8 Fun Things to do in Charleston SC

A few months ago, my husband and I visited Boston, Massachusetts. The city’s history and cultural relevance were captivating. I wanted to replicate a similar yet different experience. As I conducted my research, the city of Charleston, South Carolina, caught my interest. Mainly known for its history, southern charm, and seafood, Charleston has much to offer. The unique city was settled in the colonial era in 1670. Since its inception, Charleston had become an epicenter of commerce and arts in the south-east. The town has also endured many catastrophic disasters including fires, hurricanes, floods and even earthquakes. The city illustrated its resilience as the neighbors, family, friends, and enemies alike, banned together to rebuild the city time and time again. Walking through Charleston, it was difficult to spot any evidence of floods, fires, or earthquakes impacting the city. All of the structures looked to be maintained to the highest standard, which speaks to the locals’ pride in their town. If you enjoy history, architecture, yummy food (especially seafood), and southern hospitality, Charleston is the place for you! Read on for my top 8 fun things to do in Charleston SC.

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Charleston SC Hotels

1. The Spectator Hotel is rated as Travel and Leisure’s #1 hotel in Charleston. The hotel even got Tripadvisor’s Travels Choice Award that is given to the best 1% of businesses across select categories. I honestly LOVE the white chic feel of the hotel. I also am just fascinated by the bar set up! It looks like an old school cigar room. Plus you get a butler service! How cool is that? <Check Prices and Availability Now
2. The Hyatt House Hotel is where we stayed. The hotel was modern, clean, and had a personable staff. The hotel is located on King St. just a couple blocks away from restaurants and nightlife. The hotel room layout was unique and spacious. It is a chain hotel so you won’t have the cutsy Charleston vibe though. <Check Prices and Availability Now
3. Andrew Pinckney Hotel is a restored boutique hotel built in 1840, and it is one of the best places to stay in Charleston SC. Located right in the middle of the city, this hotel is perfect for exploring Charleston. The Andrew Pinckney hotel is the epitome of Charleston!!! It is colorful, bright, cute but at the same time modern and clean. If I were to go back to Charleston, I would for sure stay at this hotel.  <Check Prices and Availability Now

Where is Charleston Located?

Charleston is located in the Eastern United States. The city resides in South Carolina, which is located next to North Carolina and Georgia. Charleston is located right on the shores with views of the Atlantic Ocean. It is easy to fall in love with the beautiful city.

You can get to Charleston by flying into Charleston International Airport. Another option is to drive from Charlotte, North Carolina. A lot of people tend to lump both of those cities together for vacations. Charlotte is 3 1/12 hour drive from Charleston, while the Charleston International Airport is a 20-minute drive from Charleston.

Map of Charleston SC Attractions

The map below displays the areas in which we ate, drank, took pictures, and wandered. You can download the map to your phone, tablet, and computer. If you are heading to Charleston, the map may help you get around. I hope its a useful tool for my fellow Wanderers!

Best Time To Visit Charleston, South Carolina

• March-May: Blooming trees and flowers, makes this one of the best times to visit Charleston. The problem is that everyone else in the world knows this, so it is pretty expensive and crowded.
• June-August: Summer brings in scorching temperatures, and August is the rainy season. Even with all the negatives, Charleston is still crowded in the summer.
• September-November: We went in the Fall, and it was a perfect time. It wasn’t crowded, and the temperature was perfect! Not too hot, not too cold.
• December-February: This is Charleston’s offseason. Charleston rarely has temperatures below 40, so the weather is mild. If you are trying to find a great deal, I recommend looking into these months. Although Valentine’s day should not be an option as hotels skyrocket during this time. This is due to Charleston being one of the most romantic cities in the United States.

Fun Things to do in Charleston SC

Visit Waterfront Park

One of the top things to see in Charleston SC is Waterfront Park. It is home to the famous “Pineapple,” which is a symbol of welcome, friendship, and hospitality. The pineapple’s symbolism was due to the fruit’s rarity, and if a party host was able to get a hold of one, it was displayed to signify that no expense was spared to ensure their guest’s enjoyment.

One can spot pineapples throughout the city, but the iconic one is at Waterfront Park. The park wasn’t as crowded as I thought it was going to be, so taking pictures was pretty easy.

Go to Marion Square Farmers Market

One of the best things to do in Charleston SC is to visit the farmers market. I loved this farmers market! If you are a foodie, then this place is for you. We were able to try out the South Carolina Barbecue, which is nothing like Texas Barbecue. The South Carolina BBQ sauce was vinegar based, which made it slightly tart but so delicious!

The farmers market also had live country music performances and local artisans/craftswomen’s work on display. All in all, the farmers market was worth spending our Saturday morning, and I suggest it to anyone who visits Charleston. Please note that the farmers market is not open every Saturday, so be sure to check online!

Take a Historical Walking Tour

After researching what to do in Charleston SC, I decided that a historical walking tour would be a fun way to learn about Charleston. I booked a tour that started at the Mills House Hotel at 2 pm. The hotel was lovely and pink!

The tour traversed around Charleston, primarily around East Bay Street, downtown Charleston and Meeting Street. The tour was interactive and very informative. We were a bit lucky because our group was about ten people which was smaller than most groups.

The tour lasted about two hours and it is all outdoors, so prepare accordingly. The walking tours have a great combination of viewing the magnificent architecture and getting an informative presentation of the city and its landmarks. I highly recommend, and it was one of my favorite attractions in Charleston SC. >Book The Best Walking Tour Here!

Shopping in Charleston SC – King Street

Jameson and I are not big shoppers, especially when we travel. But if you love shopping, then King Street is the place for you. They had everything from Louise Vuitton to Sephora. Pictured above is a pop-up sweater shop we found. We love football, so we thought a picture of the sweaters would be appropriate.

Visit the Historic Charleston City Market

One of the best attractions in Charleston South Carolina is visiting the city market. The market is filled with so many goodies and crafts. It was swarming with people when we arrived. The market is a great place to go shopping for souvenirs from the locals. But be aware that there are only a couple of food spots at the Market. Also, do note that the market is different than the farmers market mentioned earlier.

Visit the Battery Park and White Point Gardens

One of the best free things to do in Charleston SC is to visit Battery Park and White Point Gardens. It is a fantastic area to see the beautiful trees, the wondrous Charleston Harbor, and the grand Charleston houses. The houses in this area are shockingly big, beautiful, and elegant. We walked from our hotel to this area, and it was worth every step.

Eat and Drink!

One of the top things to do in Charleston South Carolina is to EAT! Food, food, food, galore! There are so many places to eat around Charleston. It’s overwhelming. When I first started researching Charleston, every article talked about the hundreds of restaurants Charleston had to offer. So many recommendations, I didn’t know what to pick!

We ended up choosing Edmonds Oast for Friday night, and Charleston Grill Saturday night. Edmonds Oast is a new up and coming restaurant that had delicious food and drinks with a fun, casual atmosphere.

Charleston Grill is a fancy restaurant with live music, gourmet food, and outstanding service. Charleston Grill is a place to go for special occasions.

We also went to Prohibition and Magnolias for a few drinks at random times over the weekend; both of which had great cocktails and atmosphere.

This website also has excellent recommendations. Tip: Make sure to make reservations for restaurants months in advance. A good amount of restaurants are always booked. 

If you want to combine walking tours with food, taking a food walking tour is another great option! >Book a Food Walking Tour Here

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Conclusion of Attractions in Charleston South Carolina

Overall, Charleston was a fun, enjoyable city with so much history. Being able to walk around and enjoy the historic architecture was such a treat. I highly recommend going to visit the fun, vibrant city of Charleston. I hope you enjoyed my fun things to do in Charleston South Carolina guide. Make sure to check out some of my other favorite blog posts below:

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