188 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401-3155

Established in the 1790s, this historic landmark is one of the oldest public markets in the U.S. There’s everything from handmade crafts, trinkets, and jewelry to the nation’s most prized souvenir—the woven sweetgrass basket. Certain weekend nights even have a special night market that runs until late. Enjoy live entertainment, embrace Charleston’s Southern charm, and soak in the lively atmosphere. It’s a fantastic way to support the local artisans and their work, too. Visit the market as a stop along a Charleston city tour and remember to have cash handy for payments. – Tripadvisor

3550 Ashley River Rd, Charleston, SC 29414-7109

South Carolina's Most Visited Plantation and Gardens. National Registry of Historic Places. Ancient Oak Avenue. Tours full of History. World Famous Gardens of the 19th Century "Romantic Style". Selected by Travel + Leisure (2014) as the only South Carolina garden deemed one of "America's Most Beautiful Gardens". Reconstruction Period Plantation Home Tour. Award Winning Slave Cabin Tour. Very popular Nature-Train Tour. Rice Field Boat Tour. Family Oriented. Petting Zoo and Nature Center. Audubon Swamp Self-Guided Tour. Amazing Nesting Rookery. If you have only one Plantation to see, don't miss us!

Charleston, SC 29482-9748

Learn all about this storied spot of the first clash between the Union and Confederate armies in the Civil War, in which the Union forces finally surrendered after a 34-hour bombardment by the Rebels.

Concord Street Vendue Range, Charleston, SC 29401-2129

Overlooking Charleston Harbor and Cooper Park on the eastern coast of the peninsula, this expansive waterfront green space is perfect for laidback strolls and picnics.

Charleston, SC

With its twin diamond peaks, this cable-stay bridge spans the Cooper River and connects downtown Charleston to Mount Pleasant. It's become an icon.

4300 Ashley River Road, Charleston, SC 29414-7206

Middleton Place National Historic Landmark is home to America’s oldest and most important landscaped gardens. Began in 1741, the historic site today encompasses 110 acres including the Gardens, House Museum, Stableyards, and Eliza’s House. Together they tell the inclusive history of all who lived, worked, and died here. The stories of the Middleton family including two Founding Fathers and generations of enslaved people are interwoven throughout the property. Visitors have opportunities to experience those stories with both guided or self-guided tours.

East Battery & Murray Blvd., Charleston, SC 29401

Discover historical Civil War monuments nestled among the greenery in these lush gardens on Charleston's south coast. Bonus: There's spectacular views of Fort Sumter and Charleston Harbor.

100 Aquarium Wharf Charleston Harbor, Charleston, SC 29401-6300

Discover the wonder of water, wildlife and wild places at the South Carolina Aquarium. Overlooking the Charleston Harbor, the Aquarium connects you with nearly 5,000 amazing animals and learn how you can protect them. Come face-to-face with sick and injured sea turtles in rehabilitation in our Sea Turtle Care Center ™ and follow their journeys from rescue to rehab to release. Visit our two touch tanks for a hands-on experience with stingrays, sharks, horseshoe crabs, sea stars and urchins. Learn fascinating details about the natural world at daily dive shows and animal encounters.

51 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401-2536

A National Historic Landmark, the Nathaniel Russell House Museum was completed in 1808 by merchant Nathaniel Russell. The home’s graceful, free-flying, three-story staircase is an architectural marvel and the elegant interiors with elaborate plasterwork, geometrically shaped rooms, formal gardens and collection of 18th-century decorative and fine art speak to the wealth of Charleston’s elite in the early days of the American Republic. Restored to its original splendor using forensic analysis and cutting-edge conservation technology by our curatorial staff, we ensure the highest standards of old-world expertise to replicate the finishes, fixtures and textiles appropriate for this 200-year old townhouse. The 18 enslaved Africans that lived on and maintained this property are an integral part of its history. Archaeological artifacts, educational panels and ongoing restoration of the enslaved quarters are vital to learning more about the enslaved and telling their important stories.

3380 Ashley River Rd, Charleston, SC 29414-7126

Circa 1738, Drayton Hall is the oldest unrestored plantation house in America still open to the public.

48 Elizabeth St, Charleston, SC 29403-6250

The Aiken-Rhett House (c. 1820) is one of the best-preserved townhouse complexes in the nation. Vastly expanded by Governor and Mrs. William Aiken, Jr. in the 1830s and again in the 1850s, the house and its outbuildings include a kitchen, the original quarters of the enslaved, carriage block and back lot. When Historic Charleston Foundation assumed ownership in 1995, we adopted a preserved-as-found preservation approach, meaning the structure and contents are left in an “as-found” state, including furniture, architecture and finishes that have not been altered since the mid 19th century. While many dependency buildings in Charleston have been demolished or adapted, the Aiken-Rhett slave quarters – with their original paint, floors and fixtures – survive virtually untouched since the 1850s, allowing visitors the chance to better comprehend the every-day realities of the enslaved Africans who lived and labored here. A 45-minute audio tour is available, last tour at 4pm.

6 Chalmers St, Charleston, SC 29401-3005

79 E Bay St # 107, Charleston, SC 29401-2544

122 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401-2103

History comes alive as Colonial dressed guides talk about Pirates, Patriots and Presidents! Explore the location where pirates were once held and view a section of the 1698 fortification that once protected the Walled City. Completed in 1771 as the New Exchange and Customs House, recognized today as South Carolina's most historic building. Where Patriots were imprisoned, the Constitution was ratified and George Washington was entertained.

325 Country Club Dr, Charleston, SC 29412-2215

Established in 1851, McLeod Plantation has borne witness to some of the most significant periods of Charleston's - and our nations - history. Today McLeod Plantation is an important 37-acre Gullah/Geechee heritage site that has been carefully preserved in recognition of its cultural and historical significance. The grounds include a riverside outdoor pavilion, a sweeping oak allée, and the McLeod Oak, which is thought to be more than 600 years old. It is a place like no other, not frozen in time but vibrant, dynamic, and constantly evolving, where the winds of change whisper through the oak trees and voices from the past speak to all who pause to listen. McLeod Plantation was built on the riches of sea island cotton - and on the backs of enslaved people whose work and culture are embedded in the Lowcountry's very foundation. It is a living tribute to the men and women and their descendants that persevered in their efforts to achieve freedom, equality, and justice. All of their stories - black and white, enslaved and free - are given their due. After years of careful research and restoration, McLeod Plantation Historic Site invites visitors to embark upon an in-depth exploration of the lives of those people whose stories are essential to understanding Charleston's complex past and helped shape who we, as a nation, are today.