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Charleston with Children – Part 1

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It’s hard to believe we’re shopping for school supplies already. It seems the summer barely started! But there’s still a little time to squeeze in some fun before the school bell rings. Whether you live in Charleston or need one last weekend getaway, we have tons of activities for families and children of all ages.

In our two-part blog series we’ll share some of our favorite kid-friendly things to do in Charleston. Help us add to the list: post a comment here or share some ideas and photos on our Facebook page.

Photo/South Carolina Aquarium

South Carolina Aquarium

One of Charleston’s most popular attractions, the South Carolina Aquarium is a perfect pick on a particularly steamy Charleston day. The aquarium showcases wildlife found locally and around the state of South Carolina. Rotating exhibits highlight creatures from afar. The newest exhibit is “Madagascar Journey,” and the stars of the show are four ring-tailed lemurs who keep visitors entertained leaping from rope to rope. Ring-tailed lemurs live in rainforests and deciduous forests located in southern Madagascar, but they are threatened by habitat loss. The aquarium also has a Sea Turtle Hospital, which you can tour for an additional fee. Be sure to check out the schedule of daily activities, including interactive dive shows in the great ocean tank.

Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site

Charles Towne Landing, the birthplace of the Carolinas in 1670, is a great place for children of all ages. Older children will enjoy exploring the “Adventure,” a 17th-century replica trading vessel, docked at the park and available for tours. If you have younger ones in your family, visit the Animal Forest, a natural habitat zoo that is home to the species of animals those original settlers would have encountered in their new homeland – bison, puma and black bear. The park has 7 miles of nature trails, all of which, are open to bikes (no bikes in the Animal Forest, though). Strollers are available free of charge.

The park hosts a number of events throughout the year, including living history demonstrations and monthly 17th-century cannon firing demonstrations. This way you can sneak in some history lessons among the fun.

Photo/Children's Museum of the Lowcountry

Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry

The Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry is geared toward children ages 3 months to 12 years with its many interactive activities (admission is free for children under 12 months). Highlights include a water area with toy boats, a pirate ship for climbing and exploring and an art center overflowing with craft supplies and paints. A toddler play area is appropriate for little visitors as is the grocery store equipped with pint-size shopping carts and vegetable bins. Be sure to check out the website for a list of regular programs, such as art classes and princess story time. Please note the museum is closed on Mondays.

Water Adventures

Older children and teenagers won’t be bored for a second on one of Charleston’s many eco adventures or water tours. Rent kayaks or stand up paddleboards for a solo water adventure. Or take a guided tour through Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant (a well-known dolphin playground) or to Morris Island to collect shells or sharks’ teeth. Check out our online list of water tour companies.

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Charleston FAQ's

Choosing a hotel and where to stay in Charleston all depends on your budget and goals. Do you want to stay Downtown, at the beach or in the outer areas such as North Charleston where you have to drive to get everywhere? For more help on deciding: https://travelerofcharleston.com/articles/hotels/

Charleston has 3 main public beaches which are: Folly, Isle of Palms and Sullivans. Each beach has it’s own atmosphere. The most common beach that people visit is Folly Beach and then Isle of Palms followed by Sullivans Island. For more info on Charleston’s beaches visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/guide-charlestons-beaches/

Charleston, SC is full of historical things to do. Everything from museums, to public sites and free landmark sites such as Rainbow Row and the Battery can be seen. For more info on Charleston’s top historical sites visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/places-to-learn-about-charleston-sc-history/

There are many things that will keep the kids and family entertained and educated in Charleston. There are historic sites such as Fort Sumter, a Children’s Museum, Aquarium and the USS Yorktown…a WWII era aircraft carrier you can tour. For more info visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-family-fun-activities/

There’s so many  things you could do in Charleston it can be overwhelming. We recommend that first time visitors, checkout the ultimate first-time visitor guide here: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-first-time-visitors-guide/

Spring in Charleston, SC is an amazing time of year to visit. The flowers are blooming and the weather is mild and sunny. For more info, check-out our spring guide to Charleston here: https://travelerofcharleston.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-springtime-in-charleston/

Summer in Charleston is a great time to visit. There’s plenty of things to keep you busy and visiting the beach will probably….or should be on your short-list. Also water-based activities and tours are popular. Checkout this summer guide to Charleston for more info: 

Our 10 Favorite Summer Activities in Charleston

Fall is one of the best times to visit. The weather cools down a bit and the skies are typically blue and clear. In addition there are many great events, festivals and the large crowds of summer have gone back to school or work. For more info on visiting in the fall, checkout this article: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-12-things-to-do-fall/

There are so many great things to do that it’s difficult to narrow the list down. This article does a great job with figuring out the must do things to do in Charleston

7 Can’t Miss Reasons to Visit Charleston, SC Now

The consensus is a minimum of 3-days is needed to settle in and experience Charleston. For instance, many people take 2 days exploring downtown and another day visiting sites outside of downtown such as the plantations, Angel Oak Tree or beaches. Checkout this page for a list of tours and attractions: 

Charleston’s Top Tours & Attractions | Things to do

Downtown Charleston was made for walking and for sure one of the best way to soak up and experience the history first-hand. This article goes over getting around Charleston with and without a car as well: 

Getting Around Charleston, SC

We’re of course partial to Charleston, but here’s the truth. There are many similarities however there are some differences in our opinion: 

  • Both cities are historic and beautiful. 
  • Both cities are extremely walkable. Savannah, with it’s park-like squares maybe more walkable than Charleston. 
  • Charleston has a more established and food scene with many more options. 
  • Charleston has better hotels and shopping.
  • Both cities have equally good tours.
  • Charleston has better beach options. Savannah has Tybee which is great, however it’s 1 beach vibe versus Charleston which has 3 beaches with different vibes. Checkout this Charleston beach guide article: https://travelerofcharleston.com/guide-charlestons-beaches/
  • In Savannah you can walk with alcoholic beverages on the street. This is not allowed in Charleston. This can be good or bad depending on your stance. 
  • Savannah is more affordable.
  • TourPass offers all-inclusive passes in both cities: https://tourpass.com

There are always great and world-class events happening in Charleston. For a calendar of events and things to do in Charleston, checkout our online calendar of events: https://travelerofcharleston.com/events/

Of course there are free money-saving coupons that you can use. Visit the coupons page for a bunch of ways to save: https://travelerofcharleston.com/coupon/

Charleston has some fantastic can’t miss tours such as Fort Sumter, carriage, ghost, harbor, historic and culinary tours. For a full list with more info visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/attractions/

Checkout the Charleston Relocation Guide page which will guide you during your move: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-sc-relocation-guide/

Additional Places to Explore

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