Featured Image Credit: Serenity Tree Yoga
Charleston is an extremely favorable city for fitness due to the warm climate, plentiful parks and beaches. There are plenty of gyms and fitness centers to get your sweat on, but with summer coming in HOT, literally, we’re taking it outdoors. Here are our five recommended spots for a killer outdoor workout in Charleston.
Hampton Park
Image Credit: Ry Glover via Roots Rated
Enjoy an amazing outdoor workout at this expansive and well-manicured park situated just next to The Citadel. The best part? It’s mostly shaded, which makes it the perfect place for a mid-day workout session, no matter what the temperature is. A 1-mile long track weaves through the park with exercise equipment every .2 miles. You can stop and do some crunches, pull-ups or sit-ups on your run or walk. If you’re on your bike, there is a designated bike lane that circles the outer edge of the park as well!
Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge
Image Credit: Southeastern Traveler
It’s no secret that the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge is a hot spot for fitness lovers in Charleston. There are always plenty of people running, walking or biking over the bridge. Just going half way up the bridge and turning around is 2.5 miles, and considering the incline, it’s a pretty amazing total body workout. If you’re on your bike, start at the downtown side, head towards Patriot’s Point and then turn around. It’s a whopping 6-10 mile ride with some amazing views of the entire city and a nice breeze as well.
West Ashley Greenway
This 10.5-mile trail (one way) is a part of the East Coast Greenway. While you’re traveling through West Ashley neighborhoods, the scenery varies from suburban to rural. Although there are a number of street crossings, you won’t find much traffic on any of them. The further west you travel on the trail, you will start to see some creeks, ponds, and wetlands. The best part about this trail is it is extremely flat. There are no hills whatsoever.
Folly Beach
If you’re looking for some water sports exercise, Folly Beach is THE place to go. There are plenty of opportunities for wakeboarding, kiteboarding, surfing, and kayaking. The Washout and The Pier are known as the best spots for surfing due to the way they are situated on the coastline. Get your “ohm” on with some beach or SUP yoga real early in the morning; it’s probably the most peaceful experience you will ever have.
Pitt Street Bridge
Image Credit: Mount Pleasant Real Estate
Pitt Street Bridge, also known as Pickett Park, offers a great escape from the city and a great exercise. It’s just a short drive off of Coleman Boulevard through an unsuspecting suburban neighborhood. The walkway offers some amazing opportunities to take in the beauty of Charleston from afar. There is also plenty of birds to see in their natural habitat which adds a nice touch to your workout as well!
These are not in any order!