Charleston Fall Vacation Ideas Celebrate the Best of the Season

As one of the most haunted cities in the U.S., Charleston is a prime spot to celebrate the fall season. Visitors can not only take ghost tours and attend fun events, but they also enjoy beaches, history, local goodies and food. Read on to find some Charleston fall vacation ideas and start planning a quick trip.

Charleston Fall Vacation Ideas: Fun for Friends and Family

Take a Ghost Tour

Charleston is one of the most haunted cities for good reason. Its history dates to the 1670s, and includes American colonial and pirate lore. One of the best ways to learn about the city is to take a ghost tour. Several companies offer different options, ranging from traditional walking tours to paranormal investigations.

Bulldog Tours offer many options that explore graveyards, a jail and dungeon, and famous buildings. Tour Charleston LLC has nighttime access to a graveyard and is the longest-running tour in the area. Other tours include scary Darkside of History and paranormal investigations with Bulldog. Read about the best Charleston ghost tours.

Enjoy Other Historic Walking Tours

Those who prefer less haunts and more sites enjoy historic walking tours. Each offer their own local guide who helps visitors learn about the area, immerse in Lowcountry culture and enjoy a personalized experience. Top walking tour operators include Charleston Sole, Old Charleston Walking Tours, Historic Walking Tours of Charleston and Lowcountry Walking Tours.

During these tours, guests can expect to see local landmarks such as Rainbow Row, St. Michaels Church, Dock Street Theater, Joe Riley Waterfront Park, The Battery and historic homes.

Relax on the Beaches

Cooler weather – with highs averaging in the 70s – don’t stop beach lovers from relaxing and admiring the shore. Three beaches are located about 20 minutes from the city. While Folly Beach, Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island all offer public beach access; they each have their own vibe and atmospheres. For more remote locations, visit Kiawah Island and Seabrook Island.

Those looking for more action should plan a fishing trip or boat tour with a local guide. Other ideas include kayaking, sailing, dolphin tours and SUP.

Shop Local

Shopping is another popular Charleston fall vacation activity due to the amount of local shops and popular brands. Downtown Charleston has dozens of retailers selling apparel and fashion, jewelry, art, locally sourced food, handcrafted treasures and home décor.

Charleston City Market features more than 300 vendors. Mount Pleasant Towne Center has big-box names such as Belk, Old Navy, and Barnes and Noble. For deals, head to Tanger Outlets in North Charleston.

Explore Boone Hall Plantation

This attraction welcomes guests year-round, but it also offers Charleston fall vacation activities that celebrate the season. Every weekend in October, Boone Hall Plantation hosts the annual pumpkin patch for all ages. Families enjoy the monster hayride and petting zoo. Then they will find their way through an 8-acre corn maze. Just don’t forget to buy a few pumpkins to take home.

Other fall events in Charleston include MOJA Arts Festival, Charleston Beer Week and Fall Tours of Historic Homes.

Try New Lowcountry Cuisine

While visiting Charleston in the fall, travelers should also sample local food. The area has a reputation for Lowcountry cuisine that showcases Gullah culture. This type of food originated from slaves who were brought in to work rice fields. Examples of Lowcountry dishes include Lowcountry boil, chicken bog, okra stew, she-crab soup and cornbread. Fore more insight, learn about the best Charleston Lowcountry festivals.

When it’s time to plan a Charleston fall vacation, check out our rentals in Charleston, Isle of Palms, Folly Beach and other destinations.

Main photo: Photo by Andrew Shelley on Unsplash.