10 Things to Do Off the Beaten Track in Charleston

Angel Oak Tree is a Southern live oak located on Johns Island, southwest of Charleston. It is estimated to be around 400 years old and stands 65 feet tall, covering over 17,000 square feet with its beautiful crown. At such an impressive size, it is considered the largest live oak east of the Mississippi River.

The dense shade provided by Angel Oak makes this historical site a great destination for spring and summer. During these seasons, you’ll also find plenty of social events and art gatherings hosted in the surrounding Angel Oak Park. There are designated areas for food and drinks, so grab a picnic and enjoy the outing.

The Old Slave Mart Museum in Charleston’s historic district offers an insightful glimpse into the city's slave trading past. Erected in 1859, the building was originally part of Ryan's Slave Mart, a slave market established in 1856, and held auctions until approximately 1863.

Today, the property is believed to be the last remaining slave auction site in South Carolina. It was restored in the 1990s and reopened as a museum in 2007. It now houses exhibits that preserve and document the somber but important history of the state and the city.

Cypress Gardens is a garden and swamp preserve in Berkeley County, north of Charleston. Originally part of the Dean Hall rice plantation, it offers 170 acres of freshwater landscape filled with natural delight. You can explore the cypress groves on a boat tour, paddle through the lily pads, or stroll miles of garden trails lined with seasonal blooms throughout the year.

Aside from the flowers and water adventures, the gardens also feature a Swamparium, an aviary, and a butterfly house. You might also recognize the scenery here from one of your favorite movies. Dozens of popular television shows and motion pictures have been filmed here, including The Notebook and The Patriot.

The Gibbes Museum of Art, located in the heart of downtown Charleston, has a history dating back to 1858. It was originally established as the Carolina Art Association and houses over 10,000 works, predominantly from American artists. Most of these works share a connection to Charleston, making the museum an ideal destination to get a scoop of the Southern art scene. There are also rotating special exhibits throughout the year, showcasing collections from famous museums around the world.

Restored with a $17 million renovation in 2016, the museum building itself is also an impressive piece of art. The Beaux Arts style architecture features mosaicked floors, a Tiffany-style dome, and classic Greek columns.

The Gateway Walk is an informal trail that winds through the historic center of Charleston. It was created by the Garden Club of Charleston in 1930 to celebrate the city’s 250th anniversary, and it takes its name from the 10 pairs of wrought iron gates found at the gardens and graveyards along its course.

The path officially begins at St. John’s Lutheran Church and continues east, ending at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church. The short and peaceful walk takes you through some of the most iconic landmarks in Charleston, revealing a different side of the city through its rich history and beauty.

The current lighthouse on Morris Island is the third lighthouse over the years to occupy the same site. Following its oldest predecessor’s destruction during the Revolutionary War and the second during the Civil War, the current tower was constructed in 1876 and was in use until 1962.

Due to shoreline erosion, the land beneath the Morris Island Lighthouse is now submerged underwater and the structure has been decommissioned. You won’t be able to drive up to its base or tour the interior, but you can view it from a beach nearby and snap great pictures. Thanks to preservation efforts from Save The Light, the lighthouse’s beacon still lights up periodically, and it remains an important landmark to locals and tourists alike.

Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site is located across the Ashley River from downtown Charleston. The park sits on the original site of the first permanent English settlement in South Carolina, and it brings colonial history back to life through hands-on exhibits and programs. You can tour a sail ship replica, watch a battery of cannons fire, or walk the historic trails and learn the area’s past with an audio guide.

The grounds also feature 80 acres of gardens, including a crop field showcasing early colonial agriculture. There is also a natural habitat zoo, which is home to animal species indigenous to South Carolina during the 17th century.

Sullivan’s Island is a 2.5-mile-long barrier island east of Charleston. Most known for its pristine beaches, this small town is a wonderful place to soak up some sun and enjoy the sea breeze. Take a stroll along the shore and pick some seashells – you’ll find lots of beautiful sand dollars washed up regularly on the sand.

For a unique picture, head to Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse and enjoy the view. Or if you’d like a dip into history, you can check out Fort Moultrie, an important site during the Revolutionary War. There are also several art galleries and shops throughout town, as well as award-winning restaurants.

The Old Charleston Jail was constructed in 1802 and served as the Charleston County Jail until 1939. Located on Magazine Street downtown, this building once housed the city’s most dangerous criminals, from Civil War prisoners to high-sea pirates. One of its most well-known inmates was the infamous Lavinia Fisher, alleged to be the first female serial killer in the country.

The jail’s haunted-castle-looking facade makes it an ideal choice for ghost tours. It has also been featured in various supernatural TV shows, such as Ghost Hunters, Ghost Adventures, and Ghost Brothers.

Drayton Hall is a plantation located on the Ashley River northwest of Charleston. Built in 1738, it is America’s oldest unrestored plantation house still open to visitors, and the only one on the Ashley River that has remained intact after both the Revolutionary War and Civil War.

A visit to Drayton Hall will make history come to life. You can tour the earliest example of Palladian architecture in the country, visit the largest documented African American cemetery in North America, or simply take a self-guided walk along the river and enjoy the beautiful vistas with ancient live oaks.