1. Fish, Fish, And More Fish
The perfect place to spend an afternoon with the family, South Carolina Aquarium is one of the hottest attractions in Charleston. With over 60 unique aquatic habitats and their giant 385,000-gallon “Great Ocean Tank,” this place is definitely worth the visit.
2. Play Ball!
For a really fun way to spend an evening, cheer on the local minor league baseball team, the Charleston RiverDogs, at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park. They might not be the best team around, but their games are a blast.
3. Park Yourself At This Park
One of the most popular parks in the area, a visit to the Waterfront Park is a great way to get acquainted with Charleston. Offering great views of the harbor, visitors can watch boats roll in as their children splash around in the nearby fountains.
4. Go To War!
A visit to the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum is an exciting experience for people of all ages. Not only do you get to see the enormous USS Yorktown, there are also tons of other artifacts, planes, and submarines you can check out as well.
5. Take A Mini-Cruise
One of the coolest ways to see Charleston is by boat and there’s no better way to catch a ride on the water than with the Charleston Water Taxi.
Offering a ferrying service, dolphin tours, and sightseeing cruises, the entire family will have a great time with this activity…as long as no one gets seasick.
6. Take In A Little History
A trip to Fort Sumter National Monument never disappoints. The place where the first shots of the Civil War were fired, visitors get a first-hand look at the effects of war, able to touch battle scarred walls and giant cannons.
7. Feed Your Creative Side
If you’re looking for a great hands-on experience that will get your kids thinking, a trip to the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry can’t be skipped. Visitors here get a close and personal look at medieval castles, pirates, and puppets, among other things.
8. Hit The Beaches!
Don’t forget about beach days when you’re looking for fun things to do. A trip to a place where you can put your toes in the sand is something that never gets old and everyone in the family is sure to love getting out in that warm ocean sun.
A couple close spots that are great for families are the Folly Beach County Park and the Beachwalker Park on Kiawah Island.
9. Get Some Fresh Air
Overlooking Fort Sumter, Battery Park & White Point Gardens is one of the most beautiful areas of Charleston. With plenty of green space, a trip here is perfect for a picnic or just basking in some rays.
10. Catch Up With Some Prisoners
If you’re looking to check out something that’s a bit out of the ordinary, stop by the Old Exchange Building and Provost Dungeon. Here you can walk the halls of a very historic building while hearing tales of pirates and other prisoners that were held there from the very knowledgeable staff.
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11. Don’t Be Afraid To Get A Little Swampy
A trip to Cypress Gardens is every kid’s dream, with swamp boat rides and reptile exhibits, among other attractions. There’s a reason a few of the spots here might look familiar, this place has been featured in several movies like The Notebook and The Patriot.
12. Show Off Your Skating Skills
A great way for kids to get plenty of exercise while having fun, ice-skating never gets old. If you’re looking for a rink in Charleston, Carolina Ice Palace is your best bet. Plus, this place usually has tons of youth skating programs that you can take advantage of.
13. Make Something Awesome
When you’re looking to feed your artsy side, there’s no better place in town to do it than at Kiln’ Time. A paint-your-own pottery place, visitors find a piece they like, paint it however they want, and then leave it behind for a day or two to bake.
Not only is it a fun time while you’re there, you get a tangible keepsake to help you remember the experience.
14. Pet Some Adorable Little Creatures
When it comes to awesome attractions, the Magnolia Plantation has it all. Known around town for their petting zoo, they also offer canoe rentals, boat rides, and access to the Audubon Swamp Garden, a refuge for many unique birds and other animals, like alligators.
15. Feed Your Need For Speed
Next time your family is looking for a bit of a rush, head straight towards Frankie’s Fun Park. With cool activities like bumper cars, go-carts, and batting cages, your first time here probably won’t be your last.
16. Go For A Stroll
A little over 2 miles from end to end, the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge is one of the best places to take a walk in the city. Providing breathtaking views from behind high guard rails, there’s even a little park on the Mt. Pleasant side to enjoy after making the trek.
17. Add A Little Culture To Your Life
Lasting over two weeks, few festivals in the country are more eventful than the Spoleto Festival, named after Charleston’s sister city in Italy. Featuring 17 days of theater, music, and dance, spanning from the end of May into early June, this is one annual event that can’t be missed.
18. Spend A Day At The Plantation
A plantation nestled in Dorchester County, Middleton Place gives visitors a real look at South Carolina’s past. You’re able to tour the giant house that’s still on the site, now filled with artifacts, as well as beautiful gardens and animal filled stables.
Sometimes, they’ll even give you the chance to milk one of their cows.
19. Get Into Spirit For The Holiday Season
A tour that features over 700 light displays lit with over 2 million bulbs, the Charleston’s Holiday Festival of Lights is worth seeing with the family at least once a year.
It’s not just a driving light tour either, they’ve also got giant sand sculptures, intricately handmade gingerbread houses, and a place called Santa’s Sweet Shoppe with some of the best treats around.
20. Everyone Loves Animals, Right?
If you’re feeling like you need a little dose of wildlife in your life, the Animal Forest at Charles Towne Landing is definitely worth checking out. With roughly 22 acres of replicated natural habitats for animals like pumas, bison, and bears, this isn’t just your typical zoo.
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21. Save A Cab, Ride A Carriage
One of the coolest ways to explore downtown Charleston, a carriage ride for the family is never a bad idea. You’ll get pulled down cobblestone streets while the guide tells you tons of cool fun facts about the city you love.
22. Start Raising A History Buff
While very young kids might not enjoy this as much as some of the other items on this list, if you’ve got teens interested in history or architecture, Drayton Hall is a pretty cool stop to make.
At home on a plantation outside of Charleston, the house there that’s still standing after the Revolutionary and Civil wars is a sweet example of the Palladian architecture that was popular several hundred years ago.
23. Read A Book
You don’t have to be out exploring all the time to have a great day with your family. Charleston happens to have a great public library system with tons of reading programs and interactive story time sessions perfect for kids.
24. Fire Trucks Used To Be Horse Drawn?
One of the most unique museums in the area, your kids are sure to love a trip to the Fire Truck Museum. Featuring a huge collection of restored fire trucks, they’ve got everything from very old horse powered vehicles to the bright red ones like what you see on the roads today.
25. Get Wet And Wild
It’s always worth making the trip to James Island County Park during the warmer months of the year. Not only is this place home to Splash Zone Water Park, there’s also plenty of fishing, hiking trails, and even a rock wall.
26. See Paintings From The Greats
Learn the stories of the South Carolina Lowcountry area through art at the Gibbes Museum. This museum features all sorts of cool things like paintings, sculptures, and photographs from local artists working to capture the history and culture of the Charleston area and beyond.
27. Festivals Are Always Fun
Bringing some of the best bluegrass bands around to the Charleston area, the Sweet Grass Music Festival is worth checking out even if you’re not a big fan of the blue grass genre. Filled with tons of people having a great time, this is one event the whole family is sure to love.
28. Grab Some Fresh Seafood
Whether you’re looking to grab a delicious bite to eat, relaxing while you watch some shrimp boats hard at work, or hoping to spot a dolphin, the Shem Creek area is a great place to do it.
With plenty of walking space and benches, as well as shops and restaurants, a trip here is always entertaining and it doesn’t have to break your bank.
29. Practice Your Golf Swing
Everyone loves putt-putt right? If you’ve got a competitive family, one of the best places to play a little mini golf in the Charleston area is Blackbeard’s Cove Family Fun Park. They’ve got some sweet decorations and their holes have the perfect amount of difficulty.
Swinging clubs not your thing? Blackbeard’s also has a rock wall, go-karts, and an arcade
30. Blast Your Family With Lasers!
What makes for a better family bonding experience than shooting guns at each other, right? GloZone has one of the coolest laser tag courses around and as long as everyone in your family is at least 42” inches tall (there’s a height requirement), you’re sure to have a great time here.
