What to do in Charleston SC?
Hello everyone now we will talk about the legendary city of Charleston, which is located in the state of South Carolina. After reading this article, you will learn what interesting things Charleston has prepared for you, what you should not miss, and most importantly what to do in Charleston in your free time.
Do you know what I’m most tired of reading on the Internet? A large number of complaints that Charleston is a city for the rich. Reading the comments under articles about Charleston, you can only hear: all restaurants are expensive, there are no free rides, and so on.
The good news is that now You don’t need to think about how to save every cent on a trip to Charleston because especially for our readers here are collected free or almost free entertainment. And for those who agree to spend a little, we have prepared a top of the best places for any budget. Let’s go!
What to do in Charleston SC?
My history of exploring Charleston and its surroundings began in 2013. At that time, the tourism business was estimated at $ 3.6 billion, but I didn’t have to spend a lot of money on traveling and getting to know the city.
What did I do in Charleston? I got into the culture of the city and met the locals, and they don’t pay for the beauty of the city, they know how to get it for free. Below I share with you my experience and beautiful places that ordinary tourists may not know.
Please share the article with your friends, thank you in advance, and we are starting!
What are the most popular things to do in Charleston with kids?
A survey of Charleston residents showed that residents of the city consider their parks the most beautiful in the country, and I agree with this. So that’s where you can go with the kids? Right! To the Park, of course. Each Park has its own history, which sometimes changed very unpredictably, but now about everything in more detail.
Hampton Park
Hampton Park is one of Charleston’s largest parks. The Park is known for its flower collection, which includes a popular display of old roses.
The Park has a busy life, for example, all year round there are a variety of celebrations from family meetings to weddings. Frisbee lovers often like to play here in large companies. For those who like to run, there is a treadmill.
The horticultural society recently documented a walking tour called “Layers of the Landscape”.
White Point Garden
A very large 5.7-acre Park that sprawls on the Charleston Peninsula, at the very end of the Peninsula. It offers stunning views of Fort Sumter and of the Charleston Harbor.
The Park has a lot of beautiful lawns with shady shelters that create centuries-old oaks. In the heart of the Park you will find a gazebo with a cannon display from the civil war.
If you walk along the Central alley between the Church and the congregation, you can see a bust of William Gilmore Simms — a famous poet, writer and historian for South Carolina. The monument itself was made of bronze in 1879.
Waterfront Park
Each of us lives in constant tension and expectation, but health needs to be able to stop, rest, and freeze. That’s why visitors to Waterfront Park love this place so much.
The excellent location with views of the Harbor and river with a Park area of more than 10 acres, allows you to walk for hours on end. This romantic and serene place is very much adored by couples and families.
It’s hard to imagine that in 1980 this place looked like a weedy patch of a forgotten land, where you could see Parking lots and charred piles of buildings.
But after the design of the Park, which was carried out by Stuart O. Dawson of Sasaki Associates, the forgotten territory was divided into sections that intersected with the embankment and with Bicycle and pedestrian paths, all together they were connected to a fountain surrounded by palm trees.
In 2007, the Park was awarded the Landmark Award by the renowned American society of architects.
The Gateway Garden Walk
This Park, called The Gateway Garden Walk, opened in early 1930 to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the founding of Charles Towne. The Park got its name in honor of the gate that runs through the city.
The Park was designed by architect Loutrel W. Briggs, who gave us all a special walking tour, and architect T. Hunter McEaddy added his final renovations.
The trail starts at the Church gate, then crosses king street, then crosses Meeting street again, and ends at St. Philip’s Church. All of the Park’s revenues depend on fundraising projects, so we ask you to spare a few dollars to maintain our heritage.
Marion Square
And completing the top five most beautiful parks in Charleston is Marion square. This is a green area in the heart of the city. The Park covers an area of 6.5 acres, originally built as a parade ground for the state Arsenal.
It is also known as the Green Citadel, and after the Citadel moved to the Western part of the city, the square was renamed in honor of Francis Marion.
Today, this place is famous for its seasonal markets and views of the city’s most prestigious buildings. You must take a walk in this truly wonderful Park at least once.
What can I do in Charleston SC in one day?
When I hear again that it is impossible to walk for free in Charleston, I laugh. You can enjoy everything for free, from exploring the shops on king street, visiting the historic city market, walking through the gardens, theater or citadel, to excursions and walking tours that are free for tourists and residents of the city. And all this will not cost you a single dollar. Are you ready to find out what to do in Charleston SC?
Shopping on King Street
For shoppers, there is hardly a better place to walk than King Street. This street is famous for its extravagance, it vividly reflects the clash of the old and new eras.
This street has existed for more than 300 years and is the second most important from a historical point of view. Back in 1700, this street was used as a way to enter and exit the city and was not intended for commercial real estate buildings, but the built railway station turned the whole city life around.
Since the station was built, the street has begun to thrive as a shopping area of the city, which has a certain charm and attracts more and more people every year.
The number of events that are held on King Street is unlikely to be counted. Every Saturday there is a weekly farmer’ market, every second Sunday of the month there is a fashion show, a food and wine festival, and much more.
Historic Charleston City Market
The next most important place to visit is the historical market. This market is considered the oldest of the remaining ones, and you can meet about 300 sellers who work every day except December 25.
The date of the Foundation is unknown, but the first mention of the market occurred in 1790, the market covers 4 quarters. This is not a market that is known for selling slaves, this is a common myth that tourists love to talk about. Today, you can find jewelry, Souvenirs, and handmade products on the market. This place is also listed in the register of historical heritage.
The Battery Carriage House Inn
This place is known for its mystical stories. The Battery Carriage House Inn is considered the most visited haunted hotel. The first mention of ghosts was made by hotel employees back in 1992.
The most famous ghosts live in this hotel. They are called the headless torso and the “gentleman’s Ghost”. According to historians, the gentleman was one of the owners of this building. The story of his life ends in this hotel, he was a College student who jumped off the roof.
As for the “headless torso”, its history dates back to the civil war, it is said that in those days’ dismemberment was common, and people died in this area often. Guests who saw this Ghost claimed that no harm was done to them.
The Dock Street Theatre
This building was originally built in 1809 as a hotel, and later converted into a theater and has been considered a national historic site since 1973.
The last reconstruction took 3 years and ended in 2010 when the theater opened for the third time. The reconstruction of the building cost the authorities $ 19 million.
Thanks to these costs, it was possible to move the theater to the 21st century using the latest technologies in the field of light and sound. The theater is seismically stable, which makes it absolutely safe during earthquake periods.
The Dock Street Theatre is also home to other cultural institutions, such as the Spoleto Festival or the popular Charleston Stage, which became a professional theater in 1978.
The Citadel
The next in line to visit, of course, Is the citadel or the military College of South Carolina. It was first built in 1842 and has the title of one of the 6 most famous colleges in the United States. Back in 1922, the campus was moved to the banks of the Ashley River.
Every Friday there is a parade, this is a really interesting performance, which should be included in the list of popular places in Charleston SC. The citadel is open all year round, you can come here with your children or with a loved one to take a walk and get to know each other better.
On the campus is The Summerall Chapel — one of the shrines of religion, memory, and patriotism. In addition to all this, they often like to hold weddings here. By the way, do not forget to visit the gift shop, where you can buy everything you need.
Rainbow Row
One of the most popular streets in Charleston is called Rainbow Row, this name exists for a reason. There are 13 brightly colored houses along the waterfront on this street and this place is truly the most photographed in the city.
Despite all the beauty, it is also important to know the history, which fascinates with its twists and turns. Do many people wonder if these houses always looked like this? Of course not! The history of the houses begins in 1740 when merchants kept shops on the first floor and lived on the second.
After the civil war, the Rainbow Row area was run down and equated to a slum. But that all changed in 1931 when Dorothy Porcher Legge decided to decorate her home in pastel pink, hoping for a makeover. The other residents of the neighboring houses followed her.
There are a lot of theories about why these houses were painted or how the colors were chosen, but the fact is, this place is actually the most photographed in the city.
Walking Tours of Charleston
You are mistaken if you think that there are no free walks here. FreeToursbyFoot is always happy to provide walking tours that you won’t pay a cent for.
The goal of the platform is to provide a chance for novice guides to practice and professional guides to enjoying their work. The price for the tour is not specified, you can pay yourself or not pay at all.
The site offers tours from various eras ranging from historical walking tours and exploring sacred sites tonight walks and exploring the dark side of Charleston,
You can find out the schedule and learn more about it on the website https://freetoursbyfoot.com/charleston-sc-tours/
Four Corners of Law
This famous place has its own charm. The fact that in Charleston there is a crossroads, on which stood four buildings that belong to four different legal departments.
St. Michael’s Episcopal Church representing God’s law it was built between 1752 and 1761 years, Charleston City Hall, representing city law, the Charleston County Courthouse representing state law originally built in 1753, and the Federal Courthouse representing federal laws.
There are funny stories that you can experience all stages of life on this street. Get married, get divorced, pay taxes, or go to jail.
Charleston Hat Man
This is a famous painting that is located in the city of Charleston, it is truly unique in that it is drawn from 16 hats of 12 different styles. The author of this painting is unknown, but it was painted in 1892 for an advertising campaign for a dry goods store.
You can find this masterpiece at Church Street at the corner of Broad Street.
Pink House Gallery
It is not known exactly when the house was built, but historians only suggest that it was between 1694 and 1712. The house is built of pinkish Bermuda stone. There were long disputes about the date of construction, two historians were able to prove that the building was built in 1712, but there are also assumptions about the construction in 1745.
The Pink House is a place where you can still see the traditional plantation prints of the late Ravenel Gaillard, vintage photos of the famous photographer George W. Johnson and even paintings of Anne Clanton Thomas.
The gallery is located in one of the oldest buildings in the South. Here you can find paintings, landscapes, flowers, and even wild animals. This is another great place to explore the culture of the city and state. If you don’t know what to do in Charleston SC, then rather go to The Pink House.
Circular Church Graveyard
Many people are afraid of cemeteries, but there are also those who are attracted to this energy and this is not for nothing. In the last century, cemeteries were places for walking, but in recent times there has been a taboo.
In fact, not all cemeteries can scare you. But Circular Church Graveyard is not a simple cemetery. There are ghosts here! About 500 tombstones have survived to this day, but initially, there were about 700 of them.
One of the reasons why many lost some graves, of course, is the hurricanes. But this is not the only reason, for example, in 1780 there was a siege by the British, and cannonballs were fired at the Church and cemetery, of course, it is difficult to survive such shots.
Despite the differences in times in the past, today it is a very friendly place where you can walk or go on a tour.
Unitarian Church Tour
What should I not miss in Charleston SC? Of course, the Unitarian Church Tour. This is a truly unique place with a night tour of the haunted cemetery. People who work in this place tell about the appearance of ghosts several times a year.
The Church was founded in 1772, but ghosts still live there, and many visitors encounter them in various ways. Someone sees them, someone hears them, and someone even feels them.
On the tour, you can learn more about the ghosts and supernatural events that often occur here. What could be better than an open-air walkthrough Charleston at night with ghosts?
The Red Barn of Palmetto Carriage Tours
What is Charleston known for? This is a truly unique city, which is fraught with a huge number of unique opportunities and entertainment. Take for example Palmetto Carriage it was founded in 1971 and managed to create the largest transportation company.
You can take a horse or mule tour of the city, or visit their barn in the city center with more than 40 horses and mules. The founders of the company are really proud to provide quality care to animals.
Children love to visit their barn, and you will not miss the most emotional tour.
Local Art Galleries
What the best time of year to visit Charleston SC? This is a very good question, but it is impossible to give a specific answer to it because this city contains all-season entertainment.
For fans of the Lowcountry, there are about 10 places where you can touch the art. Such a trip can take several days, it’s good that we have already compiled a list of art galleries for you.
The list contains the best galleries to visit with children:
· Ann Long Fine Art;
· The City Gallery at Waterfront Park;
· Corrigan Gallery;
· George Gallery;
· The Hasley Institute of Contemporary Art;
· Mary Martin Gallery of Fine Art;
· Principle Gallery;
· Redux Contemporary Art Center;
· Robert Lange Studios;
· Artium Art Gallery.
Charleston City Hall
The city hall was built in the Adamesque style between 1800 and 1804. It was originally a branch of the Bank of the United States. At the time, the branch was one of eight nationwide.
The building was designed by the Charlestonian Gabriel Manigault and built by local carpenters. In 1811, when Congress revoked the Bank’s Charter, the property passed into the hands of the city. Since then, it is the city hall and the personification of its soul.
Charleston County Courthouse
The courthouse, which is still in use, perhaps the architecture of this structure is similar to the white house. The building was built in 1792, but later under pressure from the authorities in 1884, the appearance of the building was changed.
This is another interesting point in the tourist map of the city. The building is located in the historic district next to the Park at Washington Square. In the most interesting intersection where 4 jurisdictions intersect at once.
What are the best outdoor activities in Charleston?
It is the largest city in the state of South Carolina. It is not only the administrative property of the state but also comprehensively developed. Charleston is famous for its cultural and historical heritage.
Every time I hear a question about what to do in Charleston SC, I am happy to share a link to this detailed material. We hope that our article helped you answer your question and will be grateful if you share the link with your friends. And that’s it until we meet again on the streets of the city!