Things to Do in South Carolina

This historical church is home to the oldest religious congregation in South Carolina. The first St. Philips Church was a small wooden structure built in 1681, where St. Michael's Episcopal Church stands today. The church withstood hurricane damage in 1710, was reconstructed, burned to the ground in 1835, and finally rebuilt to the present day church in 1836. Before it burned completely, it was saved from one fire by a slave who was granted his freedom for the act. Notable South Carolinians such as John C. Calhoun are buried in the old cemetery on the grounds.

Architect Joseph Hyde incorporated some design elements from the previous structures as well as adding in new features to the stuccoed brick exterior, such as the three Tuscan porticoes and Corinthian columns. The church’s impressive steeple that towers over Church Street was added over a decade later. Today it is recognized as a National Historic Landmark.

Towering above surrounding Charleston, the nearly 200-foot tall white steeple of St Michael’s signals the site of the city’s oldest church. Inside, visitors and parishioners are transported back to the colonial era: alcoves shine with Tiffany stained glass windows, the original 1768 organ still pipes tunes and creaky wooden pews have seated centuries of worshipers including notables George Washington and Robert E. Lee. The central chandelier once blazed with candles, but has since been retrofitted with bulbs. Otherwise little altered, the church has survived tornadoes, an earthquake and even civil war bombings. The pulpit still bears battle wounds suffered in the 1865 Siege of Charleston Harbor. A table in the main vestibule along the western wall details the building’s long and storied history.

Choral music still emanates from St Michael’s on Sundays, and, as a still-functioning Episcopal Church, it can be sometimes challenging to tour the inside. Still, the exterior is a highlight of many historic downtown tours. It's still possible to see the old colonial clock— though minute hands weren’t added until the mid-1800s—and tour the adjacent cemetery, the final resting place of, among several other notables, two signers of the US Constitution.

The Battery wraps around the edge of Charleston’s peninsula, providing an elegant buffer between the city and the Ashley and Cooper rivers. Stroll and sightsee along the wide pedestrian paths, which pass by antebellum homes and historic sights, or perch beneath the live oaks in White Point Garden and watch the world go by.

The Battery refers to the stretch of seawall and adjoining pedestrian paths along Charleston’s peninsular edge. White Point Garden is a 5.7-acre (2.3-hectare) public park on the Battery that rests on Charleston’s southernmost tip, where the Ashley and Cooper rivers converge. Both attractions are free and open to the public—expect to see them full of locals and visitors alike on any given day, especially around sunset. The Battery is also rich with historic sights and monuments, including old cannons, the Confederate Defenders of Charleston statue, and grand antebellum homes as far as the eye can see. 

Visiting the Battery is an essential Charleston experience. You can explore it and White Point Garden independently or with a guide, as its complex history is included on most city sightseeing boat, bus, and walking tours.

The Battery is located along the edge of the Charleston peninsula. You can walk or bike from downtown Charleston, or take the free DART shuttle’s green line. If driving, there is free and metered street parking in the vicinity.

The Battery and White Point Garden are free, open, and popular year-round. Be sure to check the weather before you go and plan accordingly.

If you’re looking for more than just a pleasant walk along the Battery and White Point Garden, consider going as part of a guided tour. Downtown Charleston walking tours are a popular option, as are sightseeing cruises that let you see the Battery from the water.

The Grand Dame of Bluffton, Rose Hill Mansion, drips with period grandeur. The Gothic style Lowcountry plantation house was erected by cotton magnate and town founder, John Kirk, in 1858. It retains much of its original charm and architectural features from the columned porch and gabled peaks with cathedral-style windows to the Spanish moss-draped leafy grounds. Though the residence has a storied history—including a devastating 1987 fire, its role as a setting for several B-rated movies and a John Mellencamp music video, as well as rumors of hauntings that make it a popular Halloween season stop—its restored antebellum artifacts keep visitors streaming through this portal to the past.

Still operated as a private residence (and popular wedding venue with rentable carriage house for overnights), day visitors can take a one-hour guided tour of the first floor. On the tour docents will highlight original Kirk memorabilia—furniture, paintings and heirlooms—restored after the fire and visit the gentleman’s room and parlor with its 1870 Shaw grand piano. One of the highlights is the entrance hallway with its chandeliered curved staircase; its banister connects to the railings that ring an overlook from the second floor. Following the tour, visitors can enjoy locally made cakes and jams, peach tea and lemonade in the historic dining area.

The Carolina Opry, the first theater in Myrtle Beach, hosts a variety of daily performances that blends family-friendly music, dance, and comedy in a state-of-the-art space. The Carolina Opry holds many concerts and shows during the year, has been named a Top Attraction in Myrtle Beach by CNBC, and has received the coveted Governor's Cup.

The Carolina Opry has presented daily shows for visitors of all ages to enjoy for more than 30 years. The family-friendly variety show combines Broadway, country, '80s and '90s hits, gospel, and pop music. Each season at the Carolina Opry features new songs, fresh costumes, and original jokes, so returning guests can appreciate the shows many times over.

The Carolina Opry is located at 8901 North Kings Highway. Simply drive along Highway 17, which runs parallel to the beach, and park at the free, on-site lot. You can also take a 15-minute taxi ride from downtown Myrtle Beach or a 5-minute ride from the Tanger Outlet Mall to reach the Carolina Opry.

The Carolina Opry operates daily with multiple shows. From November to January the theater transforms into a winter wonderland for the Carolina Opry Christmas Special, often referred to as the Christmas Show of the South.

The Opry's main show is TCO, the Carolina Opry, a 2-hour spectacular with over 35 performers and a mix of high-energy music, comedy, and dance. As the name suggests, Time Warp is a blast from the past with multimedia screens, special effects, and music from the '60s, '70s, and '80s. For those who want even more, Thunder & Light combines live dancing with the clogging group All That plus a laser light and magic show.

WonderWorks is an amusement park with more than 100 interactive exhibits to engage your mind and imagination. Built in an upside-down “top-secret laboratory” that was mysteriously transported from Bermuda to Myrtle Beach, this family-friendly park features six wonder zones, laser tag, a glow-in-the-dark ropes course, and a 6D motion ride.

A trip to Myrtle Beach’s WonderWorks is an entertaining treat for the whole family’s bodies and brains. Quirky attractions include the Hurricane Shack to experience winds up to 84 mph (135 kph), a fighter-jet flight simulator, and the opportunity to make a 3D impression of your body on the WonderWall. Purchase a 1-day pass for access to all WonderWorks exhibits, the 6D XD Motion Theater, the indoor ropes course, and one game of laser tag.

WonderWorks is located in Broadway at the Beach in Myrtle Beach. Simply drive along Highway 17 or the Robert M Grissom Parkway to access the park, where there is plenty of free parking.

The WonderWorks indoor amusement park is open year-round; hours vary seasonally so check the website. Busiest times are during spring break (mid-March to late April), summer, Christmas, and when it is raining. To avoid large crowds, visit in the morning hours.

This large outdoor shopping and entertainment complex is located toward the north end of Myrtle Beach. Its main attractions include WonderWorks, Ripley’s Aquarium, the Hard Rock Café, and the Soar and Explore zipline course. The complex surrounds a man-made lake and makes for a fun day of shopping, dining, and adventure during your trip to Myrtle Beach.

Charleston's historic Aiken-Rhett House offers a rare glimpse into antebellum plantation life in South Carolina. The only surviving urban plantation, the 1818 townhouse complex remains largely intact, its rooms decorated with original wallpaper, fine art, and antique furnishings purchased by the owners more than 150 years ago.

A tour of the mansion takes visitors across the double-sided porch, into the dining room, and out to the stables. The home's very own art gallery is a must-see, featuring a collection of sculptures, paintings, and chandeliers. The carriage house and kitchen at the rear of the mansion once served as slave quarters and are among the best-preserved examples in the region. The estate is often a stop on carriage tours of historic Charleston.

The museum is located at the corner of Judith and Elizabeth streets, only a couple of blocks from Charleston's visitor center and riverfront. Get there on foot or as part of a guided history tour.

The house museum is open daily. Since the attraction is largely indoors, it's a good rainy day option.

Originally built in 1820 by a local merchant, the mansion was purchased by wealthy industrialist William Aiken, Sr. in 1827 and passed to his son upon his death. In antebellum Charleston, Governor William Aiken, Jr. was one of the city's most powerful and affluent figures. The governor and his wife moved into the Aiken-Rhett House in 1831 and twice expanded its size. The Aiken family maintained the home for 142 years before selling it to the Charleston Museum, which opened it to the public in 1975.