10 Fun Family-Friendly Activities When Visiting Charleston

Posted: 03.31.2025 | Updated: 04.01.2025

Charleston is the ideal location for a family vacation. Charleston has everything from its stunning beaches to Lowcountry cuisine and numerous family-friendly attractions. This southern city has a laid-back charm. 

Families can enjoy plenty of opportunities, whether exploring marine life at the aquarium, building sand castles on the beach, or embarking on a ghost tour. 

Give your children a chance to learn all about Charleston’s spooky (but not so scary!) past on a family-friendly Charleston ghost tour. 

1. Folly Beach

Located a mere 20-minute drive from Charleston, Folly Beach is a great way to spend the day with the kids. After an afternoon of basking in the sun and frolicking in the ocean, stop for dinner at the Pier 101 Restaurant & Bar for some live music or the BLU Beach Bar and Grill for fresh coastal cuisine. 

Numerous outdoor and eco-tours are also available. Whether you want to take your kids kayaking or catch a glimpse of bottlenose dolphins in the wild, Folly Beach is the place to be. 

2. Charleston Museum

The Charleston Museum, which is over 250 years old, allows you to walk through Charleston’s history. You can immerse yourself in the City’s historical timeline, starting with the Native American clay pipes and continuing through the colonial period and independence. 

You’ll also get to explore Charleston’s natural history and learn about its many species of birds. 

The museum is spacious and has plenty of benches to sit and rest. There are also some kid-friendly spaces to keep young children occupied. I’d advise giving yourself one to two hours to properly walk through the museum and take in all it offers. 

3. Family-Friendly Ghost Tours

Going on a family-friendly ghost tour is fun and unique to do in Charleston. Ghost tours aren’t scary – on the contrary! They’re a great way to learn all about a city’s history, including local legends that are often glossed over by other tours. 

Charleston Terrors runs walking ghost tours that are perfect for all ages. You’ll walk comfortably while listening to Charleston lore, including fascinating stories of the friendly ghosts and daring pirates who roamed and still roam Charleston. 

4. Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry

The Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry has numerous exhibits that target children of all ages. It has an infant and toddler play space designed to encourage gross motor skill development in children up to the age of three. 

There is the Publix Market and Live 5 News Exhibit for older children, where children can role-play shopping for groceries, managing the checkout counter, and working as news anchors. In the Boeing Brightlab, your kids can practice building projects with real tools, and at the Dockside Cafe ship, they can step into the shoes of the seamen who once visited Charleston. 

This is by no means a comprehensive list of the exhibits at the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry – go check it out yourself! 

5. Fleet Landing Restaurant

Fleet Landing Restaurant, open daily from 11 AM to 10 PM, has the best seafood in Charleston. Simply put, you’re missing out if you don’t eat here at least once when visiting Charleston! 

Its waterfront patio provides spectacular views of the calming water. You’ll see sailboats passing by and may even glimpse some dolphins as you enjoy their scrumptious crab cake, crab soup, oysters, and more – all at an affordable price! 

6. South Carolina Aquarium

Visiting the South Carolina Aquarium requires purchasing tickets online in advance. It’s well worth it, though. The aquarium doesn’t just house marine life, although there is plenty of that. 

In addition to such magnificent creatures as the loggerhead sea turtle (South Carolina’s state reptile!) and porcupinefish, the aquarium houses a bald eagle, barn owl, and eastern indigo snake. 

It’s important to note that South Carolina is one of the only two states in the country that ban the use of marine mammals for exploratory, experimental, scientific, educational, or commercial display purposes. That means that the aquarium does not have dolphins, whales, or manatees. 

However, you can often see dolphins in the Charleston Harbor or at the Lighthouse Inlet at Folly’s Beach. In fact, there are many places to see dolphins in Charleston! 

7. Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site

The Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site opened in 1970 and preserves the site of the first permanent English settlement in the Carolinas. This massive site sprawls 664 acres and contains miles of trails for hiking and biking, picnic tables for the whole family, and replica cannons and a replica ship.

It’s worth taking your kids to the on-site Animal Forest, a natural habitat zoo featuring numerous birds and animals native to the area. These include the red wolf, North American river otter, great egret, and yellow-crowned night heron. 

8. Charleston RiverDogs Baseball Game

Did you know that the Charleston RiverDogs are the only team that has ever won the Carolina League championships three years in a row? The Riverdogs’ home stadium is at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park, and if a game is scheduled while you’re there, it’s definitely worth a visit. 

There’s plenty to do besides just watching the game. Enjoy a classic RiverDog, a beef hot dog topped with sauces, coleslaw, and pickles. 

For the kids, stop at the Scoops Concession Stand for good old ballpark ice cream, milkshakes, and other treats. For adults, there are beer shakes, shakes made of ice cream, syrups, and specialty beer. Don’t forget the stand that sells boiled peanuts. 

On some game nights, there are dazzling fireworks displays. 

9. Charleston Farmers Market

The Charleston Farmers Market, established in 1989, is open every Saturday at Marion Square during the on-season. In 2025, that is from April 12 to November 22, but check its website for annual updates. Even if you’re not in Charleston over the weekend, you can visit the West Ashley Farmers Market at Ackerman Park on Wednesdays. 

Walking around the farmers market is a lot of fun; Travel and Leisure listed it in the 10 Best Farmers Markets in the Nation. In addition to enjoying delicious fresh fruits and veggies, it’s an opportunity to support local farmers, artisans, craftsmen, and live performers. 

10. Sunset Harbor Cruise

Numerous companies offer cruises in Charleston’s magnificent harbor. The best time to take a Charleston harbor cruise is at sunset. It will undoubtedly be an unforgettable experience, offering breathtaking views while you enjoy your dinner. 

The cruises aren’t expensive, and with a little shopping around, you’ll find one that offers excellent value for money. 

Haunted Charleston

Charleston is one of the nation’s oldest cities. From ghost tours to museums, it provides plenty of educational fun for the entire family. 

Charleston Terrors invites your family to come with us on a ghost tour and learn more about Charleston’s hidden past. 

In the meantime, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok and keep reading our blog for Charleston’s most haunted tales!