The Charleston area offers so much to do, and unless you move here (as so many visitors have done), you'll want to plan your vacation in such a way you return home with vivid memories.
Read more: So Much To Do - So Little Time (unless you move here!)
Built in 1820, a typical Charleston double house with a central hallway and two rooms on either side. It was the home of William Aiken, Jr., a rice planter and governor of South Carolina, and before that was a home of his father, the railroad company owner William Aiken. Today it is a historic house and museum that is managed by the Historic Charleston Foundation.
Declared the #1 plantation in Charleston, for growing and producing, for the past 3 centuries. One of America's oldest working, living plantations. U-pick fields area available in picking seasons. Notably, Boone Hall was featured in the film, The Notebook and in the mini-series North and South.
Known as "The Gilded Age Mansion, circa 1876", because it was considered "the handsomest and most complete private residence in the South". The 24,000 square foot Victorian home has thirty main rooms and many more smaller rooms. The house has a ballroom with a 45 foot high ceiling. It was built for George W. Williams, a businessman. When Williams died, his house was inherited by his son-in-law, Patrick Calhoun, a grandson of John C. Calhoun. The house and grounds appeared in the TV mini-series North and South. It is open for public tours.
Once part of several rice plantations during the stono rebellion and home to enslaved Africans who applied their technology and skills in agriculture to carve the series of rice fields out of cypress swamps. With miles of trails and elevated boardwalks to walk through the wetlands, Caw Caw is a prime location for avid birding.
Principal author and a signer of the United States Constitution. The remains of his plantation tells his story of public service and as a "forgotten founder". The Pinckney story shares the lives of enslaved African Americans on Lowcountry coastal plantations and their influences.
The original site of the first permanent English settlement in Carolina, as the Carolina Colony, sits on a marshy point off the Ashley River. The 664 acre site opened in 1970 commemorating South Carolina's tricentennial. The site houses an exhibit hall to introduce guests to Carolina colonial history, the Adventure - a 17th Century replica sailing ship, a live oak alley leading to The Legare Waring House, 80 acres of gardens, a natural habitat zoo, ongoing excavations and walking trails. The site has dozens of picnic tables available to relax and enjoy the area.
Centre Market as it was originally known, is a historic market complex in downtown Charleston. Established in the 1790s, the market stretches for four city blocks from the Market Hall, on Meeting Street, through three open air wooden structures called market sheds that continue down Market Street to East Bay Street. A fun and original shopping experience, here you can find Charleston's most popular items, from sweetgrass baskets to bags of grits and rare, and unexpected products that are perfect to take home as a souvenir or gift from your Charleston visit.
Celebrated for their award winning handcrafted small batch spirits, made in Charleston, using local grains. Explore for yourself with a tour and/or tasting. Reservations are recommended.
America’s first museum, founded in 1773, for discovering, preserving, interpreting, celebrating, and sharing the South Carolina Lowcountry.
Tea continues to be a southern staple in homes and on southern menu's. This one of a kind, fun and educational experience shows how tea is grown and harvested. Still a working plantation, with factory tours, gift shop, and all the tea you can drink.
Hands on exhibits that give children the opportunity to explore and imagine. Exhibits include, a two story castle, pirate ship, and an art room for exploration and learning.
This mansion was built for John Drayton (c. 1715-1779) after he bought the property in the late 1730's. Drayton was the third son in his family, who owned present day Magnolia Plantation. Drayton knew he was unlikely to inherit his birth home and created this 350 acre elite plantation "palace and gardens". This home is maintained by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Built by shipping merchant Charles Edmondston, in late Federalist style in 1825, it was one of the first elite homes to be built along the city’s sea wall with a view of the Charleston Harbor. Edmonston sold the house as a result of the economic reversals during the panic of 1837. It was purchased by a well-established member of the Lowcountry, Charles Alston of the rice-planting dynasty who updated the architecture of the house in the Greek Revival style. General P. T. Beauregard watched the bombardment of Ft. Sumter on April 12, 1861, from the piazza of the home. Guided tours of the home are provided.
Deep Water Vineyard is a 48 acre winery and the only vineyard in Charleston, SC that grows, harvests and bottles wines from Muscadine grapes with purely Southern names. The Firefly Distillery was created to distrubute the world’s first Sweet Tea Vodka. Their Vodka has taken the South Carolina staple, sweet tea, to a whole other level of Southern hospilitality. Located in Wadmalaw Island, just 30 minutes south of Charleston. Come by for a tour to learn about how they harvest the wine and/or distill the vodka, enjoy affordable tastings & samples, walk the trails through the vineyard, or the garden, have a picnic at the pond or visit the gift shop. There is plenty of ways to spend a few hours or an entire day. Open Wednesday - Sunday