Charleston, SC is known for its stunning natural beauty, fantastic shopping destinations, world-class restaurants and plenty of historic sites. If you plan on visiting the city, there is no better season to visit than fall. There is plenty to do indoors and outdoors! The city offers the best place to enjoy fall foliage South Carolina.
Ready to enjoy Charleston fall but not sure where to start? Check out the top fall activities in Charleston, SC we have listed below:
See All The Homes Decorated For The Season In The South of Broad
Head to Downtown Charleston’s South of Broad neighborhood, known for its luxury homes, condos, gorgeous historic architecture and lush gardens. The neighborhood dates back to 1721 and features some rare historic houses amidst cobblestone streets. During the fall season, people take time to enrich their homes’ exterior with fall decorations.
You will spot wreaths, carved pumpkins, rustic foliage and simply picturesque displays. You can continue to walk through the neighborhood and take inspiration to make your own fall-themed oasis at home! It is one of the best ways to enjoy fall in SC Charleston.
Go On A Charleston Ghost Tour
Fall is a spooky season, so you should plan on an activity that is both fun and seasonally chilling. We recommend taking a ghost tour through Charleston, which some believe is one of America’s most haunted cities.
The city is filled with several antebellum homes, forts and abandoned ships. These are the centerpieces of ghost stories passed down through the years. Several companies offer guided expert ghost tours throughout the city! They are regaling with local ghost lore and the most deep-rooted superstitions.
Visit The Firefly Distillery or High Wire
The chilly fall weather is the perfect season to go out for a drink and there are many lovely distilleries around Charleston. We recommend the Firefly Distillery, located just 30 minutes outside Charleston, SC. It is also one of the largest and most frequented distilleries in the Charleston area, offering expert spirits, crafted cocktails and oyster roasts.
Another popular choice is the High Wire Distillery in the heart of historic downtown Charleston. you will be served premium, handcrafted, small-batch spirits alongside a limited mix of bar snacks.
Historic Walking Tour
No Charleston SC visit can be complete without this one. The city of Charleston is steeped in history we can still see in its historic sites, architecture, art and charming streets. We recommend taking a guided historical walking tour through the Holy City’s most intriguing destinations. From its rich history to its vibrant culture and breathtaking views, you will love exploring one of South Carolina’s oldest cities.
You can even take a self-guided tour through the city: exploring houses on Broad Street, the Old Slave Mart and Museum, the 1712-dated Pink House, The French Huguenot (Protestant) Church, the ornate Dork Street Theatre and many other historic sites. It is one of the top things to do in Charleston SC.
Visit Middleton Place
Middleton Place is a 110-acre historic landmark, home to one of America’s oldest landscaped gardens that dates back to the 18th century. The house’s guest quarters were the only structure still standing post-Civil War and were turned into the Middleton Place House Museum.
Visitors are welcome to take a house tour of the landmark and explore the plantation’s stable yards and gardens. The plantation now further includes an excellent restaurant where you can get seasonal, low-country fare made from the freshest local ingredients.
Pumpkins At Boone Hall
The Boone Hall Pumpkin Patch has quickly grown to become one of the most popular fall festivals across South Carolina. The Charleston fall event includes a family-friendly Halloween tractor tour, a petting zoo, a comedy circus, an obstacle course, a corn maze, an inflatable giant slide, a live Honey Bee exhibit, pony rides, face painting and much more. Of course, pumpkins will also be available for sale sourced directly from their pumpkin patch area.
General admissions to the Boone Hall Pumpkin Patch Festival will cost $15 for ages 3 and above. Younger children are admitted for free.
Visit A Rooftop Bar
Head to any of Charleston’s famous rooftop bars to enjoy sweeping views of the city while sipping your favorite specialty cocktails. The Fiat Lux, The Citrus Club, Eleve and the Pavilion Bar are all popular examples of some of Charleston’s leading rooftop bars.
These rooftop restaurants will not only offer you peace and tranquility but also deliver the prettiest views of the city’s landscape during the fall season. If you wish to spot how the leaves have changed color, visit your nearest rooftop bar!
Visit White Point Garden
White Point Garden is nestled within the heart of the historic downtown district in Charleston, offering stunning views of Fort Sumter and the Charleston Harbor. The fall season is one of the best times of the year to enjoy the beautiful old oak trees, grassy space and stunning displays of history. It is the best way to enjoy Charleston SC fall foliage.
The garden further hosts several exciting events throughout the year that may be of interest, ranging from engaging storytime to exploratory walking and vegetable gardening.
Cypress Gardens in Nearby Moncks Corner
The Cypress Gardens are a 175-acre swamp garden located a short 30-minute drive from downtown Charleston, close to Moncks Corner.
Head to the venue and watch cypress trees sweeping above the musky walk waters of the swamp. Looping through the swamp is over 3.5 miles of walking and hiking trails that are perfect for the fall season, offering picturesque views of the surrounding landscape. You can also visit the Swamparium where large tanks showcase live fish, amphibians and replies from the South Carolina Lowcountry. It is simply one of the must-do things in Charleston in the fall.
Fun fact: this is the same park that has been featured in several leading motion pictures, including “The Notebook.”
Experience The Alleys of Charleston from Stoll’s Allay to St Michaels and Philadelphia Alley
Charleston is home to several narrow and beautiful alleyways and passages. You could dedicate an entire day to exploring these alleys and delve into the wealth of stories from these historic sites. It is one of the many unique things to do in Charleston SC.
Some of the most popular mentions include St. Michael’s Alley, known for being a favored dueling site in the 1700s. Plus, Stoll’s Alley, known for its cobblestoned colonial feel and the Philadelphia Alley, known for its quiet, picturesque setting. Other notable mentions include Bedons Alley, Longitude Lane, Price’s Alley, Lodge Alley and the Ropemakers Lane.
Final Thoughts
Fall is the best time to visit Charleston SC. This fall, take the time to immerse yourself in the city of Charleston. Whether you are a local or a tourist seeking a quintessential fall getaway, Charleston SC fall won’t disappoint! Explore its gardens, walk down its alleys, feast on its foods and enjoy the soaring holiday preparations.
