Put aside any concerns you have on whether Charleston beaches are open for business. Whether you prefer beach walks, history tours, or outdoor activities, these attractions are ready to welcome visitors with open arms and with health and safety precautions in place.
Boone Hall Plantation
Boone Hall Plantation in Mt. Pleasant is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Among activities you can enjoy are plantation tractor tours, Gullah Culture outdoor presentations, walk-through tours of the first floor of the plantation home, and the Black History In America exhibit, with a limit of four persons in each cabin at a time to allow for social distancing.
Historic Forts
Fort Sumter ferry trips are operating with limited capacity. Hop on board at the Liberty Square Visitor Education Center in downtown Charleston from 9-5. Note: Sumter Museum remains closed. Fort Moultrie on Sullivans Island is working to increase access, with the exterior grounds, dock and parking lot now open. However, indoor areas at Fort Moultrie and its Visitor Center remain closed.
A Day at the Park
With beautiful ocean frontage, boardwalks, beach chairs and picnic areas, the Isle of Palms County Park makes a great spot to spend the day. Through Labor Day, park hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; September to December hours are 10 a.m. to sunset. Lifeguards will be on duty daily through Aug. 14, then on weekends only through Sept. 27. Shem Creek Park in Mt. Pleasant is also open, with a 2,200-foot boardwalk near the mouth of Shem Creek at Charleston Harbor.
Back in the Swing
Grab a buddy and your golf bag! Golf courses are open on the coast, though some have indoor dining restrictions and, of course, social distancing guidelines. Among courses open are the Wild Dunes Links Course and Wild Dunes Harbor Course in Isle of Palms, and Oak Point and Turtle Point golf clubs at Kiawah Resort.
Speaking of Swing
Work on your tennis game at the Roy Barth Tennis Center at Kiawah Island Resort. The Center offers 22 courts, instruction, and more.
Take a Ride
Take the Bulls Island Ferry to Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge and enjoy an outdoor adventure with a trip to Bulls Island from Garris Landing in Awendaw. After a 30-minute eco-tour through the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, passengers can explore the island on their own. If you like birding, hiking, beachcombing, dolphins and other wildlife, this is the trip for you.
Cast a Line
The Charleston coast has some of the best fishing you’ll find anywhere. Whether you prefer inshore or offshore, freshwater or saltwater, The Reel Deal Charters in Mt. Pleasant offer a trip you’ll be talking about for a long time.
The Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau keeps a running list of restaurants, shops, and attractions as they re-open. Check back to get the latest news on your favorite spots.