Discover the Treasures of Charleston
May 31, 2022
The weather is warming, school is nearly out, and it’s time to start planning a summer vacation! We’re thinking an idyllic city and beach break in the romantic, historic, and scenic destination of Charleston, SC!
Charleston, South Carolina is consistently voted the #1 City in the US and is the first US destination to be voted #1 City in the US and the World – a beautiful city highly worthy of a destination highlight.
Charleston is a destination that appeals to history lovers, romantics, foodies, creative minds, shopaholics, and families! The city is simply gorgeous with cobblestone streets, towering ancient oaks, historic homes lined with Spanish moss, and award-winning restaurants, cafes, outdoor patios, and rooftop bars. Not to mention the warm southern charm and hospitality that draws visitors back year after year.
Whether you’re planning a summer girls’ getaway, a weekend of romance, a solo travel trip, or the annual family vacation – Charleston and the surrounding sea islands are destinations worthy of every summer vacation bucket-list!
Here’s Xplorie’s top tips on where to stay and play this summer in Charleston, SC.
Explore Capers Island
Capers Island is a wild and beautiful barrier island between Dewees Island and Bulls Island, just north of Charleston. Capers Island can only be reached by boat – outdoorsy travelers can embark on a solo adventure by kayak or canoe or experience the best of Caper Island on a unique tour with Barrier Island Eco Tours.
Barrier Island Eco Tours offers a number of unique Capers Island experiences ranging from naturalist-guided eco-tours and boat excursions to guided fishing charters in Charleston. Discover the ecology and wildlife of South Carolina’s barrier islands, search for dolphins and loggerheads as the sun sets, learn the art of old-fashioned crabbing, and explore boneyard beach, a graveyard of petrified palmettos and oaks.
The Lowcountry Boil Beachside Cookout is a must for foodies (and families!). Take a cruise to Capers Island and enjoy an on the beach feast of authentic Lowcountry cuisine, the freshest seafood, and a perfect South Carolina sunset across the salt marshes to end a bucket-list vacation day in Charleston.
Savor the Flavors
On the topic of authentic Lowcountry cuisine and succulent seafood – Charleston is world-famous culinary city, consistently ranked as one of the best foodie cities in the US!
Bulldog Tours offers 3 unique Savor the Flavors foodie tours of Charleston. Take a walking tour of the top restaurants in Charleston’s historic South of Broad neighborhood, savor traditional fried green tomatoes and Lowcountry shrimp and grits on Upper King Street or immerse yourself in a unique experience of downtown Charleston’s thriving foodie attractions and culinary scene with Bulldog Tours.
Bulldog Tours offer fun for foodies and history buffs (or both!) with the best history walking tours in Charleston. Walk through Charleston’s top historic attractions on the Charleston Stroll, discover Charleston’s African American history and heritage, or take a cruise to Fort Sumter for a walking tour of the site where the American Civil War began.
Fancy a little ghouls and ghosts on your Charleston vacation? They’ve got that too! Choose from a Haunted Pub Crawl, Spirits of Magnolia Cemetery Tour, Ghost & Graveyard Tour, a Ghost Tour or Paranormal Investigation aboard the USS Yorktown, or the ultimate VIP Ghost Package. Charleston is considered one of the most haunted cities in the US with haunted hideouts and attractions all over town, enjoyed for free when you Stay & Play with an Xplorie partner.
E-Bike Tours
One of the best ways to truly experience a destination is on two-wheels and the South Carolina sea islands, and city of Charleston are both walkable and bike-friendly!
Xplorie partners with Rebellion Roads, a one-stop-shop for e-bike rentals and e-bike tours in Charleston. Their e-bike rentals are perfect for the whole family to explore the Lowcountry at their own pace or book an e-bike tour for a super-fun sightseeing tour of Charleston, the Outer Banks area, and scenic Sullivan Island.
Planning a beach bike ride for your Charleston vacation? Kiawah Island and Seabrook Island are small, serene barrier islands only 25 miles from Charleston with miles of interconnected bike paths and beautiful coastline for beach bike rides. Seaside Cycles offer the best selection of bike rentals on Seabrook Island with all you need to get the whole family on a scenic beach bike ride on Seabrook Island.
Barrier Island Beaches
Surrounded by tranquil barrier islands and miles of beautiful beaches, Charleston is a destination for a city and beach getaway. The beaches of Charleston include Sullivan’s Island and Isle of Palms, Folly Beach, Kiawah Island, and the private island community of Seabrook Island, SC.
Whether you’re seeking a spot of sand to sunbathe and unwind, fun family activities on the water, luxury oceanfront resort amenities (amenity passes required!), or unique wildlife experiences (dolphins strand feeding and nesting loggerhead turtles!) – the beaches of Charleston are untouched and wild for a truly relaxing beach vacation.
Where to Stay in Charleston, SC
Xplorie partners with Coastal Getaways to offer guests a true home away from home on Seabrook Island, only 25 miles from Charleston. Seabrook Island is a private island community with exclusive vacation rental homes, villas and condos near the award-winning tennis and golf facilities, along the Bohicket River and tidal marshes, and oceanfront homes on the Atlantic coastline.
Wherever you choose to Stay & Play in Charleston, our Xplorie vacation packages include complimentary tours, attraction admissions, and free fun for each day of your stay in Charleston and the South Carolina sea islands.
