traveler of charleston logo

Enjoy All North Charleston Has to Offer

Table of Contents

North Charleston is a diverse community of small businesses, community events and family friendly fun. Just a short drive from historic downtown Charleston, the City of North Charleston welcomes visitors to the Lowcountry eager to soak up that southern charm.

North CharlestonMake time to visit North Charleston for shopping, culture, great food and even better company.

Experience North Charleston

Whether you enjoy history, the outdoors or family fun, North Charleston has an experience for every visitor.

At the North Charleston Fire Museum and Educational Center, see a collection of 19 antique fire trucks plus interactive exhibits, including a real fire pole and education about how to exit a burning building. Kids can make their own personalized fire patch to take home.

Wannamaker County Park has more than 1,000 acres of woodlands and wetlands with miles of trails, picnic sites and two playgrounds. In the summertime, stay cool at Whirlin’ Waters Adventure Waterpark, plus boats and bikes are available to rent.

Show off your figure eights and your triple lutz at Carolina Ice Palace. Public skating hours are available daily or take advantage of the Friday and Saturday night family special with skating, pizza and drinks for one price.

Fashion + Shopping

From shoes to sunglasses and from jeans to jewelry, Tanger Outlets in North Charleston is the best place to grab some great deals on designer items. Dozens of name brand retailers offer incredible products at deals that won’t bust the bank while leaving enough left over for you to treat yourself to a new sweater or pair of athletic shoes. Browse at Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, Michael Kors, Polo Ralph Lauren and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Northwoods Mall has more than 100 stores and restaurants and is conveniently located off Interstate 26 and surrounded by several other shopping centers.

Shopping in North Charleston - Park CircleFor a truly local experience, head to North Charleston’s historic district, the Olde Village. It’s lined with small family owned businesses and shops. Park Pets is a pet supply store with food, treats and toys for your favorite furry friend. Roadside Blooms  offers a unique mix of plants, bouquets, handmade jewelry and candles. The Pink Crocodile is a fun boutique with clothes, jewelry, accessories, children’s gifts and home décor. For a wide selection of modern furniture, lighting, home décor and accent pieces, stop by Iola Modern.

Food + Drink

Park Circle’s Commonhouse Aleworks has revived that old town hall feel where people gather to relax, talk and share a laugh over a beer. Have a pint of Park Circle Pale Ale, the Broad Path Brown ale or one of the other beers on tap. Holy City Brewing on Dorchester Road has been brewing beer in North Charleston for years. Stop by the tap room for a pint of red ale, American stout, Belgian pale ale or a specialty seasonal brew.

Looking for a great place to grab dinner? Look no further than Park Circle. LoLA is a blend of Lowcountry cuisine and Louisiana seafood (think gumbo or shrimp creole). You’ll never think about the pizza the same way after dining at EVO Pizzeria for wood-fired pizzas. Be sure to pick up dessert at EVO’s bakery. Head to Lotus for Vietnamese cuisine in a chic atmosphere. For some of the area’s best burgers, don’t miss Sesame Burgers and Beer in Park Circle.

Events

North Charleston’s Riverfront Park has become a go-to location for outdoor concerts, festivals and charitable events Hot ticket items Highwater Fest in North Charlestoninclude the High Water Festival, a musical event April 13-14 featuring Shovels & Ropes, Leon Bridges, Lord Huron and more than a dozen more musical performers.

Widespread Panic also will play Riverfront Park during the Trondossa Music & Arts Festival on April 27-28. This picturesque waterfront venue is also home to the Charleston Beer Fest on May 18 and the Charleston Animal Society’s Chili Cook-Off in November.

Culture

Celebrate North Charleston’s vibrant arts and culture scene at the North Charleston Arts Fest in early May. This annual celebration boosts national, regional and local artists and performers in dance, music, theatre, visual arts, media arts and literature. Performances and exhibits are affordable and accessible at locations all around the area.

The North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center, neighboring concert and event spaces in North Charleston, host everything from rock concerts to Broadway shows plus the North Charleston Pops! orchestra.

For even more information all you can see and do in North Charleston, head to visitnorthcharleston.com. Sign up for email alerts, view the calendar of events and plan your visit.

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.