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Fun Winter Activities in Charleston

Table of Contents

By Bailey Laskowski

Too cold for the beach? No problem, there are plenty of things to do around Charleston during cooler weather. So, grab your jacket and check out some of these wintertime favorites for an unforgettable time in the Holy City.

Stare at the sea turtles

Everyone loves sea turtles and they are a main attraction at the South Carolina Aquarium. Take time to see the new Zucker Family Sea Turtle Recovery area of the aquarium, which walks visitors along the path of a rescued sea turtle as it moves through treatment and rehabilitation and ultimately to release back into the ocean. Visitors can watch a live surgery through a glass window and on a TV monitor. Tour the rest of the aquarium with thousands of aquatic animals from river otters to sharks in more than 60 exhibits representing the rich biodiversity of South Carolina from the mountains to the sea.

Walk Museum Mile

Joseph Manigault House

Along a one-mile section of Meeting Street you will find six museums, five nationally renowned historic houses, four scenic parks, a Revolutionary War powder magazine, and an array of historic houses of worship and public buildings, including Charleston City Market and City Hall. During the month of January, access participating Museum Mile sites with one discounted ticket. Purchase an adult ticket for $25 and a child’s ticket for $10 to access 11 different sites.

Lose yourself in a play

As much as we love movies and television, there’s still something magical that comes from watching a live performance and seeing a story come alive right before your eyes. Spend an evening in one of Charleston’s theaters and you’ll be mesmerized from the moment the curtain opens. Visit theatrecharleston.com for details on upcoming productions and plays. 

Browse art galleries

Charleston is home to dozens of art galleries where you can find everything from European fine art to contemporary and modern pieces. Browse the galleries and take home a piece of Charleston’s charm. Or simply take an art walk and enjoy the collection of masterful works by artists from the Lowcountry and beyond. Visit charlestongalleryassociation.com for a list of galleries and details on upcoming art walks. 

Jump around at indoor trampoline parks

Sky Zone Trampoline Park in Mount Pleasant and Velocity Air Sports in North Charleston are great winter activities for the whole family. Get your exercise while having a jumpin’ good time! Both offer special promotions and deals.

Southeastern Wildlife Expo in Charleston, SC
Southeastern Wildlife Expo

Celebrate nature at Southeastern Wildlife Exposition

This annual event is a three-day celebration of wildlife and nature through fine art, conservation education, sporting demonstrations, social events and various exhibits. From Feb. 16-18, SEWE hosts hundreds of artists and exhibitors, plus experts in wildlife and nature art – all eager to share their work and insights with more than 40,000 attendees. Info: sewe.com

Be adventurous

Coastal Climbing Gym, 708 King St., has 3,000 square feet of indoor bouldering with more than 100 boulder problems

suitable for a variety of levels and abilities. You can also put your climbing and balance skills to the test at Wild Blue Ropes Adventure Park, featuring 72 suspended obstacles up to 35 feet in the air. Or check out Charleston Zip Line Adventures, located just north of Mount Pleasant. Zip from a 65-foot tower through the trees, going between tree platforms, towers, three swinging bridges and a grand finale zip of 750 feet.

Cheers! Have a drink

Deep Water Vineyard on Wadmalaw Island is Charleston’s only working vineyard and winery. Plan a visit to sample one of the nine wines made from four types of muscadine grapes grown at the vineyard. Don’t miss Weekend Wine-Down on Saturdays with food, music and wine tastings. Prefer a cold pint of craft beer instead? You’re in luck! Charleston is home to more than a dozen local breweries serving up craft beers and frothy concoctions. Check out our list of local breweries. 

Stuff yourself at Charleston Wine + Food Festival

Fueled by a contagious passion for the people and places that make Charleston worth celebrating, the annual festival infuses homegrown flavor with top chefs, winemakers, authors, storytellers, artisans and food enthusiasts from around the globe for a five-day event from Feb. 28 to March 4. Attend one of 100 events all around the Charleston area with the anchor of the festival, The Culinary Village, taking place in Marion Square Friday through Sunday. Info: charlestonwineandfood.com

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

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