Indoor Activities Charleston, SC: Places to Beat the Heat in Charleston
Charleston has the perfect climate. We don’t get snow in the winter, we can celebrate the holidays on the beach and our spring always comes early. Yet in the summer, the temperature and the humidity can sneak up on you. These 10 indoor activities Charleston SC to beat the heat will refresh you and give you a break from the smoldering temperatures.
Indoor Activities Charleston SC: Tips to Beat the Heat
When summer rolls around, many Charlestonians head inside to take advantage of the air conditioning. Well, we’re used to the heat so we don’t mind it so much. But when you’re dealing with 90 F days and full humidity, sometimes you need to save face by cooling down for a bit. When the temperatures get high, we recommend the following indoor activities Charleston SC to beat the heat:
- Taking advantage of the air conditioning in museums, hotels and restaurants
- Heading to a rooftop to catch a breeze
- Making a beeline for Charleston’s many waterways
- Cooling down with a refreshing drink or snack
Museums in Charleston
One of our favorite indoor activities Charleston SC are museums. The Holy City has dozens of museums. From educational to inspirational to kid-friendly, we’ve got a museum for every interest here. The best part? In the summer, the air conditioning is on full blast. Some of our favorite museums to hide from the heat include:
- The Charleston Museum
- Gibbes Museum of Art
- North Charleston Fire Museum (kid friendly)
- Old Slave Mart Museum
- Aiken-Rhett House
- Any plantation museum
Charleston Beaches
We have some of the best beaches in America right here in Charleston. We pity the visitor who heads here in the summer and misses all the fun in the sun at the beach. Right in the city, we have five popular beaches that offer miles of soft sand and plenty of activities.
Head a little further out of the city, and you’ll find a few beach day trips, like Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head.
Our favorite Charleston beaches include:
- Seabrook Island
- Sullivan’s Island
- Kiawah Island
- Isle of Palms
- Folly Beach
Boat Ride
We happen to think the best way to beat the heat is with a little wind flowing through your hair. Downtown Charleston is surrounded by water on three sides, which means there are plenty of opportunities for setting sail. Luckily, we have so many boat tours here that there’s one for just about every budget.
You can also choose how much involvement you want — paddle a kayak or canoe or pedal your own boat with Saltwater Cycle. Or, sit back and relax and enjoy a glass of wine while you enjoy the sunset from a sailboat. Our favorite Charleston boat rides to help beat the heat include:
- Charleston Water Taxi (with guided narration)
- Schooner Pride
- Spiritline Cruises
- Nature Adventures (kayaks and canoes)
- Charleston Harbor Tours
- Saltwater Cycle
Water Park
All this sunshine year-round means water park season lasts longer! We have not one — but three — water parks here in Charleston, including Splash Island, Splash Zone and Whirlin’ Waters. No matter what part of the city you’re in, you can cool down on a waterslide, in a wave pool or in a lazy river.
If you’re craving a little more adventure, you can always head up to Myrtle Beach to hit up the Myrtle Waves Water Park or the Family Kingdom Amusement Park.
Charleston Aquarium
The Charleston Aquarium is possibly the most kid-friendly activity on this list. It’s one of the most popular aquariums on the East Coast and features animals and wildlife from Charleston’s diverse landscape.
You can check out sea turtles, jellyfish, eagles and more here. The inside galleries are all air-conditioned, so it’s a great indoor activity in Charleston, SC, to beat the heat.
Rooftop Bar
We’re a little more than obsessed about our rooftop bars here in Charleston. And why wouldn’t we be? The city is home to dozens of bars with great views of the city and surrounding water. Some of our favorite rooftop bars include:
- Stars Rooftop Bar & Grill
- Eleve Rooftop Restaurant & Lounge
- The Watch Rooftop Kitchen and Spirits
- Red’s Ice House
- Henry’s Bar & Restaurant
- The Boathouse at Breach Inlet
Edisto River
You could head to one of our many water parks to float down a man-made lazy river. Or, you could do it the way we did in the olden days at the Edisto River.
Only a one-hour drive from Downtown, this river is where the locals go when they want to float. You can rent a tube for only $20 per person and spend the next few hours relaxing. At the end, you’ll get shuttled back to your car after returning your inner tube.
Ice Cream Parlors
Charleston’s warm weather just cries out for ice cream.
Luckily, there are plenty of ice cream parlors, stands and shops in our fair city. Whether you’re into gelato, soft serve, creative flavors or simple, classic vanilla cones, you can cool down from the inside out here. Some of our favorite ice cream shops include:
Not only are ice cream parlors an indoor activity in Charleston to beat the heat, they also offer a refreshing treat!
Patriots Point
Another kid-friendly way to beat the heat, Patriots Point is a U.S. Naval and Air museum dedicated to the history of several wars, including World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War and the Cold War.
The indoor spaces are air-conditioned; outdoors, you’re right on the water, so there’s plenty of opportunities to enjoy summer breezes.
Spa Day
When all else fails? Head to the spa. They’re all air-conditioned here. If your skin is feeling a little charred from overexposure to the sun, you can even get a body wrap that will help soothe your dermis. Some of our favorite local spas include:
- The Spa at Belmond Charleston Place
- Heart of Charleston Luxury Spa
- The Woodhouse Day Spa