A brick building with an open archway leading to an interior space with wooden flooring. Outside, there is a wooden walkway with black railing, lined with lamp posts and decorative signs, during early evening with a partly cloudy sky.

Visitors Center - 375 Meeting Street

A must first-stop on your Charleston experience.

A cobblestone alleyway with lush green plants and trees on both sides. Two people are walking away from the camera, one wearing a light blue shirt and the other a green shirt. The alley is bordered by colorful buildings, including a red wall on the left with black lantern-style lights and a mix of brick and plaster walls on the right.

Nine Secret Alleys - walking distance

There are nine alleyways scattered around a small area of the city, one of them is even on Queen Street. Here’s a list of them all with their respective streets. Try to find them all, if you get stuck Google Maps can help.

  • Stoll’s Alley - Lower Church Street

  • Longitude Lane - Lower East Bay Street

  • Unitarian Church Graveyard - Middle King Street

  • Bedon’s Alley - Tradd Street

  • Philadelphia Alley - Upper Queen Street

  • Price’s Alley - Between lower King and Meeting Street

  • St. Michael’s Alley - Lower Meeting Street

  • Unity Alley - Between State and East Bay Street

A park with tall trees creating shade along a paved walkway leading to a monument and lamp post, with people in the background.

White Point Gardens at Battery Park - A short, scenic walk from here

Located at the southern most tip of the peninsula. Beautiful gazebo at the center with grass and oak trees creating visual tunnels and shade. Surrounding the park is the Battery walkway which stretches for miles where you can walk on history along Charleston’s waterfront.

A street scene with historic buildings, a church with a tall steeple, palm trees, and colorful facades under a partly cloudy sky.

Must See Historic Streets of Charleston

Charleston is a wonderful walking and cycling city. There are some must see streets which can make you feel you’re living in a different time and place.

  • Lower Church Street

  • Murry Boulevard

  • Logan Street

  • Upper Queen Street

  • Gibbes Street

  • Legare Street

  • Lower King Street

  • Orange Street

  • East part of Tradd Street

Pathway leading to a lake in Colonial Lake Park, Charleston, lined with trees and flowers with benches and a person cycling in the background.

Colonial Lake and Lockwood Drive

A block from the BnB is a surprise city-lake called Colonial Lake. There is a smooth walkway around the lake buttressed by gardens and trees. You’ll see everything from walkers, joggers, sunbathers on the grass, to people doing workouts, and fishing. A great place to clear the mind. Near to the lake is Lockwood Drive which has a smooth sidewalk which runs almost level to the water and march.

A sea turtle swimming underwater above coral reef.

Charleston Aquarium

Located inside the city near Waterfront Park, this aquarium is world class. In addition to many fish exhibits there is a two-story, 385,000-gallon Great Ocean Tank with sharks and a 220-pound loggerhead sea turtle.

A scenic waterfront promenade with palm trees and residential buildings along the shoreline during daytime.

Charleston’s sea wall

Walk lower East Bay which makes a 90 degree turn and becomes Murray Boulevard. Great ocean and inlet views.Played a role in the Civil War and through World War II. The boat ride to the Fort is a treat in and of itself.

Aerial view of a lush golf course beside a lake, with trees, pathways, and residential buildings nearby.

Middleton Place - 30 minute drive

Magnificent gardens and remnants of the original home. The plantation, now a National Historic Landmark District, is used as a museum, and is home to the oldest landscaped gardens in the United States.

An interior view of an old house showing a staircase through a decorative archway, with wooden stairs and green-tinted wooden walls.

Drayton Hall - 24 minute drive

An outstanding example of Palladian architecture in North America and the only plantation house on the Ashley River to survive intact through both the Revolutionary and Civil wars, it is a National Historic Landmark.

Historical brick buildings with wooden shutters and tiled roofs in a grassy park setting.

Boone Hall Plantation - 25 minute drive

A beautiful plantation, they offer tours but no access to the main home. More interestingly, you can go inside the slave quarters and see how they lived. It was featured in the first episode of Bravo’s Top Chef. Parts of “North and South” and “The Notebook” were filmed here.

Ruins of an old brick fortress near a body of water on a sunny day.

Fort Sumter - 9 minute drive

Played a role in the Civil War and through World War II. The boat ride to the Fort is a treat in and of itself.

A tree-lined pathway leading to a large white house with a porch.

Charles Towne Landing - 10 Minute drive

A State Historic Site, where a group of English settlers landed in 1670 and established what would become the birthplace of the Carolina colony. Set in a beautiful location and stunning views of the march. One of Charleston’s favorite sites for weddings and other special gatherings.

A white arched bridge over a dark pond surrounded by pink azalea flowers and lush green trees.

Magnolia Plantation - 25 minute drive

Similar to Drayton Hall but with flowing beautiful grounds with unique gardens and wetlands.