If you’re looking for some indoor Charleston fun, we’ve got just the thing. Come face to face with a giant sea turtle, enjoy an evening at the theatre, sign up for a candle making workshop, sip local suds during a distillery tour… the options are endless! Scroll on to discover 21 of our favorite indoor activities in Charleston.
Imagine what it was like to waltz across a ballroom during the age of corsets and kid gloves at two of Charleston's historic dwellings, the Aiken Rhett and Nathaniel Russell houses. These museum-quality structures, with their carefully preserved period furnishings, illustrate what life was like for some of Charleston’s most illustrious families during the 1800s.
SOUTH CAROLINA HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM
An architectural treasure in its own right, the South Carolina Historical Society Museum is housed in a National Historic Landmark building and features interactive exhibits on the people, places and movements that shaped the state and nation.
PATRIOTS POINT NAVAL & MARITIME MUSEUM
Visit Patriots Point and climb aboard the USS Yorktown, the decommissioned aircraft carrier that stands solemn watch over the harbor. Vintage aircraft line the flight deck while the Congressional Medal of Honor Museum is located inside the cargo bay.
SOUTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM
Marvel at the South Carolina Aquarium’s Great Ocean Tank before visiting the Sea Turtle Care Center to learn how compassionate staff members are nursing the turtles back to healthy lives.
FRIENDS OF THE HUNLEY
Visit the Friends of the Hunley museum to learn all about the mystery, discovery and history of the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley, the first submarine ever to sink an enemy ship.
INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM
Explore the IAAM's wide-ranging exhibitions that tell the story of how Africans & African Americans have shaped our world; spend a quiet moment in the African Ancestors Memorial Garden; make discoveries in the Center for Family History.
THE CHARLESTON MUSEUM
Celebrated as America’s first museum, this downtown institution masterfully interprets the cultural and natural history of the Charleston area with hands-on exhibits that include fossils, colonial clothing and more.
NORTH CHARLESTON FIRE MUSEUM & EDUCATION CENTER
Home to a variety of priceless firefighting artifacts, including 18 historic engines, this hands-on museum puts you as close to a fire as possible without getting burned.
CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF THE LOWCOUNTRY
Head to the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry, where the little ones can climb to the top of a medieval castle, take the helm of a Lowcountry pirate ship or create a masterpiece in the museum’s Art Center.
SHOPPING
Head to the historic Charleston City Market to pick up Holy City souvenirs or pop in to your favorite shops and boutiques on King Street.
CANDLEFISH CANDLE MAKING WORKSHOP
Find a friend and pick up a bottle of your favorite rosé on the way to Candlefish for a Candle Making Workshop. Tie on your apron, choose your favorite scent and learn the ins and outs of making your very own candle.
CULINARY TOUR
Go behind the scenes with some of Charleston's best chefs on a culinary tour. Learn the history of Lowcountry cuisine and get a taste of the vibrant and varied food scene in Charleston.
DISTILLERY TOUR
Charleston knows how to make a drink. Join one of the Charleston area's distillery or brewery tours to see exactly what work goes into each glass. The best part? You get to sip finely crafted ales, lagers and spirits along the way. Cheers!
BOWLING AT THE ALLEY
Hit the arcade games and grab some brew before bowling with the crew at The Alley, a reclaimed warehouse that features eight lanes of retro bowling and a 40-foot bar made from recycled bowling lane wood.
34 WEST THEATER COMPANY
Relax, unwind and laugh your way through high-energy musicals and innovative comedies with 34 West Theater Company.
CHARLESTON MUSIC HALL
Charleston Music Hall is home to shows and events of many varieties, from concerts to short film screenings to YALLFest and more.
THE SOUND OF CHARLESTON
Step inside the historic Circular Congregational Church and experience the sounds that define Charleston's culture, from Gospel to Gershwin to Gullah spirituals.
GIBBES MUSEUM OF ART
Step inside this Beaux Arts building that is as fetching as the 10,000 works of Southern art it houses. Since 1858, the Gibbes Museum has hosted exhibitions with a regional connection, while its permanent collection includes many pieces of merit from the 1915 - 1940 Charleston Renaissance.
DOCK STREET THEATRE
The fine arts community has thrived in Charleston since 1736 with the completion of the Dock Street Theatre, the nation’s first permanent playhouse.
ART WALK
Hop from gallery to gallery during the Charleston Gallery Association's ArtWalk to find inspiration in unique pieces of art dreamed up by both local and national talent.
GAILLARD CENTER
A lively hub for artistic and intellectual creativity, Charleston's first-ever concert hall is a major milestone in the city's cultural life. Designed in the tradition of a European opera house, the Gaillard Center Performance Hall is built to deliver an unforgettable experience for artists and audiences alike.
Thank You! Your Charleston Visitors Guide is on its way! Please allow 7-10 business days for delivery within the domestic US. Please allow 3 - 4 weeks for deliveries outside the United States.
Access Your Favorites from any Device and Get Suggestions for Upcoming Events
Share Your Favorites
Would you like a free Charleston vacation planning guide?
Published annually, the official Charleston Visitors Guide is full of gorgeous photography, insider tips, maps, and resources to help you plan your Charleston vacation.
Our free newsletter offers fun tidbits gathered by Charleston insiders. Sign up today to receive the flavors, sights, sounds, and traditions of Charleston delivered directly to your inbox.
