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Off the Path: 5 Places to Explore in the Charleston Area

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When visiting a new city – or even an old favorite – it’s fun to get off the beaten path and see something entirely new. The Charleston area has plenty of hidden gems sprinkled throughout the Lowcountry – some you may have never heard of. These are some of our favorites:

Edisto Island Serpentarium – If your kids love creepy-crawlies, this is the place to visit. According to the website, the Serpentarium is a culmination of more than 50 years of snake hunting adventure and experience by brothers Ted and Heyward Clamp of Edisto Island. The indoor facility and landscaped outdoor gardens house a variety of reptiles, mostly those collected by the Clamp brothers and native to the southeastern United States.

Learn about venomous and non-venomous snakes of South Carolina and the value of these animals in the environment. Daily shows are at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Also, the alligators are fed at noon and 4 p.m. each day. Watch the alligators eat while learning interesting facts about the history and life of these ancient reptiles.

Caw Caw Interpretive CenterHours and show times vary based on the season so check the website for a complete schedule or call 843-869-1171. Admission is $14.95 for ages 13 and up.

Caw Caw Interpretive Center – This area in Ravenel was once part of several rice plantations and home to enslaved Africans who applied their technology and skills in agriculture to carve the series of rice fields out of cypress swamps. The park has more than 6 miles of trails, elevated boardwalks through the wetlands and interpretive exhibits and displays.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday; admission is $2 per person.

Old Santee Canal Park – This 195-acre park in Moncks Corner commemorates the area’s rich history and habitat. Among its attractions are the Stony Landing House, built in 1843, and 4 miles of boardwalks that meander through the quiet backwaters of Biggin Creek and its surrounding swamp. The park’s centerpiece is its Interpretive Center that chronicles the area’s history as far back as 4000 B.C., including the 1863 construction of the Little David, a semisubmersible Confederate torpedo boat used in the Civil War. The Berkeley County Museum and Heritage Center is also located within the park’s gates.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; admission is $3 per person.

Mepkin AbbeyMepkin Abbey – While you’re in Moncks Corner, visit this community of Roman Catholic monks established in 1949 on the site of the historic Mepkin Plantation located on the Cooper River. Visitors are welcome to see the Mepkin Abbey Church and the Nancy Bryan Luce Gardens (no tours on Sundays and Mondays).

Be sure to do some shopping in the Mepkin Abbey Store, featuring the artistic work of local, national and international monastics and artisans.

Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge – Soak in the natural beauty with fishing and wildlife viewing or enjoy one of the two hiking trails on Bulls Island. Cape Romain’s beaches are a great place to collect sanddollars and other shells (you may collect one small bag of unoccupied shells).

The most photographed location in Cape Romain is “Boneyard Beach” on Bulls Island, where fallen and sun-bleached oaks and cedars create decorate the beach.

Cape Romain is located in Awendaw, north of Mount Pleasant. Check the website for specific information on tours and hours.

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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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