Historic downtown Charleston, South Carolina, while only part of Charleston, offers a visitor many things to do and see. Some of these are Waterfront Park, Battery Park, Edmonston-Alson House, Heyward-Washington House, St. Philip’s Church, South Carolina Aquarium and Charleston Imax.
Waterfront Park, located on Concord Street in the center of downtown offers visitors a 400′ wharf and fishing pier with shade structures, 2 major fountains, access to the harbor, benches and seating walls all surrounded by beautiful trees and plants. Waterfront Park also has walking and jogging paths, picnic tables and wooden swings. All perfect for a relaxing afternoon. For more information, visit www.tbrpc.org/waterfront/charles.htm or call 800-868-8118.
The Battery or Battery Park, located at East Battery and Murray Boulevard, includes White Point Gardens and is located along the waterfront. Here visitors can enjoy a white gazebo surrounded by live oaks and palmettos, statues, monuments, old cannons and cannon balls. This is the perfect place to relax, do some people watching, tour the grand old houses or watch shipping traffic. Ft. Sumter can also be seen from The Battery. For more information, visit http://charleston.citysearch.com/profile/35698776?ulink=default__backtoprofile_1___profile__1
Edmonston-Alston House is located at 4300 Ashley River Road on Middleton Place Plantation. Visitors here will be able to see a repository of family treasures such as Alston family silver, furniture, books, paintings, prints and artifacts. For more information, visit www.middletonplace.org or call 843-556-6020.
Heyward-Washington House, located at 87 Church Street, is Charleston’s first historic house museum. Visitors here will have the opportunity to tour the house, carriage house, kitchen building and formal garden. Built in 1772, this house is also known as Charleston’s Revolutionary War House and is the house that the city rented for a week in 1791 for George Washington to stay in. The Heyward-Washington House is open Monday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sunday 1pm to 5pm. For more information, visit www.charlestonmuseum.org or call 843-722-0354.
St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, located at 142 Church Street is also known as the Lighthouse Church. This church was established in 1680 and a beacon in its steeple was used to guide ships, like a lighthouse, from 1893 to 1915. This historic church has Sunday service at 8:15am and 10:30am with Sunday school at 9:15am to 10:15am. Wednesday services are at 8am, 10am, 12pm and 6pm. For more information, visit www.stphilipschurchsc.org or call 843-722-7734.
South Carolina Aquarium, located at 100 Aquarium Wharf, specializes in marine life in and around South Carolina. This includes exhibits such as Mountain Forest, Piedmont Shoals, Coastal Plains, Salt Marsh Aviary, The Coast, The Ocean, Touch Tank and Secrets of the Amazon. The South Carolina Aquarium is open April 1 – August 15, Monday through Saturday, 9am to 6pm and Sunday 12pm to 6pm. Hours for August 16 to March 31 are 9am to 5pm, Monday through Saturday and 12pm to 5pm on Sunday. For more information, visit www.scaquarium.org or call 843-720-1990.
Charleston Imax Theatre, located at 360 Concord Street, is a unique place to see a movie. With the size of the Imax screen, stadium seats with rocking backs and cupholders, there is no bad seat in the house. Most movies are in 3D format with crystal clear images and digital sound. For more information, such as what is showing as well as dates and times, visit www.charlestonimax.com or call 843-725-4629.
Even though this is only part of Charleston, historic downtown is definitely a place that can keep a visitor very busy.
