traveler of charleston logo

5 Must-Do Spring Activities in Charleston, SC

Table of Contents

Spring came early to Charleston this year with a mild winter and plenty of sunshine. But that doesn’t mean we’re done celebrating the season. There’s so much to do this time of the year that we need an extended spring season to make it through our list. Here are five of our favorite spring activities:

Middleton Place, Charleston, SC1. Visit a local plantation. Not only are these sites filled with incredible history, architecture and remnants of Charleston’s past, the gardens come alive in the spring. We recommend touring the gardens at some of these spots:

  • Boone Hall Plantation – Founded in 1681, Boone Hall remains one of America’s oldest working, living plantations.
  • Charleston Tea Plantation – Head to Wadmalaw Island to visit the only tea plantation in North America, where thousands of tea bushes stretch for acres at this working tea farm. See the factory and visit the gift shop for free.
  • Drayton Hall – Circa 1738, this site along the Ashley River has survived the centuries in near-original condition and is the oldest preserved plantation house in America that is open to the public.
  • Magnolia Plantation and Gardens – Founded in 1676 by the Drayton family, this plantation is the oldest public tourist site in the Lowcountry and is home to the oldest public gardens in America.
  • McLeod Plantation Historic Site – This 37-acre Gullah/Geechee heritage site has been carefully preserved in recognition of its cultural and historical significance. It also has the McLeod oak tree, which is thought to be more than 600 years old.
  • Middleton Place – This site is a National Historic Landmark and home to America’s oldest landscaped gardens, which have been planned so something is blooming year round. Visit the 18th- and 19th-century Plantation Stableyards where costumed interpreters demonstrate the skills once performed by enslaved people.

2. Take a carriage tour. A fun way to learn about local history is with a carriage tour along the streets of downtown Charleston. Classic Carriage Works, Palmetto Carriage Works and Old South Carriage Co. offer carriage tours daily near the Charleston City Market.

3. Embark a walking tour of Charleston. Whether you stroll the cobblestone streets on your own or enlist one of the local tour companies, you’ll enjoy taking in the sights at a leisurely pace as your stroll past historic homes and gardens, art galleries and pieces of Charleston’s past.

Charleston Farmers Market/Photo by City of Charleston (1)
Photo by City of Charleston

4. Go shopping at the local farmers market. The Charleston Farmers Market in Marion Square opens on Saturday, April 8 and continues each Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. With plenty of local growers, artisans and crafters, plus delicious food vendors, it’s the perfect Saturday stop.

5. Have a cocktail … with a view. Toast the spring season at one of Charleston’s rooftop bars. Here are three favorites:

  • The Rooftop at the Vendue Inn at 19 Venue Range.
  • Stars Rooftop & Grill Room at 495 King St.
  • The Watch: Rooftop Kitchen & Spirits is located in The Restoration hotel at 75 Wentworth St.

 

What’s your favorite springtime activity? Share with use on social media with #CharlestonTraveler.

 

Visiting Charleston Just Got Way Easier!

TourPass includes all the top tours and attractions & historic sites. Save up to 40% or more on admissions + skip the lines

Charleston FAQ's

Choosing a hotel and where to stay in Charleston all depends on your budget and goals. Do you want to stay Downtown, at the beach or in the outer areas such as North Charleston where you have to drive to get everywhere? For more help on deciding: https://travelerofcharleston.com/articles/hotels/

Charleston has 3 main public beaches which are: Folly, Isle of Palms and Sullivans. Each beach has it’s own atmosphere. The most common beach that people visit is Folly Beach and then Isle of Palms followed by Sullivans Island. For more info on Charleston’s beaches visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/guide-charlestons-beaches/

Charleston, SC is full of historical things to do. Everything from museums, to public sites and free landmark sites such as Rainbow Row and the Battery can be seen. For more info on Charleston’s top historical sites visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/places-to-learn-about-charleston-sc-history/

There are many things that will keep the kids and family entertained and educated in Charleston. There are historic sites such as Fort Sumter, a Children’s Museum, Aquarium and the USS Yorktown…a WWII era aircraft carrier you can tour. For more info visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-family-fun-activities/

There’s so many  things you could do in Charleston it can be overwhelming. We recommend that first time visitors, checkout the ultimate first-time visitor guide here: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-first-time-visitors-guide/

Spring in Charleston, SC is an amazing time of year to visit. The flowers are blooming and the weather is mild and sunny. For more info, check-out our spring guide to Charleston here: https://travelerofcharleston.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-springtime-in-charleston/

Summer in Charleston is a great time to visit. There’s plenty of things to keep you busy and visiting the beach will probably….or should be on your short-list. Also water-based activities and tours are popular. Checkout this summer guide to Charleston for more info: 

Our 10 Favorite Summer Activities in Charleston

Fall is one of the best times to visit. The weather cools down a bit and the skies are typically blue and clear. In addition there are many great events, festivals and the large crowds of summer have gone back to school or work. For more info on visiting in the fall, checkout this article: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-12-things-to-do-fall/

There are so many great things to do that it’s difficult to narrow the list down. This article does a great job with figuring out the must do things to do in Charleston

7 Can’t Miss Reasons to Visit Charleston, SC Now

The consensus is a minimum of 3-days is needed to settle in and experience Charleston. For instance, many people take 2 days exploring downtown and another day visiting sites outside of downtown such as the plantations, Angel Oak Tree or beaches. Checkout this page for a list of tours and attractions: 

Charleston’s Top Tours & Attractions | Things to do

Downtown Charleston was made for walking and for sure one of the best way to soak up and experience the history first-hand. This article goes over getting around Charleston with and without a car as well: 

Getting Around Charleston, SC

We’re of course partial to Charleston, but here’s the truth. There are many similarities however there are some differences in our opinion: 

  • Both cities are historic and beautiful. 
  • Both cities are extremely walkable. Savannah, with it’s park-like squares maybe more walkable than Charleston. 
  • Charleston has a more established and food scene with many more options. 
  • Charleston has better hotels and shopping.
  • Both cities have equally good tours.
  • Charleston has better beach options. Savannah has Tybee which is great, however it’s 1 beach vibe versus Charleston which has 3 beaches with different vibes. Checkout this Charleston beach guide article: https://travelerofcharleston.com/guide-charlestons-beaches/
  • In Savannah you can walk with alcoholic beverages on the street. This is not allowed in Charleston. This can be good or bad depending on your stance. 
  • Savannah is more affordable.
  • TourPass offers all-inclusive passes in both cities: https://tourpass.com

There are always great and world-class events happening in Charleston. For a calendar of events and things to do in Charleston, checkout our online calendar of events: https://travelerofcharleston.com/events/

Of course there are free money-saving coupons that you can use. Visit the coupons page for a bunch of ways to save: https://travelerofcharleston.com/coupon/

Charleston has some fantastic can’t miss tours such as Fort Sumter, carriage, ghost, harbor, historic and culinary tours. For a full list with more info visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/attractions/

Checkout the Charleston Relocation Guide page which will guide you during your move: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-sc-relocation-guide/

Additional Places to Explore

Traveler Mag Icon
Receive Charleston Updates

Get the First Timers Guide...it's free

We’ll email our online magazine, map, helpful articles. Unsubscribe at anytime.