Among Charleston's most recognizable landmarks is Rainbow Row, a row of pastel-colored, traditional Charleston-style homes along the Battery. The homes were built in the mid-1700s. At that time, the area was a center of commerce. Most merchants ran their businesses from the downstairs of the home and lived upstairs. Today, walking tours of the area are available. Don't miss a stroll along the battery, which served as a fort during the Civil War.
Don't let the name deceive you. Charleston's Old Slave Market was never a part of the slave trade. The market actually was the city's gift to the former slaves after they were freed. It was intended to serve as a place of commerce where they could sell their work and make a living. Today, it is still a center of commerce. You will find everything from jewelry to artwork to T-shirts. But if you really want to take a piece of Charleston home with you, buy a sweetgrass basket, woven on-site by local women.
If you're visiting with children, you won't want to miss the South Carolina Aquarium at Charleston Harbor. The aquarium features a grand hall plus six permanent exhibits featuring the sights and sounds of South Carolina's geographical regions. You'll see the dolphins of the coast as well as the snakes of the mountain forest. Revolving visiting exhibits explore the animals, fish and amphibians of other regions of the world. Don't miss feeding time in the big aquarium or the touching tank.
Charleston played a unique role in the Civil War, so don't miss a chance to take a walk back in time at Fort Sumter and nearby Fort Moultrie. Fort Sumter became the site of the first skirmish in the war when Confederate troops fired on the federal fort. The federal troops surrendered the fort two days later. You will have to access the fort by private boat or ferries, which run daily. Nearby Fort Moultrie, located on Sullivan's Island, is accessible by car or boat. Rangers at both provide informational talks, and visitors are free to wander the forts on their own.
