FREE FOR ALL
You know what they say about the best things in life—in Charleston, that might actually be true. Check out these outings that are absolutely free
Living Legend
Take a short drive from downtown and gain some perspective beneath the sprawling, moss-draped limbs of the Angel Oak, a witness to Lowcountry history for some 400 years. All are welcome to explore Angel Oak Park, which is managed by the City of Charleston, and take a stroll around the Southern live oak’s nearly 26-foot circumference. Have a picnic in its shade, and be sure to visit the gift shop for an array of Angel Oak and Lowcountry souvenirs. Admission is free, but donations are accepted to help fund the tree’s care. 3688 Angel Oak Rd., John’s Island. Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, 1-4 p.m. Closed Wednesdays & holidays charleston-sc.gov/153/Angel-Oak (opens in a new tab)
Tea Time
Just down the road on Wadmalaw Island, get a taste of the Lowcountry’s tea-growing tradition at Charleston Tea Garden, the only place where tea is grown in North America. Whether you’re a tea-lover or not, the sprawling fields lush with Camellia sinensis (tea is a camellia family member, blooms and all) are a sight to behold. Admission is free and includes a factory tour showcasing the tea-making process, from harvest to packaging its American Classic brand. Pack a lunch to spread on one of the pondside picnic tables and splurge on the $14 trolley ride, a 40-minute narrated tour of the property, where you can drink in lessons in horticulture and history. A cheery gift shop sells varieties of American Classic, including Charleston Breakfast, Rockville Raspberry, and Island Green—plus accessories galore. 6617 Maybank Hwy., Wadmalaw Island. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, noon-4 p.m. charlestonteagarden.com (opens in a new tab)
Path to the Past
Charleston’s Gateway Walk isn’t a formal tour, it’s more like taking the scenic route and winding through a series of backyards on the long way home from a friend’s house. Created by The Garden Club of Charleston back in 1930, this mostly shaded stroll begins on Archdale Street at St. John’s Lutheran Church, passes through the Unitarian churchyard, over King Street, past the Charleston Library Society, then winds in and around famous streets via worn brick paths to the St. Philip’s Episcopal Church. The entire walk is just a few blocks as the crow flies, but it’s a glimpse of Lowcountry lore as intriguing as it is lush. Find the map at thegardenclubofcharleston.org (opens in a new tab)
Wild Ride
Experience the undeveloped coast of Botany Bay Plantation Heritage Preserve on Edisto Island, just about an hour drive from downtown. This 3,363-acre tract, gifted to the state in 2008, is open for the public to explore at will, from the lengthy “boneyard beach”—so named for its sun-bleached fallen trees—to the dense maritime forest and lagoons rich with bird life. Get your day pass at the entrance kiosk and pick up a map including a six-and-a-half-mile driving tour that points out wildlife viewing opportunities. Better yet, bring your bikes for cruising past moss-draped live oak trees, the historical plantation ruins, and sparkling freshwater ponds along the way. 1066 Botany Bay Rd., Edisto Island. Open during daylight hours, except on Tuesdays and for scheduled special hunts. www2.dnr.sc.gov/ManagedLands/ManagedLand/ManagedLand/57 (opens in a new tab)
Conquer the Ravenel
Lace up your sneakers and traverse the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, the closest thing we have to a hill in the Lowcountry. Connecting Mount Pleasant to the peninsula and coming in at 13,200 feet in length (that’s about two and a half miles and one of the longest cable-stayed bridges in the Western Hemisphere!), crossing its entirety will give you a healthy glow. But the best part is relishing the views of the harbor and the city from a magnificent vantage point of nearly 200 feet above the water.