Towns Around Charleston Worth A Visit

Mt. Pleasant

Right across the Cooper River from Charleston, founded in 1680. Mt. Pleasant is a beautiful town filled with rich heritage and a small-town atmosphere. There are many wonderful restaurants and shops to experience and explore. Mt. Pleasant is just three and a half miles from downtown Charleston. During the mid-1800s, Mount Pleasant was considered to be an ideal summer resort, a breezy and cool get-away during the hot months in the city.

Stop by and pick up brochures and information at the Mt. Pleasant/Isle of Palms Visitor Center, Hwy. 17 N., just over the Cooper River Bridge. The visitor center is open 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Take a leisurely walk through  Old Village, a National Register district. You'll enjoy a look at the exquisite homes from both the colonial and antebellum periods and historic churches.The Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church, that served as a Confederate hospital during the Civil War. (to visit the historic charleston churches guide, click here). 

Visit Snee Farm, The Charles Pinckney National Historic Site, and  Spend an afternoon at Boone Hall Plantation - reminiscent of  Gone with the Wind. To visit the historic homes and gardens page, click here

Palmetto Islands County Park - It's 943 acres offers recreation like crabbing, or fishing from floating docks. Go biking, lagoon boating, or just have a picnic in the beautiful, natural surroundings.

Sewee Visitor & Environmental Education Center - click here for info

Take time to explore Patriots Point, the world's largest naval and maritime museum complex and check out the WWII aircraft carrier, Yorktown - The "Fighting Lady." There are boat cruises available at Patriots Point to visit Fort Sumter National Monument, where the Civil War began.

It's worth a trip to Mt. Pleasant just to experience the best in Gullah cooking.  Gullah Cuisine Restaurant is a top pick, located at: 1717 Route 17 N. (843) 881-9076 (to visit our gullah and southern recipes, click here)

Shem Creek is the port for the shrimping fleet. There are many seafood restaurants on  both sides of the creek, each giving you a great view.  Shem Creek Maritime Center and Museum details the story of the Charleston area's maritime heritage.

Sullivan's Island

Sullivan's Island is a quiet, residential island, with old and new beach houses.There are also a few pretty 19th-century summer homes that have been well cared-for.  The restaurants and pubs on the island are crowded along Middle Street on the weekends.

Sullivan's Island is the site of old Fort Moultrie and the interpretation center, operated by the National Park Service. There is a small section of  WWI quarters near the lighthouse. There are also several private, large houses that was known as "Officers' Row" for the Fort Moultrie garrison.