Unlimited Family Fun - South Carolina
by Katie Jevin
If you’re planning your next family getaway, look no further than sensational South Carolina. With beautiful beaches and bustling cities, this state offers adventures for the young and the young-at-heart! Get ready to add some memories to your family album and create stories you’ll tell for years to come. Hop on rollercoasters, chow down on barbecue or ride a bike downtown- the options are limitless when you take your family to South Carolina.
Family Adventures
Gather up the gang and prepare for excitement! You’ll have a hard time deciding what to do first with such a variety of options for the family to enjoy. The kids will never get bored with these exciting adventures in South Carolina.
Family Kingdom Amusement Park/ Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
For almost 50 years, Family Kingdom has provided thrilling adventures for those young and old. This seaside amusement park in Myrtle Beach has 37 rides including thrill rides, kiddie rides, and go karts. Family Kingdom has an arcade featuring everything from classic favorites like skeeball to state-of-the-art video games, and face painters and balloon sculptors regularly provide free entertainment. If you’re visiting during the summer, Family Kingdom’s water park is just across the street!
familykingdomfun.com
Edisto Island Serpentarium/ Edisto Island, South Carolina
Visit some cold-blooded friends for a different kind of adventure at the Edisto Island Serpentarium. See reptiles from all over the world at this unique attraction. Walk the grounds and enjoy open displays of hundreds of snakes in their natural habitat as well as turtles, alligators, and iguanas. Professional speakers handle both venomous and non-venomous snakes of South Carolina and explain to guests the value of these animals in our environment. You’ll leave with a new appreciation of these scaly serpents!
edistoserpentarium.com
Wild Blue Ropes Adventure Park/ Charleston, South Carolina
Get ready to climb at Charleston’s Wild Blue Ropes Adventure Park! This ropes course offers a memorable experience that the family will be talking about forever. With varying levels of difficulty, you’ll enjoy this adventure whether you’re a climbing expert or a newbie. The Wild Blue experience begins at ground school where participants learn how to safely navigate the ropes course and the safety harness system. You can go at your own pace through 72 expertly designed obstacles at this park located just 10 minutes from Downtown Charleston.
wildblueropes.com
Family Eats
One of the best parts of traveling to the South is the food! Finding a place to eat with the whole family can be difficult sometimes. But in South Carolina, the options are so vast that you’re guaranteed to find a restaurant that satisfies everyone’s taste buds!
Maple Street Biscuit Company/ Greenville, South Carolina
You may have had biscuits before, but you’ve never had them like this! Maple Street Biscuit Company serves breakfast and lunch with a diverse and extensive menu. This eatery serves every variation of biscuits you could possibly imagine: chicken biscuits, egg biscuits, bacon biscuits and everything in between! Their “Squawking Goat” biscuit, featuring all-natural fried chicken breast, fried goat cheese medallion and house-made pepper jelly was featured on the Food Network. Also on the menu is waffles, coffee, and salads. Everyone can enjoy a hearty Southern meal at Maple Street Biscuit Company.
maplestreetbiscuits.com
Cherrywood BBQ & Ale House/ Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Located at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort, this restaurant serves incredible southern barbecue in a more upscale setting. Enjoy top-quality meats smoked over local hardwoods, rubbed with signature seasonings and dripping with tangy, house-made sauces. Kids will love their “Bar-Bee-Q” sandwich and adults will love their selection of more than 60 local, imported, draft and craft beers. Be sure to try their Four-Cheese Macaroni- it has taken home honors from the Charleston Mac-Off every year!
kiawahresort.com
Poseidon/ Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
If seafood is your style, stop by Poseidon, a waterfront Hilton Head restaurant offering coast-to-coast cuisine with a panoramic view of Broad Creek. Their menu offers an unbelievably large selection of shellfish, sushi, seafood platters and so much more. Poseidon also offers a great kid’s menu with both seafood and non-seafood options for picky eaters. If you’re enjoying a parent’s night out, check out the rooftop bar with live music and a menu full of delightful drinks. Located in the Shelter Cove Town Centre, Poseidon is a great way to end your evening.
poseidonhhi.com
Family Stays
With all of that adventure, you’re going to need a comfortable place to rest your heads at night. Family hotels and resorts not only offer a comfortable place to sleep, but they also provide amenities like pools and arcades and services like kid’s clubs and bike rentals. Find the perfect home-away-from-home with these South Carolina stays.
Wild Dunes Resort/ Isle of Palms, South Carolina
Located on the beautiful Isle of Palms, Wild Dunes Resort is a great place for the family to stay during your South Carolina trip. Available kid’s activities range from art classes to science experiments to fort building! Wild Dunes offers both condos and houses from one bedroom to seven bedrooms, and you can find options right on the beach or close to the pools. Parents will love the 36-hole golf course and the large selections of restaurants right at the resort.
destinationhotels.com
French Quarter Inn/ Charleston, South Carolina
Regularly ranked as one of the best hotels in South Carolina, the French Quarter Inn is ideal for your family’s next trip to Charleston. French Quarter Inn prides itself on providing a true Southern hospitality experience. Begin your day with a complimentary continental breakfast on the terrace and end it on one of their seven pillow options. Kids will love to hop on one of their beach cruiser bikes and ride down Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge! You won’t regret booking your family a room at this charming hotel.
fqicharleston.com
Captain’s Quarters Resort/ Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
A Myrtle Beach staple, Captain’s Quarters Resort is a family fun wonderland. The resort features 15 indoor and outdoor pools (open seasonally), lazy rivers and whirlpools on the property. There’s an entertainment center featuring a bowling alley and arcade games, and a plethora of kid’s activities are offered. Not only is Captain’s Quarters right on the beach, but it’s also close to fun activities like Family Kingdom Amusement Park and the Myrtle Beach boardwalk.
captainsquarters.com
More for the Family in South Carolina
South Carolina State Museum/ Columbia, South Carolina
Learn all about South Carolina while having a blast at the South Carolina State Museum. This museum features four floors of permanent exhibits on history, art, natural history and science and technology. Explore the diverse and exciting history of South Carolina through fascinating displays on dinosaurs, pre-historic fossils, the Civil War, historic telescopes and more. Their 55-foot planetarium takes guests on journeys to deep space through exciting astronomy shows, entertaining programs and laser light shows set to the music of the Beatles, U2, and more! There is also a separate space in the museum with activities for kids six and under.
scmuseum.org
Congaree National Park/ Hopkins, South Carolina
Experience nature at its finest at Congaree National Park. Whether you want to take a short stroll on the boardwalk or take a canoe trip down Cedar Creek, you’ll marvel at Congaree’s unbelievable beauty. On warm nights at the end of May and the beginning of June, for one magical month, the synchronous fireflies of Congaree light up the forest. Thousands of fireflies light up at precisely the same moment in a breathtaking show. Be sure to bring your camera, because no matter the time of year you are guaranteed to get some incredible photos at Congaree National Park!
nps.gov
The African American Narrative
Over 3000 patrons visit the Avery Re-search Center annually, ranging from scholars and lecturers, to school groups and universities, to families and commu-nity members from all over the world. The Avery Research Center provides tours, hosts workshops, presents lec-tures, and spotlights local and national talents in various forms of creative expression. The center currently holds nearly 4000 primary- and secondary-source materials that document the his-tory, traditions, legacies, and influence of African Americans and their place in the American narrative.
avery.cofc.edu
Welcome Inn
Indulge the senses with the natural beauty of the land at The Red Horse Inn. Tucked into the foothills of the Blue Ridge Moun-tains, this country inn offers respite from the normal hustle and bustle of life. Relax, recover, and rejuvenate in one of the most spectacular areas of the country. Savor the view with a glass of wine on the Grand Terrance. A truly magical experience, se-renity and comfort welcome you at The Red Horse Inn.
theredhorseinn.com
Picture Perfect Pawley
One of the oldest vacation communities in the Southeast, Pawley’s Island is perfect for a low-key getaway. Enjoy the calming sea breeze from the many oceanfront cottages on the island. Beautiful undeveloped beaches create a gorgeous backdrop for area’s history of rebellions, wrecks and even ghosts. Home to world-class gardens, pristine golf courses, top-notch shopping, fertile fishing and decadent Lowcountry dining, Pawley’s Island is the epitome of the picture perfect Hammock Coast of South Carolina.
hammockcoastsc.com
The Great Lakes of South Carolina
Offering some of the best fishing in the state, Santee Cooper Country is South Carolina’s hidden gem. The legendary lakes of Marion and Moultrie sprawl across five different counties and make up Santee Cooper Country. Featuring fishing, hunting, kayaking and golf, Santee Cooper Country is a recreational paradise. Cypress trees highlight the swampy wilderness and the scenic beauty of the region beguiles all who visit. Fun for the whole family can be found here — with U-Pick farms and year round activities and events. Lovingly dubbed “The Great Lakes of South Carolina” and home to numerous attractions, accommodations and eateries, everyone will enjoy Santee Cooper Country.
santeecoopercountry.org
Laid Back & Lively
One of South Carolina’s most historic cities, Camden offers a world-class sporting lifestyle with a revolutionary spirit. Whether exploring one of the nine historic touring districts alone or with a group, Camden is eager to share yesterday’s treasures with today’s visitors. Enjoy quaint shopping opportunities, varied and delicious dining selections, topped off with classic southern hospitality. Make new friends refueling at eateries where local gather or visiting downtown’s retail shops. The possibilities for great experiences are endless in Camden.
classicallycarolina.com
South Carolina’s Best Kept Secret
The Greater Cayce-West Columbia area is home to an interesting array of nature and commerce where you can kayak class IV rapids and exit the water in a bustling downtown environment. Take in the great flavors of local restaurants and dwell in the time honored tradition of antiquing. Keep busy visiting an award winning zoo or relax and let the rivers flow the day away in the home of Southern hospitality.
visitcaycewestcolumbia.com
