Exploring Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina has long been on our list to visit but for whatever reason we always seem to pass right by it on other trips. This trip we specifically made it a point to spend a couple nights to explore all the history of the area!
The Campground
For this stay we got to enjoy the Lake Aire RV Park just outside Charleston. I can’t say enough good about this place! Not only did we save 50% per night off the rate by using our Passport America membership but we got excellent service to boot!
Our first part of this stay that set it apart from many others is the willingness of the staff to accommodate us with an early check in. I know many campgrounds will do this a couple hours early but this place changed some sites around and had us in a site by 11:00 am!!!! Not THAT is service folks!!
The next thing we, well mostly the kids, enjoyed was the hammocks provided all over the property along with playgrounds and games!. There’s something for everyone here including a salt water pool. What makes this even better is that they are in the process of adding 18 new full hookup sites!!
Downtown and the Fort
Downtown Charleston is full of history and opportunity to explore. We started off right away by diving into the past with a trip to Fort Sumter where the first shots of the American Civil War took place. Admission to the fort is free but the ferry most certainly is not! I will say the ferry ride was enjoyable and the park volunteer on board was extremely informative. We learned a lot on the ride out AND GOT TO SEE DOLPHINS!!!!
Back in the downtown area of Charleston we explored the old city market that’s been around since 1807, took a stroll past the old slave mart and found the second oldest house in Charleston from the 1700s.
The biggest issue we found in exploring Charleston is there is SO much to take in. Everything is amazingly breathtaking and everything has it’s own fee for admission. Most of these were in the $8-$16 range so just know up front that those fees can add up.
There is also a lot of walking in the area but the Charleston Water Taxi can help you out! This taxi crossed the harbor and makes 4 stops along the one hour loop. This is $12.00 per person and I HIGHLY recommend it! You can hop on and off all day long for that one fee. We even chose to ride the loop a couple times just to relax and enjoy the dolphins!
The Angel Tree
The one additional site that we found isn’t downtown but it is definitely a site to see! The Angel Tree is the oldest living oak tree in the Eastern United States and is estimated to be 300-400 years old! The tree is fenced and protected by the city but it is accessible most days between 9a-5p for free. These photos don’t even begin to do it justice so make sure you check out our YouTube Video of Charleston to get the full scope of this amazing tree!!
We had a blast in Charleston and it’s definitely a place we’d like to go back to when we have more time. None of us could believe it took us so long to visit the first time. Stay tuned for more adventure. Until next time………