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Fun and Facts for Charleston, South Carolina

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Know Before You Go

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  1. At a Glance

    Charleston boasts a fascinating history and undeniable Southern charm. It's the heart of the South Carolina lowcountry (the flat area bordering the Atlantic Ocean) and is rich with tradition. Many of the most popular activities, like the carriage ride, Charleston City Market, and Patriots Point, make history come to life for kids. The Waterfront Park along the harbor is a family-friendly place to relax and watch boats come and go. For a welcoming, gentle look at Southern culture, Charleston can't be beat.

  2. When to Go

    Tourist season in Charleston lasts from spring to fall. The lure of summer is swimming at Folly Beach and playing in the fountains at the Waterfront Park, but it is hot, humid, and can be crowded. A more pleasant time to go is spring. The weather is warm but not hot, the humidity is low, and its famous azaleas are in bloom.

  3. Weather

    April and October both have average high temperatures of 76 degrees, and January has a more than bearable average high temperature of 60. Summer is hot and humid, with an average high of 89. Hurricane season runs from June to November, with peak months of August and September. Get more weather info.

  4. Getting There

    Charleston International Airport (CHS) is approximately 12 miles from downtown, with rental car facilities, taxi service, and shuttle buses. Amtrak and Greyhound services are also available.

  5. Getting Around

    The DASH Trolley is a convenient way to explore the historic district. Buy tickets and pick up route maps at the Visitor Center (375 Meeting St.). For traveling outside the downtown area, bus service is provided by CARTA. It's not as convenient for tourist attractions, so a car or a taxi might be required.

  6. Festivals & Events

    Charleston boasts a full calendar of festivals celebrating food, art, music, and culture. The most well known of them is Spoleto Festival USA, a 17-day festival of the arts that attracts world-class musical performers and artists every spring.

    • Lowcountry Oyster Festival (Feb.)
    • Spoleto Festival USA (May)
    • Patriots Point Fourth of July Blast! (July)
    • MOJA Arts Festival (Sept.)

  7. Helpful Info

    Find helpful tips at CharlestonCVB.com. Once in town, stop at the Visitors Center at 375 Meeting Street.

  8. Deals & Discounts

    The Visitor Center offers the Heritage Passport, which provides discounts to many popular attractions.

  9. Fun Facts

    • More than eight million tons of cargo pass through the Charleston port each year.
    • Nationally known etiquette expert Marjabelle Young Stewart considered Charleston the "most mannerly city" from 1995 until her death in 2007.
    • Charleston covers 97 square miles.
    • You know how they say "It's not the heat; it's the humidity"? In Charleston it's really true. Humidity stays over 80 percent all year and makes the summers seem hotter.

Pre-Trip Fun

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    Watch

    "Design for Living: Charleston Charms" -- Tour Charleston before you go and get a few ideas of how to spend your time once you arrive. (School Age and Up)

    "Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls" -- Chuckle through the flick, then see if you can recognize the parts filmed in and around Charleston. (Teens)

    "Radio" -- This heartwarming tale based on a true story is set just a piece up the road from Charleston. Detour through Anderson if you're coming from the west. (School Age and Up)

    "Paradise" -- Preview life in small-town Charleston in this family tearjerker, with Melanie Griffith, Don Johnson, and a pre-teen Elijah Wood. (Pre-Teens and Up)

    Eat

    Shrimp and Grits -- With a dish this good, "Kiss my grits" will take on a whole new meaning.

    Frogmore Stew -- Kids will love it when you dump the whole thing over a covered table -- and it's way more fun to eat this way.

    Read

    "P Is For Palmetto: A South Carolina Alphabet" by Carol Crane -- These beautiful watercolors take you through the state from A to Z. (Ages 4 to 8)

    "Good Night, Charleston" by Mark Jasper -- After reading this installment of the Good Night Our World series, kids will dream of going to the shore or exploring a fort. (Ages 4 to 8)

    "Circle Unbroken" by Margot Theis Raven -- This beautifully illustrated tale weaves the story of the baskets indigenous to the region. (Ages 4 to 8)

    "Carolina's Story: Sea Turtles Get Sick Too!" by Donna Rathemll -- Your kids may spend their time in Charleston rescuing sea turtles after reading this story, complete with color photos. (Ages 4 to 8)

    "Rosebud Roams Charleston" by Sally Smith -- Clip-clop along with this country horse -- she's got some great ideas of places to visit in Charleston. (Ages 4 to 8)

    "Civil War Sub: The Mystery of the Hunley" by Kate Boehm Jerome -- Gaze out at Charleston Harbor and try to imagine the submarine attacking another ship -- or check the Charleston Museum for artifacts. (Ages 8 to 12)

    "Mystery on Skull Island" by Elizabeth McDavid Jones -- Pirates in Charleston? If the town is anything like the fictional one in this installment of the American Girl History Mysteries series, tell your kids to keep an eye out for stray treasures. (Ages 9 to 12)

    "Before the Creeks Ran Red" by Carolyn Reeder -- Visit Fort Sumter and have your kids imagine they are 14-year-old Timothy, stationed there at the start of the Civil War. They might decide that taking out the trash isn't really so bad. (Ages 9 to 14)

    "Secrets of a Civil War Submarine: Solving the Mysteries of the H. L. Hunley" by Sally M. Walker -- Older kids and history buffs will devour this archeological analysis of the sub that lived on the harbor floor for more than a hundred years. Kids, see anything else down there? (Ages 12 and Up)