We fell in love with Charleston, South Carolina. It is one of the most beautiful cities we explored while we were living in America. There are so many great things to do in Charleston SC, with kids. It’s also a beautiful place to explore. Visiting here was a truly magical experience!
We visited Charleston with our boys in November 2023 and spent 3 full days there. If you’re visiting in the warmer months, you might want to add an extra day or two for the beach! We were there for Freddie’s 4th birthday, and Jaxon was 9 months. So a baby and a toddler/preschooler!
When we travel, we like to do a mix of activities for us as parents and for the kids to enjoy, so this is a family-friendly guide that I hope will help you make the most of your trip to Charleston!
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Where to Stay in Charleston SC with Kids
When visiting Charleston with kids, the best area to stay to explore the heart of the city is in the Historic District of Charleston. This is also know as Downtown Charleston, staying hear would mean you’re within walking distance of many tourist attractions, like Waterfront Park, the South Carolina Aquarium and Rainbow Row.
Some family-friendly options in the Historic District include:
- Mills House Charleston, Curio Collection by Hilton: is a beautiful choice, showcasing classic Charleston charm with a pool for kids to enjoy after a day of sightseeing.
- Moxy Charleston Downtown: is a more budget-friendly option, offering stylish, modern rooms with fun communal spaces and a convenient location.
If you’re visiting Charleston in the summer and are looking for a beach vacation, Sullivan’s Island, located in Mount Pleasant, is a great option. You could then take a day or two to explore historic Charleston; however, do note that there is no public transport between the two.
Some family-friendly Mount Pleasant/Sullivan’s Island options include:
- Hotel Indigo Mount Pleasant – Comfortable and spacious, ideal for families with kids.
- Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina – Resort-style accommodations with great views and easy access to water activities.
You can also browse more family-friendly hotels in Charleston here to compare options and find the best fit for your trip.
Outside the Mills House Hotel
How to Get Around Charleston With Kids
While much of Charleston can be explored on foot, having a rental car makes visiting all the best spots much easier—especially if you’re on a road trip like we were.
Some of our favourite attractions, like Cypress Gardens and beaches on Sullivan’s Island, aren’t easily accessible by public transport, so having a car was essential.
If you’re planning to hire a car, we always compare prices to find the best deals using DiscoverCars.com. It’s quick, easy, and reliable for families.
The Best Things to Do in Charleston SC with Kids
There are lots of great things to do on your family vacation to Charleston. I’m going to share them all below.
Waterfront Park Pier
Visit Waterfront Park
Waterfront Park is a great place to visit in Charleston that both parents and kids will enjoy. It would make a great place for a picnic.
The pineapple fountain is an iconic thing to see in Charleston, and the pier is also cute. Our 4-year-old loved running on the grass, dancing on the little ‘stage’ and even walking along the wall is fun for toddlers.
Family photos from Waterfront Park in Charleston
Pose at Rainbow Row
At a street called Rainbow Row, you’ll find a little row of houses painted in pretty, rainbow colours. This wasn’t as amazing as I thought it would be (The streets in Notting Hill, London, are better). However, it’s very close to Waterfront Park, so you’ll likely pass it, and it is worth stopping by.
The guidebook in our Airbnb said to go there really early for photos. We didn’t do this, and it wasn’t that busy. Spinning around the lamp post was great fun for kids, and we ended up with some lovely photos.
Posing on Rainbow Row
Play in Hazel Parker Playground
Playgrounds are an essential activity for us when we travel with our kids. They love to run about and burn some energy. They’re also a great free activity for them. Hazel Parker Playground was a fun find and was located right near Rainbow Row.
Having fun in Hazel Parker Playground
Fire Cannons at White Point Gardens
Right at the South of Charleston’s historic district, there is another beautiful park. The boys loved exploring here and climbing on/ playing with and pretending to fire the cannons.
Pretending to fire cannons at White Point Gardens
Stroll Down King Street
King Street is one of the nicest streets we’ve ever been to. It’s beautiful and lined with shops, cafes, restaurants and palm trees. There are lots of independent boutiques and also mainstream stores such as H&M and luxury brands like Louis Vuitton. I could have spent a full day shopping here. However, as I was with the kids, I was selective about which stores to go in. (We were on the hunt for a Christmas decoration.)
Photos from King Street
Wander the Charleston City Market
This is an adorable market in the heart of Charleston. Full of gift stalls, many independent businesses and also a couple of food sellers.
This is actually where we found that Chaleston Christmas decoration we were looking for!
Stop by Charleston Fire Station
We stumbled on here by accident. Located on the corner of Wentworth and Meeting Streets. Not only is this the cutest firehouse I’ve ever seen, but they were incredibly friendly. They let the boys sit in the fire engine and also gave them fireman hats and badges for free! This is a very sweet kids activity in Charleston!
It’s not a guarantee you can do this. If there is an emergency, obviously, they have to go, but if you’re passing, you might be lucky.
Charleston Fire Station was an unexpected but fun thing to do in Charleston for kids
Try Callie’s Hot Little Biscuits
This came highly recommended to us, and it didn’t disappoint! We got these from the King Street location and ate them in Marion Square which is just down the road. Callie’s Hot Little Biscuits a tiny store, so use Google Maps or you might miss it!
They also have a location in the City Market.
For my English readers, these are traditional Southern American biscuits. They are completely different to the biscuits you would have with a cup of tea! I would compare them more to a savoury scone.
Enjoying a snack from Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit, a must visit on your family trip to Charleston!
More Play in Gadsdenboro Park
If you need another playground, Gadsdenboro Park is a good thing to do in Charleston SC with kids!
The Gadsdenboro Park Playground & The Playground at Cypress Gardens
See Fish in The Aquarium
Located close to Gadsdenboro Park is the South Carolina Aquarium. We didn’t visit here as we had just been to the Georgia Aquarium but this would be a great place for kids to enjoy.
Enjoy Hampton Park
This is another hidden gem that we found when we were exploring Charleston with our kids. I didn’t see this park on any other blog posts, I just happened to see it on Google Maps! Hampton Park is a large, beautiful park and was fairly near our Airbnb. I’m so pleased we went there. Not only is it extremely beautiful, but the trees are amazing and super fun for kids to climb on, and there’s also a fun little playground.
Climbing trees in Hampton Park, Charleston SC
Take a Day Trip to Cypress Gardens
This is a real hidden gem in Charleston. It’s about a half-hour drive from the main city, and it was so worth it! We went here for my son’s fourth birthday. Cypress Gardens is a preserved area of wetlands and gardens, home to alligators. It’s also where the boating scene from the iconic film The Notebook was shot.
Children’s Activities in Cypress Gardens
Tickets cost $10 per adult (free for under 6’s and $5 for children under 17’s.) This includes a self-guided swamp boat ride, which we highly recommend.
We did the swamp tour and loved it! (Even I, a real city girl, enjoyed it!) Alligators do live in the swamp, but apparently, they rarely surface in cooler months, so we didn’t see any. The boat tour takes around 1.5 hours, but there is a shorter route if your kids aren’t feeling it.
Also in the gardens, there’s a large playground, a butterfly house and a ‘Swamparium’. You can find more information on the Cyprees Gardens website. This was one of the best things to do in Charleston SC, with kids!
Photos from Cypress Gardens. A fun day trip from Charleston for families
Head to the Beach on Sullivan’s Island
It wasn’t beach weather, and again, it was a short drive, but we still wanted to check it out. The beach at Sullivan’s Island is gorgeous, and we had a short but wonderful time playing there. In the summer months, this is a must-do on a Charleston family vacation.
Celebrating his 4th Birthday on Sullivan’s Island
We also did the Sullivan’s Island Nature Trail. This is just a short, 0.6-mile each-way walk through the woods. I wouldn’t say it was amazing, but it was a good trail for little kids; however, not stroller/pushchair friendly!
There are quite a few other things to do on Sullivan’s Island, but unfortunately, that’s all we had time for. Also, Folly Island and Beach are supposed to be great, so if you have time, check that out as well.
Photos from a winter day on Sullivan’s Island, a must-visit for families visiting Charleston in the summer
Thank you for reading this post on the best things to do in Charleston SC with kids. I hope you enjoy your trip to South Carolina as much as we did.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
THE MOST INSTAGRAMMABLE SPOTS IN CHARLESTON
WE ALSO HAVE GUIDES ON:
– ATLANTA – NASHVILLE – NEW ORLEANS – NEW YORK – DALLAS –
Happy Travelling,
A London mum sharing stylish, family-friendly travel guides.
I In our travel guides, I show you that you can still travel as a family and create beautiful memories, even when trips aren’t full of kid-centric activities.
When I’m not planning our next adventure, I also share timeless style inspiration and ideas for living more thoughtfully and sustainably.
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