Things to do in Charleston
Aquariums and Parks in Charleston, South Carolina
Angel Oak
Open daily 9am - 5pm. Owned and operated by the City of Charleston
Department of Parks. The Angel Oak is a Live Oak tree, estimated to be
1,400 years old. Live oaks are not particularly tall, but have wide
spreading canopies. Only in the very oldest of specimens do you find
massive limbs resting on the ground, as do the limbs of the Angel Oak.
It stands 65ft. high and provides a 17,000 square foot area of shade.
No admission charge.
Angel Oak Rd. (off of Bohicket Rd.)
Johns Island , SC
Phone: 843-559-3496
South Carolina Aquarium
The best views of Charleston start at the South Carolina Aquarium.
There's no place like it in Charleston – a place where fun, wonder and
education come together in one amazing experience. You'll marvel at moray eels,
loggerhead turtles,
sharks, river otters and much more. Plus, look deep into
another world with our fascinating Secrets of the Amazon exhibit where exotic
sights, smells and sounds surround you. This in one of the neater things to
do in Charleston!
100 Aquarium Wharf
Charleston , SC 29401
Phone: 843-577-FISH
Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest
The 13,000-acre sanctuary for plant and animal life is located in Four
Holes Swamp and contains the largest remaining virgin stand of bald
cypress and tupelo trees in the world. A mile-and-3 quarters boardwalk
begins at the Visitor's Center and sweeps past portions of majestic swamp,
where ancient trees, migrating birds, and colorful wildflowers can be
quietly oberserved. 35 miles NW of Charleston, Exit 187-SC 187 off I-26,
9:00 am-5:00 pm, Tues.-Sun. Closed Mondays, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve,
Christmas, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day. Adults/$6.00, 6-18 years/$3.00,
Children under 6/free.
Phone: 843-462-2150
Beachwalker Park
Daily: May-Labor Day: 9am-7pm; Weekends only: Mar, Apr and Oct: 10am-6pm;
Daily: Sep: 10am-6pm; Closed: Nov-Feb. Beach access park with 300 feet of
ocean footage. Amenities include dressing areas, outdoor showers,
restrooms, boardwalks, a snack bar, and a picnic area. Lifeguards
are on duty seasonally. Parking fee: $5 per standard-sized vehicle.
Beachwalker Drive
Kiawah Island, SC 29455
Phone: 843-768-2395
or 843-762-2172
Caw Caw Interpretive Center
Open year-round. Wed-Fri: 9am-3pm, Sat-Sun: 9am-5pm, Closed Mon and Tue.
This 643-acre park highlights Charleston’s natural, historical, and cultural
heritage, including the significance of successful rice cultivation
technology brought to America by Africans. Caw Caw has environmental education
classrooms with laboratory facilities, an exhibit area, restrooms, and eight
miles of nature trails and boardwalks through the cypress swamp, oak forest,
and salt and fresh water marsh. Gate admission: $1 per person
5200 Savannah Highway (US 17 South)
Charleston, SC , SC 29470
Phone: 843-889-8898
or 762-2172
Charles Pinckney National Historic Site
Charles Pinckney (1757-1824) was a principal architect and signer of the
U.S. Constitution. The National Park Service preserves a remnant of
Pinckney’s plantation, Snee Farm. An early 19th-century Lowcountry cottage
houses the park’s museum and visitor center. Exhibits include Charles
Pinckney’s role in the framing of the U.S. Constitution, archeology at
Snee Farm, and life on Lowcountry plantations and in Charleston during our
nation’s formative years. A 20-minutes orientation film is also available.
The site is open daily from 9:00am to 5:00pm, closed New Year’s Day,
Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Free admission.
1254 Long Point Rd.
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
Phone: 843-881-5516
Fax: 843-881-7070
Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site
Open daily. Visitors to this unique state park enjoy a variety of experiences.
Board the Adventure, a 17th century reproduction trade vessel; view native
animals in the animal forest; stroll through formal gardens; and learn about
South Carolina’s First settlement. Park renovations underway. New
Visitors Center/Museum scheduled to open in late summer 2006. Make state
park picnic shelter and meeting facility reservations on line at
www.SouthCarolinaParks.com or by calling toll free 1-866-345-PARK. MC, V, D.
This is one of the many historic things to do in Charleston!
1500 Old Towne Rd. (Hwy. 171)
Charleston, SC 29407
Phone: 843-852-4200
Fax: 843-852-4205
Charleston Waterfront Park
Charleston Waterfront Park is the city's most recent example of what can be
accomplished through carefully planned revitalization. Located on 1,280 feet of
waterfront property along Concord Street in Charleston, this public park provides
visitors the ideal setting to relax and experience the ever-changing beauty of the
waterfront. A grassy public green, a magnificent pier, and numerous benches and
picnic tables are available for your enjoyment. Open to the public from 6:00 am-midnight. HC-I
Folly Beach County Park
Daily: May-Labor Day: 9am-7pm; Apr, Sep and Oct: 10am-6pm; Nov-Mar: 10am-5pm.
Beach access park with 4,000 feet of ocean frontage. Dressing area, outdoor showers,
restrooms, picnic areas, snack bar, and boardwalks. Lifeguards are on duty seasonally.
Parking fee: $5 per standard-sized vehicle.
1010 West Ashley Ave.
Folly Beach , SC 29439
Phone: 843-588-2426
or 843-762-2172
Folly Beach Fishing Pier
Daily: Apr-Oct: 6am-11pm; Dec-Feb: 8am-5pm; Mar and Nov: 7am-7pm. Delight
in fishing, walking, birding, and the opportunity to enjoy wonderful views of
Folly Beach and the “Edge of America”. The pier is 25 feet wide and extends
more than 1,045 feet into the Atlantic Ocean, and is 23 feet above sea level.
Parking Fee: $5 per standard sized vehicle (which may be applied towards a
daily fishing fee).
101 East Arctic Avenue
Folly Beach, SC 29439
Phone: 843-588-3474
or 843-795-4386
Francis Marion National Forest
A 250-thousand-acre forest located in the Coastal Plains north of Charleston.
The forest offers wide variety of recreation activities including picnicking and
camping sites, boat ramps, fishing ponds, rifle ranges, hiking, horse and motorcycle
trails. For more information write: District Ranger, Witherbee Ranger District,
HCR 69, Box 1532, Moncks Corner, SC 29461 or write: District Ranger, Wambaw Ranger
District, PO Box 106, McClellanville, SC 29458.
Phone: 843-336-3248 or 843-887-3257
Isle of Palms County Park
Daily: May-Labor Day: 9am-7pm; ; Sep-Oct and Apr: 10am-6pm; Nov-Mar: 10am-5pm.
Conveniently located at the foot of the Isle of Palms Connector, this park offers
350 parking spaces, a dunes boardwalk, showers, restrooms, and vending. Lifeguards
are on duty seasonally. Parking fee: $5 per standard-sized vehicle.
1-14th Ave.
Isle of Palms, SC 29451
Phone: 843-886-DUNE
or 843-762-2172
James Island County Park
Daily: May-Labor Day: 8am-8pm; Sep & Apr: 8am-7pm; Oct & Mar 8am-6pm; Nov-Feb
8am-5pm. A 643-acre park with a variety of recreational opportunities,
including crabbing and fishing from floating docks along tidal creeks and
lagoons, biking, pedal boats, and picnicking. Splash Zone waterpark open
seasonally. 50-foot climbing wall. Gate admission: $1 per person.
871 Riverland Dr.
Charleston , SC 29412
Phone: 843-795-PARK
or 843-762-2172
North Charleston Wannamaker County Park
Daily: Apr-Sep: 9am-7pm; Mar and Oct: 9am-6pm; Nov-Feb 9am-5pm.
This 1,015-acre park has two playgrounds, a 20-foot play hill, and picnic
sites with grills, open meadows, paved trails, and the Cypress Hall and Park
Center, with snack bar, bicycle/pedal boat rentals. Whirlin’ Waters waterpark
open seasonally. Gate admission: $1 per person.
888 University Blvd (Hwy 78)
North Charleston, SC 29406
Phone: 843-572-PARK
or 762-2172
Old Santee Canal Park
Old Santee Canal is a 195 acre park located on the first true canal in America.
The park's boardwalks and trails wander through Biggin Creek leading to the last
one mile section of the old canal. Visitors can canoe or hike through the park and
see an abundance of nature.
900 Stony Landing Road
Charleston, SC 29461
Phone: 843-899-5200
Palmetto Islands County Park
Daily: May-Labor Day: 9am-7pm; Mar-Apr and Sep-Oct: 9am-6pm; Nov-Feb: 9am-5pm.
This 943-acre park offers a variety of recreational opportunities, including
crabbing and fishing from floating docks along tidal creeks and lagoons, biking;
pedal boating, and picnicking. Splash Island waterpark is open seasonally.
Snack bar open year-round. Gate admission: $1 per person.
444 Needlerush Pkwy.
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
Phone: 843-884-0832
or 843-762-2172
The International Center for Birds of Prey
Experience more than 80 species of eagles, hawks, falcons, owls, and other
birds of prey from all parts of the world in this 152-acre campus dedicated to
education, avian medicine, research, and conservation. Featured are display
aviaries housing more than 250 raptors, indoor and outdoor educational programs,
and daily demonstrations of birds in free flight. Refreshments and gift shop.
12 miles from Downtown Charleston.
4719 Hwy 17 North
Awendaw, SC
Phone: 843-928-3494
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