Mount Pleasant, S.C., a bedroom community of Charleston, is anything but “sleepy.” Great views, great drinks and great adventures are ever present and easy to find.
Although a large area with typical suburban sprawl, the community still offers plenty of historic sites, waterfront views, places to convene with nature, and lively spots for food and drink. Follow these tips to curate your perfect day in Mount Pleasant from sunrise to sundown.
Vicious Biscuits
Get up and get out early so you can beat the crowd at Vicious Biscuit. This fast-casual spot is hugely popular! The creative and award-winning biscuits and breakfast offerings are delicious and will fill you up. Carb loading for sure!
My favorite is The ‘Mater, a buttermilk biscuit with fried green tomatoes, pimento cheese and bacon jam. A southern delight! There’s seating inside and on a covered patio, but it fills up quickly. Avoid the queue by ordering your biscuits to-go online. If you're in Mount Pleasant after Labor Day, then the crowds are really not a problem until later in the week.
Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park and the Ravenel Bridge
With your belly full of biscuit, you might want to work off some calories or at least take a stroll. Tighten your laces and head to Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park and Pier.
Located at the foot of the Ravenel Bridge, the park offers the perfect spot for a morning walk while taking in the water views. Bonus–there’s ample parking! The park’s pier has a wide, flat walkway that’s 1,250 feet long and stretches out into the Cooper River.
The pier runs almost parallel to the underside of the bridge, so you can really appreciate this engineering marvel (and the shade it provides). On select summer evenings the pier hosts live bands for “Dancing on the Cooper.”
The pier’s River Watch Cafe and Gift Shop offers snacks, ice cream, milkshakes and sandwiches. Plus, clean bathrooms! The cafe/gift shop also has fishing passes and related gear. FYI, keep Fido at home, no pets allowed at the pier.
The park includes a playground, a memorial dedicated to veterans, and an additional paved walkway that makes a loop around a grassy lawn.
While visiting Waterfront Park, keep your eyes open for the 4-foot replicas of oyster shells decorated by various artists. My favorites were "Bell Diver" by Philip Hyman and "Tangled in Enchantment" by Zoe Hyman.
The oysters are part of “Art on the Half Shell,” a curated initiative by the Town of Mount Pleasant. If you want to the see all the shells in the community, then check out the town's online guide.
If the weather isn’t too stifling, check out the views from the Ravenel Bridge by foot or bike. Access to the bridge walkway is near the park.
The views are incredible–the U.S.S. Yorktown at Patriots Point, downtown Charleston, Fort Sumter National Monument, activities on the Cooper River and the bridge itself.
The Ravenel is the third largest cable-stayed bridge in the Western Hemisphere. The supports take the shape of giant sails–it’s truly beautiful and an incredible feat of architecture and engineering.
The bridge is 2.5 miles long and has a sloping incline to reach the middle. In the summer, it can be extremely hot and windy on the bridge. I recommend stopping halfway at the “sails,” taking gorgeous pictures and then doubling back. Be sure to carry water.
Historic Old Mount Pleasant
For quaint Southern charm, head to Mount Pleasant’s Old Village Historic District. The area, part of the National Register of Historic Places, features lovely homes, views of the water, and streets shaded by large oaks dripping with Spanish moss.
If you've worked up an appetite, visit the lunch counter inside Pitt Street Pharmacy (an actual working pharmacy) and enjoy a grilled cheese, hot dog or another lunch counter favorite. My go-to treat is a Coke float with vanilla ice cream.
The pharmacy, which opened in 1936, is rich on nostalgic charm complete with vintage signs and décor.
Another dining choice along Pitt Street is the Gala Bakery featuring desserts, coffee, and full menu of other options. Indoor seating is available, but on a nice day the bakery's front porch and outdoor courtyard are lovely.
For a more refined sit-down, make a reservation at the The Post House, a small, historic inn and restaurant. The building, which dates back to the 1800s, was updated in 2020 featuring a beautiful, modern take on the coastal-tavern look.
Also on Pitt Street is the Wine Shop and the "Out of Hand" collection of boutiques featuring women's clothing, gifts, décor, and floral design.
The Pitt Street merchants are part of the historical business district, an area included in the The Mount Pleasant Historical Commission’s Old Village Tour. The online tour map is easy to follow. Informative historical markers are also placed throughout the district.
Alhambra Hall is among the tour locations. Take your lunch counter milkshake to-go, and drive just a few blocks to this historic building that was once a dance hall and now serves as a recreational facility for the town.
Behind the hall is a wide, grassy lawn–a nice spot for walking dogs, having a picnic and enjoying views of Charleston Harbor. There are only a few benches, so bring a picnic blanket if you want to relax for a little bit. Across the street from the hall is a shady playground. There's ample parking available.
One of my favorite spots in the Village District is Pitt Street Bridge and Pickett Park. The bridge, which once connected to Sullivan’s Island, now ends in the middle of the water providing beautiful views in every direction. In this area, the waters of the Cove Inlet and Charleston Harbor come together.
The paved greenway is lined with palm trees and leads to a pier. The area is popular for walking, biking, fishing, crabbing and photography.
Along the way are park benches if you want to sit and enjoy the views. It’s worth a visit, but don’t expect any shade and parking (along the edge of the road) is tricky. The sunset views are gorgeous.
Shem Creek Waterfront
The waterfront area of Shem Creek is the perfect spot for a Margaritaville-kind of afternoon or evening. A collection of restaurants and bars line the banks of Shem Creek. If you’re lucky, a pod of dolphins may swim by while you’re enjoying some fried shrimp and a creative cocktail.
We checked out the restaurant, Saltwater Cowboys, for drinks and starters. The chilled, crab dip appetizer–the owner's family recipe–hit the spot! I have a weakness for fried green tomatoes, so I had to try those, too, and my tastebuds thanked me.
The Shem Creek area also includes a boardwalk that extends into the marsh and past fishing boats for gorgeous views. It’s a great setting for sunset pictures.
Shem Creek is also a popular spot for renting kayaks and setting out on boat tours and fishing charters.
Patriots Point and Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina
If you love military history, then Patriots Point Navel & Maritime Museum is a must. The centerpiece is the U.S.S. Yorktown, a World War II aircraft carrier. Inside the Yorktown and on its flight deck is a collection of aircraft and informative historic displays about various battles and war-time events.
Walk through the maze-like belly of Yorktown to learn all about life at sea. Everything from the officer’s quarters to the kitchen and everything in between, is preserved to look just as it did when in service.
In addition to the Yorktown, Patriots Point includes a museum about Medal of Honor winners, a submarine, and a destroyer. There is also an immersive Vietnam War exhibit, which is set up like a base camp with a mess hall, observation tower, helicopter, patrol boat and more.
Expect to spend several hours on the Yorktown if you plan to explore the entire ship. Plan to spend at least a half day if you also want to explore the other Patriots Point exhibit areas.
The inside of the Yorktown is hot and humid. Be sure to bring water and a snack. The only food is via vending machines. Patriots Point requires paid parking.
Next door to Patriots Point and just a short walk along the waterfront boardwalk, is the Charleston Harbor Fish House within the Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina. For expansive views of downtown Charleston and the harbor, beeline to the rooftop Bridge Bar at the Fish House.
This is another perfect spot for pictures–the Ravenel Bridge and the Yorktown to the right, downtown Charleston straight ahead, Fort Sumter National Monument to the left, and the many boats and yachts docked below or jetting by.
Walking along the marina boardwalk is my favorite way to enjoy the water views and the beautiful boats. During my last walk, a pod of dolphins were just a few feet away corralling fish among the docked boats.
If you aren’t going to Patriots Point and therefore, don’t park in its lot, you’ll have to buy a parking pass to the Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina lot. The restaurant provides parking vouchers with a meal purchase.
Charleston Water Taxi
The ferry service by Charleston Water Taxi is one of the easiest and best ways to get an on-the-water experience without devoting a lot of time or money. Keep a look out for dolphins while on board, they like to come by to say “hello.”
The taxi runs a route among four stops–Waterfront Park in downtown Charleston, the South Carolina Aquarium, Patriots Point, and Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina. Taxis operate between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., revisiting stops every hour.
A one-way pass for a single ride is $10 (children 3 and under are free). The best deal is an all-day pass for $14, which allows you to hop on or off as much as you want. No advanced reservations needed. Strollers can fit in the boats.
Ride the taxi for an enjoyable trip around the harbor or use it as a quick and easy way to see sights near the drop off points and avoid the hassle of re-parking a car. The entire loop is about four miles.
Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens
The drive into Boone Hall Plantation is gorgeous as you travel under the huge branches of Live Oaks lining each side. Founded in 1681, a visit to Boone Hall is a historical look at life on the grounds then and now.
Activities include various self-guided and guided tours of the main house, the surrounding estate buildings, the gardens, the butterfly pavilion and the farm. I enjoyed the landscaped grounds as much as the historic talks and exhibits. The gardens are skillfully designed and beautifully maintained.
The guides and educators do an excellent job outlining the history of the plantation, especially the lives of its residents from the enslaved people to the plantation owners.
You'll also learn about the evolution of the main house (four have stood on the footprint) and the industry tied to the resources from the adjacent marsh creek. In the 1800s, Boone Hall produced around 4 million handmade bricks and was the largest producer in the low country.
The Black History in America exhibit is housed in the nine original slave dwellings. Each cabin exhibit centers on a specific timeframe in black history from slavery to modern times.
On the Boone Hall website it states:
"The discussion of slavery is often difficult, but it is an important topic that must be discussed openly and honestly whenever plantation life is addressed. At Boone Hall Plantation we believe there is a responsibility to present the history of slavery in an accurate and educational manner each day in a way that pays honor and respect to that history and the progress of Black Americans."
Boone Hall also has a live, outdoor theater presentation about Gullah culture presented by direct descendants through storytelling, dance and song. The Gullah people are descendants of Africans enslaved on plantations in the low country regions of South Carolina and Georgia.
Boone Hall is one of the oldest continuously working farms in America. For the farm tour, you ride in a wagon that's pulled by a tractor.
The wagon's seats are padded and comfortable. The tour travels the entire estate (over 700 acres) and takes about 30 mins. It was a relaxing ride and the guide's insights are interesting.
The heat index was in the upper 90s during my ride, but I was still comfortable. The wagon has a canopy and the tour path includes shaded, wooded areas. It's still a good idea to bring water, though. The indoor spaces, such as the main house, are air conditioned.
The Butterfly Cafe offers snacks, hot dogs, premade sandwiches, ice cream and drinks. You can sit indoors or under the covered outdoor front patio. My only complaint about the cafe is how dark it is inside. Not very inviting.
The cafe has a nice selection of Boone Hall products, such as hot pickled okra, marinated artichokes, honey and a variety of pickles. You can buy fresh, seasonal produce from Boone Hall's roadside market on Highway 17, which is just around the corner from the main entrance to the plantation.
Palmetto Islands County Park
Palmetto Islands Country Park is a wonderful way to enjoy Mount Pleasant's natural beauty. The 943-acre, public park is just a 5 minute drive from Boone Hall Plantation. For a $2 fee, you gain entry to a park so lush it feels more like a nature preserve.
The park offers a multitude of recreational options. During my visit, I walked the marsh boardwalk to Nature Island, followed the Story Walk path, and went to the top of the 50-foot Observation Tower overlooking the marsh and a tidal creek.
Story Walk is perfect for families with curious children. Along the path are permanent fixtures, each one featuring a "page" of a story about a tree changing with the seasons. The story engages readers with requests, such as blowing a kiss to make the leaves blow away.
Another learning opportunity is the Phone Tour. You can hear details about your current location in the park by scanning the QR code or dialing the number on the phone tour sign. At my stop, I learned more about salt marsh vegetation and wildlife.
The park has a total of five paths/trails. Each is clearly marked with color-coded, diamond-shaped signs affixed along the way. Path surfaces include wooden boardwalks, asphalt pavement and loamy soil.
Other park features include a multi-age playground, large grassy fields, picnic shelters with volleyball nets nearby, kayak launching areas, fishing and crabbing docks, and the Splash Island Waterpark.
Visitors can also rent paddleboats and bicycles. Rentals are reserved at the Park Center building. The center also has a snack bar and restrooms. Besides drink machines at the picnic shelters, the snack bar is the only option for snacks and drinks.
Please remember, just because this is a public park doesn't mean it's free of alligators. There are ponds around Park Center and near part of the Big Toy Playground. Gators could absolutely live there, just as they warning signs state.
The park is a nice option for appreciating the low country's beauty while getting some exercise or gathering with friends and family. And bonus–lots of shade!
This is a municipal park with some wear and tear. But, I noticed several newly built picnic tables, so it looks like the weather-worn areas are being addressed.
Palmetto Islands and Mount Pleasant Waterfront Park are among the Charleston County parks and facilities that include community centers, pools, piers, beach parks, campgrounds, trails and more.
For community information and more ways to spend a day in Mount Pleasant, check out the town's official website.
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