Charleston, South Carolina - Family Travel Guide
Charleston is a top notch destination for family travel
With the perfect combination of southern charm city life and breathtaking beach views, there's something for everyone in Charleston, SC.
If you've been following my Instagram, then you know we just spent the most epic week vacationing with our family in Charleston, SC! My husband Sam lived there for the majority of his twenties, and we knew we wanted to bring the girls there for a big family vacation as soon as travel became safe again. Charleston is a beautiful city filled with plenty of parks, attractions, and scenic views. With multiple beaches just a short drive from the city center, there's no lack of things to do (or seafood to eat!).
In this post, I'll share details on our Folly beach rental, along with our favorite things to do in the city.
Folly Beach
With numerous beaches just a short drive from Charleston, Folly beach is the most "touristy" option, filled with ice cream and beach shops alongside plenty of dining and rental options, while still maintaining tons of serene public beach space and remarkable beauty.
Accommodations
Because of it's popularity, I'd recommend booking your accommodations early! There are plenty of beach condos available right on the beach, offering a great location at a fair rate. Initially we booked one of those, until realizing it was going to be a tight squeeze with two families and lots of kids! Luckily we found this amazing home for rent called King Tide. With five bedrooms, three stories of outdoor space including upper and lower patios, and all of the supplies/TV's/bathrooms you could need to comfortably fit a large group, this was the perfect location!
Initially, I was disappointed that this home overlooked the marsh and not the beach, but I was SO wrong! The march views are GORGEOUS, and the public beach access is right across the street, giving us the best of both worlds.
Getting around
We checked into our home for the week, and immediately made our way to Folly Beach Golf Carts to pick up what the girls affectionately referred to as "our new car" for the week. A golf cart is easily the most fun and practical way to get around the island. Just keep in mind that it does need to be treated like a car as far as parking goes, and you will need to make sure all 4 wheels are off the pavement and on the grass/sand when parking along the main beach road.
One thing I love about Folly Beach is how family friendly it is. There are two playgrounds on the island to visit when you need a break form the beach. There were plenty of restaurants happy to serve us and our gaggle of kids too! Make sure to check out Taco Boy while you're there. It's gorgeously renovated, and the margaritas are a must have.
Beach days
Folly Beach has a ton of public beach entrances, and in early June we were happy to find that they were not at all overcrowded. The one thing we needed to keep an eye out for were jellyfish, which were washed up all over the beach.
Unfortunately, the pier is currently under construction and not open to visitors, but there are plenty of other sites to see in the area. Be sure to head to the Washout to see surfers catching waves, or drive out to Morris Island lighthouse for photos. You can drive to the end of the road, at which point you'll walk about half a mile through a beautiful preserved area with colorful artwork spray painted all along the path. It's definitely worth the trip!
Charleston City
Folly Beach is about 20 minutes outside of downtown Charleston, and we spent many of our days venturing into the city to see the sites. Here's a list of our favorite things to do in downtown Charleston:
Pineapple Fountain
Visit Waterfront Park to see the Pineapple fountain. On a hot day the kids can even jump in and get wet!
Charleston Aquarium
Take a trip to the South Carolina Aquarium and let the kids feed the sting rays and play with the interactive exhibits. It's located at the Wharf, with gorgeous views both in and outside of the building.
Angel Oak
Okay this one isn't in the city, it's on John's Island, but Angel Oak is truly a sight to see! This southern live oak tree is estimated to be over 500 years old and measures over 66 feet tall. Angel Oak has really become the symbol of Charleston, and admission to the park is free.
Riverdogs Baseball
Catch a Charleston Riverdogs game. General admission tickets are under 12 bucks, and there's a huge open pergola with picnic tables at the end of the field where the kids can run around. Watch out for the concession lines though - they took us over an hour to get through!
Rooftop bars
Downtown Charleston has a huge nightlife (or daytime life, or brunch life, or whatever you're looking for!) We visited the rooftop bar at The Vendue which offers jaw-dropping views of the city.
Sunset Boat Cruise
Book a private pontoon ride with Holy City Boat Tours! We took a sunset boat cruise fully equipped with dolphin spotting, a history lesson on the beautiful mansions along the water, and a stop off at a local bar for fresh seafood. Boat tours are BYOB and a beautiful way to tour the waters of Charleston!
Charleston is a beautiful city with a ton to see for the entire family. It truly embodies southern charm, with it's historic downtown beauty and beautiful shorelines.
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