Child-Friendly Things To Do In Charleston SC

With its comfortable climate, stunning architecture and a compact downtown area that is easily explored on foot, Charleston is a great place to visit with children. It is a city that can inspire enthusiasm for everything from outdoor activities to learning first-hand about the biggest events in American history. Here Culture Trip has picked the best things to keep the kids entertained.

1. Charleston Fossil Adventures

Historical Landmark

Charleston Fossil Adventures has that unique ability to turn education into adventure rather than hard work. The kids will be taken on beach trips or river walks, where they’ll be able to hunt for fossils, bones and teeth from as far back as the Ice Age. Tour guides, who are all experts in palaeontology, will help your children realise how nature around you tells so many stories. They’ll also leave with plenty of stones in their pockets.

2. South Carolina Aquarium

Aquarium

Located in the historic harbour, the South Carolina Aquarium has all the usual trappings of a shark tank and the ability for kids to get hands-on with a sea urchin or stingray. But one of the real draws is the Zucker Family Sea Turtle Recovery which teaches you all you need to know about these cute reptiles. You’ll be able to watch as sick animals are treated and learn about how they’re released back into their natural habitat. A valuable lesson for the kids to learn about how important wildlife conservation is.

3. Robert Lange Studios

Art Gallery, Historical Landmark, Architectural Landmark

Despite its location in a magnificent historical building in the French Quarter, Robert Lange Studios is no stuffy art gallery. In fact, quite the opposite. Mostly displaying young contemporary artists, and truly vibrant work, the gallery’s mission is to propel creativity and show that art is for everyone. The aim, essentially, is to look ahead in a city where history is always at the forefront. Whether your thing is hyperrealism, surrealism or more classical and figurative work, your kids will be encouraged enough to scratch out their own versions in sketchbooks.

5. The North Charleston Fire Museum and Educational Centre

Museum

Real firefighters are on hand to help guide you through this Fire Museum which contains immaculately preserved fire fighting vehicles from the 1780s. With everything from 4D movies, interactive exhibits and the exhilaration of trying out a fire pole, your kids will learn more about the history of firefighting and also an important lesson in fire safety, leaving you all in good stead.

6. The Charleston Museum

Museum

Located downtown, and inspired by the British Museum, this spot is commonly regarded as the first of its kind in America and a must-do outing for those with a thirst for the riches of natural history. Fossils dating back some 300 million years, the jaws of a 40ft shark and the skeleton of an 18ft crocodile are just some of the wonders on display. Charleston and the Lowcountry is focused upon in the brilliant hands-on Kidstory exhibit, designed to immerse pre-teens in local history.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.