Last Updated on January 5, 2026 by PorchLightReading
Exploring downtown Charleston with kids! Family travel guide with one day itinerary ideas of fun activities and iconic things to do. Including helpful information like parking, what to expect, and bathrooms!
Having lived in the area for a few years now, you can often find us exploring downtown Charleston with our kids! Our new home is just a short 40 minute drive into downtown and we often explore on the weekends and even bring all of our extend family when they visit from out of town. I guess you could say we’ve become a bit of a tour guide within our own family, and no one is complaining.
There is a fine line between enjoying your time and spreading yourself too thin and this guide talks about our ideal day trip into downtown Charleston, South Carolina.
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- Table of contents: Exploring Charleston SC with kids!
- The Charleston Aquarium
- Kid friendly museums in the area
- Best family friendly sites downtown Charleston
- Gifts and souvenirs at Charleston City Market
- Waterfont Park and the swinging benches
- Splashing around Pineapple Fountain
- Photos at Rainbow Row
- Walking The Battery
- Strolling Stoll’s Alley
- Charming streets downtown
- Charleston Carriage Tours
- Frequently asked questions
- Top destinations nearby
My bachelorette days are far behind me and we’re in the season of life where we have a mix between little and big kid feet that happily ache at the end of a long, fun day, downtown.
To someone new to the area exploring downtown can be a bit intimidating. However, after a while it becomes easy to navigate his historic city with narrow and bumpy cobblestone streets.
Downtown Charleston SC With Kids!
While visiting new places, it’s important to keep all ages and interests in mind. It’s easy to get distracted with the “15 Top things to do in downtown Charleston!” posts but those are not always geared towards kids and families. Napping and finding a balance between seeing it all and enjoying your time is really what makes a great day.
In this article we’re going to talk about our ideal one day trip into downtown Charleston, South Carolina. With the morning starting off with a fun activity for the kids and an afternoon full of must see sites and a bit of shopping.
The Charleston Aquarium
The Charleston Aquarium is usually where we like to start our day and it holds a bit of fun for all ages. Parking is easily found in the parking garage next door and the views from this area are fabulous!
The Author Ravenel Jr. Bridge, navy ships across the water, cargo ships with dolphins bow riding on the waves! And we haven’t even gotten in the building yet.
The Shallows- The first spot at the aquarium is the hands on stingray exhibit. Inside knowledgable staff gives you a few tips to follow while petting these slippery friends and you can even purchase tickets at the information courter to feed them! It’s a pretty unique experience, that is if you don’t mind holding a little frozen fish in between your fingers.
Take your time walking around the exhibits and be sure to note their daily programs they offer from 10am-4pm.
- What to expect
- Touch a stingray at the shallows exhibit!
- Daily programs
- Hands on exhibits
- Ask about the VR Underseas Explorer Experience
- Small snack bar with hot dogs and small bites to eat
- Admission to enter
- Parking in garage
Did you know- They offer a small tour at the top of the aquarium? So be sure to ask the information desk inside to see if they have any spots available!
Did you know- If you have a local library card they may have a family pass you can use at the aquarium! Passes do get checked out pretty quickly though. So be sure to call your local library before making the drive over.
Fort Sumter Visitor Center
I’m adding this as a small side quest, because right next door from the aquarium you’ll find the Fort Sumter Visitor Center. The museum portion of this building is free to explore, so be sure to head over if you’re curious and looking for a bit of history.
There is, however, admission for the boat tour to Fort Sumter. This is also a fun family activity but since a shuttle ferry is involved, it’s best to think about all the kids ages in the group and whether that is something that will work out.
Kid Friendly Museums in Downtown Charleston
If you’ve already explored the aquarium and are looking for a couple of other Charleston activities with kids, then these might just be what you’re looking for. As a reminder, check each website for up to date information including prices and exhibits.
Children’s Museum of the Lowcounty. Kids love visiting the Children’s Museum of the lowcountry and it’s so easy to see why! This hands on museum is packed full of children’s activities including splashing, shopping, exploring and more!
This is great option for families with younger children and a perfect place to visit on a rainy day or hot summer afternoon!
- What to expect
- Hands on activities for young children
- News exhibit
- Putt putt golf
- Rainbow Row play space
- Boeing BrightLab and more!
- Admission to enter
- Easy parking at the visitor center parking garge
The Charleston Museum. If your kids are a bit older and enjoy history, then you might want to check out The Charleston Museum. Some of their permanent exhibits include early life in the lowcountry, Greek and Roman artifacts, and kidstory- an exhibit that includes a kid-sized historic mansion!
- What to expect
- Lowcountry History Hall
- Charleston in the Revolution
- Bunting Natural History Gallery
- Early day with Greek and Roman Artifacts
- Kidstory with hands on activities and a kid-sized historic manson
- Tour historic houses and more!
- Admission to enter
- Easy parking at the paring garage at the visitors center
Mace Brown Museum of Natural History- College of Charleston. Fossils! The Mace Brown Museum of Natural History is located near the college and is the perfect place to visit for all the dinosaur lovers in the family. This museum is free of charge and has dinosaur bones, bear cave, a giant shark fossil of a Megalodon’s jaw and more!
Although this is a small museum, it is what you make of it. Each exhibit is well done and the time you spend here will really depend on if you take your time rearing the informational plaques and learning a bit as you go.
- What to expect
- Dinosaur fossils
- Small museum with exhibits
- Located on the college campus
- Free of charge
- Metered parking is available or you can park at the Philip St. Parking Garage nearby
Now that we’ve done a fun Charleston kids activity, it’s time to switch gears and get a little walking and shopping in. By now it must be getting close to nap time for the little ones. So you may have some time to explore downtown while the children sleep in the stroller!
Wishful thinking, I know, but the timing might just work out! So let’s think optimistically.
Best Family-Friendly Spots Downtown Charleston
For our second half of the day we’re going to make a nice long walking loop. We’ll start at the city market for some beautiful Charleston gifts. And then we’ll make our way down to Pineapple Fountain, Rainbow Row, and The Battery before heading back up to the car.
It’s a fair bit of walking, but it should be right on the limit of what little kid’s feet can handle. Of course you know your children’s walking limits best. So be sure to customize your afternoon and sightseeing to your families individual needs.
Gifts and Souvenirs at Charleston City Market
The Charleston City Market is a great place to find a few souvenirs or even gifts for extended family. Along the market you’ll find 4 rows of buildings, three open air, that are made up of vendors of every sort. Locals happily display their art, ornaments, t-shirts, woven baskets and everything else Charleston related, ready to answer any questions you might have.
- What to expect
- Four buildings full of vendors with handmade goods and art for sale.
- Three open air buildings with the third being more permanent vendors, art, and jewelry.
- Bathrooms available in the middle of the buildings.
- Metered parking nearby along with a parking garage and lot.
Waterfront Park and The Swinging Benches
After doing a little shopping we like to head over to Waterfront Park. Be sure to walk the pier, take in the views, and sit for a minute on one of the bench swings that line the walkway.
To the right you’ll see a brick walkway with trees lining the sides. Walking down this path is wonderful to get out of the sun and brings you right to our next stop, Pineapple Fountain.
Splashing Around Pineapple Fountain
Up next on our journey is Pineapple Fountain. This fountain is high on everyones list of things to do and it’s easy to see why! It’s just plain fun! By now the kid’s feet are hurting from all the walking and it’s the perfect spot to sit for a bit and let them soak their feet in the water.
Kids of all ages will love splashing in this Charleston fountain, and will push the limits on just how wet they are allowed to be. But this big fountain is exactly what is needed to get their energy back up before continuing on our way.
After everyone air dries and puts their shoes back on, it’s time to explore further. You can walk the path under the trees or the one that follows the water. Either way it’ll bring you all the way to the end of the park and up a cobblestone street where you’ll see Rainbow Row.
Photos at Rainbow Row
At this point, any of the streets nearby will bring you right to Rainbow Row. The colorful homes lined with palmetto tree sidewalks and iron balconies are an iconic site in Charleston, SC, and photographed by everyone who travels the area.
At any given time you’ll see couples holding hands being followed by a friend snapping a few photos, or entire bachelorette groups trying to get the perfect angle. It’s a place to take your time and enjoy the smiling fellow tourist who might ask if you mind taking a photo of them. The answer is yes, and be sure to take a few. Someone always blinks!
*Note- The view from both sides of the road is great. Across from Rainbow Row you can get the entire row of colorful houses in one photo, and on the way back you can walk the other side to get an up close view as well. We’ll make our rounds back up later in this article.
-Did you know? Bathroom break! There is a public restroom in this area just before you reach The Battery. Take a look at a satellite map and you’ll find them right next to the tennis courts.
Walking The Battery
The Battery is a stone seawall and walkway that runs along the tip of the peninsula. It’s raised higher than the road and allows for beautiful views of the harbor and beyond. It’s a great spot to start your house admiring and will have your husband checking the realtor websites real quick.
Historic homes tower above the seawall and every one of them has multiple balconies facing the water. During the holidays a few will get a bit festive with their decor and it seems like one home in particular completely favors Halloween. Spoooky.
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By now the kids are usually pretty tired exploring Charleston, so it’s best to check in to see how their little legs and energy levels are holing up. For us, we might make it all the way down to White Point Garden and enjoy the park. Other times we start to head back to the car.
But don’t worry, we still have a few more things to see along the way.
Strolling Stoll’s Alley
If you didn’t know it was there, you might just walk right by it! Stoll’s Alley is a narrow walkway that runs between E. Bay St. and Church St. It doesn’t look like much to start but about halfway down the alley it has doors and gates that look like they belong in the movie, The Secret Garden.
And just past that it opens up to greenery on either side with a stone wall covered in vines. It’s a small little side quest, but one that is fun nonetheless.
-Decision to make- Now we’re at the point where we have a decision to make. We can either walk back up the alley and see Rainbow Row from this side of the street, or we can continue to Church St. or even Meeting St. to admire some more beautiful historic homes.
Charming Streets Downtown
Every street downtown in the historic district is charming and full of character. The walkways are a bit uneven as large tree roots break through, adding to the rustic old world feel. Outside the homes you’ll find planter boxes and seasonal decorations to admire and churches with old gravestones.
Any of the side streets in this area will have the charm and beauty you would expect, but three of our favorite are Church St. Meeting St. and King St.
If you’re looking for beautiful, historic homes head up Church St. or Meeting St. If you’re looking to do some more serious shopping, then make your way over to King St. and back up towards the city market.
-Note- There are cafes and little boutiques all around this area, be sure to do some exploring and support local businesses.
Charleston Carriage Tour
Rest your feet while seeing the town on a horse dawn carriage ride! Experiencing the city is way is a wonderful way to get around and you’ll be able to learn a bit more about the area from one of their knowledgeable tour guides.
I’m sure there are a few areas you can find these tours but we always see them outside the Charleston City Market. Book your tickets ahead of time or stop by to see if anything is available that day.
-Where to eat- Since we are tourist living nearby we usually pack a lunch, but we have tried a few places downtown that we really enjoy and you most definitely won’t go hungry!
Restaurants line the street and you can find anything from high end dinning to little bistros. You really can’t go wrong with the delicious food they have around every corner but I will mention a few kid friendly favorites and restaurants our friends love.
- –A few family-friendly restaurants in downtown Charleston
- Carmella’s Cafe and Dessert Bar
- Fleet Landing Restaurant and Bar
- Pizzeria Di Giovanni’s
- Toast! All Day
- Breizh Pan Crepes
- Kilwins Ice Cream & Fudge
- The Pineapple Hut
- River Street Sweets
FAQ’s About Visiting Charleston With Kids
Parts of Charleston is stroller friendly but once you start getting into the historic areas the cobblestone streets and roots from trees make it a bit harder to navigate smoothly. A sturdy stroller with wheels that can accommodate this terrain is best, or even using a baby carrier is better.
The Mace Brown Museum of Natural History is free along with strolling the parks, Pineapple Fountain, and Rainbow Row.
Visiting Charleston in the spring or fall is typically more enjoyable when it comes to cooler weather. However, any time of year can work great as long as you start early and pick an indoor activity during the hot afternoons.
You can find several parking garages downtown including metered parking along several streets. Start with a parking garage near the activity you wish you do and go from there.
You can find restrooms inside the Charleston City Market, a public bathroom near The Battery, and another public restroom at City Hall.
*Helpful Tip- Personally I loved using my Tula for walking adventures and this is the perfect place to wear your kiddo in the baby carrier. Since the streets can be bumpy and little feet can get tired, carrying them on your back is a great option downtown.
Visiting during the hot summer months? Try this adventure backwards! First, start by doing all your walking and sightseeing downtown. Then, once the summer heat and humidity takes over, head over to a museum or the aquarium to enjoy the afternoon in the air conditioning.
Top Places Nearby
Need more places to explore? Well alright, let’s keep going.
Shem Creek Boardwalk- Shem Creek Boadwalk is just over the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge and a quick trip depending on the time of day and traffic. It’s a beautiful place to walk along the boardwalk, watch the sunset, and get a bite to eat at one of the many great restaurants that line the creek.
Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum- You were able to see these Naval ships while visiting the Aquarium, now you have a chance to tour them in person!
Fort Moultrie- Fort Moultrie Historic Site is a great place to expel some extra energy. Visit the museum, watch the informational video, and explore the bunkers next door that wind their way with tunnels and towers. While you’re there you can walk the beach that’s just outside the fort, but be sure to note that there is no swimming in this area.
Charles Towne Landing and Animal Forest- Charles Towne Landing is a State Park with a ton of paths to explore. Be sure to take the kids over to Animal Forest and board the merchant ship and image life out on the water. Psst, you can explore the hull!
Angel Oak Tree- Angel Oak Tree is definitely a site to see in person. It’s said to be the largest tree this side of the Mississippi and is over 500 years old! This is a small, quick, activity but it is free to enter. They also have a gift shop available on site and a few picnic tables.
Plantations- You’ll find several plantations in the area that offer different activities, so be sure to plan what works best for you . Magnolia Plantation is high on our list since it’s incredibly kid friendly and even has a small zoo and nature center. The kids will love taking the train tour and you are almost certain to see a few alligators.
As you can see, for this family travel guide I tried to stay in a concentrated area of Charleston that can be seen in one day. Of course there are many great places to check out and these are just a few of them!
Exploring downtown Charleston with kids is a wonderful opportunity for some quality family time while teaching them a bit of history. I hope this helps you get started and we’ll see you on our next adventure.
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