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8 Things to Do in Charleston Before Summer Ends

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August, already? What!? Our dreams of a lazy summer are fading fast, quickly replaced with back-to-shopping and “routines.” Fall seems like it’s just around the corner. In fact, we were in a local craft store that was stocked full with (gasp!) Christmas decorations.

OK, it’s time to regroup and squeeze the last bit of fun, relaxation and enjoyment out of this Charleston summer. We’ve put together a list of eight things we need to do before the first hint of fall comes knocking. Won’t you join us?

  1. Splash in the Pineapple Fountain at Waterfront Park.Pineapple Fountain in Charleston
  2. Build a sand castle at a local beach. Also acceptable: burying someone in the sand, collecting seashells or sitting in a beach chair with a magazine. See our local beach guide
  3. Buy summer fruits and veggies at the Charleston Farmers Market (8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays in Marion Square).
  4. See Charleston from the water. Book a cruise with Charleston Harbor Tours to see the Holy City from a different vantage point. Don’t forget the camera to snap some great shots of the Ravenel Bridge.
  5. Touch a shark. OK, preferably not one that’s in the actual ocean while we’re at the beach. Instead, check out the Shark Shallows exhibit at the South Carolina Aquarium.
  6. Have a cocktail on a rooftop restaurant. May we suggest The Vendue Rooftop or Stars Rooftop, both of which are located in the heart of downtown Charleston. See this article for more outdoor dining options.

    Stars Rooftop
    Stars Rooftop
  7. Watch an outdoor movie in the park (Wannamaker Movie Night or Movies in the Park with Cinebarre)
  8. Take a #CharlestonSelfie. Snap a selfie at a Charleston landmark and share with us on social media. We might just pick yours for inclusion in our fall magazine.
  9. OK….we’re doing more than 8! Get active on one of these tours which include zip lining, rope climbing, kayaking and fishing charters.

What did we miss? What’s on your must-do list before summer in Charleston comes to a end?

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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

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