Recently, we told you about a zany, floating BYOB tiki bar that cruises around Charleston and is a sure bet for seeing the sights from the water. However, the Charleston area has another attraction most people don’t know about and this awesome day ferry in South Carolina is a fantastic and affordable way to enjoy a cruise on the harbor. Plus, it’s also a ferry, so you can take it to see many of the incredible attractions found on the water’s edge.
Many world-class cities that are located on the water offer water taxis to get around. From New York City to Venice, Italy, water taxis are an ideal way to not only get from point A to point B, but they're also fun for just general sightseeing.
You'll see plenty of birds as you pass by Castle Pinckney, a former National Monument abandoned by the federal government decades ago. It's an often overlooked treasure that's just sitting in the Charleston Harbor not far from Fort Sumter. The seldom occupied by tourists spot is a popular roost for local water fowl.
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Most people find this water taxi extremely convenient for getting from the Mt. Pleasant area to Charleston's trendy waterfront, filled with shops, historic sights, and restaurants.
While visiting the historic city of Charleston is an amazing day trip, sometimes parking or even navigating all of the narrow or one-way streets in Downtown Charleston is too much for some visitors not accustomed to all of the driving and parking challenges. Parking in Mt. Pleasant and taking a water taxi into town is an ideal alternative!
The ferry departs hourly from four different locations around the Charleston Harbor, making it an ideal way for families (particularly those with small children) to get around.
Just purchase an all-day pass and then head out to see the sights, like Charleston's Waterfront Park and famously popular Market Street. One of the departure/arrival docks is only steps from the South Carolina Aquarium and the exciting Aquarium Wharf.
The USS Yorktown is one of the four locations where the taxi has an hourly pickup/departure scheduled seven days a week.
And getting to and from the sights around Charleston and Mt. Pleasant is a breeze on the water taxi — without the added annoyance of heavy traffic, narrow streets, or finding a new parking space each time you want to shift your attention to a new attraction.
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Add an exciting dolphin tour to your all-day pass for free.
Just pop over to any of the departure docks and enjoy this hour-long dolphin watching tour and the gentle, salty breeze from the water.
Charleston Water Taxi is a hidden gem you’ll want to include in every trip to Charleston. It just makes sense to leave your car and get to and fro by way of a scenic water ferry!
The departure locations for Charleston Water Taxi are: Waterfront Park, Aquarium Wharf/Maritime Center, Patriots Point (USS Yorktown), and Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina. The water taxi/day ferry in South Carolina runs on a loop stopping each hour at all four departure/arrival docks around the Charleston Harbor. The hours are daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. You can get off and on as many times as you like throughout the day. There is no limit to your $12 all-day pass, and children aged three and under are free. Learn more from the official website!
For an incredible over-the-water family-oriented casual dining experience while you’re enjoying the spoils of hopping all around the Charleston Harbor, keep reading here!
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