Charleston Activities

Charleston is the ultimate walkable city, i.e. one of those places where it's enjoyable to actually wander around until you're fully lost. Its' relatively small size also means you can cover a lot of ground in a weekend, or even a day. One of the best neighborhoods to walk is the residential section of town known as South of Broad, i.e. literally south of Broad Street. To see some of the city's oldest architecture, quintessential Charleston homes (from tiny, quaint houses to grand, stately mansions), and lush gardens, walk down Church Street, taking detours to Stoll’s Alley and Zig Zag Alley. Also near Church Street is Rainbow Row (on East Bay Street, between Elliot and Tradd)—a colorful stretch of homes that dates back to the 18th-century, and perhaps the most photographed Charleston location. Another great walk is doing Tradd Street from east to west. Further south, below Tradd, and below South Battery Street, you'll find the waterfront White Point Garden, where you could walk the Battery, Charleston's historic defensive sea wall, along the Cooper River.

It’s difficult to imagine now, but when the first battle of the Civil War broke out, the people of Charleston ran to their rooftops to watch the show—at 4am, the cannon fire looked almost like a fireworks show. As then, the ruins of the fort (which is now a National Park) can only be accessed by water, so you’ll have to book a boat tour with Fort Sumter Tours or drive a private boat there to do any exploring. On the way, keep an eye out for dolphins, which can usually be seen swimming around the sailboats in the harbor.

Since it’s only 45 minutes from downtown Charleston, Kiawah (a beachy, Spanish-moss-covered barrier island) makes a great day trip or weekend getaway. The Sanctuary, the island’s best-known hotel, is right up along the more than 10-mile-long beach, with a gorgeous pool and one of the area’s best spas. The island is ideal for exploring via bike, and it’s also home to some of the country’s best golf courses, which can be reserved by hotel guests and members of the Kiawah Island Golf Resort (an old-school private resort that takes up most of the island). Have dinner at the Ocean Course golf club, where big windows look out over the beach.