Charleston is home to rich history, well-preserved architecture, a celebrated restaurant industry, and beautiful outdoor settings waiting to be explored. This is certainly a city that takes pride in its history and heritage. As the locals like to say, Charleston is located “where the Cooper and Ashley Rivers come together to form the Atlantic Ocean.” This beautiful port city was founded in 1670, and is defined by its cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages and pastel antebellum houses, particularly in the elegant French Quarter and Battery districts. The Battery promenade and Waterfront Park both overlook Charleston Harbor, while Fort Sumter, a federal stronghold where the first shots of the Civil War rang out, lies across the water. Being such an old city (by US standards), you can expect a few obstacles to wheelchairs, usually in the form of some uneven sidewalks and steps in historic buildings. However, there is still so much charm and beauty that is completely accessible to people of all ability levels! Here are my ideas for the best 6 wheelchair accessible tours in historic Charleston.
Fort Sumpter
Stand on the very ground where the first shots rang out in the U.S. Civil War (also known as the War Between the States down in these parts) during a one-hour tour of Fort Sumter. The fort is only accessible by boat, giving you a chance to enjoy the short ride through Charleston Harbor. The tour offers enough time to explore the well-preserved fort, which stands in the mouth of the harbor, and also shop for souvenirs before re-embarking and heading back to Charleston.
There are two departure points for Fort Sumter – Patriot Points in Mt Pleasant and Liberty Square in downtown Charleston.
There is limited accessibility from Patriots Point. Due to changing tide conditions, the journey requires a minimum of four steps and may require as many as 20 steps.
The Liberty Square departure point is accessible. The tour boat is equipped with an elevator and accessible restrooms. The boarding ramp can accommodate electric and manual wheelchairs and scooters, except in extreme tide situations.
Fort Sumter is accessible via a ramp system. However, due to routine maintenance, unexpected repairs or adverse conditions, the system could be unavailable. Contact Fort Sumter Tours on the day of your visit at 843-722-2628 to make sure everything is fully accessible.
A wheelchair is available at no cost and can be checked out at the visitor center.
A museum guide is available upon request featuring all of the museum text, images, quotes, and pictures of artifacts on display in the museum and upper level of the Fort.
The historic parade ground level of Fort Sumter is accessible. Several interpretive wayside exhibits are located throughout this level and a park interpreter is available to provide a history talk and answer questions.
The water fountain, restrooms, museum, museum store and the observation level are not wheelchair accessible. The tour boat remains at the Fort, allowing access to the restrooms on board.
South Carolina Aquarium
The lovely South Carolina Aquarium is home to more than ten thousand plants and animals including North American river otters, loggerhead sea turtles, alligators, great blue herons, owls, lined seahorses, jellyfish, pufferfish, green moray eels, horseshoe crabs, sea stars, pythons, and sharks. The largest exhibit in the zoo is the Great Ocean Tank, which extends from the first to the third floor of the Aquarium and is the deepest tank in North America (42 feet); it holds more than 385,000 US gallons (1,460,000 l) of water and contains more than seven hundred animals.
A very unique part of the Aquarium is the sea turtle hospital, which is home to various sea turtles in different stages of recovery from injury. The Aquarium also features a Touch Tank, where patrons may touch horseshoe crabs, Atlantic stingrays, and other marine animals. If you can’t reach into the touch tank, one of the staff will put the animal in a plastic container to bring it closer to you. The wheelchair accessibility is excellent, and while the Aquarium isn’t huge, it’s a great way to spend the afternoon in a very scenic spot on the water.
Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum
Walk in the steps of heroes at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum, home of the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier, and South Carolina’s most unique attraction. With fresh exhibits, educational programming and other one-of-a-kind events, Patriots Point is the only Charleston-area historic attraction that offers exciting new experiences all year long. It appeals to visitors of all ages and gives everyone a hands-on glimpse of maritime and military life aboard a true piece of American history.
Whether you are a visitor or a local, a military veteran or a family on vacation, at Patriots Point there is always a new way to walk in the steps of heroes. Museum exhibits and activities include three vessels (Aircraft Carrier USS YORKTOWN, Destroyer USS LAFFEY, Submarine USS CLAMAGORE), 28 historic aircraft, 3-acre Vietnam Experience Exhibit, Apollo 8 capsule, and over 40 interactive exhibits. The newest exhibits include the LAFFEY Combat Information Center and engine room and the Vietnam Experience Quonset Hut and Theater. You also don’t want to miss the new Medal of Honor Museum on the hangar deck. There is a gangway to take you to the main deck, where there are a few exhibits you can roll through if you have a fairly narrow wheelchair. An elevator will take you to the hangar deck and flight deck, both of which are accessible, as are bathrooms in the ticketing building and gift shop.
Charleston City Market
If you are looking for a true Charlestonian souvenir, there’s only one place to come – Charleston City Market. The market, one of the oldest in the U.S., plays a leading role in the preservation time-treasured customs and vibrant American history. The market is the epicenter of sweetgrass basketry. More than 50 resident artists create these baskets, which are made from indigenous bulrush, a strong grass that grows in the sandy soil of the coastal region.
The market is wheelchair accessible, with accessible restrooms. Access ramps are located at the front of the market.
Established in the 1790s, the Charleston City Market stretches for four city blocks from the architecturally-significant Market Hall, which faces Meeting Street, through a continuous series of one-story market sheds, the last of which terminates at East Bay Street. Throughout the 19th century, the market provided a convenient place for area farms and plantations to sell beef and produce, and also acted as a place for locals to gather and socialize.
Parking: Metered parking spaces are located throughout the market area. Parking is also available at three nearby garages: Church Street Garage, Hassel Street Garage and Cumberland Street Garage.
Public Transportation: The DASH makes several stops in the neighborhood.
Top Tip: It’s never too late to visit the market. The night market runs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Waterfront Park
Life in the Lowcountry is all about slowing down and taking a moment or two to relax, and locals and visitors both agree that Charleston’s Waterfront Park is the perfect venue to stretch out and soak up the scene. With a prime location overlooking Charleston Harbor and the Cooper River, and more than 10 acres of room to roam, (most of which is waterfront), Waterfront Park is essentially a romantic, engaging, serene, and perfectly picturesque destination that will make any newcomer fall in love with this unique southern city.
Waterfront Park, located along Concord Street, was historically a long parcel of land that was the center of local maritime traffic travelling in and out of Charleston Harbor. The park itself was designed by Stuart O. Dawson of Sasaki Associates, and was divided into distinct sections which were intertwined with both riverfront and off-the-water walking paths, and were tied together by a noteworthy fountain which is topped off with a statue of a Palmetto tree. Family-sized swings invite park patrons to relax and take advantage of the cool breezes, and a large rectangular shaped central lawn is a popular spot for picnics and sunbathing. The park essentially covers over 1,000′ feet of coastline, an as a result, is one of the best places for sightseeing, nature watching, and outdoor interests of all genres. Pelicans and egrets make frequent appearances along the riverbanks, and visitors can often spot fast-moving sailboats and giant cruise ships lurking just offshore.
Folly Beach
Folly Beach, a short 30-minute drive from the Charleston historic area. is a city on Folly Island, and it’s home to Folly Beach Pier, stretching more than 1,000 feet into the ocean. Center Street is lined with surf and souvenir shops. Folly Beach County Park has picnic areas and a pelican rookery. As well as beaches and wildlife-rich habitats, Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve has views of Morris Island Lighthouse, completed in 1876. Fishing, walking/rolling, birding, and the opportunity to enjoy breathtaking views of the “Edge of America” are just some of the possibilities at the Edwin S. Taylor Folly Beach Fishing Pier, where you can find some of the best saltwater fishing in the area. The pier is a breathtaking landmark that stretches 1,045 feet into the sparkling waters of the Atlantic Ocean. At 25-feet wide and 23-feet above sea level, the pier is the second longest on the east coast and offers not only spectacular views, but a variety of fishing tournaments, special events, and dining.
The pier is wheelchair accessible with wheelchair ramps from the ground level to the piers top deck, which means anyone can enjoy the expansive views and fishing. The restrooms at the pier are also handicap accessible. While Folly offers beach access in every block, the West Ninth Street access on West Ashley is wheelchair accessible ramp just off the parking lot. There is also a beach wheelchair mat at 111 E. Arctic that starts right next to the van accessible parking spaces. Two companies in the Charleston area offer their services to the Folly Beach area. Herbert’s Mobility, Inc. (843-571-1515) and The SCOOTER Store (877-206-8684) have rentals of wheelchairs and other necessary equipment to make any beach vacation easier.