Starting in June, Allegiant Airlines will be offering non-stop flights to Charleston, South Carolina. This new service will be offered on Mondays and Fridays from Rickenbacker International Airport. We wanted to celebrate some of the things we love most about Charleston to help you take full advantage of these new services!
- Make it a point to check out the plethora of historic sites around the city. Tour Fort Sumter to experience where the Civil War began, and notable for The Battle of Fort Sumter in 1861.
- Visit Drayton Hall, American’s oldest preserved plantation house from the 18th century and take a tour of the galleries and cemetery grounds. It is the only plantation house on the Ashley River to have survived both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars.
- Take a horse-drawn carriage tour of Charleston to get a feel for the history of the city. You’ll also get to experience the classic, Colonial-style architecture.
- Check out the many beaches in the area. Visit Kiawah Island, located about 25 miles southwest of Charleston. This is a great place to stay, as beaches are primarily private here. Visit Folly Beach, home to the Folly Beach Pier. The pier spans more than 1,000 feet into the ocean and is known as the “edge of America”. Lastly, check out beautiful Sullivan’s Island, which is has inspired many authors but also has a dark history.
- Take a culinary tour and experience the city’s best foods. Fresh seafood is abundant in Charleston so make sure to take advantage of it! Visit some of the best restaurants in the city like Husk, which focuses on low country cuisine, FIG which takes farm-to-table to the next level, or have brunch at Hominy Grill.
- Along with the culinary tours, visit the many breweries and distilleries. Firefly Distillery is renowned for their range of vodkas (Sweet Tea is the most popular flavor), bourbons, and moonshine. Revelry Brewing Company is creating beers with crazy names like “Funkmaster & The Furious Hops”. The brewery itself is just as lively, with sushi onsite as well as live music on their rooftop bar.
- Surround yourself with the history and charm of Charleston by staying in one of the many bed-and-breakfasts in the area. Most notable are The Governor’s House Inn and The Jasmine House Inn.
- Make sure to absorb the history and culture by visiting the many museums in the area. Visit the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum where you can see three vessels and a ton of aircraft. Visit the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art which features innovative and bold art from all over the world.
- For the golf-lovers out there, Charleston is a known for some of its must-play courses. Wild Dunes Golf Course, which put Charleston on the “golf map”, is a par-5 18-hole Links course on the Island of Palms. Another must-play is The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, a seaside course and is also ranked as the most difficult course in America (good luck!).
- Last but not least, take advantage of the natural surroundings by taking some eco tours. The proximity to water makes it home to abundant wildlife on its beaches, marshes, rivers, and islands. Take a coastal expedition by kayak or speedboat to explore the estuaries and remote islands. You may even spot a few dolphins! In addition to the water activities, there are also opportunities for world-class bird-watching. Visit the Center for Birds of Prey for flight demonstrations by eagles, owls, and more!
Whether you’re drawn to Charleston for its history or for its beaches, you’ll have plenty to experience. And now you can visit this charming city with a super-easy non-stop flight from Columbus as of June 2019.
Written by Devon Bennett
Devon is a Leisure Travel Consultant at UNIGLOBE Travel Designers who focuses on destination weddings, honeymoons, and incentive travel. She dreams of someday moving to England and giving others the same sense of wanderlust she’s developed over the years. In her free time, you’ll most-likely find her in a coffee shop around Columbus as a “professional chai latte taste tester”.
