The Pineapple Fountain is an iconic pit stop for your Charleston exploration. The surrounding park…read moreand waterfront are so beautiful. 10/10 would recommend!

Review #4 of My Charleston Vacation 20-plus Review Series…read more The Pineapple Fountain is one of the most photographed spots in Charleston. It was the Pineapple Fountain that brought me to spend time Waterfront Park with my Dad and Brother. Dissimilar from several of the nearby attractions including the City Market and Rainbow Row; The Pineapple Fountain has a short history that dates to 1990, four months after Hurricane Hugo caused havoc in Charleston. Disparate from unwelcoming hurricanes, the pineapple is a Charleston symbol of warm welcome and wealth. From my perspective, on July 22, 2026 it served as a warm welcoming place to take photos of a photogenic pineapple fountain with the backdrop of the Copper River and a base of botanical flowers. For some people it served as a welcoming place to cool off in the water on a hot and humid Charleston afternoon. While I took pictures my Dad and Brother rested on a scenic bench under the shade of mature oak trees. This photogenic experience costed me nothing. There was zero need to worry about parking. The Free Charleston Shuttle 211 Route dropped us off close by. It was a relatively short walk from Vendue Range at Concord Street stop.

The Cistern is a huge park used as a venue for concerts owned by College of Charleston. I attended…read moreThe Punch Brothers concert during the Spoleto Festival. The concert was at 9:00 PM so it was dark. The park was lit up with pretty lights strung between the huge old oak trees. So pretty! There was no restroom in the park but on our way out of the concert we were able to use the restroom in a college building across the street;) I would love to visit this park during the day and I would absolutely attend another concert here as well.

Went to a Spoleto event at the Cistern, and I feel it was marvelous. I went for a live jazz music…read moreperformance, and the setup was awesome. Sound and lighting were as good as indoor facilities, seating was folding chairs but with decent comfort, and row spacing was roomy. It's May/June and I was worried about bugs and bites, but next day I had no bites, no itching. Don't know if they sprayed, or we just got lucky. I didn't use the "facilities," so I can't comment on the cleanliness or amount of bathrooms.

The iconic Rainbow Row is, ofc, a must-visit when in Charleston! This is truly such a beautiful…read morearea to stroll around and take photos. 10/10 would recommend!

Rainbow Row was on the top of my list of things to see in Charleston, given the hype around this…read morehistoric spot. I have to say, I was a bit underwhelmed when finding it. Don't get me wrong, the homes are beautiful and the history behind them are rich, but it is definitely overhyped. I was also surprised how different it looked in person compared to photos online; I don't know if its the photoshop making the houses look so vibrant and colorful, but the real thing seemed a bit more dull. If you're already in the area, you should definitely see it for yourself, cause you've got nothing to lose. But don't go out of your way to come here, or you may be slightly disappointed like I was.

My family and I have done the haunted jail tour multiple times. We have had a different tour guide…read moreevery time. Every guide had different stories and history facts about the jail which made the tour feel new all over again. Really cool experience each time!

We took the haunted tour and it was creepy. Sarah was our tour guide and she made it even creepier…read morewith her stories. She provided historical data and personal experiences and once we were on the tour with her it was easy to start wondering if we were alone. I don't think we were. I took pictures in every room but there was one room where my camera and my flashlight would not work. It's called the dark room. Not sure what that was all about.

I bought a ticket for this museum as part of a combination ticket with the Charleston Museum. I…read moreactually walked from there, stopping along some spots. It's a long walk, but nice if the weather is fitting. This is worth a visit, especially if you're into American history. George Washington stayed here while visiting the area. Also, Thomas Heyward was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. While it's not a vast mansion, the house is nicely decorated and the garden in the back was a good touch. The audio tour was informative and allowed you to go at your own pace. The staff here were friendly and helpful. The house is also near a nice residential neighborhood and close to Rainbow Row and the water.

In 1791, the city of Charleston rented Heyward's home for President George Washington's weeklong…read morestay in the city. The association with America's first president has persisted ever since. Built in 1772, the Heyward-Washington House earned its moniker for two men who figured prominently in its history, Thomas Heyward Jr. and President George Washington. Heyward, a Revolutionary War officer and South Carolina delegate to the Continental Congress in 1776 is best known for contributing his signature to the Declaration of Independence. The architecture of the three-story red brick double reflects the Georgian style that spread widely through English colonies for its order and symmetry.

The battery is a nice walkway around the Charleston harbor area. The entire walking path is about…read more2.5 miles of sidewalk. It takes you from a coast guard sector and ends close to rainbow row. It also wraps around white point garden. There are so many sights, it's very pleasant, and the whole thing is along the water. My husband went multiple times on our trip to get our morning jogs in. I highly recommend it as a sunset walk as well.

One of those place where history hits you in the face and you can't help but imagine it a few…read morehundred years ago. Sweeping views of the harbor, Ft Sumter, ships, sailboats, the occasional porpoise, and a nice park with historical statues. If you're easily offended by statues then stay away. These aren't going anywhere.

The walking tour, given by Joyce Weir, was a very lovely tour…read more Joyce was very knowledgeable about the history of Charleston and was a delight to have as our tour guide. She took the time to point out how to get the best shots of the various buildings and sights. My youngest daughter is thinking about becoming a photographer and Joyce took the time during and at the end of the tour to give her pointers and encouragement. I definitely recommend anyone looking to do a walking tour of Charleston to sign up with Joyce. You will not regret it. Joyce's walking tour was one of the best tours my family and I went on and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

We signed up for this tour as an intro to Charleston as we began our first morning in the city…read more Joyce was a wonderful guide and began the tour with some photo tips at the meeting spot. Though I have been an avid amateur photographer for a while, I quickly learned some new techniques thanks to Joyce. The walk we took traversed the heart of downtown Charleston, from Meeting Street to the Battery. The pacing was good, and the mix of city history and photography tips was great. The tour ran a few minutes over 2 hours, and none of our group was in a hurry to be done. If I returned to Charleston on another visit, I'd book one of the other tours Joyce gives as my new starting point. Highly recommended.

Beautiful Garden! Another hidden gem in downtown Charleston. I highly recommend taking a walk down…read moreLegare Street to see this home and the famous Sword Gate House at 32 Legare Street.

It was a fun adventure going over to Fort Sumter. Nice boat ride over to the Fort. Once you arrive…read moreand disembark, you are on your own for a self guided tour of the Fort. There are plenty of placards scattered throughout the Fort that describe various evevts that took place at specific location within the Fort. You got to go see the museum located within the Fort to educate yourself on the events that took place and the history behind the Fort. It's about a 2 hour adventure at a reasonable price. I would recommend this little adventure.

Rice was the crop that gave them wealth before anything else did - a special kind grown in the low…read morecountry! Charleston was the crown jewel of the south along the coast and one of the wealthiest cities in the world by the early 1800s. Forts were built to protect her and this was one of the several. It also was where the first shots of the war between the states was fired. You can listen to the partially correct/revised history by the "Moderna"Ranger Talk, or search the real history before going. The first is entertaining for sure - the latter more worthwhile. Great place to visit and learn about the history of the area and the nation.

The small museum and dungeon tour is worth the experience. It gives you a good overview of early…read moreCharleston's history while also covering the darker history of the dungeon. They also offered a multi-museum pass that included the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, the Slave Mart Museum, and the Powder Magazine, which was well worth the price.

We do not recommend this place. The Dungeon tour guide made a problematic comment about Native…read moreAmericans and went on to share sexist ideas about women. As we left, we let the staff at the front desk know about her remarks. The two staff looked at us, shrugged their shoulders, and said, "Oh, that's just Carol." Then, the male staff person proceeded to give us inaccurate information about another museum we inquired about. We left the museum surprised and disappointed by this behavior. We hope someone will review the tour script and suggest more inclusive and affirming language.