Spending an Afternoon in Charleston

Charleston activities for recovering patients and their families

If you’re visiting Charleston, SC, for back surgery or treatment — or you’re accompanying a family member — at the Southeastern Spine Institute, you should take advantage of the location to see the sights… as long as you don’t overdo it. “The Holy City” offers many delights, and as long as you must be here, take advantage of the various Charleston activities available to you. Here are some favorites:

Walk on Folly Beach

A walk on the beach is good exercise; you get the sun, the sand and the sea. Charleston has many beaches, but Folly Beach is an entertaining option. You not only get to enjoy the beach, but also the people on it. When you need to take a break, find a seat and watch the other people stroll by. Folly Beach is known as the most eccentric beach of the area. Charleston activities don’t get much more natural than this.

Take a Tour by Bus

If the summer sun proves too much for you or your family, try an air-conditioned bus tour. It may be the most relaxing of all the Charleston activities you could try. Charleston is home to a number of fun bus tour companies, so you can take your pick! See the nearby plantations. Learn about Charleston’s unique history. Tour the city sights. You can even find one that promises laughs. Get out of the sun while enjoying all that Charleston is.

Visit the South Carolina Aquarium

The aquarium is a fun way to spend your afternoon in Charleston, especially if you have kids in tow. It’s more than big tanks filled with fish, although you can see some of that too. Try the hands-on exhibits or the four-dimensional theater (a 3D show with special effects). Learn about the flora and fauna of the South Carolina coastline while being thoroughly entertained. Tickets are $24.95 and $17.95 for kids.

Shop the Old City Market

You cannot visit Charleston without experiencing the Market. It’s been one of the most popular Charleston activities since it opened in 1841. An open-air, pedestrian-friendly, four-block market, Charleston’s City Market offers authentic vendors and artists. Crafts? You’ll find everything from high-end art to famous sweetgrass baskets. Food? You won’t go hungry. Don’t leave before sampling the Market for yourself.

Walk or Bike over Ravenel Bridge

One of Charleston’s landmarks, the Ravenel Bridge connects the city to Mt. Pleasant, home of the Southeastern Spine Institute. If you park on the Mt. Pleasant side, you can walk or bike across along the wide pedestrian-only “sidewalk.” Bring a bottle of water and go in the late afternoon so you reach the summit in time to watch the sun set over the Charleston skyline. Be warned: there are no restrooms on the bridge.

Learn Some History

Charleston activities don’t get any closer to history than a ferry trip and tour of Fort Sumter. Now a National Park, Fort Sumter offers guided tours and other educational activities. You may think you know the history of where the Civil War began, but there’s more to the story than you think. You have to take the ferry to get to the fort, and you may want to plan your trip in advance.