![\"30](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/05\/charleston-family\/cf-1.png\")
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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 \u201cGreat Ocean Tank,\u201d this place is definitely worth the visit.<\/p>\n
![\"30](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/05\/charleston-family\/cf-2.png\")
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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.<\/p>\n
![\"30](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/05\/charleston-family\/cf-3.png\")
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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.<\/p>\n
![\"30](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/05\/charleston-family\/cf-4.png\")
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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.<\/p>\n
![\"30](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/05\/charleston-family\/cf-5.png\")
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One of the coolest ways to see Charleston is by boat and there\u2019s no better way to catch a ride on the water than with the Charleston Water Taxi.
\nOffering a ferrying service, dolphin tours, and sightseeing cruises, the entire family will have a great time with this activity\u2026as long as no one gets seasick.<\/p>\n
![\"30](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/05\/charleston-family\/cf-6.png\")
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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.<\/p>\n
![\"30](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/05\/charleston-family\/cf-7.png\")
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If you\u2019re looking for a great hands-on experience that will get your kids thinking, a trip to the Children\u2019s Museum of the Lowcountry can\u2019t be skipped. Visitors here get a close and personal look at medieval castles, pirates, and puppets, among other things.<\/p>\n
![\"30](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/05\/charleston-family\/cf-8.png\")
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Don\u2019t forget about beach days when you\u2019re 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.
\nA couple close spots that are great for families are the Folly Beach County Park and the Beachwalker Park on Kiawah Island.<\/p>\n
![\"30](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/05\/charleston-family\/cf-9.png\")
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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.<\/p>\n
![\"30](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/05\/charleston-family\/cf-10.png\")
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If you\u2019re looking to check out something that\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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![\"30](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/05\/charleston-family\/cf-11.png\")
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A trip to Cypress Gardens is every kid\u2019s dream, with swamp boat rides and reptile exhibits, among other attractions. There\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
![\"30](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/05\/charleston-family\/cf-12.png\")
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A great way for kids to get plenty of exercise while having fun, ice-skating never gets old. If you\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n
![\"30](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/05\/charleston-family\/cf-13.png\")
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When you\u2019re looking to feed your artsy side, there\u2019s no better place in town to do it than at Kiln\u2019 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.
\nNot only is it a fun time while you\u2019re there, you get a tangible keepsake to help you remember the experience.<\/p>\n
![\"30](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/05\/charleston-family\/cf-14.png\")
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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.<\/p>\n
![\"30](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/05\/charleston-family\/cf-15.png\")
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Next time your family is looking for a bit of a rush, head straight towards Frankie\u2019s Fun Park. With cool activities like bumper cars, go-carts, and batting cages, your first time here probably won\u2019t be your last.<\/p>\n
![\"30](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/05\/charleston-family\/cf-16.png\")
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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\u2019s even a little park on the Mt. Pleasant side to enjoy after making the trek.<\/p>\n
![\"30](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/05\/charleston-family\/cf-17.png\")
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Lasting over two weeks, few festivals in the country are more eventful than the Spoleto Festival, named after Charleston\u2019s 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\u2019t be missed.<\/p>\n
![\"30](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/05\/charleston-family\/cf-18.png\")
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A plantation nestled in Dorchester County, Middleton Place gives visitors a real look at South Carolina\u2019s past. You\u2019re able to tour the giant house that\u2019s still on the site, now filled with artifacts, as well as beautiful gardens and animal filled stables.
\nSometimes, they\u2019ll even give you the chance to milk one of their cows.<\/p>\n
![\"30](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/05\/charleston-family\/cf-19.png\")
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A tour that features over 700 light displays lit with over 2 million bulbs, the Charleston\u2019s Holiday Festival of Lights is worth seeing with the family at least once a year.
\nIt\u2019s not just a driving light tour either, they\u2019ve also got giant sand sculptures, intricately handmade gingerbread houses, and a place called Santa\u2019s Sweet Shoppe with some of the best treats around.<\/p>\n
![\"30](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/05\/charleston-family\/cf-20.png\")
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If you\u2019re 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\u2019t just your typical zoo.<\/p>\n
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![\"30](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/05\/charleston-family\/cf-21.png\")
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One of the coolest ways to explore downtown Charleston, a carriage ride for the family is never a bad idea. You\u2019ll get pulled down cobblestone streets while the guide tells you tons of cool fun facts about the city you love.<\/p>\n
![\"30](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/05\/charleston-family\/cf-22.png\")
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While very young kids might not enjoy this as much as some of the other items on this list, if you\u2019ve got teens interested in history or architecture, Drayton Hall is a pretty cool stop to make.
\nAt home on a plantation outside of Charleston, the house there that\u2019s still standing after the Revolutionary and Civil wars is a sweet example of the Palladian architecture that was popular several hundred years ago.<\/p>\n
![\"30](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/05\/charleston-family\/cf-23.png\")
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You don\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n
![\"30](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/05\/charleston-family\/cf-24.png\")
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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\u2019ve got everything from very old horse powered vehicles to the bright red ones like what you see on the roads today.<\/p>\n
![\"30](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/05\/charleston-family\/cf-25.png\")
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It\u2019s 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\u2019s also plenty of fishing, hiking trails, and even a rock wall.<\/p>\n
![\"30](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/05\/charleston-family\/cf-26.png\")
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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.<\/p>\n
![\"30](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/05\/charleston-family\/cf-27.png\")
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Bringing some of the best bluegrass bands around to the Charleston area, the Sweet Grass Music Festival is worth checking out even if you\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n
![\"30](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/05\/charleston-family\/cf-28.png\")
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Whether you\u2019re 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.
\nWith plenty of walking space and benches, as well as shops and restaurants, a trip here is always entertaining and it doesn\u2019t have to break your bank.<\/p>\n
![\"30](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/05\/charleston-family\/cf-29.png\")
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Everyone loves putt-putt right? If you\u2019ve got a competitive family, one of the best places to play a little mini golf in the Charleston area is Blackbeard\u2019s Cove Family Fun Park. They\u2019ve got some sweet decorations and their holes have the perfect amount of difficulty.
\nSwinging clubs not your thing? Blackbeard\u2019s also has a rock wall, go-karts, and an arcade<\/p>\n
![\"30](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/05\/charleston-family\/cf-30.png\")
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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\u201d inches tall (there\u2019s a height requirement), you\u2019re sure to have a great time here.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
1. Fish, Fish, And More Fish Source: Flickr User harryalverson 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 \u201cGreat Ocean Tank,\u201d this place is definitely worth the visit. 2. Play Ball! Source: Charleston RiverDogs via Facebook (cropped) 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. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":41307,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[61],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41304","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opinions","post--single"],"yoast_head":"\n