One of the perks of living in Savannah is that we have so many charming neighbors. Charleston is one that always ranks high on the list when friends come for a visit and want to go exploring! Understandably so, since the Holy City is filled with incredible places to eat and a plethora of pretty pink houses to photograph. But because it's often difficult deciding what to do in a city with so much to offer, I created a handy Charleston Bucket List printable and itemized a few popular (plus some less-touristy) options to get you started.
Download the Charleston Bucket List printable pdf here.
Headed to Charleston and wondering what to do? Here's a printable bucket list, plus a list of top attractions to help you decide on your favorites. Click To Tweet
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Charleston Bucket List
This list is interactive, so check each item off the list as you go! I've tried to include a wide variety of things to do that include cultural and historical landmarks, Instagrammable locations, incredible places to dine, and fun things to do with kids.
- Kayak with the dolphins at Shem Creek
- Fill up on some of the best seafood in town at 167 Raw
- Support Gullah artists by purchasing a sweetgrass basket at Charleston City Market
- Wander down Stoll's Alley to peek into secret courtyard gardens
- Hop on over to nearby Longitude Lane and do the same thing
- Tend to injured sea turtles at the Sea Turtle Care Center
- Adopt a Loggerhead Sea Turtle while you're there!
- Walk (or jog) across the Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Bridge
- Take a quick stroll down Rainbow Row
- Bike along The Battery (from Waterfront Park down E. Bay to Murray)
- Don't forget to snap a selfie in front of Pineapple Fountain at Waterfront Park
- Attend a parade at The Citadel
- Consider donating to Cypress Gardens so they can open their beautiful grounds again! (This is where many scenes from The Notebook and The Patriot were filmed.)
- Take the Charleston Sole walking tour | Read the reviews here on Trip Advisor
- Charter a sailboat down the Ashley River and out into the harbour
- Dine at Broad Street's iconic Fast and French Café
- Visit Middleton Place, a historic landmark with beautifully manicured English-style gardens
- Discover the South Carolina Aquarium and meet Alabaster the Alligator (he's albino and very rare!)
- Enjoy fine Southern dining at Husk (hint: make reservations well in advance)
- Visit Magnolia Plantation in late March to early April (aka: peak blooming season)
- Tour the Aiken-Rhett house, with slave quarters still intact from the 1850s
- Count your blessings under the stained glass windows at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
- Discover one of the earliest samples of Palladian architecture at Drayton Hall
- Stand in jaw-dropping awe in front of the majestic Angel Oak, which is approximately 500 years old
- Visit America's first theatre, the Historic Dock Street Theater | circa 1809
- Escape to the Isle of Palms for a relaxing and family-friendly beach day
- Satisfy your sweet tooth with a gourmet donut at Glazed
- Learn about enslaved African Americans at the Old Slave Mart Museum
- Down a cocktail at speakeasy-themed Gin Joint
- Cast a line off the Folly Beach Pier
- Tour Charleston's largest home, the Calhoun Mansion (constructed during the Gilded Age)
- Take a boat to Fort Sumter to see where the Civil War started
- Play a round of golf at one of the many courses on Kiawah Island
- Shop your heart out on King Street, named as one of the Top 10 Shopping Streets in the U.S.
- Enjoy a soulful meal at Hall's Chophouse Sunday Gospel Brunch | Currently #1 on Trip Advisor
- Post another selfie at the adorably cute Sugar's Bakeshop
- Tour Boone Hall Plantation, which served as Allie's summer home in the movie The Notebook
- Art Walk Downtown (similar to First Fridays in Savannah) is a free downtown art walk along Broad Street
- The Charleston Tea Plantation offers free factory tours (or take a paid trolley tour through the property)
When to Visit
The best times of year to visit Charleston are during early spring and fall. Southern winters are very mild, so the weather is comfortable for exploring as early as late February.
The holiday season is also lovely, especially since many of the homes are decorated so beautifully.
Where to Stay in Charleston SC
This adorable Fixer Upper-style farmhouse features 2 incredibly comfortable swinging beds and is only minutes from Drayton Hall, Middleton Place, and Magnolia Gardens. Click here to receive a $40 Airbnb credit from me on your rental!!
Prefer something a little fancier? The Dewberry is always a classic choice. Search rates: booking.com
Enjoy Charleston!
I hope these options help. If you'd like a Charleston bucket list printable that comes pre-filled with some (or all) of the above-listed items, please let me know so I can add that option to this post. I want to make sure I'm delivering the content you need! Thanks so much.
For more local favorites, you can follow my Charleston board on Pinterest.
Which bucket list item is your favorite? (Mine is #6, because I have such a soft spot in my heart for sea turtles.)
Pin It for Later: Charleston Bucket List Printable
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Ooh! We’re planning on taking a trip down this summer! I’ll add some of these to our list!
Perfect, I’m glad it helped. I’m making one for Savannah, too. Have you been there yet? (That’s where I live and it’s a MUST if you’re in Georgia.)
Not yet, she’s further west in Fayette County. We want to head there too though so I will keep an eye out for your list!
Oh no…now the pressure’s on to churn one out quickly. lol Actually, I’ve already written a post with tons of things to do, I just need to make a printable to accompany it. Here’s the post: https://sandsunandmessybuns.com/things-to-do-in-savannah-ga/