Things to Do in Charleston, SC

Day 1: Stroll through the lovely Magnolia Plantation & Gardens

History: Founded by the Drayton family in 1676, Magnolia Plantation & Gardens is one of the oldest plantations in the South. The plantation’s beautiful gardens were opened to the public in 1870 and are absolutely stunning.

Why visit: Today, the Magnolia Plantation has been restored to the original plantation house prior to the Civil War and is operated as a house museum. The museum has wonderful interactive and interpretive programs that reflect on the African-American history at the plantation, including slavery and freedom.

Other interesting attractions include a marsh boat tour through the surrounding waterways, a nature train, a wildlife area and a petting zoo.

The gardens have beautiful collections to explore, such as the Barbados Tropical Garden, the Biblical Garden, the Cattail Wildlife Refuge and bird observation tower. Cypress Lake is home to impressive 100-year old bald cypress trees and is one of the top attractions for outdoor enthusiasts in Charleston SC.

Address: 3550 Ashley River Road, Charleston, South Carolina 29414, Phone: 843-571-1266

Best FREE Thing to Do in Charleston: Visit Waterfront Park

Stretching over 1,000 feet along the coast with spectacular views of the Charleston Harbor, Waterfront Park is one of the peninsula's most visited parks and a favorite among locals and visitors alike.

Dotted with old-fashioned park benches where visitors can sit and watch sail boats cruise past, the park boasts winding walkways, ornate fountains that light up at night, a large grassy lawn for picnicking, sun tanning and playing, and beautiful floral displays year round. Drinking fountains are scattered throughout the park, as well as wireless Internet access.

Centrally located, the park is within easy walking distance of the harbor and the bustling Market district for great shopping and sightseeing. Take a relaxing stroll through the park in the evening and watch the twinkling lights of the harbor come alive.

In the morning, take the kids to the South Carolina Aquarium

Located in the historic Charleston Harbor, the South Carolina Aquarium provides a fun-filled day of adventure and exploration for the whole family. Home to more than ten thousand marine plants and animals, ranging from sea otters and seals to penguins, sharks and tiny seahorses, the aquarium not only offers an array of mind-boggling displays and exhibits, but also interactive dive shows, animals programs and conservation workshops.

Visit the Great Ocean Tank, which spreads over two floors of the aquarium and houses some seven hundred sea creatures, including tiger sharks and sting rays; come face-to-face with with rays in the Stingray Encounter; or touch a horseshoe crab and other marine animals in the interactive Touch Tank. See a rare albino American alligator or take a tour of the Sea Turtle Hospital to learn how the aquarium takes conservation to the next level.

Address: South Carolina Aquarium, 100 Aquarium Wharf, Charleston, South Carolina 29401, Phone: 800-722-6455

In the evening, See a performance at the Charleston Music Hall

The Charleston Music Hall in downtown Charleston hosts extraordinary musical, artistic, and theatrical experiences for audiences in the city, with the aim of promoting local, regional, and national talent and encouraging communal participation.

History: Built in 1849 as a passenger station for the South Carolina Railroad, the building, which is the oldest on the block, had a tumultuous history of construction, renovation, decoration and, following the Charleston earthquake of 1886, dereliction, leaving it standing empty for 60 years. Finally, in 1995, it was transformed into the amazing arts venue that it is today.

Since opening its doors, the Music Hall has hosted a variety of top class performers, including David Byrne, Joan Baez and world-renowned bluegrass musician, Ricky Skaggs.

Address: Charleston Music Hall, 37 John Street, Charleston, South Carolina 29403, Phone: 843-853-2252

Day 2: Go on a Charleston Culinary Tour

Experience the best of Charleston with Charleston Culinary Tours, which combine the history, heritage and culture of this charming Southern city with its unique and world-renowned cuisine. Tours are offered through various districts in the city, which visit several different restaurants, bars, and markets to taste the best of Charleston’s cuisine, while at the same time highlighting the history of the area.

Each tour is led by a local culinary and history buff, who will take you on a journey through the city’s history, with stops at popular restaurants and bars. Each stop will allow you to sample and taste some of the Lowcountry's finest food offerings, as well as meet with the owners and chefs of the establishments making a mark on Charleston's burgeoning culinary scene.

The five tours that can be taken are Downtown, Upper King Street, Chef’s Showcase At the Farmer’s Market, Chef’s Kitchen and Mixology.

Learn about local history at the Charleston Museum

Founded in 1773 as the first museum in the United States, the Charleston Museum was opened to the public with the aim of exploring and preserving the natural and cultural history of Charleston and the South Carolina coastal region. Today, the museum is home to a number of collections and exhibits that display the heritage of the region.

The museum is spread over two historic buildings, namely the Heyward-Washington House - an 18thcentury house owned by Revolutionary patriot and signer of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Heyward, Jr, and the Joseph Manigault House – a federal-style home adorned with early 19th century furnishings.

The museum's exhibits include local history displays and decorative arts, including an exquisite silver collection. Visitors can view the only known fossil of the largest flying bird ever discovered – the now extinct Pelagornis sandersi.

Address: Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting Street, Charleston, South Carolina 29403, Phone: 843-722-2996

Take a tour of Calhoun Mansion

Calhoun Mansion is a 35-room Italianate mansion built in 1876 for businessman George W. Williams and his family. It is the largest historic private home in Charleston and arguably one of the most beautiful. Open to the public, it is part of many tours of the city’s historic downtown. Elegant and stately, the mansion has a grand ballroom, high ceilings, terraces, elevators, piazzas, Japanese gardens, and even a koi pond.

History: Lawyer and preservationist Howard Stahl bought it in 2004 after it had been meticulously renovated and is using it today to display his extensive collection of Gilded Age artifacts.

Address: Calhoun Mansion, 16 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401, Phone: 843-722-8205

Have a romantic dinner at The Ordinary

Serving sublime seafood dishes, and out-of-this-world shellfish, The Ordinary is a Southern seafood hall and oyster bar located in a historical bank building in the heart of Charleston.

The beautifully refurbished bank building sets the backdrop against which an exceptional seafood menu is served, with 22-foot high ceilings and stylish round-topped windows.

A gleaming white bar serves towering platters of oysters and clams on the half-shell from local producers, while regular fixtures, like pickled shrimp and fried oyster sliders have become firm favorites.

The menu changes daily - there is a prix fixe option with a featured entree dish. If you are looking for date night ideas in Charleston, this is a great restaurant to try.

Address: The Ordinary, 544 King St, Charleston, South Carolina 29403, Phone: 843-414-7060

Discover Middleton Place

Once the primary residence of several generations of the Middleton family, an important family at the center of the colonial and antebellum history of South Carolina, Middleton Place is a sprawling estate in Dorchester County that is now a National Historic Landmark and home to America’s oldest landscaped gardens.

History: Built in 1755, Middleton House is a museum with a wonderful collection of furniture, silver, rare books and portraits, displaying the rich history and heritage of a home that remained under the same family stewardship for 320 years.

Spread over 65 acres, the exquisite gardens surrounding Middleton Place are home to a wide variety of blooms, designed so that there are blossoming flowers year round. Get Tickets

Address: Middleton Place, 4300 Ashley River Road, Charleston, South Carolina 29414, Phone: 843-556-6020