There was a post in our Facebook network group asking what to do in Charleston, South Carolina. These types of posts are often made in the group. As a travel nurse, you are constantly changing locations and moving to new places. Because of this, we have started working on articles to highlight five to ten things to do in various cities across the United States. Our first two were things to do in Nashville, TN, and Asheville, NC. Check back often, as we will be adding more cities in the coming months.
So, what should you do while on assignment in Charleston, South Carolina? There were many comments with recommendations, so we took the six most popular and compiled them below.
6 Things to do in Charleston, South Carolina
While not technically in Charleston, Sullivan’s Island is only a 20-minute drive. According to their website, Sullivan’s Island is a two-and-a-half-mile-long barrier island near the entrance of the Charleston Harbor. They are well known for their pristine beaches, award-winning restaurants, and close-knit community.
Sullivan’s Island is home to 2.5 miles of Atlantic Ocean Beachfront. The entrance to the Charleston Harbor borders their website states, “The west end of the Island, the north by the Intracoastal Waterway and to the east is Breach Inlet.”
As their website states, if the beach isn’t your thing, they have many award-winning restaurants to visit as well.
Middleton Place offers many things to do while you visit. Including the gardens, the House Museum, a restaurant, shops, and the stable yards. Because you will be outdoors and walking for much of your visit, you should wear comfortable walking shoes.
According to their website, the gardens are America’s oldest landscaped gardens. With over 65 acres, there is much to explore. In the museum, you can learn the history of the plantation and those who lived and worked there through the years.
If you want a more personalized or informational experience, they offer various types of tours and packages. The packages range in price from $49 and up.
One of our network group members said the Magnolia Plantation and Garden is great to visit while the flowers are in bloom. Looking at their website and the pictures on it, we have to agree. The flowers are just breathtaking. According to their website, Magnolia has been selected as one of “America’s Most Beautiful Gardens” (Travel + Leisure Magazine) and is the only garden honored with this distinction in the State of South Carolina!
Founded in 1676 by the Drayton family, Magnolia Plantation has survived the centuries and witnessed our nation’s history unfold before it from the American Revolution through the Civil War and beyond. It is the oldest public tourist site in the Lowcountry, and the oldest public garden in America, opening its doors to visitors in 1870 to view the thousands of beautiful flowers and plants in its famous gardens.
There is more to do than just the garden itself. Below are things Magnolia offers
From Slavery To Freedom
The Slavery to Freedom Tour is a 45-minute presentation centered on four original slave cabins and the families. The cabins, which were built in the 1850s, were continuously inhabited until the late 20th century. Each cabin has been preserved and restored to reflect a different era significant to both African-American history and the history of Magnolia.
ZOO & NATURE CENTER
The zoo and nature center includes an educational introduction to Lowcountry critters.
THE CONSERVATORY
Full of semi-tropical plants reflecting the Caribbean origin of the early colony.
THE PEACOCK CAFE
The peacock café is where you can visit our Peacocks and sweet mini-horses.
GILLIARD GARDEN CENTER
What was once called the Old African American Cabin, next to the Orientation Theater, is now the Gilliard Garden Center. The center is named for Tena Gilliard. She lived in this structure and acted as the official “greeter” for Magnolia until the 1940s. She was born shortly after the Civil War ended. C.N. Hastie named a beautiful camellia for her, registered in the American Camellia Society and the International Camellia Society, and can be seen on a path near the Plantation House.
GIFT SHOP
The Gift Shop is a fun place to visit. It’s located directly underneath the House.
As you can see, there is plenty to do at the Magnolia Plantation and Garden.
Poe’s Tavern is located on Sullivan’s Island, so when you visit Sullivan’s Island, you can also visit Poe’s Tavern. According to their site, Charleston’s legendary Poe’s Tavern serves fresh burgers and fries, delicious fish tacos, and inspired salads in a laid-back oceanfront environment. Their multi-national beer selection is perfect for a night after work or ducking out of the hot sun from a day at the beach. They’ve got something for everyone: They’re chill, pumped, and fun all mixed. Their regulars will tell you why it is the perfect place to hang, and their visitors will tell you why you have to make it there.
Holy City Brewery was started by two guys who decided to homebrew their own beer. It grew as they brought on two more guys and grew their business to what it is today. They not only offer beer but they have a small menu of food as well. If you are looking for something to do on your day off while on assignment in Charleston, Holy City Brewery is a great place to visit. They hold many events, including trivia, farmer’s markets, and live entertainment, to name a few.
Page’s is located in Mt. Pleasant, SC. It is a 13-minute drive from Charleston, so not a far drive for some amazing-looking foods. Page’s brings the southern style to seafood. They are a family-owned restaurant, and they have won many awards for their food. They have five menus; breakfast, brunch, lunch, supper, and a bar menu. So, if you are hungry any time of the day, they have something for you. For example, their lunch menu offers southern foods’ greatness and incorporates amazing-looking and sounding seafood dishes.
A couple of items off their lunch menu are Low Country Crabcakes, Page’s Chicken and Waffles, Page’s Famous Fried Chicken, and Ashleigh’s Shrimp and Grits. Page’s also has a variety of salads if you are looking to eat healthier.
Their bar menu is extensive, and it seems like there is something for everyone on it. They offer coffee cocktails, wine, sangria, frozen cocktails, champagne, signature cocktails, draft, bottled, canned, and domestics. Again, something for everyone looking to have a drink after a long shift or on their day off.
We hope you found this list of things to do while on assignment in Charleston, South Carolina, helpful! Have you taken an assignment in Charleston? Do you have any places you recommend visiting while on assignment there? Comment them below.
As I said earlier in the article, we often see posts in our Facebook group asking where the best places to visit in a specific city are. So, check back often because this will become a series here on TheGypsyNurse.com! If you have a city you would like to suggest or write about, comment below or email us by clicking here.
