10 Things to do in Charleston with Kids

Charleston is a beautiful coastal city in the United States, located in South Carolina. With its cobblestone streets and quaint houses, it has become a favourite destination for tourists.

Among the many things to see and do in Charleston, there are numerous options to enjoy with the little ones. Boat rides, an aquarium, and various museums, such as the Firemen's Museum and the impressive Maritime Museum, are just a few of the many options you have to spend some quality time with your children in Charleston.

The South Carolina Aquarium is located in one of the most important historical points of the city of Charleston: its harbour. The aquarium is an ideal place to visit with the little ones, as you can find exhibits with some of South Carolina's own species.

Being the point where two major rivers meet in the Atlantic Ocean, you can find fish and other animals from both saltwater and freshwater.

The site is perfect for all ages, the youngest ones will be fascinated with the possibility of interacting with the animals in the touch tanks, and the not so young ones will enjoy the many attractions and special exhibits that the South Carolina Aquarium offers.

Admission to the South Carolina Aquarium starts at 30 Euros for adults, and 23 Euros for children between the ages of 3 and 12, with children under 3 free of charge. The site is open Monday to Sunday, except on certain holidays, from 9am to 5pm, with admission until 3:30pm.

Information of interest:

• Price: From 30 Euros for adults and 23 Euros for children between 3 and 12 years old.
• Location: 100 Aquarium Wharf, Charleston
• Hours: 9am to 5pm

The iconic Charleston Museum, founded in 1773, will give you an insight into the history and culture of much of South Carolina. Enjoy the Kidstory exhibit with your children, designed exclusively for the little ones.

Kidstory offers interactive activities for children to learn about history while interacting with different types of objects and playing fun games. The Museum itself features permanent exhibits that trace various stages of Charleston's history, as well as temporary exhibits.

For children, there are also other educational programmes specially designed for them. On a guided tour, they can learn about the main historical figures of the place, the events and animals that have been present since the birth of the state, as well as what plantations existed, what the Native Americans were like, the history of the Civil War, and many more events that the guides will teach the little ones as they tour the museum.

Information of interest:

• Price: From 7 Euros for adults, 3 Euros for children between 3 and 12 and 6,50 Euros for young people between 12 and 18.
• Location: 360 Meeting Street, Charleston
• Hours: Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm, Sundays 12pm to 5pm

One of the most classic Charleston city tours is taking a guided boat tour. And this great adventure is one of the favourite activities for the little ones.

There are several guided options in the city, where you can visit, for example, the beaches of South Carolina, getting to know its most beautiful ecosystems through a fun adventure aboard a boat.

The tours take you to areas such as the Isle of Palms, Blackwater, Bulls Island, Folly Beach and Mount Pleasant. Professional guides will tell you about each ecosystem present in the region, and even show you various bones from the skeletons of some marine animals, which often fascinates children. Historical tours of the harbour are also available and are ideal for letting your imagination run wild and recreating the scenes that took place at these sites.

There's no doubt that boat tours of Charleston are one of the best things to do with children and to enjoy with the whole family.

Many children dream of becoming firefighters when they grow up, which is why I have decided to include this activity in my top 10 things to do in Charleston with kids.

Visiting The North Charleston and American La France Fire Museum will leave them fascinated. In this interesting place you can see different interactive exhibits designed exclusively for children.

On display are a variety of fire trucks from all eras, tools and equipment used to put out fires, and even the various uniforms throughout their history in the city of Charleston.

By visiting this exhibit, children can let their imaginations run wild and relive the various stories of Charleston's firefighters, and learn through games and fun interactive activities all about the work of a firefighter as well as useful information about fire prevention and how to act in the event of a fire.

Information of interest:

• Price: From 4,50 Euros for adults, children under 12 years do not pay admission.
• Location: 4975 Centre Pointe Drive, North Charleston
• Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10am-4pm, closed Sundays and Mondays

Visit the Charleston Maritime Museum, the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum. This is a wonderful place that will amaze everyone in the family, especially the little ones.

There are many truly impressive military vessels and aircraft on display in this museum. The undisputed star of the museum is the USS Yorktown, a huge ship and the USS Laffey. Children can also see a fleet of historically significant ships, the National Historic Landmark.

The museum also has an exhibition about the Vietnam War, a military medal of honour gallery, and a cold war tribute site.

Other activities at the museum that are ideal for children include a flight simulator. Suitable for children aged 4 and up, they can experience what it's like to fly an F-18 Hornet.

There is also a treasure hunt at the museum, where participants must explore the entire museum, deciphering hidden messages and codes, while learning about the planes, ships and much more.

Information of interest:

• Price: From 23 Euros for adults, and 12 Euros for children (Tickets vary according to the service chosen, i.e. with or without a guide, and the type of exhibits included).
• Location: 40 Patriots Point Road, Charleston
• Hours: daily from 9am to 6:30pm

The is a museum specifically for children, where play and education merge seamlessly. Through various interactive activities children can spend hours learning in a fun way.

At the Lowcountry Children's Museum you can take part in different art workshops, so that children can create their own works of art using all their creativity. There is also a science lab and a marketplace, where children can experience shopping in a very realistic way.

The aim of this museum is to foster the qualities and potential of children, inviting the whole family to share a fun and playful experience. Without a doubt this is one of the best things to do in Charleston with children, as it is an experience they will probably never forget in their lifetime.

• Price: 11,50 Euros for visitors and 8,50 Euros for South Carolina residents. Children under the age of one are free.
• Location: 25 Ann Street, Charleston
• Hours: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays 9:30am-5pm, Sundays 12:30pm-5pm

Baseball is an iconic American sport, we've seen it in movies, cartoons and series countless times, so what better for kids than to see a real baseball game with their own eyes?

The city of Charleston is home to the Joseph P. Riley Jr. Baseball Stadium, home of its team, the Charleston Riverdogs. Since the team is in the minor leagues, you'll almost always be able to catch a game with your kids.

The atmosphere at the city's stadium is very family-friendly, so it's a great time for the whole family to get together and for the little ones to watch the ballplayers show off their skills on the field.

The Best Friend of Charleston was a very important steam train in the history of the United States, as it was the first railway built entirely in the country, precisely in New York. This train was used to transport passengers in the city of Charleston, until it was destroyed after its boilers exploded in 1831.

The Best Friend Train Museum exhibits an exact replica of the historic railway that was donated to Charleston by Norfolk Southern in 1971.

Trains, like many other forms of transportation, tend to attract the attention of children, and at this interesting museum they will be able to tour the Best Friend and learn about each of its parts, including its engine room.

They can also indulge in the pleasure of blowing a real train whistle and enjoy many activities, events and informative talks. The museum also has a lovely gift shop, so you can take home a souvenir of this famous train.

• Price: free
• Location: 23 Ann Street, Charleston (next to the Children's Museum)
• Hours: Monday to Friday 10am to 2pm

A fun activity that kids will love is Splash Zone Water Park, located on James Island, south of Charleston. At this amusement park, you'll find a variety of water rides to have a great time with the little ones.

Among these rides are a 60-metre-high tubular slide and an open-air slide of the same height. Another of the games recreates a rainforest, with slides and rain effects.

The park has an extension of 260 hectares and besides the games it has a recreational swimming pool, camping area, buffet, cabins for lodging, as well as boat and bicycle rentals, among other things.

Without a doubt this attraction is the best place to enjoy a sunny day in Charleston with the kids, making it one of the best things to do in August in Charleston, nothing better on those days than to cool off and take a dip in a fun environment.

• Price: around 8.50 Euros per person.
• Location: 871 Riverland Drive, Charleston
• Hours: Wednesday to Saturday 10am to 6pm and Sunday 1pm to 6pm. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays

Going to Charles Towne Landing is like taking a trip back in time to learn about the history of the rise of the city of Charleston, and relive the era of South Carolina's colonies.

At the Charles Towne Landing, visitors can watch live reenactments of historic Charleston landmarks, listen to educational talks and take an audio tour.

Although it's a family-friendly activity, there's nothing better for children than seeing history in action before their very eyes, performed by actors dressed in period costume, acting out realistic and interesting scenes.

This historic site is located in the West Ashley region and still retains the original appearance of the first English settlement in this part of the United States.

In addition to the re-enactments, the Charles Towne features an exhibit hall of historical items, a native species zoo, a replica of an old 17th century cargo ship, ongoing archaeological excavations, replica cannons, picnic areas and much more.

• Price: around 8,50 Euro for adults, 5 Euro for children between 5 and 12 years old, children under 5 years old do not pay admission.
• Location: 1500 Old Towne Road, Charleston
• Hours: daily from 9am to 5pm

Before I say goodbye, here are some tips that may be useful when enjoying a place like Charleston with children.

• What to pack if I go to Charleston with kids? Thinking about what to pack in your suitcase is an important point when planning a trip, especially if you are going with children. Something basic, but essential, is to bring the right clothing for the time of year when we visit Charleston, but always adding something extra in case the temperatures vary. Bear in mind that summers in Charleston are quite hot, with temperatures that can reach 40 degrees Celsius. Winter, on the other hand, is characterised by winds and temperatures that can drop to 0 degrees Celsius.

I recommend that you bring comfortable clothes and shoes for the children to enjoy the various excursions and walks, which can take up to a whole day. If you go in summer, don't forget to bring swimming costumes and sunscreen to take advantage of the best beaches in Charleston. It's also important to include a backpack or small bag in your luggage to carry snacks and water for the kids to have available during the day.

• When is the best time to visit Charleston with children? If you're going with children, it's best to prioritise warm and pleasant temperatures, so as not to expose them to too cold or too hot weather, and so that they can enjoy the walks and excursions more. From this point of view, the warmest months in Charleston are June, July and August, and in general the period with the best weather is from April to October. January and February are the least recommended months to visit Charleston, as they have the highest percentage of rainfall compared to the other months of the year.