Our Affordable Charleston Summer Vacation With Kids
Just rolled in from a two-week trip to Charleston with the kids!! We’re only two hours away, so traveling to the Holy City is pretty easy.
My brother has lived in Charleston since college (the Citadel) and recently bought his first house. Unfortunately, he had to leave on a work trip for two weeks, the week after he purchased his home! I went down to help paint, organize and clean up for him, so he could come home to a more cozy and homey atmosphere. That, and enjoy Charleston for a couple weeks rent free ;)
My mom and my husband were there for a couple days with us, but otherwise it was just me and the kids. We’re able to visit so often because we have family & friends in town, but if we didn’t, we would book with Airbnb or Vrbo!
Charleston and (traffic there) can feel really overwhelming. Unless you’re renting a beach house or staying somewhere close to downtown, getting around can seem pretty daunting to visitors and newcomers.
I wanted to share some of the family friendly, kid approved things we did in Charleston that were actually pretty affordable (and most were free!) no matter where you’re staying.
I choose to do one “big” outing a day when traveling and maybe finish off (or start off) with a playground for the kids to get some energy out. Playgrounds are FREE!
Really, the weather is always going to be the main factor playing into our adventures and we just try to get the most out of the sunny days, since June-August are is peak hurricane season on the South East coast.
I’m going to share all the free things we did first, in order of our personal favorites. Then I’m going to share our favorite low-cost adventures. I don’t mind spending money on outings, but I do want to make sure it’s going to be worth it for our young kids with low attention spans!
FREE things to do in Charleston (with kids)
Folly Beach (James Island)
I grew up visiting Folly Beach because my grandparents lived on James Island. Folly Beach is the closest beach in the area. My brother’s house is only about 10 minutes from this beach, so we stopped multiple times during our visit.
Folly Beach in Charleston, was named South Carolina’s best beach by Southern Living Magazine. It is such a fun bohemian beach town, with brightly colored beach shops, food trucks, a pier with dining and fishing options, as well as a laid-back family friendly atmosphere.
If you’re visiting Folly Beach 2021-2023 the pier is getting some much needed work done. The part with the Gift Shop (it has ice cream!) and bathrooms are open but the restaurant is not and the rest of the pier is blocked off for construction. Construction should be finished in 2023!
Hanging out at the Folly Beach, SC pier trying to spot some sharks!
Parking can be tricky, I recommend going early in the morning like around 9AM/10AM or in the evening around 5 PM or later.
We use the “pay to park” spots which are hourly for $2 per hour. Parking at the Pier (small lot) or Folly Beach County Park (huge lot at the end of the beach on the right side) are going to be $10-$15 depending on the day.
DO NOT park at any of the random lots by the pier for $20-$40. They are a rip off. There are always pay to park spots available and are much more affordable!
Isle of Palms // Sullivan’s Island (Mount Pleasant)
Sullivan’s Island in Mount Pleasant, SC has some gorgeous sunsets and fewer crowds than other beaches in the area!
We did not make it over to Isle of Palms (IOP) or Sullivans Island during this trip but if you are in the Mount Pleasant area, you should definitely visit either of these beaches. They connect over a bridge and it’s easy to get to both.
Isle of Palms really only has easy parking in the paid lots, so that is something to consider. But it also has a pier, concessions and restrooms.
Sullivans Island is less crowded and has free parking but there won’t be any amenities available. Sunsets are gorgeous at Sullivan’s Island (pictured)!
Waterfront Park (Downtown)
This was our first time enjoying the downtown Waterfront Park with kids. We parked by the light beige building on the left (from the picture above) and had primo parking for $2 per hour. That is also where the public restrooms are located. There are parking garages near by, if you can’t find street parking.
The iconic pineapple fountain in downtown Charleston, SC!
This park is free to enjoy and there are a couple fun places for kids to cool off in the water: the big spray fountain and the pineapple fountain! There are also gorgeous views of the Charleston Harbor, sailboats and walking beneath the Spanish moss covered oak trees. This is a must stop if you visit downtown Charleston in the warmer months.
Large oak trees in Charleston, SC will never get old!
Melton Peter Demetre Park (James Island)
Another new park for us to explore during this trip! Melton Peter Demetre Park is such a great find and a hidden gem in James Island. As you can see, it has a gorgeous view of the Ravenel Bridge and Charleston Harbor. We saw dolphins swimming & playing our entire two hours there.
I will say this park is deceiving because it looks like a beachy area but you do not want to get too deep in the water without water shoes. The ground floor is pluff mud and very squishy (you will sink!). There are also tons of rocks & oyster shells and they will cut you up.
Charleston, SC is surrounded by water and we absolutely love it!
But if you’re wanting to lay out, wade/float in the water, collect shells/sharks teeth, go fishing, dolphin watch or just enjoy being by the water, this park is a must visit! I have also heard that there are great sunrises and sunsets here!
Shem Creek Park (Mount Pleasant)
Shem Creek Park in Mount Pleasant is a gorgeous walk, right on the water and the spot for recent tv shows!
Shem Creek Park in Mount Pleasant is such a gorgeous walk. If you’ve seen Outer Banks (on Netflix), this is actually where the restaurant in the show is located! A lot of it was filmed in Charleston even though it’s based in North Carolina.
This kid loves seeing these shrimp boats in Charleston!
The marshes and view is so iconic and brings you back to a different time. The path is also pretty long. We went down a couple bridges but it goes much farther.
A couple docks you can fish or just relax on. This is also a great dolphin watch zone, although we didn’t see any when we went in the evening. A must visit if you’re on the Mount Pleasant side of Charleston.
Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park (Mount Pleasant)
A pirate ship playground is just what this little captain needed!
OK, if you have kids that love playgrounds, you have to take them to Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park! This park has four different playground structures (age based) and a bunch of other random things to play on, in a gated area, under the Ravenel Bridge.
It is kind of loud being under the bridge but it does provide a lot of shade. There is also a walking path that goes around the area, right on the water. Such a fun, free way to escape the heat with kids!
White Point Gardens (Downtown)
White Point Gardens along the Charleston Battery is absolutely gorgeous!
We usually always stop at White Point Gardens, which is downtown along the battery, because it has gorgeous oak trees, views of the Charleston Harbor and cannons the kids like to play on. But we just did not make it over to this side of town this trip.
This area actually will connect to the Waterfront Park if you’re able to walk to both areas. Parking is free if you can find a spot close to the park/Battery!
The Battery (Downtown)
The Battery is a historical favorite spot of ours to visit in downtown Charleston.
The Battery is in the same area as White Point Gardens. It’s along the Charleston Harbor and provides a gorgeous view of the water. Looking across this view (pictured) is actually a view of Melton Peter Demetre Park!
The Battery is a great place to work out, explore downtown or just walk with the family. So much beautiful architecture and southern charm! Again, free parking here if you can find a spot!
Horse drawn carriages bring you back to a different time in Charleston, SC.
Dock Street Park (James Island)
Looking for a truly beautiful and unique view in Charleston? Head to Dock Street Park in James Island for a sunset you won’t forget!
Dock Street Park on James Island is kind of a random find. I love being by the water, as evidenced by all of my favorite places, but this area provides a beautiful view of a Charleston sunset.
It’s a public park with a public dock (pictured). It also has a tiny playground for kids, as well as picnic tables. Looks like there might be areas you could put in to paddle board or kayak too. I can’t imagine you would want to come to this park for any other reason then to see the sunset though, because there is not much here.
Hampton Park (Downtown)
Hampton Park in downtown Charleston was an amazing find! Huge park with tons of paths!
When I lived in Charleston, I had no idea Hampton Park even existed. This is one of the biggest parks in downtown Charleston I have seen. It is huge.
There are several different paths and loops you can take in this park. There are also a couple white & green gazebos, which are gorgeous for taking pictures. Spanish moss covered oak trees, tropical plants and flowers are everywhere. It’s a gorgeously manicured and maintained park.
Pretty pond & fountain in Hampton Park, Charleston, SC
There is also a pond with a fountain and a lot of green space for picnics or playing sports. My son brought his bike, I pushed my daughter in the stroller and it was just absolutely lovely to be tucked away in this downtown paradise.
LOW-COST things to do in Charleston (with kids)
Charleston Water Taxi (Mount Pleasant/Downtown)
The Charleston Water Taxi (basically a ferry) is only $12 (per person), $10 for kids, 3 & under are free for round-trip but you can also ride all day if you want.
I doubt my kids would’ve lasted all day but you have the option of getting off, exploring somewhere, getting a bite to eat and then getting back on if you choose the all day pass. Roundtrip is one hour but they do have one-way tickets too!
See those two shapes in front of the ship? They are DOLPHINS jumping with the waves!! Magical views from the Charleston Water Taxi!
When we went, we got their first tour at 10 AM and on a different day, their last tour at 5 PM. They were completely different experiences (Covid hours).
The first tour of the day we saw several dolphins, cargo ships, unobstructed views of the Ravenel Bridge and we were the only ones on the ferry.
On our 5 PM tour there were several people on the ferry with us, we only saw dolphins once but we did see a lot of different ships on the water.
*Updated* I have ridden the Charleston Water Taxi two times this year, post Covid. It is still a great experience and I will do it every time I visit Charleston if I can, because we always see dolphins when we go, but it is a lot more crowded.
The Charleston Water Taxi has four locations you can board from and it takes you to all four locations if you do the round-trip tour.
You will have to pay for parking at any location but I’ve found the easiest (and cheapest) place to park, was at the Charleston Marina & Resort in Mount Pleasant. Your first half hour of parking is complementary and then it’s only $1.50 per hour after that.
It’s safe because it’s a gated resort, it’s easy to park because it’s an open lot, right next to the marina and it’s the cheapest out of all the options!
Unobstructed views of the Ravenel Bridge from the Charleston Water Taxi. Highly recommend this cruise/ferry!
This is truly a hidden gem in Charleston. It is a great way to view Charleston on the water, at an extremely affordable price. I was looking at other river cruises/ferry’s/boat rides and they started from $40-$250 per adult.
Charleston Water Taxi is definitely a must do if you visit Charleston and are looking to get out on the water and see some amazing views & hopefully some dolphins too!
Charles Towne Landing (Charleston)
The Adventure, a replica sailing ship from the 1670’s settlers to Charleston (at Charles Towne Landing Historic Site).
There is a lot to do on this property as far as hiking and exploring goes, but with two small children I really just wanted to see the main areas.
Charles Towne Landing also has a natural habitat zoo.
We went to the natural habitat zoo, which is the only zoo in the Charleston area, and boarded the Adventure, which is a 1670’s replica sailing ship from the first settlers to Charleston.
We went post Covid, so we were only allowed to view the top deck, although there is stuff below deck to see. We did bring our masks, as they are required inside the visitor centers (there are 12 exhibits in there!) and aboard the Adventure ship.
If you have little ones, this is a great spot to explore. I would highly recommend strollers and/or bicycles because it is a pretty far walk to get to both areas. They are on opposite sides of the park!
Colonial Dorchester Historic Site (Summerville)
Pictured is an old bell tower and there is also a fort made out of clay from oyster shells! There are some beautiful views of the Ashley River.
It was extremely hot when we went, so as you can probably tell by my kid’s faces, it was not the most enjoyable time for them.
They were doing construction on the bell tower when we went, so that was not ideal, as we did not get to explore it. There is also hiking and an audio self-guided tour you can do of the property. There is a fee to get in, it’s $3 per adult, $1 for 6-15yr olds, 5 & under FREE.
Cannot recommend Charleston Water Taxi enough!! Such gorgeous views of Charleston and Mount Pleasant by water!
Places to Eat
Folly Beach
Rita’s Seaside Grille (Family Friendly)
Eat here if you have kids, before you visit the beach. Their kids meals are served on frisbees and make a great free toy to take on the beach!
Taco Boy (Family Friendly)
Americano & Fried Chicken Tacos w beans & rice
Lost Dog Cafe (Family Friendly)
Turkey Wrap w home fries
Kid’s chocolate chip pancake
James Island
Edison James Island (Family Friendly)
Downtown Charleston
Commonhouse Aleworks (Family Friendly)
Vintage Lounge (No kids!)
And that is our trip! I tried to do one “big” adventure in the morning and stop at a park after nap.
When we were in Mount Pleasant, we did the Water Taxi and then a Mount P park afterwards. When it came to the beach, I pretty much only had enough energy for that - whether it was in the morning or evening. That was just our “beach day”.
Even though I was by myself with two kids for most of the trip, I would say this is one of my favorite visits to Charleston! Not only did I get to explore new areas, in one of my favorite cities, but I also got to make & enjoy new memories with my kids.
If you have never been to Charleston, I would highly recommend it!! Whether it’s for a weekend getaway, anniversary, or a full-fledged weeklong vacation, there is so much to this gorgeous historic city that everyone should get to experience at least once!
Have you visited Charleston before? I would love to know (in the comments below) what your favorite things to do in the Charleston area are!
If you’re looking for sources to mine or the kid’s Charleston outfit styles, you can shop our pieces HERE. It’s easiest to follow me on the LiketoKnow.it App, but you don’t need it to access product info!
Water view of the Waterfront Park downtown (one of Charleston Water Taxi’s stops)!
