CoastalGuide.com logo

2026 History Guide

Sip & Stroll

Drayton Hall Preservation Trust

Book online
$30.00 - $35.00

Duration 2 Hours About Join us for an afternoon of live music under the Drayton Hall oaks. Guests will have the opportunity to to enjoy a glass of wine or beer while while they stroll the grounds. Included in your ticket is the first drink. ...

Wine, Tea and a Tree: The Wadmalaw Adventure
Book online
$125.00 - $149.00

Take the road less traveled, into the Lowcounty of Wadmalaw Island! Duration 5 Hours About It's the Wine tastin', tea sippin' and tree huggin' tour! We will visit Angel Oak Park and admire the 500 year old Oak Tree on John's Island. ...

Historic Downtown Tour

Lowcountry Walking Tours

Book online
$28.00

duration: 2 Hours meeting_point: Charleston, SC description: This approximately 2 hour walking tour winds its way through the streets of the French Quarter and ends in the area "South of Broad" Tour Times - 10am and 2pm Daily Tour...

Old Town Bluffton

Hilton Head Helicopter Tours

Book online
$229.00

duration: 40 minutes max_age: 100 description: Experience an exciting aerial tour of Hilton Head and Bluffton, showcasing the area's top landmarks and natural beauty from above. Fly over Pinckney Island in search of Bald Eagles and hawks, then...

The Complete Charleston Tour

Snap Picture Perfect Tours

Book online
$139.00

Get a Complete taste of Charleston's beautiful Lowcountry from downtown to the beaches to the plantations and more! Duration 6.5 hrs Itinerary - Charlotte Street (.4 mile) - Morris Lighthouse (.75 RT, road+sand dune) - Folly Pier - Angel...

A Walk Through Charleston History

Peninsula Walking Tours

Book online
$15.00 - $23.00

The Story of Charleston Duration 2 hours About Anthony Bourdain said, “The south is not a monolith, there are pockets of weirdness, awesomeness, and then there is Charleston.” We have a rich culture, amazing history, classic...

Private Walking Tour

Pineapple Tour Group

Book online
$400.00 - $900.00

Book Exclusive Charleston Tours with the Best Guides! About - Whether you’ve visited Charleston many times or if this is your 1st trip to the Holy City, a private tour is the best way for you and your group to experience a one to one...

A Day on the Ashley - Package Tour with Middleton Place

Explore the Grounds to the Fullest! **Please Note:** To make a reservation, call a Group Tour Coordinator at: 1-843-769-2627 or email at [email protected] Duration 5 Hours *(Includes lunch at Middleton Place)* Rates $100/Person ...

Beach Bum

Hilton Head Helicopter Tours

Book online
$109.00

Duration - **20 MILES** About This tour takes you along the most active stretch of beaches to Coligny beach , Hilton Heads most popular beach park. Keep an eye out for marine life as we fly low along the beach and as you turn around you will...

Charleston Pirate Tour

Charleston Pirate Tours

Book online
$15.00 - $28.00

Award-winning guides and their parrot companions lead you on a walk through Charleston’s Golden Age of Piracy – stories about Blackbeard, Ann Bonny, Stede Bonnet, and more. Duration 2 Hours About A master storyteller, Eric doesn't...

Curator Led Walking Tours

Drayton Hall Preservation Trust

Book online
$40.00 - $75.00

Duration 1.5 Hours

USS Yorktown Paranormal Investigation

duration: 2 Hours cancellation_summary: Tickets can be refunded up until 24 hours prior to start time meeting_point: 40 Patriots Point Rd Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 accessibility: This tour is not handicapped accessible. pricing: **Adult**...

Monkey Safari

Hilton Head Helicopter Tours

Book online
$369.00

Come see this magnificent fort, beaches and property from the air! Duration - **45 minutes** About - Along the way you will see old lighthouses, breath-taking coastal views of the Low Country, and small remote islands only few have ever...

Ocean View

Hilton Head Helicopter Tours

Book online
$39.00

duration: 8 miles cancellation_summary: Customers will receive a full refund within 48 hours of notice of cancellation meeting_point: 38 Gateway circle HHI,SC 29926 accessibility: Stroller and Wheelchair accessible description: Get ready for an...

North Carolina Maritime Museum at Beaufort

Dive into a wealth of coastal artifacts, folklore, and legendary figures with a visit to the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort. Operating as one of three maritime museums along coastal NC, this distinctive site is known for its unique...

Fort Sumter

Fort Sumter, a historic site which can be viewed from virtually any point along the Charleston Harbor, is one of the most recognizable landmarks in this history-rich southern city. Easily one of the most famous forts of the Civil War, the Fort...

NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher

The fascinating galleries throughout this extensive complex encourage visitors of all ages to meet and mingle with their aquatic neighbors, from interactive exhibits to "touch tanks" where patrons can have personal encounters with local bamboo...

Joseph Manigault House

A treasure of a home that is managed by The Charleston Museum, the Joseph Manigault House is a prime example of Charleston's hardworking efforts to protect the relics of its lush, although often somber, past. The grand three story home is considered...

Cape Lookout Lighthouse

The Cape Lookout Lighthouse is one of the most distinctive lighthouses along the Outer Banks coastline, due to its black and white diamond-patterned exterior, as well as its remote location along the Cape Lookout National Seashore. Accessible only...

Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park

Mitchelville Freedom Park is a deeply meaningful and historically rich destination that offers both a scenic natural setting and a powerful connection to America’s past. Located on the northern end of the island near Port Royal Sound, this...

Oak Island Lighthouse

The Oak Island Lighthouse and Coast Guard station have a long history together, and the tall lighthouse tower stands as a welcoming beacon to visitors who head to these picturesque shores. As the newest lighthouse in North Carolina, the distinctive...

Belhaven Memorial Museum

The Belhaven Memorial Museum clearly holds the title as one of the most distinctive and unique museums in Eastern North Carolina, with a collection that includes historical artifacts, scientific oddities, and everything in between.

John Mark Verdier House

The John Mark Verdier House Museum is a wonderfully engaging Downtown Beaufort attraction for a wide variety of reasons. As the only historic planter's house in the city open to the public, the 1804 estate presents an accurate portrait of how...

Fort Johnston - Southport Museum

Fort Johnston is a remarkable visitors’ center and museum that has deep historic roots in the early years of Southport’s long and storied history. Located on the edge of the waterfront downtown area along Bay Street, the stoic and regal...

Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim

The Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Synagogue, a famous icon just off of Market Street, has a fitting place among Charleston's long list of historical churches and buildings as the county's second oldest Synagogue, and the oldest Synagogue that remains in...

Fort Howell

Visitors who are expecting a grand and perfectly preserved Civil War fort may be disappointed when they make a visit to Fort Howell, but patrons who love a unique bit of history with accompanying earthen remnants, as well as a gorgeous wooded...

Beaufort National Cemetery

The Beaufort National Cemetery is a somber but historically important site located in the heart of Beaufort County. Quietly beautiful, with the region's renowned live oaks towering over the lines of small, white headstones, the cemetery holds a...

Georgetown County Museum

The Georgetown County Museum, located in the heart of downtown close to the Rice Museum, the waterfront, and a collection of local marinas, is a must-stop destination for any history buff who wants an inside look into this town's unique and...

Bald Head Island Lighthouse - Old Baldy

It's hard to confuse the Old Baldy Lighthouse with the other Carolina lighthouses that guard the Eastern Seaboard. The unique structure has undergone some interesting natural and manmade changes during its nearly 200 year lifespan, but many visitors...

Rice Museum

The Rice Museum is a fascinating treasure within the Downtown Georgetown scene which is impossible to miss, and hard to forget. Detailing one of the darkest periods in American history, with a mixture of local prominent residents and maritime...

Rainbow Row

Rainbow Row is a famous historical Charleston neighborhood that certainly lives up to its name. The collection of brightly-colored homes, which are stacked side by side, is arguably one of the most photographed sections of the city, and attracts...

North Carolina Estuarium

The North Carolina Estuarium is one of the highlights of Little Washington's downtown scene, and for good reason. The 12,500 square foot structure, which has served as an educational center since it was first managed by the Partnership for the...

Fort Fisher State Recreation Area

Enjoy miles of pristine beaches, salt marshes, and scenic views in every direction with a visit to Fort Fisher State Recreation Area. Located just south of Kure Beach, and renowned for its 6 miles of undeveloped shoreline, this sunny beach...

Jarvis Mansion

The Jarvis Mansion is a small and hard-to-find bed and breakfast located along a quiet portion of New Bern's main Pollock Street, just a block or so away from the scenic waterfront. The historic two-story white home, built around the turn of the...

Shelter Cove Veterans Memorial

Veterans Memorial Park is a quiet and reverent green space dedicated to honoring the service and sacrifice of the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. Located near Shelter Cove, the park provides a peaceful setting where visitors can...

Roanoke River Lighthouse

Edenton visitors who haven't explored this northern corner of the Inner Banks in a few years may be surprised to find a new, stunning structure perched above the open sound-facing waters of Edenton Harbor. This remarkable site is the Roanoke River...

Museum of the Albemarle

The Museum of the Albemarle is considered the showpiece of downtown Elizabeth City, and is a must-stop for any new explorer of North Carolina's "Inner Banks." Located along the waterfront within a sprawling and stately green-roofed complex, the...

Fort Moultrie

Fort Moultrie, one of the oldest still-standing forts along the Eastern Seaboard, is a "must see" destination for history buffs. The low-laying coastal structure, which encompasses a large parcel of Atlantic Ocean bordering beaches on the southern...

Coastal Discovery Museum

A fascinating find off the beach, the Coastal Discovery Museum is sure to engage Hilton Head visitors of all ages, with a world of indoor and outdoor exhibits, all found on the site of a rich coastal ecosystem. With a series of exhibits that are...

Hunting Island State Park

The Hunting Island State Park comprises the entirety of the famed Hunting Island, and is a family-friendly beach destination with a big reputation. As the most visited state park in all of South Carolina, the 5,000 acre undeveloped barrier island...

Miss Kitty's Old Time Photos & Gifts

Old Time Photos on the Outer Banks by Miss Kitty's are Fun, Affordable with a variety of costumes from infant to adult and custom-built sets, there is something for everyone. 

Penelope Barker House

The Barker House, the notable residence of one of Edenton's most famous citizens of all time, Penelope Barker, is a stunning attraction in more ways than one. The stately white home with a unique brick base and three stories of elite living space is...

Nathaniel Russell House

The Nathaniel Russell House Museum has a reputation that has garnered it both regional and national familiarity and significance, and which has earned it a place of honor as one of the most distinctive buildings in Charleston. Serving as the home...

Ocracoke Island Lighthouse

The Ocracoke Island Lighthouse may not be the most imposing of the Outer Banks lighthouses, but as North Carolina's oldest lighthouse in operation, (and the second oldest in the United States), it is certainly one of the most beloved. At just 65...

Sullivan's Island Lighthouse

The Sullivan's Island Lighthouse, also commonly known as "Charleston Light" holds a unique title in Carolina Lighthouse lore as one of the most modern lighthouses in the country. The unique triangular and slim structure, which is broken up into two...

Fort Fisher State Historic Site

Clean and uncluttered beaches and a remarkable local history combine to make the Fort Fisher State Historic Site one of coastal North Carolina's most treasured barrier island attractions. This incredible locale, just miles away from Carolina Beach...

Circular Congregational Church

History is embedded in Charleston's culture, and the Circular Congregational Church is a prime example of how this sometimes stormy and always fascinating history can be beautifully brought to life, and easily enjoyed by any strolling passerby. One...

Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon

The Old Exchange is one of the most visited historic sites in Charleston, both for its grand stature as one of the colonies' earliest statuesque public buildings, and its unique array of interior assets - including the famous Provost Dungeon in the...

Asa Biggs House

The home of one of North Carolina's best known jurists and politicians, it has an interesting blend of Federal and Greek Revival details. Its awkward symmetry and rambling plan lend credence to local legend that Biggs added a room with the birth of...

Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Visitors to Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands will simultaneously be visiting the gorgeous Cape Hatteras National Seashore. One of the largest preserved parcels of the Outer Banks, the National Seashore stretches across 70 miles of shoreline...

Miles Brewton House

The Miles Brewton House may seem, at first glance, one of many impressively grand and antique southern mansions that line the downtown streets of Charleston, but this home is a favorite among any guided or self-led walking tour for both its story...

City Market

New Charleston visitors are often advised to start their regional tour with a visit to the historic City Market, a massive four block meeting place that sells homegrown goods and exquisitely crafted arts and crafts from all over the low country. A...

William Aiken House

Washington Square and Meeting Street visitors are encouraged to take a minute's stroll over to Elizabeth Street to admire the Governor William Aiken House, also known as the Aiken-Rhett House. The sprawling home is a treasure in Charleston, and...

Fort Macon State Park

Fort Macon State Park, located outside the eastern borders of Atlantic Beach, is one of the most visited and highly acclaimed destinations along the Crystal Coast, and for good reason. The expansive 389 acre park, which features gorgeous inlet...

Oriental Hisory Museum

The Oriental History Museum is one of Oriental's "newest" attractions, and since opening its storefront doors less than a decade ago, the museum has welcomed thousands of visitors in search of an inside-look of Oriental's celebrated maritime...

New Bern Firemans Museum

The New Bern Fire Department began as a fraternal organization and was originally called the "Atlantic Hook & Ladder Company," and was the first chartered fire department in the state of North Carolina. This original company became inactive...

St. John the Baptist Church

The towering Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is one of Charleston's premier religious structures, and arguably one of its busiest. With daily mass, multiple Sunday masses, and a heavy schedule of calendar of events, this gothic chapel is likely to...

Old Brunswick County Jail Museum

Take a trip back in time without ever leaving the heart of Southport for a fascinating and educational visit to the stoic Old Brunswick County Jail Museum. Found within a multi-story brick building on the corner of Nash and Rhett Streets, this...

Middleton Place

Enchanting gardens, interactive history, and breathtaking views abound at Middleton Place, one of the top-ranked attractions by Charleston newcomers and seasoned vacationers alike.

St. Helena's Episcopal Church

Visitors to historic Beaufort typically can't help but notice the distinguished St. Helena's Episcopal Church, a beautiful site with a sky-high steeple that towers over the lush, evergreen scene. In addition to its exterior beauty, the church has...

Soak up the centuries-old history of beautiful Beaufort with a visit to the Beaufort Historic Site. Renowned as the third oldest town in North Carolina, there’s a lot of history to explore in this quiet Southern Outer Banks community, and...

The USS Battleship North Carolina is an unmistakable site in Downtown Wilmington. Taking up a large portion of the waterfront docks, this historic World War II moveable landmark is a must-see for Cape Fear vacationers.

Thomson Park is a peaceful, historically significant waterfront space that offers visitors a quiet place to relax while reflecting on the island’s rich past. Tucked away near the western end of the island, this small but meaningful park sits...

Port City Tour Co. is your destination for entertainment, education, talented acting, and history! We can also deliver a catered experience for your special events.   From cool off-shore shelling and wild horse adventures to close-to-home...

**The Cape Fear Museum is temporairily closed while it moves to a new location at 230 Grace St. downtown Wilmington. Opening Summer 2026! The Cape Fear Museum, (shorthand for the Cape Fear Museum of History and Science), has been educating and...

Visitors can celebrate Wilmington's deep-rooted history in trade with a visit to the historic Cotton Exchange. The complex of eight buildings features over 30 shops and restaurants that are worthy of exploration, and will provide an enjoyable...

Foliage fans and gardening enthusiasts from all over the country will love a day trip to the Elizabethan Gardens. Tucked away in Manteo within the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, this 10 acre Roanoke soundfront locale is home to hundreds of...

The small but well-stocked Wrightsville Beach Museum of History is a charming little attraction that may not take very long to explore, but nevertheless presents a complete and fascinating portrait of this surprisingly long-standing beach town.

With Wilmington's distinguished history as a thriving port community, few folks recognize at first that part of this reputation stemmed from its legacy as a bustling railroad center. In fact, for well over 125 years, railroading was the top industry...

E-BIKE TOURS — An Experience For All Levels! Our goal is to make you feel like a local as you explore all Wilmington has to offer. If you’re looking to check out some of the best breweries in town, visit unique neighborhoods, and take in...

The Attmore-Oliver House is a unique destination on a historic Downtown New Bern walking tour, and is a stately 1790 home that has been transformed into a small museum, as well as the home base of the New Bern Historical Society administrative...

Inside, the Aycock Brown Welcome Center is a treasure trove of area information, and visitors will find hundreds of pamphlets on local attractions and activities, area menus, vacation rental and real estate catalogs, and local guide books. In...

Commune with nature and take photos of the pristine Outer Banks!

Bald Head Historic Island Tours works in conjunction with the Old Baldy Foundation to introduce Cape Fear vacationers to the historic Bald Head Island, or “Old Baldy” lighthouse. Located on a 10-acre site on the secluded Bald Head...

Take a trip back in time and embark on an exploration of one of the East Coast’s oldest lighthouses with a visit to “Old Baldy,” or more formally, the Bald Head Island Lighthouse. Located on the western heart of Bald Head Island...

A tempting spot for both art lovers and history buffs, the Bank of the Arts is an eye-catching site in downtown New Bern that’s as renowned for its impressive façade as it is for its wealth of ever-changing attractions and activities.

There's a reason why Beaufort earned the title of the "Coolest Small Town in the USA" by national publication Budget Travel Magazine, and one of the driving forces behind this honor is Beaufort's dedicated preservation of its history, orchestrated...

Regardless of whether visitors are exploring the Beaufort Old Burying Ground via one of the area’s in-depth and fascinating tours, or simply passing by on a self-guided expedition of the historic Downtown area, the site is certainly worth a...

When driving or strolling past the Bellamy Mansion, visitors are often transported back to a different time, when the Antebellum South was in full prestige, and Wilmington was a bustling, pre-Civil War port town. Located on Market Street, just...

The Burgwin-Wright House and Gardens is the oldest and largest historic site in downtown Wilmington.  They’re eight colonial structures left in Wilmington, four on are the property. Three ballast stone buildings, circa 1744, once the city...