Charleston Things To Do
Vacation Ideas

The 2nd Yorktown was commissioned in April 1943 and served proudly in WWII and the Vietnam War. After serving as recovery ship for the Apollo 8 space mission and the movie “Tora! Tora! Tora!” she was decommissioned in 1970.

The Yorktown is chock full of memorabilia and detailed history of the Navy’s Aircraft Carrier service. A visit to the Yorktown is the stuff that good vacations are made of. The submarine, Clamagore is also at Patriots Point and is available to tours.

The most significant thing about this tree is that it just might be the oldest living thing in the USA and perhaps even in the whole world. You can probably also add "man-made" to that claim.

It’s located on John’s Island just outside Charleston and has its own personal name, “Angel Oak“. Now, don’t let that "Island" word fool you. No boat trip is needed; the location the site is accessible via automobile.

This special tree is large with a 63+ feet height and the largest limb is 90+ feet long. It’s many large branches and leaves form a canopy of shade of well over 16,000 square feet. The juxtaposition of all the intertwined branches is a mosaic of beauty.

Fort Sumter, where the Civil War started, is located on an island at the entrance to Charleston Harbor. It sits strategically in the middle of a narrow waterway such that theoretically the Federal guns in the fort should have been able to control the early fighting. As it turned out, the confederates used this advantage after they captured the fort from the Federal Troops.

They say that you can stand on the site of the first shot in the Civil War. Sounds interesting but does that refer to the Rebel cannon that shot the first shot or the Federal forces in the Fort who were the target of the first shot. By the way, history tells us that that first shot missed. The fort is accessible via a regularly scheduled ferry service which also includes tours of Charleston Harbor. Some of these are dinner tours.

White Point Gardens, at Battery Park, has excellent views of Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor and beautiful Charleston mansions. Charles Towne Landing has a gift shop, a museum, and a history trail plus a visitor’s center where you can learn about the early settlement of South Carolina.

Beach-walker Park is just what the name says. With its great parking, dressing areas, outdoor showers, board walks and snack bar it is just made for beach walkers.

Folly Beach County Park is a beach access park with large ocean frontage and all the normal accouterments. Francis Marion National Forest has boat ramps, fishing, a rifle range, picnicking & camping sites, hiking plus horse & motorcycle trails. North Charleston Wanamaker County Park has two playgrounds, picnic sites with grills, paved trails, bicycle/pedal boat rentals and a seasonal water-park.

Don’t stop, there’s more. Mt. Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park also has a 1,250 foot pier along with fishing gear rentals. They also have a Café and gift shop plus fishing gear rentals. Waterfront Park stretches along the Charleston Harbor entry and includes spectacular fountains and gardens along with a long fishing pier. You’ll also find picnic tables and swings for the kids while you are fishing.

Return from Charleston Things To Do to East Coast Vacation Spots

Return from Charleston Things To Do to 1001 Vacation Ideas Home