Check out the Charleston County Park & Recreation Website for more information on outdoor fun.

For the nature-lover, as most of us wetland scientists are, many kayaking and hiking adventures through lowcountry woods, marshes, rivers and the sea await. Also check out our Conference Field Trips Page for more information on these types of adventures that were pre-arranged fby the our wonderful conference organizers.

For the Golfing Enthusiasts

For many years while its coastal neighbors to the north and south developed into two of the best-known golf destinations in the country, the old port city of Charleston was content to attract scads of visitors to its historic sites, broad beaches, fine dining and boutique shopping. As Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head Island continued to add to their smorgasbord offerings, Charleston finally decided to jump on the bandwagon and began building its own reputation within the golf world.  Check out the Charleston Area Golf Guide for more information.

For the Shop-A-Holics

Charleston offers a wide array of shopping opportunities, from antiques to first class malls. Located just off Interstate 26 at Exit 209 in North Charleston, Northwoods Mall houses over 125 stores, including Belk, Dillard's, JCPenney, Sears, Bath & Body Works, Casual Corner, Victoria's Secret, The Disney Store, Express, Gloria Jeans Gourmet Coffees and B. Dalton Booksellers. The beautiful food court offers several choices that will satisfy a wide variety of tastes. It is open Monday - Saturday 10am - 9pm and Sunday from noon - 6pm. The Citadel Mall features over 90 Specialty Shops, including Belk, Dillard's, Sears, Parisian and Target, August Max Woman, American Eagle, Limited, Bombay Company, Babbages, The Gap, and Foot Locker. It is located at the intersection of Savannah Hwy. (SR 17) and Sam Rittenberg Blvd. in Charleston.

For shopping with a local flair, check out  the Old City Market and the variety of stores located in Historic Downtown Charleston. King Street is a shopper's greatest fantasies come to life. Imagine it, a shopping street nearly 20 blocks long, bedecked with palmetto trees, charming architecture, inns, cafes, and extraordinary shops. For more information about shopping in Charleston check out the Discover Charleston Website.
 

Area Attractions (by activity)

For the Kids (and the kid in all of us!)...

South Carolina Aquarium
The South Carolina Aquarium features exotic aquatic creatures from around the world. Exhibit paths lead visitors through the five major regions of the Southeast Appalachian Watershed. And if you time things right, you can see the entire aquarium in a morning, then hop on a harbor ferry tour and enjoy the afternoon breeze on the water. The South Carolina Aquarium is open Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. with extended hours in the summer.

Lowcountry Estuarium
The Lowcountry Estuarium is a learning center designed to provide hands-on learning about the coastal environments of our beautiful area, such as salt marshes, beaches, coastal waters, and estuaries.

Animal Forest at Charles Towne Landing
Children love to wander through Charleston's only natural habitat zoo and discover all the animals native to South Carolina in 1670. The Animal Forest at Charles Towne Landing features puma, bison, alligators, black bears, wolves and more, all to the delight of young explorers. Charles Towne Landing is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is located at 1500 Old Towne Road in Charleston. (843) 852-4200

Children's Museum of the Lowcountry
Imagine walking into an old metal building in downtown Charleston only to discover stone walls protecting a castle, or a shrimp boat preparing to explore the sea. That's exactly what you can expect at the Children's Museum of the Lowcountry. Located in the newly renovated Camden Tower Shed in downtown Charleston directly behind the Visitor Information Center on Meeting Street, CML is the area's first and only interactive museum designed especially for children. It features continuous hands-on exhibits and activities for children, ages three months to 12 years, and their families.

Splash Island
Visitors will find Splash Island tucked deep within the tropical vegetation of Mt. Pleasant's Palmetto Islands County Park

Splash Zone
When the temperatures start rising visitors of all ages will enjoy this favorite summer playground located within the James Island County Park in Charleston.

Whirlin' Waters Water Park
Over 15 acres of island-style fun packed into one convenient location in North Charleston!

For the History Buff...

Fort Sumter National Monument
Built on a man-made island, Fort Sumter is where the Civil War began. Initially occupied by Union forces, this fortress was bombarded by Confederate troops until the Yankee general surrendered-and it became a powerful symbol of Southern resistance. To get to Fort Sumter National Monument, take a scenic boat ride from Patriots Point or the Municipal Marina. Concession operated tour boats transport visitors to the Fort. Please call (843) 883-3123 for tour boat information.

American Military Museum
The American Military Museum contains uniforms and artifacts dating from the Revolutionary War. Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant is the world's largest naval and maritime museum. There four historic vessels-including the aircraft carrier Yorktown-are berthed, and visitors can board them. The American Military Museum is located at 40 Pinckney Street in Charleston.843-723-9620

Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site
Over 330 years ago, colonists established the first permanent European settlement in the Carolinas on this site. This protected historic site and nature preserve highlights archeological investigation, living history, a replica of a 17th-century sailing vessel, natural habitat zoo, and beautiful Lowcountry vistas. Bicycle rentals and tram rides are available. Discover history as old as the state - Charleston starts here. Charles Towne Landing is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is located at 1500 Old Towne Road in Charleston. (843) 852-4200

The Charleston Museum
America's first museum, the Charleston Museum was founded in 1773. The Museum preserves and interprets the cultural and natural history of Charleston and the South Carolina coastal region. Objects of historic, archeological, scientific and ethnological interest illustrate the importance of this area. Exhibits focus on early Native Americans, trade and commerce, the plantation system, African-American contributions, and Civil War memorabilia. A wonderful introduction to the Lowcountry and its people, the Charleston Museum is open Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.

The Citadel Museum
The Citadel Museum represents the history of The Military College of South Carolina from its founding in 1842 to the present. Arranged chronologically, the permanent exhibits feature the military, academic, athletic and social aspects of cadet life. There are over three hundred collections in the Archives which pertain to the history of The Citadel or have military significance. The time span of the collections is from 1842 to the present. Holdings include personal papers, letters, diaries, reports, minutes, speeches, Citadel publications. Visual images include photographs, postcards, engravings, films and videotapes.

The Charleston United Daughters of the Confederacy Museum
The Confederate Museum is located in the Market Hall, which was built in 1841. Since 1898, the Daughters of the Confederacy have operated the Museum, which contains flags, uniforms, swords and other Confederate memorabilia. The museum is open Tuesday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  It is located at 188 Meeting Street in Charleston. (843) 723-1541

Fort Moultrie National Monument
Fort Moultrie, located on Sullivan's Island across the harbor from downtown Charleston, is the site of the famous 1776 Revolutionary War battle in which a British fleet attacked the partially completed palmetto log fort in an attempt to seize Charleston. Col. William Moultrie and his men held off the assault in the Battle of Sullivan's Island, one of the first decisive victories for the patriot cause. Fort Moultrie is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the summer, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the winter. (843) 883-3123

H. L. Hunley Submarine
Described as a remarkable experience, a trip to the submarine H. L. Hunley is a must for visitors to the area. Currently housed at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center, the Hunley made history when it became the first submarine to sink a ship in battle. Her effect still ripples through Charleston waters with mystery and unfounded conclusions today. While excavation of this national treasure continues, The Hunley Commission and the Friends of the Hunley maintain a weekend tour schedule staffed by a team of knowledgeable volunteers. All admission charges help fund the continued restoration and care of this important artifact. For ticket information, please call the Hunley Information Hotline at 723-9797.

Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon
No other Charleston attraction presents so much of our American history as the Old Exchange. Built by the British as the Exchange and Customs House in 1771, the Old Exchange stands as one of the three most historically significant buildings of colonial America. During the Revolution the building was converted to a British prison where many prominent patriots were held. From the steps of the Old Exchange, the independent colony of South Carolina was declared in March 1776. In 1788, the convention to ratify the Constitution met in the Old Exchange. Owned by the Daughters of the American Revolution and managed by the City of Charleston, the Old Exchange is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Patriot's Point Naval and Maritime Museum
Patriot's Point is the home of the famous World War II aircraft carrier Yorktown, the submarine Clagamore, the destroyer Laffey, and the Coast Guard cutter Ingham. It also features the Medal of Honor Museum, 25 vintage aircraft and displays of military weapons. Living and working areas are open for exploration. Patriot's Point, which is located in Mt. Pleasant at the foot of the Cooper River Bridge, is open daily in the winter from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and in the summer from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Charles Pinckney National Historic Site
A community-based effort, led by the Friends of Historic Snee Farm, resulted in the congressional action to preserve the site in 1988. This historic site was established to interpret Charles Pinckney's role in the development of the United States Constitution; his plantation, Snee Farm; and the transition of the United States from a group of colonies to a young nation. Interpretive exhibits - located in a house built circa 1828, but which is not Pinckney-related - highlight these areas as well as the influences of African-Americans in the development of Snee Farm. Archeological remains of brick foundations and an unfurnished 1820s tidewater cottage are the last protected remnants of Snee Farm. The Charles Pinckney National Historic Site is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. It is located at 1240 Long Point Road in Mt. Pleasant. (843) 881-5516

The Powder Magazine
The Old Powder Magazine is the oldest public building remaining in North or South Carolina. In the late 1600s, the construction of walls around the city and the building of the harbor forts added to the defensive character of Charleston. The Powder Magazine was crucial to storage of powder for defense of the city. Although replaced by a newer magazine in 1748, it continued to serve effectively for its purpose into the period of the American Revolution. It served various uses until the Colonial Dames acquired it in 1899 and restored as an important reminder of historic colonial Charleston. Today, the Powder Magazine has been restored to its mid-19th century appearance and is open as a national historic site with an exciting exhibit on early colonial Charleston. Owned and operated by Historic Charleston Foundation, the Powder Magazine is open March 15 through Labor Day, Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m.

Slave Mart Museum
This hub of the African-American National Heritage Museum is one of several locations where slaves were sold in Charleston. The last auctions at this market were in 1863. Presentations here narrate the African-American experience in Charleston and the South Carolina Lowcountry from their arrival in 1670 to the modern Civil Rights movement. Permanent exhibits explore the African sources from which African-American culture emerged, the middle passage, Caribbean influences on America, slavery, emancipation, reconstruction, arts, cuisine, and the movement towards civil rights. The Slave Mart Museum is open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 2 to 5 p.m. It is located at 6 Chalmers Street in Charleston. (843) 724-7395

Edmondston-Alston House
One of the first dwellings built on Charleston’s High Battery in 1824, the Edmonston-Alston House is a gracious example of of early nineteenth-century commitment to elegance, style, and comfort. It is located on Highway 61, just 14 miles north of Charleston and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The City Hall Gallery
Located in the Council Chamber of Charleston City Hall (80 Broad Street), the City Hall Gallery contains portraits of many important leaders including one of George Washington by John Trumbull. Guided tours are conducted Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free.

For the Garden Lover...

Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens
Built in the early 1700s, Boone Hall Plantation is known as America's most photographed plantation. Huge moss-draped Spanish oaks line the half-mile entrance to the plantation. The original estate house, cotton gin, slave cabins, smoke house and formal gardens were built with brick and tile made on the plantation. Today, many of these buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Many varieties of old roses, some dating from the 16th century, complement camellias and azaleas in the formal gardens. To this day, Boone Hall continues as a working plantation, producing various agricultural products. The 738-acre estate is open Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Boone Hall Plantation is located just six miles north of Charleston on Highway 17 in Mt. Pleasant.

Drayton Hall National Historic Landmark
This 125-acre plantation stands majestically along the Ashley River. The plantation house is one of the oldest and finest examples of Georgian-Palladian architecture in America. Through seven generations of Drayton ownership, this National Historic Landmark has remained in nearly original condition and is the only Ashley River plantation house to survive the Civil War. Its unique state of preservation and rich, handcrafted details offer visitors a rare glimpse of a bygone era, and stands as an amazing time capsule telling the story of a plantation and community spanning over 250 years. With its extraordinary architecture, scenic landscaped walks, and serene river views, Drayton Hall evokes a sense of timelessness and continuity, adding to the excitement of discovering a true gem in historic architecture. Drayton Hall is located on Highway 61, just nine miles north of downtown Charleston. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., March-October. Tours are offered on the hour.

Magnolia Plantation and Its Gardens
Magnolia Plantation, described as the "South's Most Complete Plantation Experience," stands as the centerpiece of Ashley River history, having played important roles in the early days of settlement, the Revolutionary War, and the Civil War. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, stately Magnolia Plantation has what is considered by many experts, "the most beautiful gardens in the world," offering the maximum color possible during every season. The plantation was described by travel expert Charles Kuralt in his best-selling book Charles Kuralt's America, as "… my greatest Charleston pleasure." Almost every aspect of plantation life can be seen at Magnolia Plantation. Visitors can also enjoy America's newest and most unique major garden and wildlife preserve, the Audubon Swamp Garden at Magnolia Plantation. A separate attraction, the garden is hailed as the "must see" vacation experience in the Charleston area. Magnolia Plantation is located on Highway 61, just 10 miles north of downtown Charleston. The plantation is open daily (365 days a year) from 8 a.m. until dusk.

Middleton Place
Middleton Place, a National Historic Landmark, features America's oldest landscaped gardens. Originally created in 1741 by Henry Middleton, the gardens reflect the grand classic style that was in vogue in Europe and England in the early 18th century. The house, built in 1755 as a gentlemen's guest wing, became the family residence after the plantation was burned during the Civil War. Craftspeople in the Plantation Stableyards demonstrate the skills performed by slaves, and domestic animals roam nearby. New exhibits include a slave church and a rice field where Carolina Gold Rice grows for the first time in 130 years. Middleton Place is located on Highway 61, just 14 miles north of Charleston and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For the Nature Lover...

Cypress Gardens
For a true Lowcountry adventure, visit Cypress Gardens. Here visitors can stroll along four miles of walking trails that wind through the area's most beautiful gardens, paddle a flat bottom boat through a real cypress swamp, relax in an unique and exciting Butterfly House which features a vast array of native butterflies and the plants they thrive on, or explore an aquarium/reptile center that offers an up-close look at the amphibians, reptiles and fish, as well as exotic crocodiles, snakes and frogs indigenous to the cypress swamp. Cypress Gardens is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is located at 3030 Cypress Gardens Road in Moncks Corner. (843) 553-0515

The Audubon Swamp Garden
Located at Magnolia Plantation, this 60-acre blackwater cypress and tupelo swamp with wildflowers, bog plants, and native and exotic shrubs, is accessible via boardwalks, bridges and dikes with views of waterfowl, alligators and other wildlife. The Magnolia Plantation Cemetery is adjacent to the main trail. The Audubon Swamp Garden is open daily from 8 a.m. to dusk.

Old Santee Canal Park
Old Santee Canal Park is the site of America’s first summit canal, the Santee Canal, which began operating in 1800. It was considered one of the crowning engineering achievements and economic development projects of its day.Old Santee Canal Park commemorates South Carolina's beautiful natural resources and emphasizes the tremendous historical significance of the Santee Canal.

Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge
Cape Romain is part of the Carolinian-South Atlantic Biosphere Reserve,  consisting of 64,229 acres.  Refuge habitat is a barrier island/salt marsh, extending for 20 miles along the Atlantic Coast. It consists of 34,229 acres of beach and sand dunes, salt marsh, maritime forests, tidal creeks, fresh and brackish water impoundments, and 30,000 acres of open water.

Francis Beidler Forest
Francis Beidler Forest is the largest virgin blackwater cypress-tupelo swamp forest left in the world! This 11,000-acre riverine sanctuary in the heart of Four Holes Swamp embraces 1,800 acres of ancient trees that tower over blackwater streams, clear pools and 300 species of wildlife.

Other things to do...

Summerville Speedway
NASCAR Racing Every Saturday from March through November, featuring NASCAR Super Trucks, Late Models, Kid's Bicycle Races for all ages and Mini-Cup Races for ages 4 to 7 and Yard-Cart Racing ages 8 to 3. VIP Company or family picnics, birthday parties, the chance to ride and drive a real NASCAR race and group discounts are just a few of the special services available. For ticket information and more on other special events please call (843) 871-8331.

Charleston's IMAX Theatre
A spectacular film experience that enlightens, entertains and inspires audiences of all ages on a screen five stories high with 12,000 watts of digital wrap-around sound. The only 3D theater in South Carolina is located next door to the South Carolina Aquarium on Charleston's harbor.

Ghost Tours
In a city steeped with history, old buildings and lots of museums, many parents may feel their options are limited when it comes to family-fun activities when visiting downtown Charleston. Fortunately for visitors and residents alike, Cobblestone Tours takes pride in offering daytime and evening tours that entertain, educate and thrill guests of all ages. Parents can feel safe taking their children on tours offered by Cobblestone Tours, Charleston's premier walking tour company.

The Ghost & Dungeon Tour takes you through back alleyways and side streets while you listen to the haunted tales and spooky stories of Charleston's past. The highlight of this tour is the Old Exchange Building's pre-revolutionary dungeon, which promises to delight children as they are enticed by the dungeon's dark corners, scary ambiance and intriguing past.

Old City Market
Old City Market is located on Market Street between Meeting and East Bay. Built in 1841, the Old City Market features small shops, restaurants, and a flea market with everything from produce to antiques. Visitors can hear the unique dialect of the Gullah women as they weave and sell their handmade sweetgrass baskets. The Old City Market is open daily.

The Gibbes Museum of Art
The Carolina Art Association opened the Gibbes Museum of Art, which is rich in American painting, prints and drawings from the 18th century to the present, in 1905. Charleston's best example of the Beaux Arts-style of architecture, the Gibbes represents a long and impressive tradition of cultural leadership in Charleston and provides access to a distinguished art collection as well as an active schedule of exhibits, programs and events. The renowned turn-of-the-century architect, Frank P. Milburn designed the Gibbes Museum of Art as a memorial to James Schoolbred Gibbes, a patron of the arts and one of Charleston's many 19th-century cultural benefactors. From portraits and landscapes of the Colonial South to the era of Porgy and Bess, the Gibbes Museum of Art provides a venue for visitors to come face to face with Charleston's past and present. The Gibbes Museum is open Tuesday - Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.

Daniel's Island
Within the city of Charleston, a very special island town has emerged. This is a place where traditional neighborhoods and a vibrant downtown enjoy a spectacular setting, surrounded by rivers and creeks and beautiful marsh views. It is a place where people live and work and play and learn. A place with a unique mix of shops and businesses, schools and churches, and a never-ending list of recreational options. Welcome to Charleston¹s island town.