Before or after taking one of the cruises from Charleston SC, you may want to spend some time and visit Charleston itself. Charleston is one of South Carolina’s most picturesque cities, with beautifully preserved architecture and an aristocratic yet gracious atmosphere. Wooden shutters and ironwork balconies embellish the tall, narrow houses, and hidden gardens hold fragrant magnolia trees. You can tour the historic quarters on a walking tour or carriage ride. Boone Hall Plantation re-creates antebellum grandeur, and Middleton Place recalls life on an 18th-century plantation. Civil War buffs can tour Fort Sumter, where local troops opened fire on April 12, 1861, and set off the War Between the States.

In many ways, current day Charleston has remained as it once was in the beginning of time for the United States of America: cobblestone streets, horse and carriage rides, gas lamps, gated courtyards – all maintaining the regal charm of yesteryear. It has come through mighty wars, hurricanes, and earthquakes and  has emerged in all her finery, a stronger and more productive city than ever before.

Charleston is surrounded by a coastal plain of sparkling beaches, spacious marshes, and palmetto trees. Whether you enjoy the history or the many other attractions, Charleston is a wonderful place to spend a couple extra days before or after you enjoy your cruise.