To visit Charleston, South Carolina is like stepping into America's past. Filled with antebellum architecture and a distinct Southern flavor, Charleston is a stubborn hold-out to the conformity that marks many American cities. If you are a fit and active traveler visiting South Carolina with your children, Charleston is full of attractions that will not only entertain your family, but keep family members active and educated.
Picnic
The city of Charleston sits on a peninsula, and at the southern end is White Point Park. Flanked by a row of antebellum mansions, White Point Park gives you beautiful views of Charleston Harbor. On a warm day, you and your family can bring a picnic lunch and watch the sailboats and ferries drift by.
Biking
If your kids are into biking, take them to Charleston's rail trail, a former railroad track that was torn up and replaced with a multi-use path. This 10.5-mile, one-way path is a flat and easy way to explore the area, taking you past residential areas, schools, forest and marshland. The rail trail is open daily from dawn until dusk.
Food
Eating fresh and healthy food is important to many parents, and you can't get food much fresher than at Charleston's Farmers Market. Held in Marion Square every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (April to December), Charleston's Farmers Market offers produce and meat grown and raised by local farmers. Vendors also sell fresh-made meals and street performers entertain as you shop.
Boat
If your children like being on the water, you can take them on a boat tour of Charleston Harbor. Tours depart from The Aquarium Wharf, a picturesque area that also offers a promenade for strolling. There are also numerous other private boat tour companies that you can hire if you would prefer a more intimate journey out on the harbor.
Aquarium
Most kids will enjoy the South Carolina Aquarium, a 69,000-square-foot facility that lets visitors get close to many examples of marine life. While many of the exhibits are dedicated to the animals and fish that live around Charleston, the aquarium also features the 330,000-gallon Great Ocean Tank, filled with sharks, large fish and turtles.
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