Charleston, SC

South Carolina Aquarium
DESCRIPTION: Opened in 2000, the experience begins the Great Hall that boasts 2-story windows offering the best views of Charleston Harbor and 15,000 gallon Carolina Seas Exhibit allowing guests to see colorful reef fish found off the coast of South Carolina; Mountain Forest is a remarkable walk-through habitat depicting a mountain ravine on ledges 10-to-12 feet above the exhibit floor, tulip poplar, hemlock and maple trees form a canopy to shelter several species of birds, including the cardinal and doves; the glass roof and special design of the exhibit enables these birds to fly freely throughout the trees; Piedmont exhibit explores the varied life supported by the streams, rivers and man-made reservoirs of South Carolina’s Piedmont region from a below-water view of a rushing stream flowing over a rocky outcrop; Coastal Plain exhibit lets you discover the fish, reptiles, amphibians and plants found in South Carolina’s Coastal Plain region -- the water is a characteristic mahogany and burnished gold, and the exhibit contains fliers, madtom, shiners, mosquito fish and other swamp dwellers; Salt Marsh Aviary is extraordinary 2,500-square-foot marsh anchors that presents the diversity of this type of ecosystem, including a high salinity marsh, mud flats, maritime shrub and salt shrub thickets, tidal creek, hummock, maritime forest and see fiddler crabs, rattlesnakes and a red-tailed hawk; Coast features a Rice Culture Exhibit that highlights the 20-mile band of freshwater swamps where enslaved Africans introduced many skills and traditions that supported rice cultivation; Ocean Gallery the gallery extends over two levels with a massive, two-story Great Ocean Exhibit which holds over 385,000 gallons of water and contains hundreds of animals visible in major views: Sandy Seafloor, Deep Ocean, and Rocky Reef; lots of kid fun with interactive programs and Unbelievable Floating Objects - an exhibit featuring exotic creatures from around the world; Includes exhibits on Gullah Fishermen, Rice Trunk dams made by Gullah rice harvesters, and the Gullah art of making sweetgrass baskets

ADMISSION: $20 Age 12-61, $19 Age 62+, $18 Age 2-11;

DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Sat 9a-5p, Sping Summer hours until 6p

ADDRESS: 100 Aquarium Wharf  MAP

PARKING: paid at adjacent city parking garage

PHONE: 843-720-1990

WEBSITE: http://www.scaquarium.org

Charleston Waterfront Park
DESCRIPTION: Features an eight-acre linear park and pier along the Charleston Harbor, combined fountains, lawns, intimate garden "rooms", a jogging path, picnic tables and swings; also on the grounds is the City Gallery, a contemporary visual arts center to exhibit the work of local, regional artists with their contemporary national artists

DAYS & HOURS: Tue–Fri 11p-6p, Sat-Sun 12p-5p

ADDRESS: 34 Prioleau Street  MAP

PHONE: 843-958-6484

WEBSITE: link

Hippodrome Widescreen Cinema & Performing Arts Center
DESCRIPTION: Formerly an IMAX Theatre, today it features first-run movies, live comedy shows and live music

DAYS & HOURS: Closed or Just Changing Ownership?

ADDRESS: 360 Concord Street  MAP

PHONE: 843-723-9132

Mt. Pleasant, SC

Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum
DESCRIPTION: Home of the WWII aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, other military vessels, and the Medal of Honor Museum, and vintage military aircraft; ships are open for tour

ADMISSION: Adults $18, Seniors & Military $15, Age -11 $11, Age 5 and under enter Free

DAYS & HOURS: April 1- Sept 30; 9a-6p; Oct 1-Mar 31 9a-5p; adults $12.50, children 6-11 $6, seniors and active military with ID $11

ADDRESS: 40 Patriots Point Road  MAP

PHONE: 843-884-2727

WEBSITE: http://www.patriotspoint.org