Charleston SC Recreation & Sports

Recreation in Charleston Beaches, baseball, boating, oh my! Golfing, museums, aquarium, as well. Never at a loss for something fun and interesting to do, Charleston and her outlying areas provide indoor and outdoor recreation in every imaginable form for couples, families, business groups, vacationers and staycationers. Or if shopping is your favorite form of recreation, King Street, East Bay Street, Broad Street and North and South Market Streets provide hours upon hours of shopping for clothing, art, antiques, fine home design, linens, culinary arts, stationary, literature and just about anything you could possibly think of for which to shop. Or find a bargain treasure at the Tanger Outlet in North Charleston where fine names in home goods, jewelry and fashion can be purchased for less.

Boating in and around the Charleston area is a favorite leisure activity for residents and visitors alike. Being a harbor and river town, Charleston offers prime waters for small craft sailing as well as choice open waters for larger yachts and motorboats. Home to countless marinas, Charleston and surrounding areas have streamlined the process to get you on the water and finding your sea legs as quickly as possible. Charleston offers everything from boating clubs and rentals to sailing lessons and safety courses through the Department of Natural Resources as well as all the satellite services from boat detailing, repairs and service and all the extra must-haves in the way of tops and upholstery, galley and deck supply, safety equipment, launching, trailers and lifts, to boat yards and off season storage. Whether it's a day trip you have in mind or a coastal adventure in a boat excursion, a weekend rental or the purchase of a luxury cabin cruiser, you will find exactly what you seek in one of the fine Charleston establishments dedicated to your boating success. More on Boating

Lowcountry Camping is one way to satisfy the entire family with a fun vacation enjoying the fun parks, water recreation, along with all the additional outdoor sports and activities that are synonymous with camping. Perhaps the most diverse of all possible family vacations, camping in one of the Charleston area campgrounds like the ones at James Island, Johns Island or Mount Pleasant will not only provide access to hundreds of wild acres and some of the best hiking, cycling, skating, swimming, fishing, kayaking small craft boating in the country, but these area campgrounds are so close to the city that one can take a break from nature and within minutes see the sites of downtown Charleston. Some parks even provide shuttles to and from the city. Camping can be enjoyed from inside a cozy tent, from the back of an RV or inside a fully furnished wood cabin designed for a family with a fully equipped kitchen, three bedrooms, indoor plumbing and even wireless Internet service. Enjoy the nature experience to the degree at which you are comfortable. Find the level of camping that is right for you and your family; reserve your spot and meet the challenge of roughing it or carve out your little piece of heaven with an RV or a cabin nestled in the bosom of Mother Nature. More on Lowcountry Camping.

Canoeing and Kayaking Canoeing and Kayaking is great low-tech ways to see the country up close. What other sport, except perhaps for hiking, affords its participants the time required to take in all there is to be seen? These craft run on people power and can glide swiftly over the water but comparatively speaking, is slower than four wheelers, cars, or anything motorized for that matter; consequently this slower pace allows for interaction with nature that actually allows time to peep the leaves, spy the amphibians, watch a raptor catch an updraft while scooping the ground below or catch woodland wildlife unawares as they stop at water's edge for a drink. These long, hollow, curved boats are designed so the operator sits low in the water while remaining completely dry and are able to traverse the water almost soundlessly so human presence can be endured in nature with minimal disturbance. Aside from the desirable inclusion in natural surroundings, this all around sport has many other benefits as well. More on Canoeing and Kayaking. More on Canoeing and Kayaking.

Charleston Fishing Due to the uncanny amount of waterways, tidal waters, marshlands, black water, open-ocean and freshwater bodies and rivers, Charleston, South Carolina boasts some of the world's best fishing grounds. This diversity in waters along with the temperate weather affords the area the unique benefit of offering some type of popular fishing all year-round. Whether your fishing passion is for sport, quiet reflective time, competition, or to put fresh food on the table, Charleston can offer delicacies from shrimp (trolling) and crab (tidal digging or traps) to more common and tasty catfish (pond fishing). Lake fishing (live bait or light tackle), jetty and pier fishing, (live bait or fish chunks) surf and shore fishing, fly fishing, (insect lures) spear fishing, netting, kayak fishing and just about any other kind of fishing (Sorry, no ice fishing!) can be enjoyed in and around the Charleston area. More on Charleston Fishing.

Charleston Area Marinas have come a long way from lone boathouses and simple wooden docks afloat next to the shore. They are no longer exclusively a no-woman's land of fishy smelling, smoke belching, catch of the day boats either. Once merely a place to rent small boats or to dock a boat, marinas have evolved into an upscale "something for everyone" industry. Offering everything from affordable docking fees to actual concierge service and fine dining delivered to your slip on demand, Charleston's shorelines are dotted with modest to mega-docks to suit the affluent yacht owner as well as the weekend waver who opts to join a boat club and have time-share type renting privileges without the expense and hassles of maintaining, docking or storing a boat. If you long to wear a captain's cap and the Charleston waters beckon you, there are a multitude of choices for your boating storage and pleasure.. More on Charleston Area Marinas.

Charleston Area Parks Offering many year round educational programs, wide ranging sports selections, entertainment and social events for every member of the family including the family dog, both Charleston City and County Parks deliver a consistent calendar of neighborhood and city wide events and activities. Many are free, some have a nominal fee or admission but all are open to residents and tourists alike. Helping to develop the charm for which Charleston is known, the Charleston City and County Park's programs insure that the benefit of quality programs in areas like boating, golf, tennis, equestrian, theater arts, music, entertainment, social events etc. are available to the entire community. More on Charleston Area Parks.

Charleston Water Parks During the long, hot days of summer there are three places in and around Charleston that offer a clean, safe, controlled oasis from the heat with activities for the whole family. These water parks come with built in fun offering long stretches of slides and wave tanks, meandering currents upon which to lazily drift while catching the sun, sprays and splashes, geysers and fountains, wading and jumping, each with its individual attractions. More on Charleston Water Parks.

Charleston area golfing is perhaps one of the main attractions for transplants, snowbirds and vacationers alike. With several golfing communities that have sprung up, golf has become a lifestyle around which whole residential areas have been developed. Answering the call of the lush and tropical weather, vacationers, retirees and golf enthusiasts flock to the Charleston and surrounding areas to relax, play nine or eighteen holes and finish out the day with a steak and a scotch. Men, women, young or mature, the community type courses in and around Charleston are worth consideration as is the fact that Charleston has been voted one of the country's top destination spots when it comes to vacation and relocation. More on Charleston Golf.