Explore Charleston's History & Natural Beauty With These 5 Free Things To Do
Are you visiting Charleston and looking for some adventure? Maybe you’re a resident looking to shake things up, and reconnect with your city. Today we’re laying out seven free things to do in the Charleston area.
1. Mace Brown Museum
First stop on our list is the Mace Brown Museum of Natural History at the College of Charleston. A public natural history museum located on the college campus, this museum is home to over 15,000 fossils from around the globe, including species native to the Carolinas.
Not only is the museum a great place to visit for anyone with a budding interest in archaeology or the past, it also supports the internationally respected research occurring at the school. Of course, it’s free to visit, and donations are welcome.
2. The Unitarian Church Cemetery
Keeping with the historical theme, a visit to the second oldest cemetery in Charleston, The Unitarian Church Cemetery, is sure to lend a unique glimpse into the city’s colorful past.
This cemetery is believed to serve as the basis for Edgar Allen Poe’s Annabel Lee. Unique in its appearance, it features maintained walking paths as the rest of the plots are being overtaken by vines and wildlife. The Unitarians supposedly believe that this represents a giving back to nature after death.
Regardless of the stories and tales of spooky ghost sightings, a walk through the Unitarian Cemetery will connect you to Charleston’s rich history in a unique way.
Watch our Lively Charleston episode on 5 free things to do in Charleston!
3. The Ravenel Bridge
So maybe spooky graveyards and fossils aren’t your thing. In that case, we recommend a stroll along the Ravenel Bridge. With construction starting in 2001 and completed in 2005, this cable-stayed bridge is the third largest in the western hemisphere, spanning 1,546 feet.
With walking and biking lanes, a trek across this marvel of engineering will offer breathtaking views of the Charleston harbor and downtown. Of course, snapping a few pictures from the banks of waterfront park or Patriots Point isn’t a bad idea either.
4. The Charleston Battery
To further enjoy the beautiful weather, a walk along The Battery is a great way to spend an afternoon in the sun. This landmark defensive seawall aptly named for the cannon batteries entrenched here during the Civil War is famously flanked by massive antebellum homes.
With views reaching out to Charleston Harbor, Castle Pinckney, and Fort Sumter, it’s perfect for a panorama look around the peninsula. A walk through White Point Gardens is an added bonus for a leisurely stroll underneath the trees.
5. The Angel Oak
Speaking of trees, last on our list is one of the oldest living things in the country, the Angel Oak. Estimated to be 400-500 years old, the Angel Oak stands over sixty feet tall, and measures roughly 28 feet in circumference, with the longest branch measuring 187 feet long.
An absolute must-see for anyone visiting Charleston, we recommend bringing some food, and setting up a picnic in this iconic location on Johns Island.
Well there you have it, our list of five free things to do in Charleston. If you’re visiting, or simply looking to reconnect with the city you call home, we hope you found something in this list helpful!
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