Charleston, SC
Points of Interest
Audubon Swamp Garden-The unique and lovely Audubon Swamp
Garden, located on the grounds of Magnolia Plantation, encompasses
60 acres of black water cypress and tupelo swamp. Accessible
by boardwalks and dikes, this wild and natural area has been called
the "most important new botanical planting in North America
by Derek Fell, America's leading garden critic, photographer and
writer. Lowcountry wildlife (herons, egrets, alligators, anhingas,
wood ducks, otters) are commonly spotted; binoculars are provided.
Open Daily: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Ten miles from downtown on Hwy 61.
Telephone: (843) 571-1266
Boone Hall Plantation-A magnificent estate of 738 acres.
A highlight of the plantation is the majestic avenue of live
oaks planted in 1743 by Captain Thomas Boone. The plantation
mansion I of Georgian architecture. Original plantation buildings
include nine 18th century slave cabins and the gin house used
for processing cotton. Used so extensively in motion picture
and television filming, as well as in worldwide publications,
it has become known as "America's Most Photographed Plantation".
Open Daily: Day after Labor day through march 31st, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Monday-Saturday
Location: 6 Miles north of Charleston on US Hwy. 17 North, Charleston
Telephone: (843) 884-4371
Charles Towne Landing-This is where South Carolina was
born. The site of the first permanent English settlement in the
state. Today it is preserved as a national treasure. This Is
a one of a kind state park filled with history and natural pride.
Climb aboard the commemorative sailing ship Adventure, explore
eighty acres of lush gardens, or stroll through the winding trails
of our Animal Forest, a natural habitat zoo.
Location: 1500 Old Town Road, Hwy. 171 Charleston, SC 29407 (843) 852-4200
Cypress Gardens - Cypress Gardens was created by owner Benjamin
R. Kittredge in the late 1920's. Early one spring, as the story
goes, Mr. Kittredge saw a red maple reflecting in the black water
swamp. From this inspiration, "he created the beauty of
this surrounding Cypress Gardens." Since then, the colorful
Gardens have thrilled thousands each spring reflecting a profusion
of azaleas, dogwoods, daffodils and wisteria in the mirror-like
inky waters. Wildlife abounds at Cypress Gardens. Outdoor enthusiasts
and birdwatchers as well as hikers will particularly enjoy the
two rambling nature trails in isolated areas of the swamp. Here
visitors can share the swamp with alligators, pileated woodpeckers,
wood ducks, otter, barred owls and the other abundant species
that inhabit the swamp year round.
Location: 3030 Cypress Gardens Road, Moncks Corner, SC 29461
Telephone: (843) 553-0515
Drayton Hall - Built between 1738 and 1742, Drayton Hall
is one of the finest examples of colonial architecture in America.
Through seven generations of Drayton ownership, this National
Historic Landmark has remained in nearly original condition and
is the only Ashley River plantation house to survive the Civil
War intact. Its unique state of preservation and rich, hand-crafted
detail offer visitors a rare glimpse of a bygone Southern way
of life.
Location: 3880 Ashley River Road, 9 miles northwest of downtown
Charleston on the historic Ashley River Road (S.C. Route 61.)
Open to the public daily: Tours on the hour, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,
March through October; 10 a.m. to 3 p/m/, November through February.
Magnolia Plantation and Garden-A 300 year old ancestral
home of South Carolina's illustrious Drayton family, ten generations
utilizing it since the 1670's. Internationally famous, and open
to the public for over a century, it is credited as America's
oldest man-made attraction. Begun in the 1680's as a plantation
estate garden, it is also America's oldest major garden. Scores
of experts have described its 50 acres of lawn and gardens as
the world's most beautiful.
Location: 10 miles from downtown Charleston, SC on Hwy 61.
Telephone: (843) 571-1266
Middleton Place - America's oldest landscaped gardens, celebrating
250 years. Middleton Place is a carefully preserved 18th century
plantation that encompasses America's oldest landscaped gardens,
the Middleton Place House, and the Plantation Stableyards.
Location: Ashley River Road (Hwy. 61), 14 miles northwest of Charleston.
Open Daily: 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
The Charleston Museum - The Charleston Museum, founded in
1773, is the first and oldest museum in America. The museum's
collections preserve and interpret the social and natural history
of Charleston and the South Carolina coastal region. Objects
from natural history science, cultural history, historical archaeology,
ornithology and ethnology departments are presented to illustrate
the important contribution each had to the history of this area.
Location: 360 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC
Telephone: (843) 722-2996
Museum Hours: Open Daily Mon-Sat 9-5, Sunday 1-5
Civil War Museum - See Charleston's largest collection of
civil war long arms, cavalry saddles, and excavated Confederate
artifacts. Other exhibits include Civil War uniforms, swords,
pistols, artillery projectile, and flags. The museum also includes
Charleston's largest gallery of authentic Civil War antiques offered
for sale.
Open: Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Location: Sumter Military Museum Antiques and Museum, 54 Broad
Street, Charleston
Telephone: (843) 577-7766
Gibbes Museum of Art - One of the finest collections of American
art in the Southeast. The collection is comprised of views of
Charleston, portraits of notable South Carolinians, paintings,
prints and drawings from the 18th century to the present.
Open: Tues. - Sat. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun. & Mon. 1 - 5 p.m.
Location: 135 Meeting Street, Charleston
Telephone: (843) 722-2706
Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum - Visit the Aircraft
Carrier Yorktown, World War II's Famous "Fighting Lady",
submarine Clamagore, destroyer Laffey, coast guard cutter Ingham,
and 20 Vintage military aircraft.
Open Daily
Location: Charleston Harbor, Mt. Pleasant side of Cooper River
Bridge
Telephone: (843) 884-2727
Berkeley Museum
From the Cherokee Path,
to the nation's first true canal, Berkeley County
has long been a crossroads in American history.
Calhoun Mansion-This Victorian Baronial Manor House was
built by George Walton Williams, a wealthy merchant and banker.,
following the Civil War. (circa 1876). The mansion is 24,000
square feet and has 14-foot ceilings, ornate plaster, wood mouldings,
elaborate chandeliers, a stairwell that reaches to a 75-foot domed
ceiling, as well as a ballroom with a coved glass skylight that
is 45 feet high. Used as the "Hazard" house in the
mini-series "North and South."
Open: Thurs.-Sun. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed in January.
Location: 16 Meeting Street in Downtown Charleston
Telephone: (843) 722-8205
The Charleston Museum Houses
Edmondston-Alston House - The stately Edmondston-Alston House
on Charleston's High Battery is one of the city's most splendid
dwellings, a gracious example of early nineteenth century commitment
to elegance, style and comfort.
Open: Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4:40 p.m., Sunday and
Monday , 1:30 p.m. - 4:40 p.m.
Location:21 East Battery in Downtown Charleston
Telephone: (843) 556-6020
Nathaniel Russell House-Since the early 1800's, visitors
have admired the townhouse of Nathaniel and Sarah Russell, completed
in 1808. Set amid spacious gardens, the "mansion-house"
is recognized as one of America's most important neoclassical
dwellings. The graceful interiors with elaborate plasterwork
ornamentation geometrically shaped rooms and a magnificent free-flying
staircase are about the most exuberant ever created in early America.
Furnished with period antiques and works of art, many of Charleston
origin, the house evokes the gracious life-style of the city's
merchant elite.
Admission Tickets: Available at the site, and the Edmunds Preservation
Center at 108 Meeting Street. Combination ticket available with
the Edmondston-Alston House Museum Located at: 21 East Battery,
Charleston Pre-school children free. Group Discounts available
for groups of 12 or more. Guided Tours Daily:Monday-Saturday from
10-5 P.M.: Sunday from 2-5 P.M.
For more information contact: Nathaniel Russell House, 51 Meeting
Street, Charleston, SC 29401
Telephone: (843) 724-8481
The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon - Over 300 years of
pirates, presidents, patriots and preservation make the Olde Exchange
and Provost Dungeon one of the most historic places you'll see
on your visit to Charleston. Charleston's first customs house
and exchange was built by the British in 1771.
Open: Daily 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: 122 East Bay Street at Broad Street, Charleston
Telephone: (843) 727-2165
Fort Sumter Tours-This is the only tour stopping at Fort
Sumter for visitation. You'll enjoy a relaxing boar ride through
Charleston harbor on your way to the fort. Once there, National
Park Service Rangers will answer your questions. Tour lasts 2
1/4 hours. Boats leave daily from the City marina and Patriots.
For more information call (843) 722-1691.
Greyline Water Tour-Harbor of History Tour- Aboard the
Charles Towne Princess, enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner and
experience the charm and excitement of old Charleston and her
historic harbor while touring the 85 points of interest. The
Harborlites Cruise offers a full dinner buffet and reservations
are required. All tours depart at the City Marina
Departures: Daily 10:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m., & 3:00 p.m.(No
Reservations Required)
Evening Harborlites Cruise - 7:00 p.m. (Reservations Required)
Location: 17 Lockwood Drive, Charleston, SC
Telephone: 800/344-4483
Harbor and Naval Base Tour- This relaxing and informative
nonstop tour provides you with a waterside view of Charleston.
You'll cruise by historic battery homes, the Ports terminals,
and Fort Sumter; under the Cooper River Bridges; and up to the
huge U.S. Naval Base. The lasts 2 hours.
Open: Daily
Location: Patriots Point in Mt. Pleasant
Telephone: (843) 722-1691
The Schooner Pride-The PRIDE is an 84-foot, true three-masted
topsail schooner. Passengers are encouraged to help out with
the sailing or just sit back and enjoy the historic harbor and
wildlife as she silently slips through the waters. Patrons agree
that the two-hour afternoon or sunset cruise is the most exciting,
yet relaxing experience in Charleston.
Open: Daily, Please call for weekly schedule and reservations.
Location: Ripley Light Marina at Ashley Pointe Drive (next to
California Dreaming)
Telephone: (843) 795-1180
The 76' Motor Yacht, Southern Belle - Memories are made by unique experiences,
avoid the ordinary, relax onboard with 3 staterooms, 4 private baths, full
kitchen/bar, observation deck, Direct TV, Internet, plus more between 3 spacious
levels. Experience Charleston's charm in true luxury. Beach access within
walking distance. Additional options available including discounted yacht
cruises, accommodations at downtown marina location, outdoor recreation,
historic downtown tours.
Capt. Matt
Telephone: (843) 557-5805
Charleston Carriage Tours-Several companies in the area
provide horse drawn carriage tours of historic Charleston. All
carriages leave from the Market in the area bordered by Anson
and Church Streets.
See our Tours Page |
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