Rainy Day Activities in Charleston
Caught Charleston on a rainy day? Or rainy weekend?
Don’t get too discouraged! There are so many wonderful places to explore even when the weather isn’t as sunny as you thought. Charleston in the rain has a type of charm that I truly appreciate and it’s a good excuse to do some activities maybe you never thought of before!
Of course you can eat and drink your way around the city (duh!) you can check out my other blogs for ideas there, but let’s see what else there is to do!
A must see rain or shine is The Charleston Market, where there are tons of local vendors where you can walk and explore, or pick up a few gifts for yourself and others!
Charleston is home to the South Carolina Aquarium, the waterfront location on the Charleston Harbor allows you to get views of the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, and the USS Yorktown. Plus your visit directly funds and allows them to care for sick and injured sea turtles, provide education programming for students, and continue critical conservation work throughout the state.
Create your own unique scent at a Tijon perfume making class! Easily one of my favorite activities in all of Charleston you get to experience what it is like to make a perfume! Worth every penny, you get a history of perfume, get to mix your own scent and bring home a full size of your own unique scent! A must try on any visit to Charleston.
The Alley has eight bowling lanes, three bars featuring craft beer and great bartenders, a full kitchen with unique American classics, retro arcade games, two 160" projection screens and multiple TVs for all the top games. A perfect rainy day hub if you ask me!
Enjoy a concert at Music Farm! A great venue for any live performance. Check out their upcoming shows.
Join a Candlefish candle making class! This candle shop features a 100 Candle Library with 100 unique scents curated for every candle lover. You can sign up for a class and make your very own scent and it is BYOB!
Have a good laugh at The Black Fedora Comedy Mystery Theatre, where the audience-interactive comic mysteries run most evenings. You can volunteer to play a character or choose to stay out of the spotlight and enjoy appetizers, homemade desserts, and drinks including beer and wine.
Yes I said there is lots to eat in Charleston, but if you’re in the mood for a food tour check out Charleston’s Breweries/BBQ scene! My personal favorite is Home Team BBQ and Palmetto Brewing Co.! You can hop around the each one on your own (most are within walking distance) or you can hop on the trolly!
See Charleston through the lens of artists at the Gibbes Museum of Art where they have amazing exhibits for adults and children.
Shopping on King St will never get old, but there are so many boutiques to choose from it can get overwhelming! Be sure to stop by: The Preservation Store, Madison Mathews, Beau & Ro, Blue Bicycle Books, My Sister’s Cottage, Harvest Moon Home, Oops!, and Grit & Grace Oyster Shop!
Visit “America’s First Museum” - The Charleston Museum and learn about the natural and cultural history of the South Carolina Lowcountry through collections, exhibitions, preservation, conservation, research and related programming. Be sure to stop by their store for lots of Charleston unique gifts!
If you are a history lover, head over the bridge to Mount Pleasant and visit Patriot’s Point Naval & Maritime Museum, established in the 1970s, Patriots Point boasts the World War II aircraft carrier, USS YORKTOWN as its centerpiece. It’s also home to the Patriots Point Museum and a fleet of National Historic Landmark ships, the Cold War Memorial and the only Vietnam Experience Exhibit in the U.S., the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, and the agency's official Medal of Honor Museum.
See what you can find at the Mount Pleasant Mall! An eclectic antique shop made up of many different vendors from the Lowcountry you are sure to be lost for hours in their big warehouse full of furniture, art, knick knacks, jewelry and more!
I hope you get to enjoy all Charleston has to offer, rain or shine!