79 Best Sights in Charleston, South Carolina

Play beach volleyball or soak up the sun in a lounge chair on this wide stretch of sand. This beach is as good as the island's idyllic name. The sands are golden, the waves are gentle, and there's a playground, so it's great for families with small children. Those seeking to avoid the crowds should venture a few blocks northward down the beach. The county park is the only lifeguard-protected area on the Isle of Palms. Amenities: beach rentals; food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets. Best for: sunrise; swimming; walking.

Enjoy the fishing pier's "front-porch" swings, stroll along the waterside path, or relax in the gardens overlooking Charleston Harbor. The expansive lawn is perfect for picnics and family playtime. Two fountains can be found here: the oft-photographed Pineapple Fountain and the Vendue Fountain, which children love to run through on hot days.

An extraordinary example of Federal architecture, this 1803 residence and National Historic Landmark reflects the urban lifestyle of a well-to-do rice-planting family and the African people they enslaved. Engaging guided tours reveal a stunning spiral staircase, rooms that have been preserved in period style, and American, English, and French furniture from the early 19th century. While the tour is supposed to touch on urban enslavement, the amount of information provided about the lives of the hundreds of people enslaved by Manigault—including those forced to labor at this address—varies by docent. 

Outside, stroll through the artfully maintained period garden; unfortunately, most of the historic outbuildings were torn down long ago, now replaced with interpretive signs that note their former locations.

Ancient oak trees drip Spanish moss over funerary sculptures and magnificent mausoleums in this cemetery on the Cooper River. It opened in 1850, beautifully landscaped (thanks to the rural cemetery movement of the era) with paths, ponds, and lush lawns. The people of Charleston came not only to pay respects to the deceased, but also for picnicking and family outings. Similarly, visitors still find joy in the natural surroundings—and intrigue in the elaborate structures marking the graves of many prominent South Carolinians. All three crews of mariners who died aboard the Civil War sub H. L. Hunley are buried here, and more than 850 Confederate servicemen rest in the Soldiers' Ground. Walking maps are available in the front office.

Beautiful Magnolia Plantation & Gardens is home to the oldest public garden in the country, a sprawling estate created by the labor of enslaved people. In 1679, the property along the Ashley River was gifted to Thomas Drayton and his bride, Ann Fox, by her father. In the 1840s, a descendant of the couple began planting an extensive garden on the grounds, a little because his doctor prescribed fresh air to combat his tuberculosis and a little for his bride. Since then, that garden has evolved into a romantic green space overflowing with azaleas, camellias, cypresses, oaks, and more. It's just as rich in history. Prominent African American historian Joseph McGill of the Slave Dwelling Project curated the site's tour—From Slavery to Freedom—of the five remaining cabins on the property. To explore further afield, take the tram-train tour or traverse the more than 500 acres of trails by foot or bike (bring your own). Don't miss the Audubon Swamp Garden and its network of boardwalks and bridges, the petting zoo, or the boxwood maze.

As you drive toward Edisto Beach on SC Highway 174, look out for a roadside shack emblazoned with "Marsh Hen Mill & Market." Drop in to purchase homegrown, housemade stone-ground cornmeal and grits. These same grits are served in many a fine Charleston restaurant, including mill owner Greg Johnsman's own King Street breakfast joint, Millers All Day. A 1945 grits separator presides over one side of the store; ask for a demo if you'd like to see it in action. Don't leave without some fresh produce from the family farm and homemade cornmeal donuts. Crafts by area artists, cookbooks, and other gifts round out the offerings.

This contemporary space houses the city's most impressive collection of art, including works by nationally and internationally acclaimed painters, sculptors, and photographers. It's especially well known for its bronzes and large wooden sculptures, as well as glass pieces and custom-designed jewelry. There's a second location on East Bay St., and the gallery provides works to several downtown hotels.

This active Trappist monastery overlooking the Cooper River is on the site of the former plantation owned by Henry Laurens, a slaveholder whose wealth came from the transatlantic slave trade. It was later the home of noted publisher Henry Luce and his wife, Clare Boothe Luce, who commissioned renowned landscape architect Loutrel Briggs to design a sprawling garden in 1937. That garden remains a stunning place for a serene walk or contemplative rest on a waterfront bench. You can take a guided tour of the church or even stay here for a spiritual retreat in the sleek, modern facility with individual rooms and private baths. Hearing the monks sing during their normal daily routine is a peaceful, spiritual experience. The gift shop sells mushrooms from the abbey's farm as well as candies, preserves, and creamed honey from other Trappist abbeys. Church tours are offered at 11:30 am on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

With an observation tower, paved nature trails, and boardwalks extending over the marshes, this 943-acre park offers a day full of family fun. You can rent bicycles and pedal boats, set the kids loose in the playground, or pay an extra fee for entrance to the small Splash Island water park (open daily June through mid-August and weekends in May and mid-August through Labor Day).

Four miles of boardwalks and unpaved footpaths (as well as a 3-mile paddling trail) take you through this mix of wetlands and forest. Besides cypress trees, water lily fields, and wildlife, the draw is a historical one: the last portion of the country's first true canal, constructed in large part through the labor of enslaved people. An interpretive center details the history of the canal, which was used to transport goods from upstate South Carolina to the port of Charleston for the first half of the 19th century. The circa-1840 Stony Landing Plantation House is furnished with period reproductions. Also on-site (and included in admission) is the Berkeley County Museum and Heritage Center, which tells the story of the county's cultural and natural history, including spotlighting the enslaved people who built the rice and mineral extraction industry that enabled this interior area to flourish. Prefer to explore by boat? Rent a canoe for $5 per half hour.

The historic center of Mount Pleasant, this neighborhood is distinguished by white picket fences, storybook cottages, traditional homes with wide porches, tiny churches, and lavish waterfront homes. It's a lovely area for a stroll or bike ride, and Pitt Street offers a couple of locally loved eateries and boutiques. Head south along Pitt Street to the Otis M. Pickett Bridge and Park, popular for picnicking, fishing, and sunset views.

Completed in 1713, the oldest public building in South Carolina is one of the few that remain from the time of the Lords Proprietors. The city's volatile—and precious—gunpowder was kept here during the Revolutionary War, and the building's thick walls were designed to contain an explosion if its stores were detonated. Today, it's a small museum with a permanent exhibit on Colonial and Revolutionary warfare.

Get up close and personal with more than 5,000 creatures at this waterfront attraction, where exhibits invite you to journey through distinctive habitats. Step into the Mountain Forest and find water splashing over a rocky gorge as river otters play. Enter the open-air Saltmarsh Aviary to feed stingrays and view herons, diamondback terrapins, and puffer fish; gaze in awe at the two-story, 385,000-gallon Great Ocean Tank, home to sharks, jellyfish, and a loggerhead sea turtle. Kids love the touch tank, and the Sea Turtle Recovery exhibition makes the celebrated sea turtle rehabilitation hospital accessible to all visitors.

This lovely center is South Carolina's official folk art headquarters and showcases the work of more than 300 South Carolina artists. Located in an eight-room Victorian cottage, its backyard features the occasional outdoor sculpture. Look for jewelry, sculptures, glass, woodwork, quilts, and sweetgrass baskets. The loomed shawls and silk scarves make great gifts.

Topped by a 186-foot steeple, St. Michael's is the city's oldest surviving church building. The first cornerstone was set in place in 1752, and through the years, other elements were added: the steeple clock and bells (1764); the organ (1768); the font (1771); and the altar (1892). A claim to fame: George Washington worshipped in pew number 43 in 1791. Listen for the bell ringers on Sunday morning before worship services.

Boardwalks and hiking, biking, and canoe trails weave through this lovely 600-acre park lorded over by ancient cypress and tupelo trees. One of the paths traces the colonial-era Charleston-to-Savannah Stagecoach Road, where you can still see the cypress remnants of historic bridges. It's a Southern swamp that forms the headwaters of the ACE Basin's Ashepoo River, so douse yourself with insect repellent and be on alert for reptiles.

Showcasing the talents of many fine artists dating back centuries (including 18th-century naturalist Mark Catesby), this gallery at the Sanctuary on Kiawah Island shows still-life paintings, black-and-white photographs, bronze sculptures, and handblown glass. Everything here is done in excellent taste, from the contemporary decor to the meet-the-artist receptions.