "free-flying" 3-story spiral staircase, with guided tours.

Edmondston-Alston House

Historic Federal-style home, open for tours showcasing architecture, furnishings & family artifacts.

Edisto River Adventures

Canoe and kayak outfitter on the Edisto River, running guided tours and rentals through one of the longest free-flowing blackwater rivers in the country.

Charleston, South Carolina

Historic walking city where centuries of architecture, cobblestone streets, and harbor views reward those who slow down enough to look up.

Pirate Park

Small neighborhood park on Pierce Street with a pirate-themed playground, free parking, and room for dogs.

The Original Ghostwalk of Charleston

Lantern-lit walking tours through the historic district covering Charleston's documented hauntings, graveyards, and colonial-era tragedies since 1999.

Brittlebank Park

Scenic riverfront recreational area featuring a playground, walking paths & a fishing pier.

Quarterman Park

Cozy public park known for its tended green spaces & central pond with a charming fountain.

Rainbow Row

Historic District cluster of 13 pastel-painted Georgian-style rowhouses dating from 1748 to 1845.

Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park

Two Civil War forts bookending Charleston Harbor, reachable by ferry, where the first shots of the war were fired.

Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site

Tours & interactive exhibits at the birthplace of the Carolina colony, first settled in 1670.

South Carolina Aquarium

Massive aquarium with interactive exhibits & hundreds of creatures, including many native species.

West Ashley Park

Expansive landscaped park with soccer & softball fields, a disc golf course, fishing & playgrounds.

Smythe Park

Grassy waterfront park on Daniel Island with a playground, open lawn, and direct access to the Wando River.

Ackerman Park

Neighborhood park on Sycamore Ave with open lawns, dog access, and wheelchair-accessible paths in West Ashley.

Heyward-Washington House

18th-century Georgian-style home once belonging to a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Theodora Park

Compact neighborhood green space on Anson Street with benches, dog access, and a quiet break from the French Quarter foot traffic.

Childrens Museum of the Lowcountry

Hands-on exhibits for under-10 kids plus parties, programs, camps & classes such as yoga & dance.

Station 25 - Public Beach Access

Free public beach access point on Sullivan's Island with parking, a reliable entry for families skipping the Isle of Palms crowds.

Governors Park

Shaded neighborhood park off Fairbanks Oak Alley with live oaks, open lawn, and room for dogs and kids.

The Museum at Market Hall

Greek Revival landmark built in 1841 offering Civil War history & tours by women's-group docents.

Drayton Hall

Storied, well-preserved antebellum plantation with tranquil grounds & an African-American cemetery.

Joseph Manigault House

Built in 1803, this antebellum structure is furnished with period American, French & British pieces.

Pickett Park

Park offering a jogging & biking trail with harbor & sunset views, plus fishing areas & boat launch.

Corrine Jones Park

Small neighborhood park on Marlow Drive with open lawn, a playground, and a walking path suited for kids and leashed dogs.

Station 23 - Public Beach Access

Narrow public beach access point on Sullivan's Island where locals park along Middle Street and walk straight to the Atlantic.

Magnolia Plantation Gardens

Romantic-style gardens dating to 1680. Azaleas peak in March; camellias bloom all winter.

Charles Pinckney National Historic Site

Remnants of a 1700s plantation, with indoor & outdoor exhibits on Charles Pinckney's life & times.

Waterfront Swings

Free public swings overlooking the Cooper River at Waterfront Park, a reliable stop for kids and anyone who wants a harbor view.

Riverfront Park

This popular green space along the Cooper River features a large meadow & performance pavilion.

Charleston Naval Base Admiral's House

Restored 1905 Colonial Revival officer's residence on the old North Charleston naval base, now bookable for weddings and private events.

South Carolina Historical Society

Private library housing historical state photos & documents, with a Colonial & antebellum focus.

Old Slave Mart Museum

Displays in this former slave auction building tell the story of the slave trade in Charleston.

Thomson Park

Station 28 1/2 - - Public Beach Access

Childrens Park Daniel Island

Waterfront park on Daniel Island with climbing structures, open lawn, and river views for kids and dogs.

Chapel Street Fountain Park

Small neighborhood splash pad and green space on Chapel Street, open to dogs and strollers year-round.

Cannon Park

Shaded neighborhood green across from the Gibbes Museum, popular with dog walkers and families on Rutledge Avenue.

Dock Street Park

Small neighborhood park on Sprague Street with grass, room for dogs, and a low-key place to let kids run.

Historic Charleston Foundation

Preservation nonprofit on East Bay running house museums, educational programs, and advocacy for Charleston's built environment since 1947.

Pinckney Park

Quiet James Island neighborhood park with a playground, open lawn, and marsh views off Fort Johnson Road.

Station 30 - Public Beach Access

Station 22 1/2 - Public Beach Access

Station 18 - Public Beach Access

When I First Remember(Old Bethel United Methodist Church)

Charleston Fun Park

Indoor/outdoor center with paintball, a climbing wall, go-karts, mini-golf, a jump house & arcade.

Station 24 - Public Beach Access

Old Village Historic District

Tree-lined antebellum neighborhood in Mount Pleasant where locals walk, jog, and let kids loose among 19th-century cottages along the waterfront.

Fountain at north entrance of Waterfront Park

Pineapple-shaped fountain at the Cooper River end of Waterfront Park, open for wading.

Station 27 - Public Beach Access accessible

Station 28 - - Public Beach Access

Horse Lot Park

Compact public green on the Charleston Peninsula where Chisolm meets the waterfront, popular with dogs and strollers.

Station 32 - Public Beach Access

Station 26 1/2 - Public Beach Access

Patriots Point Nature Trail

Two-mile loop through maritime forest and marsh at the base of Patriots Point, with views of the Ravenel Bridge and Cooper River.

Sullivan Island beach access

Station 31 - Public Beach Access