Charleston with Kids Family Travel Guide

Are you looking for things to do in Charleston, SC with kids? You’re in the right place!

Charleston is a perfect late autumn or early winter getaway for families, but truthfully, it’s a great destination year round!

I visited Charleston with my 4 year old daughter and my parents in early November, and we had great weather. We also enjoyed a packed itinerary for a 3-day trip to Charleston including historic sites, fascinating tours, and beautiful parks.

But was it enjoyable for my 4 year old? Yes, absolutely!

If you’re trying to decide the best age for visiting Charleston, I think elementary aged kids will enjoy it most, although there’s plenty to do with toddlers and preschoolers, too!

I’ll share what we did on our long weekend getaway to Charleston, including where we stayed, what we did, and our favorite spots to eat.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Where to Stay

The Embassy Suites by Hilton Charleston Historic District is a great place to stay in Charleston with kids.

Charleston is a very walkable city, so I appreciated the central location of the hotel. It’s only a half-mile walk to the South Carolina Aquarium which is also right next to the Fort Sumter Visitor Center, the launching point for a boat tour to Fort Sumter. It’s about the same distance from the Charleston City Market, and 1 mile from the iconic Pineapple Fountain at Waterfront Park.

They have several 1- and 2-bedroom suites that can accommodate families of 5 or 6, AND the option to book guaranteed connecting rooms online.

There is a free continental breakfast included in your stay along with an evening reception featuring both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and light snacks.

Parking is $48/night, so just be aware of that if you’re renting a car (which I would recommend if you want to see some of the sights outside of Charleston city center).

Check current rates for the Embassy Suites by Hilton Charleston Historic District.

What to Pack

We visited Charleston in early November when the weather was chilly in the mornings and evenings but sunny and warm during the day. If you’re visiting in winter and spring, layers are key.

If you’re visiting during the hot summer months or early fall, consider sun dresses with comfortable sandals for walking or white sneakers.

Here are my Charleston outfits.

t-shirt | skirt | purse | sandals | sweater

top | jeans (old from target - linked similar) | shoes | purse

Things to Do in Charleston with Kids

Take a Carriage Ride of Historic Charleston

On our first morning in Charleston we took a private carriage ride of the city’s historic district. We booked through Palmetto Carriage Works and took advantage of the discount for booking the 9:00 a.m. tour. The 9:00 a.m. tour is $250 for 4 people, while any private tours booked after 9 are $325 for a group of 4. For groups between 5 and 8 people you can book a wagonette for a private tour.

The tour took us through the historic district where we learned about the buildings, history, architecture, flora and the people of Charleston.

If you’re on a budget, you can also take a group tour which starts at $40 for adults and $30 for kids ages 4-11.

You can find Horse-Drawn Carriage tours and other fun tours here!

Take a Ferry to Fort Sumter

The first shots of the American Civil War were fired at Fort Sumter in 1861 with over 4000 mortar shells striking the fort before Major Robert Anderson surrendered and the the Union Soldiers evacuated the island.

I remember learning about this fateful event in my middle school history class, but it’s another thing entirely to see it in person, and to run your hands over the mortar shells still stuck in the walls of the Fort.

Whether your kids are old enough to understand the history and gravity of the American Civil War or not, this ferry ride and tour of the fort are kid-friendly, and everyone will walk away with new knowledge about Fort Sumter. Or, like my 4-year-old, they’ll walk away with a new dolphin stuffed animal because we saw some dolphins on the ferry ride over.

Plan around 2 hours for this tour. The ferry ride is 30 minutes each way, and you get to stay at Fort Sumter for an hour.

Find departure times and buy tickets in advance here.

Visit the South Carolina Aquarium

The South Carolina Aquarium is right next to the Fort Sumter Visitor Center (Liberty Square), so if your younger kids were not thrilled about the 2-hour historical tour, you can placate them with a visit to the Aquarium!

If you do your Fort Sumter tour in the morning you can grab a late lunch at Sea Turtle Cafe at the Aquarium before visiting sealife exhibits like the outdoor Saltmarsh Aviary, the hands-on Kids Coast, the Boneyard Beach Touch Tank, and the Carolina Seas exhibit which displays sealife located off the coast of Charleston.

The Aquarium also has a Virtual Reality undersea explorer experience that might be fun for families.

Stop at Waterfront Park to See the Pineapple Fountain

You can’t go to Charleston without visiting the Pineapple Fountain! The pineapple symbolizes Southern hospitality, as well as Charleston’s resilience after the destruction of Hurricane Hugo.

The Pineapple Fountain is located in Waterfront Park, and you are allowed to take off your shoes and wade in the water of the fountain! My 4-year-old was thrilled to splash around for a bit after a long day of exploring and historic tours.

And, of course, be sure to pose for a photo in front of the fountain to remember your visit to Charleston.

See Rainbow Row

Rainbow Row is a series of 13 colorful historic homes in Charleston, and a great spot for some quintessential Charleston photos.

Truthfully, there’s not really anything to do other than take a photo of the colorful houses, so don’t plan to stay here for long, especially with kids. Combine this stop with your Waterfront Park visit since they’re located near each other.

Rainbow Row is a Charleston landmark, so you don’t want to miss it, but there’s no need to plan more than 10 minutes here.

Tour Boone Hall Plantation

I mentioned above that you’ll need a car if you want to explore outside of Charleston City Center, and Boone Hall Plantation is one such historic site that requires a car.

Plantations can be a sensitive topic for many Americans, but I think Boone Hall is worth a visit precisely because they do not shy away from their dark past of slavery.

Visitors can learn about what life was like for slaves who lived at Boone Hall by touring the slave quarters and listening in on a Slave History Presentation. All of this was done in a way that kids of all ages could handle.

One of our favorite parts of our visit to Boone Hall Plantation was the live “Exploring the Gullah Culture” presentation given by true descendants of the Gullah people. I knew nothing about the Gullah people and culture before this presentation, and it was so eye opening to hear their message of overcoming hardship with spiritual strength.

In addition to these live presentations and touring the slave quarters, other sites to see include the stunning Avenue of Oaks leading into the plantation, the gardens, the mansion tour, and a tractor tour around the plantation.

Visit Angel Oak Tree

Another famous site to visit outside of Charleston city center is the Angel Oak Tree, a large live oak that stands at a height of 66.5 feet, 28 feet in circumference, and is estimated to be between 400-500 years old.

It’s truly an epic sight to see, but just be aware that if you’re visiting with young children you’ll want to avoid running near or climbing on the tree (or even touching it for that matter). I actually even got yelled at for seeing my purse down on the ground. Keep an eye out for signs posting the “rules” - I didn’t think they were very prominently posted and missed them when we walked up to the tree, so I wasn’t aware of the expectations.

Take A Sunset Walk Along the Battery

One of our favorite Charleston activities was free to do! As sunset approached we found ourselves near the Battery, a seawall and promenade where locals were strolling or going for an evening run.

You can bring a stroller along the Battery if needed, and just enjoy some time taking in the beautiful evening skies over the ocean and the historic Charleston homes at dusk.

Shop at City Market and King Street

I’m not a big shopper, but City Market is a great place to go for souvenirs, especially handmade woven sweetgrass baskets! It was established in the 1780s and continues to this day with artisan foods, handicrafts, and other goods.

Meanwhile, King Street is one of the main thoroughfares in Charleston lined with clothing shops and restaurants.

Where to Eat in Charleston with Kids

While I think most of Charleston is very kid-friendly, we did notice that many of the restaurants in the historic district were a little more geared toward adults than families.

Gingerline

I noticed Gingerline’s outdoor dining while we were on our horse-drawn carriage ride, and we found our way back later that afternoon to try it out.

I was thrilled to find out they did have a kid’s menu and coloring pages for kids, and since the weather was perfect we decided to try it out and sit outside.

I ordered chicken and waffles, a southern staple. It was my first time trying the dish, and I was shocked at how well the sweetness of the waffles and maple syrup melded with the savory fried chicken. I understand the hype now!

Their signature cocktails are delicious, too, so be sure to try one out!

Port of Call

Port of Call was another great family-friendly restaurant! They had lots of casual outdoor seating which is really nice when you have young kids. We got my daughter set up with her Magnatiles and Little People and she played happily while we waited for our food.

We really enjoyed the Hush Puppies as an appetizer and the chipotle honey butter it was served with was fantastic. My mom and I split the Pot Roast Melt sandwich for our entree and it also really hit the spot.

Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit

Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit is one of those restaurants that every TikTok about Charleston will tell you to try.

We visited the location in the City Market and definitely thought it lived up to the hype!

My 3-Day Charleston Itinerary

Day 1:

9 a.m. private carriage tour of Historic Charleston
Take the ferry to Fort Sumpter
Eat at Gingerline
Waterfront Park to see the Pineapple Fountain
Rainbow Row

Day 2:

Boone Hall Plantation does a great job of teaching about their history of slavery and educating about Gullah culture.
Angel Oak Tree - very large and old oak tree. Just ok - feel free to skip
Early dinner at Port of Call back in Charleston
Sunset walk along the Battery