1. Shop for souvenirs at Charleston City Market
Opened in 1841, the market spans four city blocks. You’ll find local artisans selling goods from jewelry, to sweetgrass baskets, which were originally used to separate rice grains. It’s a bit over-priced here so if you’re willing to shop around, you may find similar or even the same souvenirs at the shops surrounding the market
2. Tour the grounds of Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
Magnolia is one of the oldest plantations in the south. It used to be a rice plantation with enslaved people working in the fields. Today, it’s a museum where you can learn about its history. There are several tours available, which I would recommend. We did the Nature Tram tour (45 minutes) and the Historic House tour (30 min) with a tour company that gave us a ride to the plantation and back. I would recommend doing this if you don’t have a car/don’t plan on renting one. The grounds are about a half an hour from the city, and while you’ll easily catch an Uber there, you may have trouble finding one back
3. Learn about the history of the Old Slave Mart Museum
This was an old slave market, where slave auctions were held up until 1863. It’s not exactly a ‘fun’ activity but it’s still important to learn about Charleston’s history.
4. Take a stroll down Rainbow Row
It’s nicknamed Rainbow Row because of all the pastel-colored houses
5. Walk around Downtown Charleston
6. Cool down at the Pineapple Fountain in the Waterfront Park
The pineapple is the symbol of Southern hospitality. Back in the day, pineapples were looked at as rare, exotic, and expensive. If you were able to secure one for your guests, then you were considered to be a great host. Today, you’ll find a giant pineapple at Waterfront Park, where kids (and adults) of all ages can splash around In. We opted to stay dry and just snap a couple of pictures
7. Explore Hampton Park
This is one of the largest parks in the city, at 60 acres big. Think of it as the Central Park of Charleston
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