Biking
As long as you stay off the busier roads, the historic district is ideal for bicycling. Many of the city's green spaces, including Colonial Lake and Palmetto Islands County Park, have bike trails. If you want to rent a bike, expect to pay about $25 a day.
Cycling at your own pace is one of the best ways to see Charleston. Those staying at the nearby island resorts, particularly families with children, almost always rent bikes, especially if they are there for a week.
Bilda Bike. Bike rentals at this shop start at $25 for 24 hours (or $55 a week), and that includes a helmet, lock, and basket. Conveniently located in the Upper King area, it's open on Sunday—the best day for riding around downtown Charleston or across the Ravenel Bridge. 573 King St., Upper King, Charleston, South Carolina, 29403. 843/789–3281; www.bildabike.com.
The Bicycle Shoppe. Open seven days a week, this shop rents simple beach cruisers for $7 per hour, $28 per day, or $50 per week, and that includes a helmet, basket, and lock. For those wanting to tackle the Ravenel Bridge, the store offers geared bikes for slightly more. There's a second branch at 1539 Johnnie Dodds Boulevard in Mount Pleasant, and it offers free delivery to local beaches. 280 Meeting St., Market, Charleston, South Carolina, 29401. 843/722–8168; www.thebicycleshoppe.com.
Charleston Bicycle Tours. You'll see the quiet streets and hidden secrets of Charleston when you take a multiday tour with Charleston Bicycle Tours. You'll ride past plantations as well as over the Ravenel Bridge, exploring the nearby islands and quaint surrounding towns. Tours include bikes, accommodations, and dining in the area's best restaurants. There's a van shuttle, licensed guide, and even a mechanic. Prices range from $1,295 for a three-day trip visiting the area's plantations to $2,790 for a six-day tour to Savannah. 164 Market St., Suite 104, College of Charleston Campus, Charleston, South Carolina, 29401. 843/881–9898; charlestonbicycletours.com.
Island Bike and Surf Shop. At this shop, you can rent beach bikes for a very moderate weekly rate (starting at $40 per week), or check out hybrids, mountain bikes, bicycles built for two, and a wide range of equipment for everyone in the family. The shop will even deliver to Kiawah and Seabrook Islands. 3665 Bohicket Rd., Johns Island, South Carolina, 29455. 843/768–1158; www.islandbikeandsurf.com.
