Charleston, SC

There are a number of relatively inexpensive guided tours, which I would recommend over anything self-guided, partly because some of what you will likely want to see is open only by appointment and partly because there's a lot of historical, anecdotal, and background information best learned from someone good at telling stories.

If the weather is nice visit Fort Sumter or take a water tour. Seeing the battery and Charleston from the water is something different. The ghost tour is also a bit different and some find it very interesting. It is also well liked in July because it is much cooler.

go to Patriots Point, go on the USS Yorktown

Patriots Point/USS Yorktown/USS Clamagore
Fort Sumter
Ghost Tour
Horse-drawn Carriage Ride/Tour
S. Carolina Aquarium
H. L. Hunley (Warren Lasch Conservation Center)
Magnolia Plantation

Our CG of choice in the area is James Island County Park. Folly Beach is right down the road.

I second a visit to Patriot's point. The USS Yorktown, a WWII aircraft carrier is there, along with a destroyer and a submarine. You can tour all of them. I spent 2 years aboard the USS Lexington, another WWII carrier that's now a museum in Pensacola, FL. Not many WWII ships left. We've been shaving with them since WWII ended. An aircraft carrier makes a LOT of razor blades.

We did our own walking tour of Charleston, SC, using our AAA Tour Book and it was great. However, I think a guided tour would have been even better. James Island County Park was also our campground.

Another vote for James Island Co Park. They have a shuttle that will take you to the historic district downtown so you don't have to find a place to park.

We love visiting Charleston. We have stayed at the KOA(north) and Oak Plantation (south). Both are fine.

We enjoyed Magnolia Plantation BUT they will nickel and dime you. They charge fees for different sections and an all inclusive fee is almost $50 per.

Buy a basket from a roadside stand.

Definetly do the horse drawn carriage tour.

Another vote for Fort Sumter.

I thought Sumter was a disappointment. Ft Moultrie over in Mt Pleasant was much more interesting. Take one of the guided tours for sure and plan to eat lunch at Hymans.

I used to go to Charleston once a month for work and I always made sure to schedule some "me" time. I often cheated and just walked where the horse drawn carriage tours were stopped to get the history lesson.

One of my favorite things to do was just wander around downtown and check out the church yards. This may sound creepy, but the headstones fascinate me. Many give out details of the life (or death) of the person below. I often wondered what happened to wipe out families within days of each other...sickness, hostile attack, fire.... I remember one in particular was a sea Captain from New England that died of the Carolina coast and was buried there. The ones that were tucked away in alleys were sometimes the most interesting.
Obviously, this is "quiet" time and not for everyone. hmmm...maybe that is why I enjoyed it so much!

It helps to have a good base of Charleston history. I know this is fictionalized but is my favorite and give a healthy dose of history as well as entertainment`Charleston

Enjoy!!! It is one of the most interesting places in the country.