Free or Almost Free

Free or Almost Free

A $34.95 Charleston Heritage Passport, sold at the Charleston Visitors Center, gets you into the Gibbes Museum of Art, the Nathaniel Russell House, the Edmondston-Alston House, the Aiken-Rhett House, Drayton Hall, and Middleton Place. The two-day pass saves a lot of money.

If you want to spend even less, here are a few things you can do that are free or almost free:

Hit the streets: If there is any city that was made for walking, it's Charleston. There are hundreds of historic buildings downtown, so you won't have to go far before finding some beauties. And there's also the Battery, a wonderful waterfront walk.

Take a history lesson: Fort Sumter is just one of the hsitoric sites worth a few hours of your time. Don't forget about Fort Moultrie National Monument and Charles Pinckney National Historic Site, both within easy driving distance.

Go green: The parks in and around the city are wonderful places to take a hike or spread out a blanket for a picnic. Try White Point Gardens, Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, or Palmetto Islands County Park.