When you visit a new city or plan an awesome vacation, do you ever find yourself wondering where the best views around the city are? Well, look no further! No matter if you’re looking for the perfect sunset or old history, Charleston has it all.
The Ravenel Bridge
Whether you enjoy an early morning run or evening walk, you can’t miss out on the view from the top of the Ravenel Bridge. The bridge was constructed to replace the old Grace Memorial Bridge connecting downtown Charleston to Mount Pleasant. Ravenel Bridge is home to the annual Cooper River Bridge Run, which is the third largest 10k in the U.S bringing in around forty thousand people every year. The bridge has one of the highest views for miles and is a quick mile to the top, via @francismarionhotel
where you will be greeted with a breeze,
benches and a stunning view.
White Point Garden/The Battery/Rainbow Row
White Point Garden, once known as Oyster Point, was the second major settled area in Charleston. Before the park existed, the area was covered in oysters that had been bleached white from the sun, so people started calling it White Point. There are a lot of historical landmarks and statues dating via @imagesbysamgray
back to the Civil War era in this area.
Surrounding this park is The Battery, a defensive seawall, which has a historical standing point allowing you to see all three forts around the greater Charleston area.
Across from The Battery and a staple of Charleston is Rainbow Row, which is known for the colorful exterior of the homes, but they were not always this way. In the mid 1700’s the houses were constructed and used by merchants for business on the first floor and they would live upstairs. It wasn’t until the 1930’s when a section of the homes were bought and painted colorful pastel colors, over time others started to paint their houses too. There are two theories why others painted their houses, (1) so drunk sailors would be able to find their way home easier and (2) this was the merchant’s way of indicating what types of items they sold there.
Joe Riley Waterfront Park/Pineapple Fountain
The Joe Riley Waterfront Park is one of the most trafficked parks on the peninsula, overlooking the Charleston Harbor and allowing you spectacular views of the Cooper River Bridge, U.S.S Yorktown, and Fort Sumter. The park is home to the iconic Pineapple Fountain and has benches throughout the area along with ample space to have picnics and enjoy the view.
“The Joe” - Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park
Odd you might think, a baseball stadium with a view? The Joe has one of the best marsh views of the Ashley River around town and the higher you sit, the better the view (and the cheaper the ticket). There is never a bad night to watch a game here, “Thirsty Thursday’s” in particular for the $1 beer and hotdog night. via @2morrow_s
Wentworth Mansion
The Wentworth Mansion was one of the largest single-family residences on the Peninsula that was converted to a 5-star Bed & Breakfast with a breathtaking view of the city. As you make your way up the fourth floor, you’ll find a spiral staircase that leads to the to the observatory deck. The deck provides views of the entire peninsula of downtown Charleston, and almost no one knows about it.