The wife and I will be flying into Charleston in about 10 days to meet some friends, who are driving in. Looking for suggestions on areas, amusements, etc. to visit while there.

Interested in old mansions, antiques, good restaurants, museums, military and maritime facilities, etc.

Thanks in advance.

 

there is plenty to do there in Charleston.. There along the Battery-- you have the Rainbow House Collection which are featured in Prints and Paintings.. Also the Fort Sumter tour.

There is also Buggy tours thru out downtown area.. You can also do the Buggy tour and harbour tour as a Combination package.. This is good time of the year if you wanted to do the Graveyard nite tour also.

Was just down there this past month -- done this with the GF..

Also they have Waterfront park-- which is beautiful place just to sit and relax --watch the boats go in and out of the Harbour.

If you are staying there at a local hotel--check the lobby --they have numerous brochures of all kinds..

If you are into Firetrucks and Fire service-- I would definitely check out the New Fire Museum also.

 

If you like WWII stuff, the Yorktown is good for a day.

If you take a downtown buggy tour, ignore the guide. Several times they have made the news about the "made up" stuff they tell tourists.

"Slave" market downtown is unique. Pick up a sweetgrass basket. The art is dying, but they are not cheap. Wild Wings is also there and they have great wings.

Will be too cold for swimming, but the Isle of Palms is a nice beach. I like it better than Folley. The coastal drive from Folley to Isle of Palms is nice though.

Ft Sumter is OK, but I don't think it's really worth what you have to pay to get out there, but if you've never seen it. The tour boat leave from the Yorktown area. The Citadel fired the first shot to start the cival war from the Battery to Sumter.

Lots of civil war mansions to see, but you will pay for each one. Some are interesting, some even still have the old slave quarters there.

Lots of nice golf courses.

Don't drive down a cobblestone street unless you want your fillings to fall out.

Don't worry about looking for a parking spot, just use a parking garage and save the hassle.

Not sure where your staying, but if you stay in N Chas or Summerville, will probably save you about $100+ a night and your still only 30 mins from downtown.

Historic downtown Summerville is also nice, that is where I lived.

CAFB is there in N Chas, the old Navy base has a lot of various things there.

Ft Moultriee is nice and free. Not as much of a tourist attraction as Sumter.

CharlestonTown Landing is nice, and they film a lot of "Army Wives" there.

Battery is OK, small park there. Don't go there at night. The pink house that faces the Yorktown is "supposebly" Oprah's. Few cannons placed here and there. Where the mighty Citadel started the war.

Waterfront park is nice, couple of foutains the kids play in. The pineapple one is kinda well known.

Aquarium is not bad.

If you have access to a boat, there is a nice beach near the DNR that is only accessable by boat. Great of view of the battery from there.

Hymans seafood is famous, no telling what famous persons name plate will be on the table you sit at, but expect to wait unless you get there early.

Unless you just want to spend tons on money, don't eat seafood in Mt Pleasant. You will pay dearly if you eat on any boat there.





I'm sure there are others, but those are just a few off the top of my head. After 14 years living there, I hated to go downtown.

 

It's Rainbow Row, funny part of that is, they are not allowed to paint them a different color, so most of the homeowners refuse to paint them. It's also very easy to miss. I was disapointed the first itme I saw it considering all the hype they have produced.

Lots more beautiful homes in the battery area than Rainbow Row.