5 Ways to Beat the Summer Heat in the Holy City
With a city as awesome and desirable as Charleston, South Carolina, sometimes it’s easy to forget that even the best places to live and visit, always have a ‘flipside.’ And as many locals will tell you, with Charleston, that flipside is the summer heat!
Charleston lies deep in what’s known as the subtropical zone. And while it might not be quite Florida, June through August can make it feel like the polar opposite of a Holy City.
So whether Charleston is home base, or you’re just popping in for a summer escape, here are Lively Charleston’s top 5 ways to beat that
holy heat
this summer.
THE BEACHES
As a coastal city, one of Charleston’s greatest allures is its proximity to literal, world-class beach destinations along South Carolina’s coast. Charleston proper features 5 beautiful beach towns:
- Folly beach
- Sullivan’s Island
- Isle of Palms
- Seabrook Island and
- Kiawah Island
Each destination brings its own unique pace and personality, but whatever your particular vibe, South Carolina summers are always more bearable by the water. Whether you want a more natural experience, fine dining, nightlife, or a more kid-friendly experience, you’ll definitely find it at one of Charleston’s beaches.
Traffic can get a little hairy, especially during the summer, so we suggest getting your day started early. Parking rules differ at each location, but you’ll generally never spend more than 15 bucks for the day. Just make sure you check out the beach town you’re heading to’s website for rules and regulations before you hit the road.
WATER SPORTS & TOURS
There aren’t many finer pleasures in life, than a day sitting on the beach looking out at the ocean, but if you’re like me, you like to get involved. Why just look at the water, when you can be one with it?!
Charleston was one of America’s first major seaports, and still is… for good reason. It’s a boater and watercraft delight. Nowadays, there are plenty of day recreation rentals and touring options to set sail amongst those cruise ships and freighters.
We suggest renting a kayak, paddle board or booking a tour at Charleston based
Nature Adventures.
They offer guided tours for you or a whole gang, and who knows, you might even get to meet one of Charleston’s official ambassadors.
WATCH THE LIVELY CHARLESTON VIDEO ON 5 WAYS TO BEAT THE HEAT!
MUSEUM MILE
Indulge your curiosities, peruse some of this country's greatest art collections, and maybe learn a thing or 10…all in the sweet embrace of modern day air conditioning.
While we can’t get behind spending your
entire Charleston existence inside, if you have to beat the heat with some indoor refuge, Charleston’s storied museum mile along Meeting Street, will definitely keep you covered….and cool.
With 6 museums and 5 nationally registered historic houses, you’ll only have to step outside for mere minutes, before you find your way into your next stop.
If you have kids, It might seem like a hard sell… at first… but I promise they will never forget a day spent at
Children’s Museum of the LowCountry.
And parents will love the free admission for anyone under 12. But sorry mom and dad, we can’t help you once you pass the gift shop.
THE SOUTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM
Who needs a zoo when you have a world class aquarium?
The South Carolina Aquarium is an AZA accredited facility, located right on the Charleston Harbor. It features almost 7,000 aquatic animals and gives you an up close and personal experience with the plethora of native wildlife and environments found in South Carolina.
The aquarium often features rotating exhibits from more exotic places. Kids and adults alike will have a blast at the touch tank, and be sure to say ‘What’s Up?’ to our friend, Liberty, an American Bald Eagle who was rescued from Florida, and now lives the luxurious life, as the matriarch of the aquarium.
SHEM CREEK
Shem Creek is a direct tributary, right where the Cooper River widens into the Charleston Harbor. Shem Creek is also a direct tributary to a good time!
It's technically part of Mt. Pleasant, the suburb to the immediate east of ‘the Peninsula.' And while it lacks an official zip code, it is one of the most picturesque and best eating locales in the area. When it comes to a summer’s night out in Charleston, there might not be a cooler
place than Shem Creek.
Shem Creek was originally a major hub for the shrimping and fishing industry, and we’ve yet to have or hear about a bad seafood dish. To start, why not check out
Saltwater Cowboys, one of Lively Charleston’s favorite places for great seafood. For all of the land food lovers in your crew, they also have great Carolina BBQ and specialty cocktails and beers on tap.
We could go on and on, but that will have to do for this edition of ways to beat the heat in Charleston this summer!
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