A survey of Travel + Leisure magazine's readers has rated Charleston and its surrounding area as one of America's five best cities. Charlestonians regard that as somewhat incorrect, as there obviously are no cities better than Charleston.
Over 300 years old, Charleston wears its age with pride in its history and a lively willingness to engage the future...Read more...
- There are numerous parking garages, meters and the like around town, but they can be hard to find. Reference our downtown Charleston map for garage locations. A great place to park is at the Visitor’s Center at 375 Meeting Street. From there you can walk, take the bus or arrange for alternative transportation.
- City Bus - Lucky to have a tremendous public transit, the city’s bus system goes by the name of CARTA. It only costs $1.50 each time you get on, is $0.75 for Seniors, Children under 6 ride for free, and all day passes can be purchased for $5. There are four routes that circle different parts of downtown Charleston. Reference the Charleston city map to see the routes. They also have routes that can take you to the beaches, Mount Pleasant and North Charleston. For more information on CARTA, call them at (843) 724-7420 or visit www.ridecarta.com.
- Rickshaw – Is a bicycle with a passenger cart on the back. This service is offered downtown and recently on Folly beach as well. This is an inexpensive, safe and quick way to get from point A to B.
- Water Taxi – This fantastic service shuttles passengers between the Aquarium on the downtown side to Patriots Point, USS Yorktown, Medal of Honor Museum and Harbor Resort and Marina. See the many landmarks in the harbor that are best seen from the water.
- Driving Your Own Car – The Charleston area is easy to navigate for most, but having a navigator or studying the maps beforehand on page XX-XX is recommended. I-26 is the main east/west artery which leads to I-95, Columbia SC and beyond. US-17 serves as the North to South (Myrtle Beach to Savannah) and I-526 is the bypass that does a half circle from Mount Pleasant to North Charleston (crossing over I-26) and then to West Ashley.
- On Foot – Put on your comfortable shoes and let’s get moving, because walking the historic streets of Charleston is a favorite of locals and visitors alike. We recommend walking down King Street, through the Market area, East Bay and Broad – where you’ll find St. Michaels Church, the Four Corners of Law and the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon. South of Broad is where The Battery, Rainbow Row and many of the house museums are located. On Church Street is St. Phillips Church and the Dock Street Theatre. If you’re looking for a challenge then try walking across the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, which crosses the harbor to Mount Pleasant.
- Located in North Charleston off of I-526, take International Blvd exit. 15 minute drive from downtown Charleston. General Info: (843) 767-7009.
We
highly recommend this book for those who would like to learn more about the history and stories of Charleston's past. The book
is 28 pages, has color photos and includes a route map with over 100 points of interest.
The route is 3 miles and will takes readers through the historic district, the Battery, by famous landmarks, churches and everything to see in the city. Best of all it's only $5.95 and the ebook is $3.95! The Charleston Self-Guided Walking Tour
You can't enjoy the complete Charleston experience if you don't pay a visit to one of our beautiful beaches while in town. Three public beaches are within easy driving distance to downtownCharleston. Each is distinctly different from the others, and each offers its own special brand of Lowcountry fun and relaxation. We hope the following information will help you decide which partof the Atlantic Ocean is best for you!
Folly Beach (11.5 Miles from Charleston - Reference area map for directions)
Also called "The Edge of America," this community characterizes the laid-back, easygoing beach lifestyle. Folly Beach is six miles of beach front and isn't commercialized a whole lot - the Holiday Inn is the only hotel on the beach. If you enjoy
the crowds, go to the beach in front of the hotel and by the fishing pier. If that's not your style, head further north toward the Washout (named the Washout because of the tidal currents coming into the harbor meet the ocean currents causing better waves),
where surfers take on the waves. There are some nice restaurants and shopping along Centre Street which is the main drive in that are within walking distance of the beach. This is the only local beach that allows alcohol....no glass or can...it must
be in a cup!
Parking - You can park in the Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission lot for $5 all day, and there are a few other small privately owned lots on the island. The park is at the southern tip of Folly Beach where Ashley Avenue ends. Since parking can be a problem here, we suggest you plan to arrive before 10:30 am on weekends during prime season.
Dog Rules - Dogs are allowed if they are leashed, but you can't take your pet on the beach from May 1 through Sept. 30 between 10 am and 5 pm.
Isle of Palms (13.7 miles from Charleston)
This barrier island boasts six miles of white-sand beaches and luxurious beach-front homes and is the most commercialized of the three area beaches. Restaurants, shops and bars are within walking distance of the beach. This is also the only beach
which offers public restrooms and alcohol is not allowed.
Parking - Coming off the IOP Connector, go straight through the light. The Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission lot is on your left. You can park there for $5 all day. There also is a city lot at Front Beach, along with parking meters.
Sullivan's Island (9.6 miles from Charleston - reference area map)
This is the most natural of the three beaches, with absolutely no commercialization. Sullivan's Island is popular among local residents and visitors who want to avoid the crowds. There are no public restrooms and alcohol is not allowed whatsoever.
There are a few great local restaurants and bars. We recommend Poe's Tavern which you will see on the drive in.
Parking - Parking is limited and can be a problem during the beach season. Visitors must park wherever they can find a spot along Sullivan's streets.
