Where to Wednesday: Charleston, SC

Top 10 Family Friendly Things to Experience in 

Charleston, South Carolina

By: Lyla Gleason

Southern charm, delicious meals, great shopping and family friendly attractions make Charleston, South Carolina a nice choice for a multi-generational getaway. Kids will especially enjoy the many candy, cupcake and ice cream shops and everyone will like strolling along King Street and exploring around the City Market area. My mom, daughter and I visited Charleston for four days and we packed a lot into our southern getaway. Read on for my favorite family friendly suggestions.

Girls Gone South Part 2: Family Friendly Charleston, South Carolina

Family Friendly Charleston, South Carolina: South Carolina Aquarium

1) South Carolina Aquarium

My daughter is obsessed with dolphins and sea creatures so this waterfront aquarium was a big hit. The exhibits were very well done with several interactive displays, touch tanks and play areas. The floor-to-ceiling fish tanks towered over my daughter who ran from window to window checking out the pretty fish, sharks, turtles and other animals. The Madagascar Journey area was especially fun as children get a passport to stamp as they explore the exhibit. The aquarium is relatively small and easy to navigate in an hour or two making it a great option for families with small kids. Be sure to check out the famed Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge views from the lookout decks.

Family Friendly Charleston, South Carolina: Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry

2) Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry

Little kids really need some unscheduled time to run around on vacation and if the weather isn’t cooperating, a children’s museum is always a great option. This museum is fairly large (yet uncrowded by New York standards for a rainy day) with several fun, interactive sections (a boat, a science area, a water area, an arts and crafts area, a castle, a mini-supermarket, etc.) to explore. If you ask my daughter, she will probably say this was her favorite part of our trip. Look for BOGO coupons in the visitor’s guide before you go.

Family Friendly Charleston, South Carolina: Charleston Harbor Tours

3) Charleston Harbor Tours

Sightseeing by sea is a great idea for kids of all ages. We boarded the Carolina Belle for a 90-minute narrated harbor tour which is a good way to get your bearings as you sail by Charleston and famed attractions like Fort Sumter, USS Yorktown and the stately waterfront homes on the Battery. The scenery is stunning but my daughter’s favorite part were several dolphin sightings along the way.

Family Friendly Charleston, South Carolina: Palmetto Carriage Works

4) Palmetto Carriage Works

The best way to see some of Charleston’s charming neighborhoods is by foot but kids often tire of walking so we opted for a horse and carriage tour. Our driver kept us entertained as he pointed out historic sights and described the area’s different neighborhoods. The one-hour tour was just long enough without boring the kids who especially enjoyed learning about the horses.

Family Friendly Charleston, South Carolina: Waterfront Park and Pineapple Fountain

5) Waterfront Park

A trip to Charleston is not complete without a visit to the city’s famed Pineapple Fountain and Waterfront Park.  You’ll find several large family sized swings, grassy areas, scenic lookout points, waterfront paths and the gigantic Pineapple Fountain where tourists (and locals) are invited to wade. My daughter jumped right in and had a ball dancing around. If you like to take pictures on vacation, this is an awesome backdrop.

Family Friendly Charleston, South Carolina: The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon

6) The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon

Take in some history at this family friendly spot showcasing various aspects of Charleston’s history during the Colonial and Revolutionary eras. Children and adults will enjoy the Provost Dungeon where docents lead you through its eerie confines with entertaining tales of pirates and patriots. My daughter was a little spooked by the dungeon so we spent most of our time upstairs “signing” the Declaration of Independence but older children will love it.

7) Culinary Tour of Charleston

Since my mom is a big foodie, I booked us on a Culinary Tour with Bulldog Tours. While this 2.5 hour tour is not recommended for children under 12, my 5-year old daughter has taken foodie tours in NYC so I figured she’d be ok (I also had crayons and a coloring book just in case).  Our guide was super informative and the many shops and restaurants we stopped in were all very accommodating to our group. This was a great way to sample some of the area’s famous flavors including: stone ground grits, Charleston Benne Wafers, locally made chocolates, southern pralines, sweet tea, collard greens, Lowcountry barbeque, spices, teas and more. We all had a great time and I highly recommend this if you’re a foodie family.

Family Friendly Charleston, South Carolina: Charleston Museum

8) The Charleston Museum

This museum, founded in 1773, is relatively large with a very wide mix of historic artifacts (think Revolutionary and Civil War armory and uniforms, ancient Egypt, Rome and Greek art, dinosaur tracks, slavery badges and more), interactive exhibits, life sized animals and skeletons (and a gigantic whale bone frame) and an engaging kids section. My daughter insisted we all dress up in the hoop dresses and I loved watching her prance around like it was 1800-something. If you’ve got children in elementary or middle school, this is definitely a great spot to visit.

Family Friendly Charleston, South Carolina: Getting Around Town

9) Ride the trolley and pedicabs

Charleston boasts a free downtown trolley service called DASH (Downtown Area Shuttle) which has several routes connecting to most of Charleston’s attractions. This is a great resource for traveling families since adults don’t need to deal with directions or parking and kids will love riding the trolly. Once you get your bearings, it is very easy to navigate and I was so surprised by the nice, patient drivers. Another fun way to get around (especially at night) is by pedi-cab. Just have the restaurant call you one and within minutes, your chariot (and warm blanket) will whisk you right up to your hotel’s front door. Now that’s what I call Southern hospitality!

Family Friendly Charleston, South Carolina: Dining in Charleston

Eat, eat, eat

Charleston has a wide range of restaurants offering everything from Southern fare and Lowcountry barbecue to high-end dining and dive-diners.  We sampled several family-friendly restaurants and I was impressed with their kids menus (featuring Hush Puppies and Charleston history word searches) and staff. Some of my favorites were Magnolias (Southern fare), Peninsula Grill (Fancy with must have Coconut Cake), Virginia’s on King (Southern comfort food), Fleet Landing (classic seafood favorites with a view), Fish (innovative, high end seafood) and Dixie Supply Bakery & Cafe (casual Southern fare for breakfast and lunch).

What are your favorite family friendly spots to visit in Charleston?