A One Day Charleston Vacation - A Spectacular Hilton Head Day Trip

Experience a Charleston vacation in only a day during your Hilton Head vacation. Explore The Old South in a city with one of the richest histories in the United States.

If you are visiting Hilton Head, South Carolina you may wonder if a trip to Charleston is in the cards for you. Luckily, the trip to Charleston is shorter than you may think.

A typical car ride from the island to your condensed Charleston vacation is just a two hours drive. This time will vary based on how heavy traffic is.

Once you get into the city of Charleston, South Carolina, you will feel as if you have stepped back in time. If you want to spend more than just a day in the city, you can make your day trip into a weekend rendezvous.

If you are looking to enjoy a few days having a Charleston vacation, one of the best places to stay in the area is the Charlotte Street Cottage. When you stay at the cottage, you can step back in time to 1820, when the cottage was built.

The nice thing about staying here is the ability to pay nightly or weekly. However, the cottage does get booked up quickly and both pets and small children are only allowed in the home at the owner’s discretion.

If the cottage does not suit your fancy, there are plenty of other places to stay during a Charleston visit. You can stay at a modern hotel, historic inn, beach resort, bed & breakfast, campground or beach rental home.

If you are just taking a day trip to Charleston, you will not have to worry about accommodations. However, some people enjoy themselves so much they cannot resist another day to see the sights.

A Charleston Day Trip:

Doing a Charleston Vacation in a Day

Families can benefit from a trip to Charleston. The historic attractions littered across the city provide both parents and children with a great place to learn.

Some of the most popular historical homes, businesses, and buildings you can visit on your Charleston day trip are:

• Aiken House (1818)

• Nathaniel Russell House (1808)

• Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens (though the tree lined street leading to the plantation was arranged in 1743 the land was first purchased by John Thomas Boone in 1681)

• Drayton Hall (1738)

• Edmondston-Alston House (1825)

• Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon (1771)

• Middleton Place House Museum

• Old City Market (1841)

• The Charleston Museum’s Heyward-Washington House (1772)

• The Charleston Museum’s Joseph Manigault House (1803)

• The College of Charleston (1770s)

• The Powder Magazine (late 1600s)

• Circular Congregation Church (1806)

• Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church (1891)

• St. John's Lutheran Church (1817)

The area, as you can probably tell, is filled with historic sights to see and experience.

A popular tourist attraction is the 123 years old Morris Island Lighthouse. The Lighthouse is located on a ecologically sensitive barrier island that is protected for its historical value.

Tourists from around the world come to Charleston to see the lighthouse, which was originally just 42 feet tall in 1767. In 1838, it was replaced by a 102 feet tall tower, and again in 1876 after it was destroyed by the Confederacy during the Civil War.

Your day trip (or longer) Charleston vacation is not complete without a stop at the Fort Sumter National Monument. The Fort was the site of the start of the Civil War.

Today, visitors can take a guided tour or they can visit the education center or Liberty Square. You can also stop by Fort Moultrie on your visit, which was the site of the one of the first Rebel victories over the powerful British navy in 1776.

There are plenty of modern attractions to balance out your trip. However, even these attractions seem tinged with Charleston history.

There are multiple museums (Children's Museum of the Lowcountry, American Military Museum, The Charleston Museum), parks (Beachwalker Park, Charleston Waterfront Park, Folly Beach County Park), and various other attractions (Historic Charleston Battery, Edisto Island Serpentarium, South Carolina Aquarium, Angel Oak) you simply will not want to miss.

Any length Charleston vacation provides an eclectic mix of cuisine, and both modern and historical restaurants across the city and on nearby islands.

No matter how long you stay for a Charleston vacation - both day trips and extended visits provide visitors with some of the best dining options in the state, adding to the entire Charleston experience you will not want to leave.