Things to do in Charleston
-
A
South Carolina Aquarium
The massive, excellent South Carolina Aquarium showcases the state's diverse aquatic life, from the otters of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the loggerhead turtles of the Atlantic. The highlight is the 42ft Great Ocean Tank, which teems with sharks and alien- looking puffer fish.
reviewed
-
B
Gaulart & Maliclet
Locals crowd around the shared tables at this tiny bistro, known as 'Fast & French, ' to nibble on Gallic cheeses and sausages or nightly specials ($15) that include bread, soup, a main dish and wine.
reviewed
-
C
FIG
Foodies swoon over inspired nouvelle-Southern fare like crispy pig's trotters (that means 'feet' - local and hormone-free, of course) with celery-root remoulade in this rustic-chic dining room.
reviewed
-
D
Poogan's Porch
Dine on sherried crab soup and toast points in the dim, floral- patterned environs of this supposedly haunted Victorian mansion, tucked away on a downtown side street.
reviewed
-
E
Fort Sumter Visitor & Education Center
Confederates fired the first shots of the Civil War at Fort Sumter, an artificial island at the entrance to Charleston Harbor, where the Union army had retreated. The Union contingent surrendered and, as a Confederate stronghold, Fort Sumter was shelled by Union forces from 1863 to 1865.
By the end of the war it was a pile of rubble, and some very forbidding concrete defenses were added later. A few original guns and fortifications and the obvious strategic location give a feel for the momentous history here, and there's a good little museum as well.
reviewed
-
F
Aquarium Wharf
The Aquarium Wharf surrounds pretty Liberty Sq and is a great place to stroll around and watch the tugboats guiding ships into the seventh largest container port in the US. The wharf is the embarkation point for tours to Fort Sumter. Boat tours of the harbor depart from the harbor tour dock and nearby Charleston Maritime Center. Also here is the IMAX Theater.
reviewed
-
Wreck of the Richard & Charlene
It's practically impossible to find, but don't give up! This unmarked warehouse, down a dirt road overlooking Shem Creek in suburban Mt Pleasant, has what many consider the best fried seafood in the state. Kick back in a plastic chair with a free bowl of boiled peanuts while you wait; finish with the key lime bread pudding. No credit cards.
reviewed
-
G
White Point Park
At the southernmost tip on the peninsula are the antebellum mansions of the Battery - take a seat in shady White Point Park and ponder whether 'filthy rich merchant seaman' is still a viable career. Around the corner, a stretch of lower E Bay St known as Rainbow Row is one of the most photographed areas of town for its candy-colored houses.
reviewed
-
H
S.N.O.B.
The cheeky name (it stands for 'slightly north of Broad, ' as in Broad St) reflects the anything-goes spirit of this newcomer, which draws raves for its eclectic menu, filled with treats such as house-smoked salmon or sautéed squab breast over cheese grits. Exposed brick walls and an open kitchen lend a casual ambience.
reviewed
-
I
Jestine's Kitchen
Charleston housekeeper Jestine Mathews lived to be 112, though probably not by eating the glorious fried chicken, fried green tomatoes and (fried) hush puppies at the down-home café named in her honor. Order 'table wine' (sweet tea) to drink and finish up with the famous Coca-Cola cake.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
J
Gibbes Museum of Art
Gibbes Museum of Art houses a decent collection of American and Southern works; the most interesting way to visit is in conjunction with a two-hour walking tour that combines the museum with various artistically significant city sites.
reviewed
-
K
Edmonston-Alston House
Overlooking Charleston Harbor, the 1828 Edmonston-Alston House was built by a Scottish shipping merchant and later renovated by rice-plantation mogul Charles Alston. It has remained in the Alston family ever since - in fact, the family still resides on the 3rd floor.
reviewed
-
L
Old Slave Mart Museum
- Charleston, USA
- Sights › Dark
African men, women and children were once auctioned off at the Old Slave Mart Museum, now a museum of South Carolina's shameful past. Text-heavy exhibits illuminate the slave experience; the few artifacts, like leg shackles, are especially chilling.
reviewed
-
Gullah Cuisine
It's not much to look at, but this dowdy suburban café is the best place to taste South Carolina's West African-influenced Gullah cooking. We recommend the lunch buffet, groaning with red rice, okra gumbo (roux-based stew), oxtail stew and fried fish.
reviewed
-
M
Heyward-Washington House
Heyward-Washington House, built in 1772, belonged to Thomas Heyward Jr, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and contains some lovely examples of Charleston-made mahogany furniture and the city's only preserved historic kitchen.
reviewed
-
N
Hominy Grill
Slightly off the beaten path, this neighborhood café serves modern, vegetarian-friendly Lowcountry cuisine in an old barbershop. Spoon up a bowl of shrimp and grits (ground corn), a classic Charleston fisherman's breakfast, on the shady patio.
reviewed
-
O
Nathaniel Russell House
Built by a Rhode Islander, known in Charleston as 'the king of the Yankees, ' the 1808 Federal-style Nathaniel Russell House is noted especially for its spectacular, self-supporting spiral staircase and lush English garden.
reviewed
-
P
Charleston Museum
Founded in 1773, the Charleston Museum claims to be the country's oldest, with exhibits from various periods of Charleston's long and storied history, from prehistoric whale skeletons to slave tags and Civil War weapons.
reviewed
-
Q
Charleston Symphony Orchestra
Founded in 1936, the symphony, now led by David Stahl, has performed in the Gaillard Auditorium since the late 70s. Built in 1968 the Gaillard is Charleston's main venue for all manner of recitals and concerts.
reviewed
-
R
Anson
The most upscale Lowcountry place around, in a dreamy pink-and-green carriage house straight out of central casting. Filet mignon and grouper in champagne cream are complemented by a well-edited wine list.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
S
Dock Street Theater
Reconstructed in 1936 from original 1736 blueprints, Dock Street is America's oldest live-performance theater. The busy venue hosts an array of community and professional music and theater groups.
reviewed
-
T
Circular Congregational Church
The Romanesque Revival Circular Congregational Church was built in 1681 and was used as the city's first meeting place, hence the name of its street. The oldest graves in the city are here.
reviewed
-
U
Hank's Seafood Restaurant
Dark wood, tinkly piano music and fine, fine fish mark this Charleston standard, a 1940s-style fish house specializing in rich seafood classics like Oysters Casino and shrimp linguine.
reviewed
-
V
French Huguenot Church
Gothic spires and arches mark the French Huguenot Church founded in 1681 by French Protestant refugees. Services were once timed with the tides to accommodate those arriving by boat.
reviewed
-
W
Aiken-Rhett House
The most interesting, Aiken-Rhett House is the only surviving urban plantation; it gives a fascinating look into antebellum life, including the role of slaves.
reviewed
