Arts, Culture & Recreation

With so many excellent, can’t-miss activities in Charleston, SC, you’d be hard-pressed to narrow it down to a few. But let’s start with the obvious — you can’t begin to talk about Lowcountry without mentioning the food.

Charleston’s dining scene is nationally celebrated, and now it’s officially MICHELIN-starred: Wild Common, Vern’s, and Malagón Mercado y Tapería each earned one star in the MICHELIN Guide’s American South selection. Whether it’s a James Beard award-winning chef’s-tasting kind of night or you’re locked in for a spread of Spanish tapas, you’ll find big flavor here no matter your craving.

Into sports? Charleston is built for fans, with Sports Business Journal ranking the region among the nation’s best minor-league sports markets. Catch a Charleston Battery match, cheer on the RiverDogs at “The Joe,” and hit a South Carolina Stingrays hockey night at the North Charleston Coliseum. For a marquee week, the Credit One Charleston Open is the largest women’s-only tennis tournament in North America.

For Charleston culture, plug into the big stages and the street-level vibe: the North Charleston Coliseum & Performing Arts Center brings major touring acts plus Best of Broadway and the North Charleston POPS!, while the Gaillard Center presents local, national, and global artists from contemporary ballet to comedic acts.

Charleston is also rooted in rich culture and history, with diverse, laid-back festivals and events that give it a close-knit, distinctively modern, Southern vibe. Here is just a smattering of what we’ve got going on throughout the year:

• Charleston Wine + Food (Held in the spring)
• Spoleto Festival USA (17 days in spring)
• Flowertown Festival (held in Summerville, SC in the spring)
• High Water Festival (North Charleston music festival in the spring)
• Southeastern Wildlife Exposition (SEWE) (February)
• MOJA Arts Festival (Fall)
• Charleston Literary Festival (Fall)

In the Charleston region, it’s easy for families to explore and stay entertained on a budget, thanks to 90+ miles of shoreline and 160+ parks and recreation areas across the region.

Embrace the easy rhythms of coastal living with five beach communities, each with its own, unique vibe:

• Folly Beach (laid-back, surf town)
• Sullivan’s Island (quiet, classic Lowcountry)
• Isle of Palms (family-friendly with lots of access points)
• Kiawah Island (public access via Beachwalker Park)
• Seabrook Island (private residential access)

Prefer parks, trails, and open space? From Berkeley to Charleston to Dorchester, you’ll find great outdoor experiences for any day of the year. Start with a stroll through Charleston Waterfront Park, peruse the Charleston Farmers Market, then keep going to the Battery & White Point Garden for classic harbor views toward Fort Sumter — both are free and feel distinctly “Charleston.”

For a low-cost nature daytrip, Cypress Gardens in Moncks Corner (popularized by iconic films such as The Notebook and The Patriot) offers 170 acres of scenery and easy exploring. If you want something wilder, head to Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge, where you’ll find one of the largest undeveloped wetland ecosystems left on the Atlantic Coast.

Spend a day in the Francis Marion National Forest, a 250,000+ acre coastal plain landscape with plenty of room for hiking, camping, fishing, and more. Families also love Ashley River Park in Dorchester County with its splash pads, fishing pond, and trails.

And if you’re looking for festival fun, the Charleston region has you covered with a calendar’s-worth of free fun — including Summerville’s Fireworks & Freedom Festival, Sounds on the Square concert series, and the North Charleston Arts Fest.

Memorable experiences come naturally in the Charleston region, with iconic locations and an abundance of hot spots that make us one of the most sought-after destinations in the U.S.

Wander Magnolia Plantation & Gardens or Boone Hall Plantation for peak romantic, Lowcountry scenery, then take the iconic Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge from downtown Charleston over to Mount Pleasant for big-water views and an easy “wow” moment.

In Downtown Charleston, the French Quarter offers pure Charleston culture — complete with cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages, and a nightlife scene that can go from cocktail bars to casual patios fast. Go on a luxurious shopping spree on King Street, head to Rainbow Row for a photo-op set against 13 colorful historic houses, then cool off at Waterfront Park with its Pineapple Fountain and splash pad. And if you’re in the mood to browse, make time to pop into a Charleston art gallery while you’re already in the historic district.

The Charleston region doesn’t forget about families, either, with the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry and the South Carolina Aquarium offering easy wins for parents. At the latter children can become entranced by a 42 feet deep, 385,000-gallon Great Ocean Tank which houses sharks and a 220-pound loggerhead sea turtle.