Charleston is a beautiful, historic city with lots to explore. The city offers a number of activities and supports to assist you in living clean and sober. 12-step meetings and support groups can provide you with mentorship and assistance. Maintaining your health and wellbeing is also critical to maintaining sobriety. Charleston also has plenty of things for you to see and do while you’re enjoying your new, healthier lifestyle. Many of Charleston’s best activities are also free or have a reasonable admission fee.
- Explore Charleston’s Parks: Hampton Park is a historic park with lush flowers and trees. It also has a fitness trail for you to enjoy along with restrooms and on-site parking. White Point Gardens has military monuments and large oak trees. Waterfront Park has a wharf and pier to enjoy. The Gateway Walk is a historic tour of historic walkways and cemeteries, and Marion Square hosts a weekly farmer’s market, along with festivals and free WiFi.
- Window Shopping on King Street: King Street is a historic street that has a number of antique shops as well as a fashion district. It’s worth visiting for the people watching if nothing else.
- Charleston City Market: This beautiful market also has a reputation as a bit of a tourist trap. That said, it is a great place to wander, look at artisan offerings, get free samples and enjoy a cup of coffee.
- Tour The Citadel: This military college has a beautiful campus, which you can tour. The Friday parade is a particularly impressive event.
- Explore Charleston’s Museums: Charleston is home to numerous museums. The Charleston Museum, for example, is home to eclectic exhibits celebrating South Carolina’s history. The Gibbes Museum of Art hosts special exhibitions as well as impressive permanent collection. The Karpeles Manuscript Library is a unique collection of original documents and manuscripts, including the original draft of the Bill of Rights. The Mace Brown Natural History Museum is housed on the campus of the College of Charleston and is home to over 15,000 fossils.
- The Piccolo Spoleto Festival: This annual festival has literary and artistic events.
- Second Sunday on King Street: Once per month, traffic is rerouted on King Street, giving it a lively atmosphere with live music.
- Tour the Charleston Tea Plantation: Tours are free. See the tea plants and tour the factory. You can also tour by trolley for a small fee.
- Explore Francis Marion National Forest: At Francis Marion National Forest, you can enjoy just about any outdoor activity you can think of, including biking, hiking, fishing, hunting, and paddling down one of the rivers.
- Visit the Angel Oak Tree: This massive tree is located on John’s Island. It is one of the oldest living things in the country.
- Visit Sullivan’s Island: Sullivan’s Island is a relaxed, laid-back beach. It’s the perfect spot for relaxing and enjoying the water.
- Visit the Charles Pinckney Historic Site: Charles Pinckney was a founding father and signer of the constitution. His plantation has been preserved and is open to the public for tours.
- Visit Magnolia Cemetery: This historic cemetery opened in 1850. You can explore the peaceful grounds and maybe spend time reflecting.
- Visit Magnolia Plantation: Magnolia Plantation and Gardens was one of the first plantations in America. The beautiful gardens alone are worth exploring. There are tours for an extra charge which give you additional insight into life on the plantation.
Meetings & Wellness
Charleston offers numerous 12-step meetings, including Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. 12-step meetings offer structure and support, which enhances your sober living experience. 12-step meetings are led by recovering members. During meetings, you may read program literature and share your experiences. These meetings are a powerful opportunity to learn from peers as you work through the program steps.
You can also find alternative support meetings in the Charleston area. These meetings may be led by a counselor, and they may provide support for a specific group, such as women. Many also include educational programming. To help compliment all your hard work around sobriety should also be focused on health and wellness. Many recovering addicts find that maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine assists them in recovery. Exercise, simply put, makes you feel good. A walk outside gives you much-needed sunshine and a chance to enjoy the outdoors. A healthy diet ensures that you are getting the nutrients you need for your body to recover. We take pride in promoting good health and wellness!