Charleston, South Carolina

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Attractions

Public Beaches
A renourished beach lures vacationers to Folly Beach. There are good seafood restaurants and colorful bars. All in all, Folly is a beachcomber's delight. Directions to Folly Beach: If you cross the Ashley River Bridges and follow Folly Road to the end, you will soon come to Folly Beach, located south of Charleston.

Another popular beach is found on Isle of Palms, a barrier island on the South Carolina coast less than 20 minutes from Charleston. It is home to the world-famous Wild Dunes Resort.

Old Charleston Market
North and South Market Streets between Meeting and East Bay streets
A narrow line of low-roofed nineteenth-century sheds, packed with 'basket ladies' selling crafts, jewelry, spices, T-shirts and trinkets.

Charleston Museum
360 Meeting St
803-722-2996
A vast collection of city memorabilia conveniently located across from the town visitor center.

Fort Sumter
City Marina, off Lockwood Blvd
803-722-1691
Fort Sumter is the site of the first battle that started the Civil War. A pleasant boat trip docks at this island which features a good Civil War museum inside the fort.

Magnolia Plantation & Audubon Swamp Garden
Hwy-61 (River Road), twelve miles west of Charleston
803-571-1266
Stunning ornamental gardens (best in spring and early summer) with tram rides through the swamp, complete with wildlife and lush flowers.

Splash Zone
James Island County Park
871 Riverland Drive
843-795-7275
Admission charged. Children under 2 free When the temperatures start rising, visitors of all ages will enjoy this favorite summer playground located within the James Island County Park. The park features two 200-foot tube slides, a Caribbean play structure with slides, a 500-foot lazy river, and a recreational pool.

Nathaniel Russel House
51 Meeting Street
843-723-1623
This national historic landmark is one of the most important neoclassical homes in America. Features include art and furnishings from the late 18th century and early 19th century.

Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon
122 East Bay Street
843-727-2165
Often called the "Independence Hall of South Carolina," the Old Exchange was built in the late 1700's. Today, this impressive building is filled with historical items of the state and region.

Gibbes Museum of Art
135 Meeting Street
843-722-2706
This museum features an outstanding collection of more than 7,000 American paintings, prints and drawings from the 18th century to the present.

Aiken-Rhett House
48 Elizabeth St.
843-723-1159.
Hours: Mon.-Sat. 10-5, Sun. 2-5.
Admission charged.
Dating from 1819, this mansion was once the headquarters of Confederate general Beauregard. Of special note are the original wallpaper, paint colors and some of its furnishings. The house, kitchen, slave quarters and work yard are maintained much as they were when the original occupants lived here.

American Military Museum
40 Pinckney St.
843-723-9620
Hours: Mon.-Sat. 10-6, Sun. 1-6.
Admission charged.
The museum has on display hundreds of uniforms and artifacts from all branches of service, dating from the Revolutionary War to the present. Its collections also include antique toy soldiers, war toys, miniatures and weaponry.

Calhoun Mansion
16 Meeting St.
843-722-8205
Hours: Feb.-Dec., Wed.-Sun. 10-4
Admission charged.
This lavish mansion is an interesting example of Victorian architecture. Built in 1876, it's notable for ornate plasterwork, fine wood moldings and a 75-foot domed ceiling.

Charleston Place
130 Market St.
843-722-4900
The city's only world-class hotel, this Orient Express property is flanked by a four-story complex of upscale boutiques and specialty shops. The hotel is so beautiful that visitors find it's worth visiting as an attraction, even if they're not staying there.

Circular Congregational Church
150 Meeting St.
843-577-6400
Hours: Call for tour schedule
Simple yet attractive, this church has a beamed, vaulted ceiling and is an splendid example of Romanesque architecture.

City Hall
80 Broad St.
843-577-6970
Hours: Weekdays 10-5
Admission: Free
The intersection of Meeting and Broad streets is known as the "Four Corners of Law", representing the laws of nation, state, city, and church. On the northeast corner is graceful City Hall, dating from 1801. The second-floor Council Chamber has numerous interesting historical displays and portraits.

Dock Street Theatre
135 Church St.
843-720-3968
Hours: Weekdays 10-4
Admission: Free tours; call ahead for ticket prices and performance times.
Built on the site of one of the nation's first playhouses, the building combines the reconstructed early Georgian playhouse and the preserved Old Planter's Hotel (circa 1809). The theater, which offers fascinating backstage views, welcomes tours.

Edmondston-Alston House
21 E. Battery
843-722-7171
Hours: Tues.-Sat. 10-4:30, Sun.-Mon. 1:30-4:30
Admission charged.
Featuring spectacular views of Charleston Harbor, this imposing home was built in 1825 in late-Federal style and was transformed into a Greek Revival structure during the 1840s. It is tastefully furnished with antiques, portraits, prints, silver and fine china.

French Protestant (Huguenot) Church
110 Church St.
843-722-4385
Hours: Weekdays 10-12:30 and 2-4
Admission: Donations welcome
This church is the only one in the country still using the original French Huguenot liturgy.

Heyward-Washington House
87 Church St.
843-722-0354
Hours: Mon.-Sat. 10-5, Sun. 1-5
Admission charged.
Built in 1772, this home was the backdrop for DuBose Heyward's book Porgy, which was the basis for the beloved folk opera "Porgy and Bess". The neighborhood, known as Cabbage Row, is central to Charleston's African-American history. President George Washington stayed in the house during his 1791 visit. It is filled with fine period furnishings and its restored 18th-century kitchen is the only one in Charleston open to visitors.

Joseph Manigault Mansion
350 Meeting St.
843-723-2926
Hours: Mon.-Sat. 10-5, Sun. 1-5
Admission charged.
A National Historic Landmark and an outstanding example of neoclassical architecture, this home was designed in 1803 and is noted for its carved-wood mantels and elaborate plaster work. Some furnishings are British and French but most are Charleston antiques.

Market Hall
88 Meeting St.
843-723-1541
Saturday noon-4, Sunday 1-4
Admission charged.
Built in 1841 and modeled after the Temple of Nike in Athens, this imposing landmark building includes the Confederate Museum, where the Daughters of the Confederacy preserve and display flags, uniforms, swords and other Civil War memorabilia.

Old Powder Magazine
79 Cumberland St.
843-805-6730
Hours: Mon.-Sat. 10-5, Sun. 2-5
Admission charged.
This structure was built in 1713 and used during the Revolutionary War. It is now a museum with costumes, armor, and other artifacts from 18th-century Charleston, all described during an interesting audiovisual tour.

Boone Hall Plantation
1235 Long Point Rd., off U.S. 17N
843-884-4371
Hours: Apr.-Labor Day, Mon.-Sat. 8:30-6:30, Sun. 1-5; Labor Day-Mar., Mon.-Sat. 9-5, Sun. 1-4 Admission charged. This working plantation is found at the end of one of the South's most majestic avenues of oaks, and was the model for the grounds of Tara in "Gone With the Wind." You can tour the first floor of the classic columned mansion, which was built in 1935 incorporating woodwork and flooring from the original house; however, the primary attraction is the grounds featuring formal azalea and camellia gardens.

Fort Moultrie
W. Middle St., Sullivan's Island
843-883-3123
Hours: Daily 9-5
Admission: Free
At this site Colonel William Moultrie's South Carolinians repelled a British assault in one of the first Patriot victories of the Revolutionary War. A 20-minute film tells the history of the fort.

Museum on the Common
217 Lucas St.
843-849-9000
Hours: Mon.-Sat. 11-4
Admission: Free
This small museum has an outdoor maritime museum and a Hurricane Hugo exhibit that documents the 1989 storm damage through video and photos.

Patriots Point
Foot of Cooper River Bridges
843-884-2727
Hours: Labor Day-Mar., daily 9-6:30; Apr.-Labor Day, daily 9-7:30
Admission charged.
Tours are offered on all of the vessels located here at the world's largest naval and maritime museum. Visitors may tour the aircraft carrier Yorktown, the World War II submarine Clamagore, the destroyer Laffey, the nuclear merchant ship Savannah, and the cutter Ingham.

Palmetto Islands County Park
U.S. 17N, 1/2 mile past Snee Farm, turn left onto Long Point Rd.
843-884-0832
Hours: Apr. and Sept.-Oct., daily 9-6; May-Aug., daily 9-7; Nov.-Feb., daily 10-5; Mar., daily 10-6 Located across from Boone Hall Plantation, the park features a Big Toy playground, 2-acre pond, paved trails, an observation tower, marsh boardwalks and a "water island."

Beachwater Park
Kiawah Island
843-762-2172
Admission charged per car (up to 8 passengers)
June-Aug., daily 10-7; May and Sept., daily 10-6; April and Oct., weekends 10-6.
This beach features 300 ft of beach frontage, seasonal lifeguard service, rest rooms, outdoor showers, a picnic area, snack bar and a 150-car parking lot.

Folly Beach County Park
Folly Island
843-588-2426
Admission charged per car (up to 8 passengers)
May-Aug., daily 9-7; Apr., Sept., Oct., 10-6; Nov.-Mar., daily 10-5
This large beach has 4,000 ft of ocean frontage and 2,000 ft of river frontage. The beach facilities include dressing areas, outdoor showers, rest rooms, and picnicking areas; beach chairs, raft, and umbrella rentals; and a 400-vehicle parking lot. Pelican Watch shelter is available year-round for group picnics and day or night oyster roasts.