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What to See, Do and Eat in Mount Pleasant

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As you’re visiting Charleston, you can’t miss the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge over the Cooper River. It’s majestic diamonds are easy to spot if you’re at one of the parks or attractions near the Charleston harbor or taking a boat tour. So where does the bridge take you?

The Ravenel Bridge connects downtown Charleston to the Town of Mount Pleasant, one of the state’s (and the nation’s) fastest-growing cities with more than 77,000 residents. The village was laid out by James Hibben in 1803; he took the name from one of the area’s 18th-century plantations. For many years after, Mount Pleasant remained a small town. But by the mid- to late 20th century, it was quickly growing. Today it’s a bustling and vibrant area with plenty for visitors to see and do.

While you’re exploring Mount Pleasant, make sure you check out these areas and attractions:

Shem Creek ParkExplore Nature:

Shem Creek is popular among visitors and locals. Several restaurants serve up local seafood with views of shrimp boats and dolphins in the creek. It’s also a popular spot for kayaking and paddleboarding (contact Nature Adventure Outfitters or Coastal Expeditions for tours). Be sure to stop by Shem Creek Park, a 2,200-foot boardwalk that stretches from Coleman Boulevard to the mouth of the creek at the Charleston harbor. The park has floating dock space and a commercial fishing dock.

Francis Marion National Forest: Site of the battle between forces of British Col. Banastre Tarleton and Revolutionary Gen. Francis Marion, “The Swamp Fox.” Now this wildlife-rich 260,000-acre forest welcomes campers, hikers, mountain bikers, horseback riders, kayakers, and picnickers. OHV opportunities are found at the Wambaw Cycle Trail. Visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/scnfs/ or call call (843) 336-3248 for more info. 


Explore History & Culture

Not far from Shem Creek is the Old Village of Mount Pleasant with historic homes, restaurants and shops. The Mount Pleasant Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and includes 30 blocks in and near the Old Village. Walk the picturesque Pitt Street Bridge which provides expansive views of the Charleston Harbor along it’s palmetto tree lined path.

While in Mount Pleasant’s Old Village, grab dinner or weekend brunch at the Old Village Post House, a neighborhood tavern and inn cooking up local meats, produce and seafood. For coffee and a fresh-made pastry or soup and sandwich, stop off at the cozy Village Bakery.

Avenue Of Oaks - Boone Hall Plantation
photo/Boone Hall Plantation

For a beautiful history lesson, plan a visit to Boone Hall Plantation on Long Point Road. One of the oldest working, living plantations in America, visitors can tour the plantation house and a variety of exhibits detailing black history, Gullah culture and the history of slaves at the plantation. Boone Hall also hosts a number of special events during the year so check the calendar of events to see what might be happening during your visit.

Other historic attractions in Mount Pleasant include the Charles Pinckney National Historic Site. Pinckney was the principal author and a signer of the U.S. Constitution. Visit the site (free admission) to see interpretations of African-American life and contributions during the colonial era. Also stop by Patriots Point near the Ravenel Bridge to tour the USS Yorktown, a World War II aircraft carrier.


 

Explore Dining & Shopping

After all that exploring, try one of our favorite restaurants for lunch or dinner: Five Loaves Café for delicious soups and sandwiches; Rusty Rudder for casual dining with a side of live music and football on the TVs; SOL Southwest Kitchen for tacos and margaritas; and On Forty-One for tasty Southern cooking. Locals love Page’s Okra Grill, a spacious restaurant on Coleman Boulevard that serves up home-style Southern cookin’ like biscuits ‘n gravy, Lowcountry crab cakes and chicken and waffles. Shem Creek also has some great options such as Red’s Icehouse, The Shelter Kitchen + Bar, Vickerys, RB’s Seafood and others.

Mount Pleasant Towne Centre provides an all encompassing shopping and dining experience set on 51 acres with over 60 stores and restaurants….and a 16 screen movie theater. Dining options such as P.F. Chang’s, Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, Zoe’s Kitchen, Longhorn Steakhouse and much more are all here.

Not far from Mount Pleasant you’ll also find the Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island, two of the most popular beaches in the area.

For more ideas, visit the Town of Mount Pleasant’s visitor website.

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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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