Visit Downtown Charleston, known as the Peninsula, for many of the city’s top attractions, from colonial-style homes to world-class art museums, an iconic bridge and a bustling food market. The southern United States city of Charleston is charming, hospitable and nicely preserved.

Join a walking tour of Downtown at the confluence of the Cooper and Ashley rivers. Knowledgeable local guides unveil the city’s secrets. Pass antebellum mansions and concealed courtyards. Explore Fort Sumter, birthplace of the American Civil War. Sightsee from the water with a harbor tour aboard the Carolina Belleor a unique pedaling float aboard a 16-seat Saltwater Cycle. View the modern Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, a 2.5-mile (4-kilometer) cable-stay span across the Cooper River. Complete your tour at the 8-acre (3-hectare) Waterfront Park, with excellent views of cavorting dolphins. Take iconic photos at the park’s famous Pineapple Fountain.

Delve into Downtown’s history with a lesson on the cotton industry at the McLeod Plantation Historic Site across the river. Tour the 19th-century family home and remaining clapboard slave houses across 37 acres (15 hectares). Move on to the opulent Calhoun Mansion, a 24,000-square-foot (2,200-square-meter) manor that is the city’s largest single-family residence. Explore all three floors, complete with 35 rooms brimming with period furniture and a total of 23 antique fireplaces.

For art appreciation, head to the Gibbes Museum of Art, where you’ll find several galleries of American art illustrating the history of Charleston. The collection has 10,000 permanent objects, 600 miniature portraits and multiple special exhibitions.

Upon finishing your walk, satisfy your appetite at the Historic Charleston City Market, with 300 boutiques, eating spots and artisan studios. For a uniquely South Carolinian souvenir, purchase a locally made sweetgrass basket. Another fun option is a tavern tour with a history angle, an opportunity to learn about Charleston’s pub culture.

Reach Downtown Charleston from Mount Pleasant via the Ravenel Bridge. Enjoy a pleasant mix of history, art, shopping and great food in this lovely Southern city.