We regularly welcome a large number of school groups to the gallery, and over time we’ve found that these two walking routes tend to work especially well. They’re easy to follow, full of great Charleston landmarks, and give students a mix of art, history, and outdoor space.
If you’re looking for a simple, straightforward Queen Street walk:
Start by parking in the bus parking area in front of the Customs House on Concord Street. From there, walk over to the fountain at Waterfront Park, then head up Queen Street.
Make a stop at Robert Lange Studios, and continue along Queen Street past Philadelphia Alley, the Queen Street Theater, and Dock Street. Along the way, you’ll also see both the Huguenot Church and St. Philip’s Church before heading toward Meeting Street.
Two lunch options:
Option 1:
Walk through the downstairs exhibit, which is always free, at the Gibbes Museum of Art, then have lunch in their courtyard, which is also free and open to school groups—no check-in required. If you want to see the whole museum call ahead. They often have a resident artist, you can ask questions and view the studio spaces.
After lunch, head back via Chalmers Street (a historic cobblestone street where you’ll find the Pink House and the Old Slave Mart), then walk down Unity Alley—where George Washington once stayed—and return to the Pineapple Fountain and Waterfront Park to relax before departure.
Option 2:
Walk over to Washington Square for a great picnic-style lunch spot. Afterward, take the same return route via Chalmers Street (passing the Pink House and Old Slave Mart), then down Unity Alley, and back to the Pineapple Fountain and Waterfront Park to spend any remaining time before heading out.
