Best Time to Visit Charleston SC

There are many awesome places to take your next vacation. With so many choices, it can be difficult to choose. However, one location stands out with its beautiful harbor, fine weather, and amazing location. One of the best things to do is take a nice, relaxing, or exciting boat ride on the harbor. However, you may be wondering when the best time is to visit Charleston, SC. Let’s talk about the weather, climate, and things to do each year here!

What is the Climate of Charleston, SC?

Also called the Holy City due to its over 400 churches, Charleston has a subtropical climate. This means the weather is fairly comfortable all year round, even during the winter months! This makes it a popular tourist destination, especially when it gets a bit too cold elsewhere in the United States or other parts of the world. Since the weather is hot or warm most of the time, many activities like boating, playing at the beach, or other outdoor fun can be enjoyed year-round.

Winter Months are More Variable

Something you should know about Charleston’s climate is that the winter months tend to be a bit more variable than its other seasons. It gets a bit cooler, and rain is more common. However, snow is rare. Your vacation might be occasionally interrupted by showers more often than the other months, but it’s still a great opportunity to get away from colder weather back home.

Charleston Peninsula: a Natural Harbor

The city sits right along the coast in a natural harbor, making it a great place for a variety of coastal activities. No matter when you visit Charleston SC, there are lots of beaches, islands, and ocean activities to take part in!

Boating

One of the best things to do when you visit Charleston, SC is to take an exciting boat ride. Harborbar Tours offers the largest pedal boat cruise in the city, with a maximum capacity of 26 passengers. Take a fun cruise for an hour and a half in the harbor while listening to great music and hang out with your friends and family.

Harborbar offers public, private, and corporate boat tours. The boat has a restroom onboard, an awning to protect from rain and the sun, and party lighting. You can also bring your own snacks and alcohol. Although it may be a paddleboat, paddling is optional.

Harborbar is a great option for bachelor and bachelorette parties, booze cruises, special occasions, and adventure sightseeing. It’s also a great option for those looking for a sunset cruise, birthdays, nature watching. Wedding ceremonies can even be held on the boat since it’s so large. The captain is even ordained!

Islands and Beaches

No matter what time of the year it is, one of the best things to see and do in Charleston, SC are the beaches. Folly Beach’s beautiful shore scenery is a great place to kick back and relax. It’s sometimes referred to as the ‘Edge of America’. There are a few different things to do there, like fishing, kayaking, surfing, restaurants, and the Folly Beach County Park. Folly Beach is actually an island south of downtown Charleston.

The Isle of Palms is another great location for catching some sun and enjoying some time on the beach. It’s a great place for family and friends. There are a few things to do here, like restaurants, eco tours, golfing, the Isle of Palms County Park, and water sports. This spot tends to not attract as many tourists, so it’s a great spot to head to if you’re looking to get away from large crowds.

Sullivan’s Island may be small, but there is a lot to enjoy there! It has a beautiful shoreline, restaurants, the historical Fort Moultrie, Thompson Park, and other attractions. It tends to be a bit quiet as well like the Isle of Palms.

City Attractions

There are a number of great attractions to enjoy in downtown Charleston SC, no matter what time of the year it is. There are a number of great restaurants, shops, and bars to go to around the city. There are historical attractions like Fort Sumter, as well as shopping areas like Charleston City Market. Near Fort Sumter is the Battery, a fortified seawall with great views of Fort Sumter, the Sullivan’s island Lighthouse, and the USS Yorktown museum

There are also a number of parks like Joe Riley Waterfront Park. The South Carolina Aquarium is a also a great place for the whole family to get a close up look at animals in the ocean habitats nearby. Similarly, the Saltmarsh Aviary is a great place to see native birds of the area.

Meanwhile, the USS Yorktown is a decommissioned US Navy aircraft carrier now part of the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum. The aircraft carrier not only serves as a military museum, but it also showcases a replica Apollo 8 capsule that you can explore. This is because the USS Yorktown recovered the capsule in December 1968. There are other museums here at Patriots Point, like the USS Laffey Destroyer, the USS Clamagore submarine (temporarily closed as of June 2022), a variety of aircraft, the Vietnam experience exhibit, and medal of honor museum.

Enjoy Charleston, SC!

There are many great things to do in this city by the harbor. Our favorite recommendation is to try Harborbar’s paddleboat rides! Being the largest paddleboat in the area, Harborbar Tours is a great choice for anyone looking to have fun, kick back and relax, and enjoy the water and weather. There’s enough room for all your family, friends, drinks, and snacks! It’s a great way to get out and see the harbor, the city, wildlife, and other attractions while on your vacation anytime of the year.

There are a lot of great things to do while enjoying your vacation in South Carolina. With great weather year-round and so many fun things to do, the best time to visit Charleston SC is right now!