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Mount Pleasant is a coastal town of about 90,000 people across the Cooper River from Charleston, linked to the city by the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. It is one of the largest towns in South Carolina, with tidal creeks, salt marsh and easy access to the beaches of Sullivan's Island and Isle of Palms.
Shem Creek is the town's best-known spot, a working waterfront where shrimp boats tie up beside seafood restaurants and a boardwalk runs out over the marsh; it is also a popular place to launch a kayak or paddleboard at sunset. Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum, on Charleston Harbor, lets visitors walk the decks of the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, and Memorial Waterfront Park has a long pier under the bridge with views back to downtown Charleston. The bridge itself has a protected lane for walking and cycling.
The Old Village, along Pitt Street and the harbor, is the historic heart of town, with 19th-century houses, churches and shady streets. Boone Hall Plantation is famous for its avenue of live oaks draped in Spanish moss, and the Charles Pinckney National Historic Site tells the story of a signer of the U.S. Constitution and the enslaved people who worked his farm. Along Highway 17, Gullah artisans sell hand-woven sweetgrass baskets, a craft passed down for generations in the Lowcountry.
Shem Creek is a working creek lined with shrimp boats and waterfront seafood restaurants with decks over the water. A boardwalk through the marsh gives views of dolphins, pelicans and sunset. Arrive before sunset for a table on the deck, and rent a paddleboard to explore the creek.
Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum is home to the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, the destroyer USS Laffey and a Vietnam experience exhibit. Visitors can explore the flight deck, hangar bay and many aircraft. Allow at least three hours, wear comfortable shoes, and expect many stairs.
The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge over the Cooper River linking Mount Pleasant and Charleston, with a separate path for walkers and cyclists. The views of the harbor are wide. Start the walk from Memorial Waterfront Park, and go early in the day to avoid heat.
Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park sits under the Ravenel Bridge with a long fishing pier, a playground, a lawn, a cafe and memorials. Views across the harbor reach downtown Charleston. Walk to the end of the pier at sunset, and look for dolphins in the water below.
The Old Village is Mount Pleasant's historic district near the harbor, with oak-shaded streets, 19th-century homes, small shops and churches. It is quiet and good for a stroll. Walk to the Pitt Street Bridge at the end of Pitt Street for marsh views, and stop for ice cream nearby.
The Pitt Street Bridge is a former causeway bridge in the Old Village, now a park with a path out over the marsh toward Sullivan's Island. Benches face Charleston Harbor and Fort Sumter. Come at sunset, bring binoculars for birds, and be aware there is only street parking.
Boone Hall Plantation is a historic plantation known for its long avenue of live oaks, with a mansion, gardens and original slave cabins that hold exhibits on Gullah culture and enslaved life. Tours and talks run daily. Plan about three hours, and attend the Gullah presentation.
Charles Pinckney National Historic Site preserves part of the Snee Farm plantation of Charles Pinckney, a framer of the US Constitution. Exhibits in the 1820s house cover the founding era and enslaved people on the farm. Entry is free, and a short trail leads around the grounds.
Sweetgrass basket stands line Highway 17 North in Mount Pleasant, where Gullah artisans sell handwoven baskets made from sweetgrass, pine needles and palmetto. The craft came from West Africa. Ask the makers about their work, expect prices to reflect the skill, and bring cash.
Palmetto Islands County Park is a county park with a water park in summer, a big playground, marsh boardwalks, an observation tower, trails and kayak rentals. Tidal creeks wind through the park. Bring swimsuits for the water park in summer, and walk the boardwalks to spot herons.
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South Carolina, United States
South Carolina, United States
South Carolina, United States
South Carolina, United States
South Carolina, United States
South Carolina, United States
South Carolina, United States
South Carolina, United States
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