The Old Mart Museum -- History, Not "His-Story"…read more When we toured the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, we were offered the chance to double down on history -- prepay access to the Old Slave Mart Museum just a few blocks away. We took it. But first? Food. Because nothing says "processing 18th-century imprisonment" like realizing your blood sugar is tanking. After regrouping and refueling, we made our way to the Old Mart Museum. The lesson takes place upstairs -- smaller space, more intimate setting. No theatrics. No dramatics. Just truth. Our guide -- well-groomed, composed, clear-spoken -- absolutely killed it. No sensationalism. No softening. Just facts delivered with gravity. What he described was horrific. Human beings cataloged. Sold. Families separated. Lives reduced to transactions. It was hard to hear. But it was history -- not HIS-story. There's a difference. This wasn't about personal interpretation or modern spin. It was documented record. It was accountability. It was context. Charleston is beautiful. Charming. Architectural eye candy. But layered beneath that beauty is commerce that once depended on human suffering. And standing in that upstairs room, listening quietly, you feel that weight. We walked out quieter than we walked in. Some stops on this trip were fun. Some were adventurous. This one was necessary.

This is a very small museum, it's in the actual building where they sold slaves in the 1800s. They…read morehaven't remodeled it a lot so you're walking on the actual floor and you can see the actual walls as they were back in the day. It is only seven dollars a person. The displays are very good. There's a lot to read, and there are some artifacts. A very tiny bookstore at the beginning with well curated selection.

Visited: February 16, 2026…read more The Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon was the perfect blend of history and hustle. From the moment you step onto the grounds, you feel the weight of Charleston's past. Inside, the immersion begins immediately -- postcards, patches, and meaningful souvenirs that make it easy to bring a little history home for friends and family. The highlight, though, was the tour. Our guide was a jolly local with razor-sharp, dry Southern wit -- the kind of storyteller who can pivot from Revolutionary War imprisonment to a perfectly timed sarcastic aside without missing a beat. Equal parts charm and "bless your heart," she made centuries-old history feel present and personal. Down in the Provost Dungeon, those brick walls carry gravity. British occupation. Prisoners of war. Pirates passing through. It's one of those rare spaces where you instinctively lower your voice. You don't just learn history -- you feel it. History hit different here. If you appreciate immersive storytelling, preserved architecture, and a tour that balances education with personality, this is absolutely worth your time.

Barry was a fabulous tour guide --he really brought all the history alive. It's amazing all that…read morewent on in there. Easy to navigate as well. Love the military discount, too!

This is one of the most iconic if not THE most iconic sign in Charleston! Every holiday is captured…read moreby the Coburg Cow... Quite the wardrobe and decor this cow has! Want to know how serious a storm is? This cow don't fly through the sky... She gets taken down as to keep protected if the weather is bad. When the cow is down, it's serious business... A hurricane IS coming!

The Coburg Cow is the unofficial mascot of Weat Ashley! The Coburg Cow still stands even though the…read moreCoburg Dairy is no longer there. Several storms have knocked her down or knocked her bottle of milk off the stand, but you can still find her dressed up for every holiday, including St. Patrick's Day and Christmas!

Fantastic place for a family tour! We went for the gardens and nature, but we were really struck by…read morehow impactful the 'Slavery to Freedom tour' was for us! John's storytelling alone was worth the trip. The sordid history of slavery was framed in a context that made it feel personal, digestible, and meaningful to the listener. At least it felt that way to me. Hearing the stories before walking through the cabins, I could just feel the moment in history... rather than reading and digesting paragraphs on paragraphs of historical accounts on the walls while inside such a historical space. The nature tram tour and the animal conservatory ended up being the icing on the cake. It was beautiful to see and be immersed in all of the nature. The only drawback is that the main house tours were booked up and we didn't learn that until we got there. It worked out for us because I would much rather have had the slavery history tour and our time was already limited. All in all, this place is a must see (especially in April, when the azaleas are in bloom)!

Touring the Magnolia Plantation was a highlight of our trip to Charleston. We went with a small…read moretour group (12 people) we signed up at the Charleston visitor center so all three tours and transportation to and from were included in the price. We had the House tour which was very well done, interesting and educational. Throughly enjoyed it. We also did the tram tour through the property which we enjoyed a lot. The path was dry so we did get a dusty ride. In hindsight if the trail could have been lightly watered down to help with the dust this ride would have been much more enjoyable. The best of the three tours was the "Slavery to Freedom" tour. John was incredible telling the story of slavery and more importantly what these people went through. It was so educational hearing the story (instead of dates,) but emotionally moving. It made me realize that the history books used when I was in school were so generic and lacking any kind of detail and real life experiences these people went through. Seeing the slave houses with our hearing John's presentation would not have anywhere near the effect of seeing them after his presentation. John brought the real life detail to us. I told John that he should record his presentation and send a copy to every history school teacher in America. If you only go to one tour at the Magnolia Plantation, definitely go to John's "Slavery to Freedom" presentation.

Who doesn't enjoy watching recent (or sometimes cult) films in a small set of theaters. Want wine…read moreor beer to sip while watching, then this is the place. The seats are comfortable, the lobby can get just a bit crowded but not claustrophobic. Pick a movie from its website or on its lighted "awning" (as some call it) and you are certain to find something today, if not, then tomorrow as the films change sometimes every couple of days. I have seen and enjoyed here, every single time. Come here and ejnjoy. Down side? Looking for an extra couple of minutes to find a parking space out front or just start out back instead for sure parking.

Terrace is my go to theatre. It's small, vintage, welcoming and just plain cool. The small intimate…read morevibe might not be for everyone but I recommend you give it a shot. Not only do they show the recent flux, but they have special events for cult classics frequently. Including a Rocky Horror advent where vendors are in attendance and costumes are encouraged. This theatre offers alcoholic beverages, popcorn and candy of course, and service that goes above and beyond. There is a reason they have been voted the best theatre for the last 11 years in Charleston. I recommend you check it out for yourself, though.

Had a wonderful hair cut here. Staff were all extremely nice. Dedicated surface lot--yes!…read moreRecommended!

I went on my honeymoon here and it was the best experience. I miss this place and have such good…read morememories. I can't wait to return, and look forward to coming back.

This fountain is a main attraction to Charleston. It was a beautiful as all the pictures and very…read morepleasant to just sit and relax in the park. There are 2 small walking paths on either side around the park. ...you are also allowed to go in the fountain. I went in the middle of winter. The water was freezing, but it was a memory!

The Pineapple Fountain at Waterfront Park in Charleston is a symbol of the city and beautiful place…read moreto visit. It's surrounded by trees and looks right out onto the Charleston harbor. The area around the fountain is a nice place for a stroll. Street parking can be tough, especially during peak hours.

Working artists in a collective space invite you to explore their work.read more

i wanted to buy more art, so i showed up at 2:20pm and they were all locked up. sign on the door…read moreand google says they close at 3pm. just an fyi- call before you show up.

A visit to the Gibbes is a great way to get a taste of low country art!…read more They feature a mix of pieces from a variety of time periods. I especially enjoyed the exhibits focused on local artists and the fascinating historical pieces like mini portraits and slave tags. The sweetgrass basketry is a sight to behold. Love that they uplift artists/art that may have historically been overlooked by other museums. The building itself is beautiful on the inside - definitely check out the grand room with the domes! I'd say to give yourself about 3 hours to be able to enjoy the museum. This is a wonderful way to break up a day in Charleston (especially if the weather isn't ideal)! We were able to gain admission for free since we're members of the Mint Museum in Charlotte, and both museums are part of the Southeastern Reciprocal Membership Program (SERM).

This museum is just the right size. Three floors, but not chock full or overflowing. The first…read morefloor is a local exhibit with works for sale. And a surprisingly good gift shop. I really was shocked at how good it was. Thoughtful, interesting books, games, and novelties that I took photos of to research and possibly buy later (I wasn't able to pick up extra cargo at the time). The second floor is a mix of classic permanent collection (think English art and furniture as well as Greek/sculpture pieces). There was also a contemporary section that I really enjoyed, a southern-focused mix that celebrated diversity. The third floor is for special rotating exhibits. This time I enjoyed learning about Harriet Tubman and the local rice fields. It really fleshed her out as a person and leader, while also educating us about the local Combahee River Raid in the rice fields. This exhibit taught me a lot, though it's inspired me to learn a lot more on my own. Cost was like 15 bucks. Close to all the Charleston attractions. Worthwhile stop with something for everyone. Plan for 1-3 hours depending on exhibit and how much you want to read (I glossed over the European stuff cus I've seen a ton).

Buy tickets online. Save $2/person. Be prepared for unattended paid parking appx $7/hr. Even…read moresmelled like my old carrier when I walked into the hangar bay. Well manned by volunteers. While some of the signs are damaged by the sun, the ship has been maintained fairly well. Be prepared to walk and explore. Snack bar (gedunk) with seating available.

My family and I (including a small kid) had great time exploring the great history on board this…read moreliving museum. USS Yorktown is a venerable aircraft carrier of yore that served gallantly in WWII and subsequent conflicts. It can be visited at Patriot's point in Mount Pleasant, SC on the other side of the Ravnel bridge. They have changed the parking situation so that you have to go around the entire place and approach Patrioits Point from the southern side instead and eliminated the free parking and now depends on Palmetto parking via online payment. You have to further go through a gift shop before you reach the ticketing counter and thence to the aircraft carrier. USS Yorktown is huge and amazing, for those with mobility assistance needed or a stroller you can use the elevator to get to the upper levels. Please be sure to visit the hangar and Visitor's centre inside the carrièr before you go to the upper deck. Please be sure also to visit the Captain's bridge and also see the USS Laffey alonside CV-10 to experience its CiC experience.