Carriage ride through downtown Charleston; credit Charleston CVB
Charleston General Attractions
Old City Market
DESCRIPTION: Built 1841, it features small shops and restaurants selling everything from produce to antiques. Its a favorite merchandising place for Gullah ladies who weave and sell sweetgrass baskets.
ADMISSION: Free
DAYS & HOURS: daily
ADDRESS: Market Street at East Bay Street, Charleston, SC MAP
PARKING: on street and paid lots nearby
PHONE: 800-868-8118
WEBSITE: http://thecharlestoncitymarket.com
Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon
DESCRIPTION: Built by the British as the Exchange and Customs House in 1771, American Patriots were held prisoner in the Provost during the Revolutionary War. See the Half-Moon Battery portion of the Charles Towne Sea Wall built to defend the colony from pirates in the late 1600s. Some say its one of the three most significant buildings of colonial America. The kids will enjoy Pirate and George Washington Scavenger Hunts.
ADMISSION: Under $10
DAYS & HOURS: daily 9a-5p
ADDRESS: 122 East Bay Street, Charleston, SC MAP
PARKING: on street and paid lots nearby
PHONE: 843-727-2165
WEBSITE: http://www.oldexchange.com
Charleston Cooks! Maverick Kitchen Store
DESCRIPTION: Low country culinary classes & demos with food products, cookware, cookbooks; culinary teachers include African American chefs like South Carolina native, Marvin Woods, and Black brewmaster, Garette Oliver. Tourists can watch them cooking from the picture window facing East Bay Street, but the view and aroma are always better inside.
ADMISSION: Free
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Sat 10a-9p
ADDRESS: 194 East Bay Street, Charleston, SC MAP
PARKING: on street and paid lots nearby
PHONE: 843-722-1212
WEBSITE: http://www.charlestoncooks.com
Fort Sumter National Monument
DESCRIPTION: Union forces first occupied the fort on this man-made island in December 1960. On April 12, 1861 Confederate forces at Fort Johnson fired the first shot of the Civil War at Union-occupied Fort Sumter. After a 34-hour bombardment, Major Robert Anderson surrendered and Confederate troops occupied Fort Sumter despite bombardment until 1865. It took so much pounding that by February 17, 1865, when the Confederates evacuated, it was little more than rubble. Ask for a tour by National Park Service Education Director, Michael Allen — Gullah native with a wealth of knowledge about Black military and civilian history of South Carolina.
ADMISSION: Adults $3 and Seniors $2 for Ferry ride
DAYS & HOURS: daily 10a-4p except major holidays, check their website
ADDRESS: board Fort Sumter Ferry at 1214 Middle Street, Fort Sumter, SC MAP
PARKING: paid lots nearby the dock
PHONE: 843-883-3123
WEBSITE: http://www.nps.gov/fosu
Fort Moultrie
DESCRIPTION: Current structure was completed in 1809 and is the third fort on this site; original palmetto log fort was attacked by a British fleet on June 28, 1776 during the Revolutionary War. Colonel William Moultrie’s forces repelled British in one of the first decisive American victories of the Revolution. The National Park Service has restored the interior of the fort. The visitor center features a film with important segments about the Massachusetts 54th Colored Regiment (portrayed in the movie “Glory” and Robert Smalls, a slave who captured a Confederate warship. A 20 minute film runs on every 1/2 hour.
ADMISSION: Cheap; ask for a tour by National Park Service Education Director, Michael Allen — a Gullah native with a wealth of knowledge about Black military and civilian history of South Carolina
DAYS & HOURS: daily 9a-5p
ADDRESS: 1214 Middle Street, Sullivan’s Island, SC MAP
PHONE: 843-883-3123
WEBSITE: http://www.nps.gov/fosu/historyculture/fort_moultrie.htm
City Marina
DESCRIPTION: The City Marina is the largest full service marina downtown; when its warm you can parasail, rent wave runners, powerboats, and take off-shore fishing trips.
DAYS & HOURS: daily 8a-7p
ADDRESS: 17 Lockwood Blvd, Charleston, SC MAP
PHONE: 843-853-4386
Cypress Gardens
DESCRIPTION: Stroll miles of walking trails that wind through beautiful gardens, paddle a flat bottom boat through a real cypress swamp, relax in a House which features native butterflies and plants in all their glory. Or explore an aquarium that offers an up-close look at amphibians, reptiles and fish native to the cypress swamp.
DAYS & HOURS: daily 9a-5p
ADDRESS: 3030 Cypress Gardens Road, Charleston, SC MAP
PHONE: 843-553-0515
Links at Stono Ferry
DESCRIPTION: Located on the Intracoastal Waterway in the beautiful low country, this par 72-course is both a challenge and a pleasure to experience.
DAYS & HOURS: daily 7a-7p
ADDRESS: 5365 Forest Oaks Drive, Charleston, SC MAP
PHONE: 843-763-1817
Charleston National Country Club
DESCRIPTION: Designer Rees Jones calls it “one of the elite venues in golf.” It is indisputably a top golf course and learning center with affordable prices.
ADDRESS: 1360 National Drive, Mt. Pleasant, SC MAP
PHONE: 843-884-7799
WEBSITE: http://www.charlestonnationalgolf.com
