Located just 16 miles east of the city, visitors will find about 7 miles of shoreline, ideal for swimming, sailing, windsurfing or sunbathing. Thank You! Before heading to South Carolina, check out these 16 tips on planning, etiquette, and health and safety. You can easily get from one end of the city to the other by foot, which is the best way to explore it! Today, the well-preserved property remains in the Alston family. Recently named one of the nations top 10 shopping streets by U.S. News and World Report, King Streets shops are emporiums of chic and one-of-a-kind wares. There are so many pretty streets in Charleston, that this list simply does not do it justice. Although the aquarium is on the smaller side, recent travelers reported it was chock-full of interactive exhibits and interesting things to see and do. Dating back to the mid-1700s, the structures hold an important place in Charleston's history. A historic district in downtown Charleston, The French Quarter is named so for the high concentration of French merchants that once lived in the area and left their mark on it. Popular tour companies include Undiscovered Charleston, Bulldog Tours, Secret Food Tours Charleston and Charleston Culinary Tours. Though the ferry ride is not the main attraction, most enjoyed it, calling it relaxing and a great way to see some of the area's dolphins. 107 East Bay Street. Please allow 7-10 business days for delivery within the domestic US. Guide to the best hotels and things to do in Charleston, SC. The decommissioned USS Yorktown is docked there and has a naval and maritime museum on board with fighter planes atop its deck. 17 Best Walking Tours in Charleston, South Carolina It has been a shopping hub since the 1800s and is one of the country's oldest city markets. Our guides are one of the best sources you can find in the city for history and the best in the city for a guided walking tour of the Lowcountry. (CODE: 2OFFWALK), Click here to Learn more about charleston history tour, Click here to Learn more about charlestons alleys and hidden passages, Click here to Learn more about private tours, Click here to Learn more about combo discounts, Click here to Learn more about gift cards, Click here to Learn more about view all tours, Click here to Learn more about meet our guides, Click here to Read About Historic Charleston, Click here to email info@walksofcharleston.com, Click here to view location 45 Pinckney StreetCharlestonSC29401. There are beach rentals, but on the whole, Sullivans has a more residential feel and a distinct air of wealth. At the park you can see people walking their dogs, taking photography, riding bikes. The trailhead is on the right just after you cross over the Edisto River (before you get to the intersection with Route 64 that takes you to Walterboro). Visitors come to enjoy camellia and azalea season in early spring and wildlife throughout the year. Built in 1772, the Heyward-Washington House earned its moniker for two men who figured prominently in its history, Thomas Heyward Jr. and President George Washington. Table of Contents What are the 45 best free things to do in Charleston SC? If youre wandering throughout the Downtown Historic District, theres a good chance youll find these pavers throughout this area. Lower King is an esteemed antiques districtwhileUpper King is a thriving contemporary design district. Discover some of the prettiest streets in Charleston and find out what makes the Holy City so special. Just make sure you go hungry Lowcountry cuisine can be quite heavy, anda few travelers have made the mistake of eating before their tour and walked away stuffed. The trail is roughly a 4.5-mile loop. You dont need to dole out much cash to experience the best of South Carolina. Being next to the Charleston City Market, it also has the price to match.Restauranteurs are known to drop upwards of $300 on a dinner at the restaurant on the first floor. Similar to Bear Island WMA, Botany Bay is also closed for hunting during certain periods. The 13-mile trail is designed for and open to mountain bicyclists of all experience levels. One man, Philip Simmons, was the ironworker to craft over 500 of these beautiful architectural elements. On the flip side, this is a perfect spot for a truly relaxing beach day. This WMA is located south of town in the ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge. He knows everything, I actually took notes so I could take my husband on the walk the next day. Many recent travelers say a trip to the quaint South Carolina city would be incomplete without a visit to Rainbow Row, but others felt underwhelmed by a visit and wondered what all the hype was about. The festival packs dinners, seminars, workshops, brunches, street fairs and interactive experiences (like boat trips to working oyster farms) into five days. Everyone is friendly, great place to visit. Only one thing is 2 hours is enough by then everyone is brain dead. Admission is free with a Gold Pass or $2 per person without one. Johns Island County Park is located a bit farther out, but it offers a roughly 6.5 mile trail system and far more seclusion than youll find at the much more popular James Island County Park. is dedicated to bringing locals and visitors the highest quality content related to the cities we feature. There's a new reason to travel to Charleton, South Carolina later this year: the new International African American Museum. Come with U.S. News on a tour of The Langham, Boston. In the 1930s, Dorothy and her husband, Judge Lionel Legge, bought a section of the houses and painted them pastel pink to attract people back to the area. The Charleston Museum acquired the property in 1929 and opened it to the public a year later as the city's first historic home museum. Its hard to boil down just what it is that makes the Holy City so stunning. But theyre not all a 20-minute car ride away from each other, so its easiest to concentrate on one general area in a day so you can fully soak it in along with the suns rays and high humidity. IOP features seven miles of beach that you can get to via paid lots and metered spots along Ocean Boulevard. Running north to south, its the main shopping district in the city as well as one of the prettiest streets in Charleston. Past visitors raved about the city's food tours and noted that most of the guides were friendly and knowledgeable. Meggett County Park is a bit off the beaten path, but this means that it is another of the more-secluded options for walking, biking, or trail running in Charleston. Discover the essentials of historic Charleston on this leisurely walking tour with our knowledgeable tour guides. It is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, meaning it must pass a rigorous animal welfare check annually. From Freshfields Village to Kiawah Beachwalker Park and back is about five miles roundtrip (with some great views along the way), and the roundtrip to the gate at Seabrook adds about two more miles. May we send you offers from our partners? The aquarium is located on the Charleston Harbor downtown and boasts views of the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. This beach community has a mix of older beach cottages and tall, slick structures that easily surpass the million-dollar mark. This walking tour begins and ends at the southernmost tip of the peninsula at White Point Garden, flanked by ornate homes above and the confluence of two rivers below. Did you like this article? The property has been restored to reflect its original form, and visitors can tour the McLeod family home as well as the slaves' living quarters. How Do You Find Sand Dollars at Charlestons Beaches? Beachwalker Park offers the only public access to the coastline. Luckily, you live in Charleston - the only city where a picture of the ground is frameable. On pretty much all of our tours, youll find the following features that help make the prettiest streets in Charleston even prettier. Check out our Savannah day trip for some ideas. Cooper River BridgeOne of the most identifiable landmarks in the Charleston area is the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, also called the Cooper River Bridge. Wander down Chalmers Street, one of only eight remaining cobblestone streets in Charleston, for a window into the past at the Old Slave Mart Museum. An Insider's Guide 8 Iconic Streets to Explore in Charleston Charleston's early city planners laid out a grid of easily navigable streets that invites intimate urban discovery. Benne wafers are good but you only need 1 bag, they are sweet and you can grow tired of them quickly but a true southern treat, I bought mine from Dolores Southern Delights along with a bag of Pecan Pralines which were equally as delicious and both are true southern treats. French Quarter Walking Tour (Self Guided), Charleston - GPSmyCity It was suddenly lost at sea in 1864 and remained so until 1995 when it was discovered off the coast of Sullivan's Island with the help of thriller author Clive Cussler. The architecture of the three-story red brick double reflects the Georgian style that spread widely through English colonies for its order and symmetry. 2023 Best 10 Walking Trails in Charleston - AllTrails: Trail Guides Every inch of Charleston radiates Southern charm, andTradd Street is no exception. Today, the 13 brightly colored homes attract camera-toting tourists from all over the country. Take a private tour of Charleston to gain a deeper understanding of the Holy City. Approx Time: 46 min. Walks of Charleston Gift Certificates make the perfect gift. Unlike the Aiken-Rhett House, parts of the Nathaniel Russell House Museum has undergone architectural and interior restoration. In the 1930s, a historical preservation ordinance was established, and there was a growing need for ironworkers to repair old gates. Walking Map of downtown Charleston, South Carolina. Parking at Stono River County Park is free with a Gold Pass or $1 without one. Lauren Mowery, Contributor. The streets at Edisto Beach, Folly Beach, Isle of Palms, and Sullivans Island are all pretty runnable (just take responsibility for your own safety, as always), and there are sidewalks and bike paths in many places. If you want to Get Over It with 40,000 of your closest friends, why not check out the Cooper River Bridge Run? Visit us during spring in Charleston! Recent visitors said the tour guides were well-versed and knowledgeable about African American history. In just two or three days, you can sample the city's famous low country cuisine, admire its colorful architecture, enjoy a sunset sail and soak up the sun at nearby beaches. Folly Beach is a paradise for the perennial beach bum crowd. This email address is being protected from spambots. Charleston is home to more than 3,000 species of wild plants. Charleston vs Savannah: how to choose between the two Southern cities, 14 best free things to do in Charleston, SC. Constructed at the turn of the 19th century by Nathaniel Russell a wealthy Southern merchant this historic home is known for its spiraling staircase, detailed furnishings and landscaped gardens. If you park here, you can walk, run, or bike the sidewalks and bike lanes of Kiawah Island Parkway and Seabrook Island Road. Welcome to The City Sidewalks. Some of the options for walking, running, or biking at Charlestons beaches include: Colonial Lake is located in downtown Charleston, in between Beaufain Street and Broad Street at Ashley Avenue. But you can also connect several of the parks trails for a longer route. 2022 Official Charleston Area Visitors Guide - Issuu And I am really excited that I did. No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission. See the landmarks and hear how history has shaped our buildings, our neighborhoods, and our people.Sarah Fick has been walking around Charleston for 25 years, studying the architectural treasures and the people who built them. If you walk down King Street (starting at Line Street) to the tip of the peninsula in the Battery, youll see a good chunk of Downtown as well as many famous landmarks along the way. Free 30-Day Challenges + New Posts + Special Bonuses, 5 Self-Guided Walking Tours of Charleston, 20 Travel Photography Tips to Start Taking Better Travel Photos, How to Plan Your Trip Like a Travel Editor: 8 Tips to Find Inspiration to Plan Your Next Vacation, Harleston Village + Part Of Cannonbourogh, Where to Stay in Charleston: Belmond Charleston Place, ZARA HAUL SUMMER 2020: Huge Zara Try On Haul & Reviews. Visitors will find one of Charleston's most photographed icons on Johns Island: the Angel Oak. West Ashley GreenwayTucked away in quiet West Ashley neighborhoods beside a very busy highway is The Greenway, an 8-mile-long former railroad running parallel to Hwy 17. In our experience, it rarely sees more than a handful of visitors a day, but there are several miles of grass trails that take you on a tour of the area and even go along the shore of the South Edisto River.