There are so many things to do in Charleston, South Carolina that narrowing it down to a 4 day itinerary is difficult. So, I included a lot of different things so if you are here longer or shorter, then you can book your excursions accordingly. Here are some fun and a few educational activities to add to your long weekend itinerary. My husband and I went to Charleston pre-kids, but since we ourselves are kids at heart, all our activities can be done with kids and/or teens. Plus if you are a Florida local like us, Charleston is only a couple hours’ drive from North/Central Florida, so it's a great weekend getaway.
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The first stop on our itinerary was the Middleton Place Equestrian Center for a hour-long trail ride. Our horseback ride was slow, but it covered most of the property. As we rode, we learned all about the history of the rice plantation. We learned about how rice is grown and harvested. Definitely an interesting tour and one that you wouldn’t necessarily find elsewhere. Such a great family friendly outing too (for kids 8 and up).
Charleston Plantations
Middleton Place
Price: $26 Adults: $15 Students: $10 Age 6-13: Free for Ages 5 and under
Additional Packages Available Online
Open Daily: 9am to 5pm [Closed Christmas Day]
After your horseback ride, you can take a leisurely stroll over the beautiful and massive acreage of Middleton Place overlooking the Ashley River. There are a number of different exhibits and displays that you can check out on your self guided tour. Or if you prefer more in depth information, be sure to check out the guided tours that occur every 30 minutes or so throughout different areas of the property. For an additional fee, you can also gain entrance to the Middleton Place House Museum for a self-guided tour.
Check out these other Charleston Plantations that are full of history to learn.
Things to do in Charleston, South Carolina - Day 2
Downtown Charleston
City Market
There are a number of free things to do in Charleston, South Carolina too. One of the ways to immerse yourself in the local culture is to check out what events are happening during your stay. A great way to do this is to check out the local tourism websitefor the city. During our visit, there was an outdoor jazz festival being performed right at the foot of the United States Custom House. You could sit anywhere around them including on the steps of the custom house itself.
Just a few blocks away is the Historic Charleston City Market. Only considered a free thing to do if you don't buy anything. Lol. This historic city market has been around for a few hundred years, so if you are looking for local artisan souvenirs to take home then look no further.
Pineapple Fountain Charleston
Waterfront Park Charleston
Other free things to do in Charleston, South Carolina would be to take a stroll along the beautiful seawall of the Charleston Harbor. There you can check out the iconic Pineapple Fountain. Or visit Waterfront Park which has swings along it's pier and is a perfect spot for light fishing too if you prefer.
Photo Courtesy of Unsplash
Photo Courtesy of Unsplash
Horse and Carriage Ride
Palmetto Carriage Worksis the oldest and first carriage tour of Charleston and can be easily spotted by the big red barn in the middle of the city! What is cool about this tour and all the horse and carriage rides is that your path is not pre-determined. At the start of all tours, your guide checks in at the city's tourism gate. They then get assigned 1 of 5 possible routes by lottery. The knowledge of our tour guide was excellent. Especially since they have to know the history of ALL 5 zones, since the routes are chosen at random. The history of the homes, buildings, and city was fascinating. Little fun facts that you wouldn't know if you were just walking by.
No route is better than another. The main reason is to keep traffic and the city moving along without excessive congestion in one location. There is plenty of history to be seen though. In fact, the historic district of Charleston is so large that you wouldn't be able to see it all in one tour or in one day.
Museum and Tours
Right in the heart of downtown Charleston, you'll find an insane number of museums. With so many to choose from, there will definitely be one that caters to your interests. In Downtown Charleston, you can also take tours of the beautiful mansions and historical grand homes.
Things to do in Charleston, South Carolina - Day 3
Charleston Tea Garden
formerly Charleston Tea Plantation
Hands down, one of my favorite things to do in Charleston, South Carolina was my visit to the Charleston Tea Garden (formerly Charleston Tea Plantation). 30 minutes south of Charleston on Wadmalaw Island, it is the only tea garden in North America. If you are like my husband and I and coffee isn’t really your “bread and butter,” but tea is “your jam,” then this place is for you. Charleston Tea Garden is a farm to table experience. They have factory and trolley tours available. They explain how the plants are grown and harvested to bring you the tea they are known for. As a bonus, you are supporting local farmers who are environmentally friendly and avoid the use of pesticides. Afterwards, hang out on the large porch of rocking chairs, sipping on homegrown American tea.
Things to do in Charleston, South Carolina - Day 4
Tour Fort Sumter
Don't miss a short boat ride out into the Charleston Harbor for a visit to the historic Fort Sumter. Learn all about the history of this iconic location on your itinerary of things to do in Charleston, South Carolina. A perfect educational excursion for kids and teens alike to make history come alive in a way that they'll remember for years to come.
Sunset Dolphin Cruise
This fun boat tour takes you past the historic properties of downtown Charleston, such as the colored row houses and stately homes that sit along the waterfront. Look out for dolphins that are notoriously found in Charleston Harbor. You'll also pass the Arthur Ravenel Jr. bridge and the historic Fort Sumter on your way to see even more other historical sites along the way. If you take the sunset cruise you can watch the bridge light up and see the iconic skyline of Charleston lit against the dark sky.
Best Charleston SC Restaurants
While I had not yet been diagnosed with food allergies at the time of this trip, there will be some gluten free and dairy free notes that go with each restaurant recommendation.
Middleton Place Restaurant
If you are visiting Middleton Place as recommended above, then be sure to dine at The Middleton Place Restaurant right on the property. The cuisine is low country (as this is what Charleston is famous for) and delicious. The following was their response to if they had any gluten free offerings:
High Cotton
Dinner at High Cotton Charleston was delicious. There was no allergy friendly menu on their website, but they are a chef led restaurant. Typically if there is a chef on premises, then they should be able to cater to those with food allergies and adjust some menu items accordingly.
Market Pavilion
On the roof of the Market Pavilion Hotel is the Market Pavilion bar. A casual eatery overlooking the U.S. Custom House and Charleston Harbor. Although this place is not particularly a gluten free or dairy free establishment given it's type of cuisine and limited menu, it does offer beautiful views.
Cupcake Down South [Honorable Mention]
While no longer directly in Downtown Charleston, if you are taking a tour near Boone Hall Plantation, then be sure to stop in for either gluten free or vegan cupcakes. So tasty!
This is by no means an exhaustive list of the best Charleston, SC restaurants. Downtown Charleston has a thriving dining scene with all different types of cuisine including the low country cooking South Carolina is known for. These are just the few places we visited and enjoyed. If there are some good ones I should add to my next visit, please leave them in the comments below.
Day Trips from Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston to Savannah
Charleston, SC to Myrtle Beach
Charleston, SC to Hilton Head
Charleston, South Carolina is located such that it makes it so easy to visit other great locations nearby. With just a 2 or so hour drive, you can head down to Savannah, Georgia for more historical excursions and fine dining.
You can head south to Hilton Head for some beach relaxation or beach activities and visit to the local lighthouse. Or head north to Myrtle Beach where there is plenty of activities for the kids and whole family alike.
Have you been to Charleston? Are there things to do in Charleston, South Carolina that you loved? Or restaurants that were gluten free and dairy free friendly? If so, please leave it in the comments. Follow my social media pages for more real time updates on our life and travels.
Disclaimer: There are some links in this article that are affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through them, we receive a small commission. This is never an extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
