Imagine swinging on the porch of an antebellum home, sweet tea in hand, wondering if you should explore some of America’s early history, indulge in some Southern comfort food, head to the beach, or stay swinging for just a little longer. Any of these of interest? You can experience all of that and more in Charleston, South Carolina. Whether you love history, shopping, sampling local cuisine, children’s activities, or the beach, there are a ton of things to do in Charleston with kids. It is my favorite city in the U.S., and an ideal vacation spot for kids. Here are just a few of the many Charleston hot spots you can visit and things you can do while strolling the brick-lined streets.
Learn in Charleston with kids
American history lovers may find no better spot in the U.S. than Charleston for learning about antebellum and Civil War history. Part of the reason we love to travel, is to learn history and culture, so it fits our criteria perfectly. It’s even better when the kids don’t ever realize that they’re absorbing info. Fort Sumter and Patriot’s Point, in particular, are perfect for that purpose.
You might remember from high school history that Fort Sumter is known as the place where the Civil War started, located just off the Charleston Harbor on a manmade island. It played a key role in the war and in the protection of Charleston. You can take a ferry out from downtown Charleston, which is a lovely boat ride, in and of itself. We even saw dolphins playing in the wake of the boat. A National Historical Park, you can do a self-tour of the fort, which has a lot of artifacts and placards with information about its influence on the Civil War. History really comes to life when you see the indentations on the bricks from bullets and cannons fired from ships attacking the Fort, which my boys thought was pretty cool. Plan to spend at least three hours here, including travel time via ferry. Admittance is free, but the boat ride is $23 for adults and $15 for children 4 to 11. Three and under are free.
Fort Moultrie is a short drive to Sullivan’s Island and was constructed back in the time of the Revolutionary War as a garrison against the British. The Fort has seen times of both action and dormancy between the late 1700s and World War II and it traces that history. Not as exciting as Fort Sumter, but a quicker trip as you can tour the grounds in about 60 minutes. Adults are just $7 each and under 15 are free.
USS Hunley -We thought this was one of the cooler and unique attractions of Charleston, albeit from a sad story. Used during the Civil War, the Hunley was the first submarine to sink a ship. However, the night that she did so, she also disappeared along with her crew. More than 100 years later, the Hunley was located in Charleston Harbor and eventually raised from the ocean floor. You can see the Hunley and learn about the possible reasons why she sank at this interesting museum. I get claustrophobic just thinking about it, but it really is fascinating. I recommend this one with kids that aren’t too interested in history as under an hour. Adults are $16, kids 6 to 17 are $8, and under 5 are free.
Explore in Charleston with kids
You can choose from several walking, boat and carriage tour operators who will guide you around the historic and scenic sites of Charleston: The Old Exchange, The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, The Battery, Rainbow Row, and the Slave Mart Museum. They are great ways to familiarize yourself with the history of the city. For the braver or those with a taste for more exotic, there are also ghost and paranormal tours at night.
Patriot’s Point Naval & Maritime Museum – There’s something about touching pieces of history that engrains a memory and significance, and Patriot’s Point’s incredible aircraft carrier does just that. Home to the decommissioned USS Yorktown, the famous aircraft carrier that served in the Pacific during World War II and the Vietnam War and recovered the Apollo 8 astronauts and capsule, Patriot’s Point also includes a submarine, destroyer, several aircraft and other military exhibits. There are only five aircraft carriers that you can tour in the U.S., so it’s worth a trip to Patriot’s Point to tour the Yorktown so that you can see how our Naval troops live on these massive ships.
Photo by Jack Schad https://www.instagram.com/k14studio/
South Carolina Aquarium – We are always up for any encounter with wildlife, so the South Carolina Aquarium is always one of our first destinations in Charleston. With more than 5,000 creatures, the South Carolina Aquarium focuses on the wildlife and sea life of South Carolina, their tanks and touch pools are a favorite for our kids – where else can you see an albino alligator? Our favorite part is that they have a sea turtle hospital where they rehab and take care of sick and injured sea turtles and then release them back into the wild.
Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry – Definitely more for kids on the younger side (maybe 7 and under), there are lots of interactive exhibits and play areas. My boys loved the big pirate ship and the castle areas when they were little, and I could not pull them away from the Publix grocery store play area. What’s really cool about their exhibits is that your kids will strike up quick friendships and play with new buddies, too.
Charleston City Market – With more than 300 vendors, you’re sure to find a great souvenir to remember your lowcountry travels at the City Market. With tons of original handicrafts, delicious food items (pickled okra and peach preserves – YUM!!!), and other wares, take a morning to browse the shops. You won’t leave empty-handed. And if you have a crew that you have to incentivize to shop, you can find sweet treats and toys mixed in, too. There are dozens of other shops along Charleston’s brick-lined streets as well where you can pick up anything from a Lily Pulitzer dress or antique clock to a book to read at the beach.
Beach in Charleston with kids
Folly Beach, Isle of Palms and a number of other lovely beaches are within minutes of Charleston. We have stayed both in town and in beach areas and love both – it just depends on what kind of vacation you want to have. You can also rent kayaks, canoes, paddleboards and even learn to surf along the beaches near Charleston. Our favorite South Carolina beach is Fripp Island. It is about 90 minutes from Charleston, so it’s not easily accessible to the city except for day trips, but it is dreamy and one of my favorite places anywhere.
Indulge in Charleston with kids
Known as a foodie’s paradise, Charleston is home to some of the best food, both Southern cooking and new South cuisine, anywhere in the world. And, although my family frequents our local, cheap Mexican restaurant more than any other establishment, we love all the restaurants that Charleston has to offer. Hyman’s Seafood is a local institution, and could be considered a bit of a tourist trap. You can expect a long wait to get in, but we typically eat here once a trip.You name your favorite ocean dweller and they have it raw, fried, blackened or sauteed. It’s really family-friendly and casual, which is part of the reason we like it. Sticky Fingers is another place we like – also great for kids and you can wear flip flops and fit right in. Its specialty is BBQ – I dream of bathing in the Carolina Gold Sauce – no joke. I buy bottles and bring them home with me. Jestine’s Kitchen is another oldie, but goodie for “Southern Food with Soul” – do not miss their fried green tomatoes and desserts. Poogan’s Porch is another favorite and the atmosphere cannot be beat as it is a former beautiful home on Queen St. and just thinking of Poogan’s is making my mouth water with visions of their heavenly biscuits.
This Southern hotspot is already on my retirement vision board. I loved it long before I had kids, and I adore it even more now that I do, and it’s the one place that we keep going back to. Charleston is perfect for a vacation with kids. While we love to be on the go when we’re on vacation and there is certainly a ton of cool things to do, Charleston also is somewhere you can slow travel. You can kick back and relax and take in the lowcountry air, and just enjoy being with your family. It’s also somewhere you may find that you don’t want to leave.
