3 Best Places To See in Charleston, SC

Expert-recommended Top 3 Places To Visit in Charleston, South Carolina. All of our places to see actually face a rigorous 50-Point Inspection, which includes customer reviews, history, complaints, ratings, satisfaction, trust, cost and general excellence. You deserve only the best!

10+ YEARS IN TBR
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SOUTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM

100 Aquarium Wharf,
Charleston, SC 29401 Directions

Since 2000

Specialty:

Special Event Field Trips Gift Shop Starfish Exhibits Rattlesnakes Green Efforts Group Tours Animals Aquarium Rovers Searise Horseshoe Crabs Turtle Care Center River Otters Teachers and Students Programs Homeschool Explorers Club Good Catch Conservation Loggerhead Sea Turtles Summer Camps and Youth Learning Activities Special Events and Seasonal Activities Accessible Visitor Facilities and Services

"South Carolina Aquarium connects you with more than 5,000 amazing animals and teaches you how to protect them. The organization supports wildlife conservation through animal care, educational programs, and research efforts while creating an engaging and memorable experience for visitors, and the aquarium aims to inspire the conservation of the natural world by exhibiting and caring for animals. The aquarium relies on the support of its paying guests, members, foundations, and the generosity of its donors. Here, you can explore sick and injured sea turtles, provide educational programming for students, and continue its critical conservation work within its walls and beyond. During your visit, take a break on one of their open-air decks to spot wild dolphins and birds throughout the harbour.

2026 Update: South Carolina Aquarium offers a journey through the state's diverse natural environments, allowing visitors to discover marine life, freshwater habitats, and coastal wildlife in one location. Through interactive exhibits, conservation programs, and animal care experiences, the aquarium creates an engaging setting where education and recreation come together. Its combination of wildlife encounters, environmental learning opportunities, and harborfront scenery makes it a popular destination for visitors."

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License #211431

Price:

Membership Fee:
Individual $99
Individual Plus $149
Dual $149
Grandparent $249
Family $249
Family Plus $319

Contact:

(843) 577-3474 (800) 722-6455

Mon-Sun: 9am - 5pm

TBR® Inspection Report:

10+ YEARS IN TBR
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MAGNOLIA PLANTATION AND GARDENS

3550 Ashley River Road,
Charleston, SC 29414 Directions

Since 1850

Specialty:

Outdoor Setting Peacock Café Youth Programs Zoo Nature Center and Train Horticulture Group Tours Rice Field Boat Tour Bird Walk Weddings Ceremonies Special Events Tours and Attractions The House Oak Trees Audubon Swamp Garden Plantation House Birdwatching and Wildlife Observation Opportunities Peacock Café Offering Meals Snacks and Beverages Photography-friendly Garden and Nature

"Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is a formal garden that seeks to control nature. The garden features Magnolia's Romantic-style gardens that cooperate with nature to create a tranquil landscape like Eden, where humanity. Magnolia Plantation is the oldest public tourist site and the oldest public garden in America, and plants in its famous gardens. Visitors can explore over 300 years of history, stroll through the historic gardens, learn about horticulture and nature in the Lowcountry, and observe the local wildlife that calls Magnolia its home. While most of America's gardens are formal and seek to control nature, Magnolia cooperates with nature to create a tranquil landscape.

2026 Update: Magnolia Plantation & Gardens blends historic preservation, environmental education, and outdoor recreation within a large natural setting. Guests can wander through flowering gardens, explore wetland habitats, observe native wildlife, and participate in tours that examine the property's complex history. The combination of landscaped scenery, educational programs, nature experiences, and cultural interpretation creates a destination that appeals to families, history enthusiasts, photographers, and nature lovers alike."

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License #388486

Price:

Adult (Ages 13 To 61) $32
Senior (62+) $29
Military (With Id) $29
Child (Ages 5 To 12) $14
Youth (Ages 12-17) $18
Individual Membership $100
Dual Membership $175
Family Grandparent Membership $225

Discount:

Get a 20% off on gift shop purchase

Get a 15% Off on Peacock Café purchases

Get a $6 off Admission for visiting guests

Contact:

(843) 571-1266

Mon-Sun: 9am - 5pm

TBR® Inspection Report:

9+ YEARS IN TBR
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CHARLESTON CITY MARKET

360 Meeting Street,
Charleston, SC 29403 Directions

Since 1773

Specialty:

Archaeology Reports Research Birthday Parties Special Events Exhibitions Education Program Museum Preservation Accessibility Museum Store Library Lowcountry Hall Kidstory Family and Home School Programs Group Tours Historic Houses Textiles Gallery Museum Collections Civil War Galleries Rotating Temporary and Special Exhibitions

"Charleston City Market strives to educate Charleston-area residents and guests about the natural and cultural history of the South Carolina Lowcountry through collections, exhibitions, preservation, conservation, and programming. The museum is a leading cultural and natural history museum in the region with 9 permanent exhibits, rotating exhibits, and two Historic House Museums. The museum invites you to explore this rich, varied history at the museum and its two National Historic Landmark houses.

2026 Update: Charleston City Market visitors can explore galleries focused on Indigenous communities, colonial settlement, the American Revolution, the Civil War, natural history, historic textiles, and Charleston craftsmanship. In addition to its primary galleries, the museum oversees several historic landmarks and learning centers that provide visitors with broader opportunities to explore history and culture. It has interactive displays, family-oriented activities, and rotating exhibitions that provide engaging experiences for both children and adults."

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Price:

TICKET FEE:
I Site Ticket $15
Ii Site Ticket $22
Iii Site Ticket - Special Rate! $30
Child Ticket $6
Youth Ticket $12
Children 2 Years And Under Free

Contact:

(843) 722-2996

Mon-Sat: 9am - 5pm
Sun: 12pm - 5pm

TBR® Inspection Report: