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Uniquely Charleston: Things to Do in Charleston and Nowhere Else

Table of Contents

By Bailey Laskowski

Charleston is truly a special city. Consistently ranked on lists of the best places to visit, Charleston stands in a class all her own. You’ve come to the right place for a truly one-of-a-kind experience. Visit these attractions and landmarks that are unique to Charleston. Be sure to take some photos – you won’t find these spots anywhere else.

1. Stand where the Civil War began

Decades of growing political tension around the issue of slavery between the North and South erupted in civil war on April 12, 1861, when Confederate artillery opened fire on Fort Sumter, a federal fort in the Charleston harbor. Fort Sumter surrendered 34 hours later. While in Charleston, take a boat ride to Fort Sumter and stand on the grounds where it all began.

2. Visit the Fireproof Building & Museum

A National Historic Landmark, the Fireproof Building is known as the oldest fire-resistant building in the United States. The structure was built in 1827 with the purpose of housing city records for ultimate safe-keeping. Now, the building houses the South Carolina Historical Society Museum.  | 100 Meeting St., Charleston

3. Tour the Old Haunted Jail

The Old City Jail was built in 1802 and operated as such until 1939. Thousands of men, women, and children died while confined within these eerie brick walls. It’s rumored to be the most haunted building in Charleston, and the fact that paranormal encounters continue through this day serves as proof. Most of the building’s original structures remain intact, such as the cells and warden’s quarters. Enter if you dare.  | 21 Magazine St., Charleston

4. Visit the birthplace of the Carolina Colony

Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site sits on a marshy point off Ashley River, where a group of English settlers landed in 1670 and established what would become the birthplace of the Carolina colony. Charles Towne Landing introduces visitors to the earliest colonial history of Charleston. | 1500 Old Towne Road, Charleston

5. Explore with the Charleston Tour Pass

Vacation planning has never been easier thanks to Charleston’s first all-access pass to key attractions around the city. With the Charleston Tour Pass, visit more 30 of Charleston’s best landmarks, museums and experiences without paying an entry fee or waiting in line. You can choose how many days you want (one to five days available) and then start exploring the entire city while receiving discounts at local restaurants and beverage establishments.

6. Catch a show inside America’s first theater

In 1736, Dock Street Theatre opened its doors for the first time for a showing of “The Recruiting Officer.” The building made history as Charleston Art & Theaterthe first one in America built exclusively for theatrical performances. The first opera performance in America, “Flora,” just so happened to take place at this beautiful and historic location. The Charleston Stage continues to bring the theater to life with ongoing productions, giving everyone the chance to take a seat in the 1700s building and observe one of America’s favorite art forms.  | 135 Church St., Charleston

7. Experience the first museum in America

Founded in 1773, The Charleston Museum gained its title as America’s first museum. Even today, it continues to discover, preserve, interpret, celebrate and share. The collections, exhibitions, educational programs, and events are designed to inspire curiosity and conversation about the South Carolina Lowcountry and the stories that make us who we are.  | 360 Meeting St., Charleston

8. Feel the power of a WWII aircraft carrier

The USS Yorktown was the 10th aircraft carrier to serve in the U.S. Navy. The ship was renamed in honor of Yorktown (CV-5) that sunk during the epic Battle of Midway in 1942. This World War II vessel received the Presidential Unit Citation and earned 11 battle stars for service. Climb aboard and tour multiple facets of this ship while learning about the history and sacrifices of WWII.   | 40 Patriots Point Road, Mount Pleasant

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/

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