Fun Things to Do in North Charleston, South Carolina

There are many fun activities for kids in North Charleston. Riverfront Park is a popular picnic spot and Drayton Hall is a historic plantation house. Families can also take advantage of the surf town and visit the Charleston Tea Plantation. If you’re looking for fun activities for kids, look no further than these great places. Whether you’re looking for a fun activity for kids, or want to learn more about the history of South Carolina, there’s something for everyone.

Riverfront Park is a favorite place for picnics

In the heart of the Lowcountry is the City of North Charleston’s premier park, Riverfront Park. This year-round public park sits on the banks of the Cooper River, adjacent to the former Charleston Naval Base. There are several historic homes nearby, which have been restored. You’ll find an interactive water fountain here, as well as boardwalks that stretch along the Cooper River. You’ll also find an Admiral’s Pier, a wooden dock, and a concert stage. You can even hold your own event at Riverfront Park if you’d like.

Riverfront Park has many events and is a favorite spot for families to have picnics in North Charleston. For example, its annual Fourth of July festival is a fun family event with musical guests and fun activities for the whole family. The festival ends with a spectacular firework display. In addition, there are several exciting musical showcases held here year-round. For those looking for a more cultural experience, try one of the many theaters in the area.

For a quiet afternoon or evening, you can head to the Ashley River Bend. This park is free and adjacent to the Jenkins Children’s Institute. This former orphanage is now a popular venue for outdoor concerts. This park also offers a children’s playground, free WiFi, and paved pathways. The park is often packed during the dawn hours, and you can watch the sun rise over the city from this spot.

Drayton Hall is a historic plantation house

Drayton Hall is one of the finest examples of Georgian Palladian architecture in North America. The house was built between 1738 and 1742 and was the commercial center of John Drayton’s plantation empire, which included over seventy thousand acres. The house was owned by descendants of enslaved people until 1960. The house is currently an active archaeological site that has turned up more than one million artifacts. The house’s owner, John Drayton, was a member of the King’s Council and was a prominent plantation owner.

The house was originally built on 750 acres. The Drayton family later sold the property to the National Trust in 1974. Today, only a portion of the house is owned by the Trust. The rest is owned by the State of South Carolina. The plantation house originally consisted of a main house, privy, and a flanker. The house’s interior contains a number of artifacts and exhibits that tell the story of slavery.

The main house is open to the public Wednesday through Monday. The main house closes at 3:30pm. The museum shop is located in the caretaker’s quarters. You can explore the house’s original furnishings and artwork while learning about its history. There are also some rooms in the house that were never restored. In addition to the main house, Drayton Hall also contains a museum shop. The Drayton Hall Preservation Trust maintains the house as a historic plantation house.

Folly Beach is a surfer’s village

One of the most sought-after vacation spots in the southeast is Folly Beach in North Charleston, South Carolina. This laid-back town boasts great surfing, painted sunsets, and warm temperatures. Its pier, Center Street, and local eateries are great for catching a wave or enjoying a meal. The pier and the surrounding area are prone to construction and maintenance, so surfers should check conditions and weather conditions before heading out.

Whether you’re looking for a challenging surf or a peaceful, mind-cleansing retreat, Folly is the place for you. Whether you’re looking for a small, beginner-friendly wave or a barrel, this town has something for everyone. Folly Beach is home to more than fifty local surfers. Often, the waves are a great length for the Charleston wave riders. Veteran surfer Rick Anson, the only resident holding the local Eastern Surfing Association Iron Man title, will show you how to surf Folly Beach’s perfect waves.

In addition to the beach, Folly is also home to two surf shops. There are several restaurants, watering holes, and surf shops along Center Street. Two of the surf spots, The Washout and Folly Pier, attract longboard and shortboard riders alike. Surfers can even get lessons and rent their own boards. Folly is just 15 minutes away from historic Charleston.

Charleston Tea Plantation is a tea plantation

The Charleston Tea Plantation is the only working tea plantation in the U.S. Its climate, humidity, and rainfall are ideal for growing tea. The plantation goes dormant during winter, but shoots up three to five inches of new growth during the spring and summer months. Tea is harvested from these new growths. A single plant can produce seven to ten cuttings per season.

Visiting a plantation is best done by car. Rental car agencies are easily available at the Charleston airport or downtown. There is ample parking at each plantation. Public transportation is not as convenient as driving around Charleston, but you can take a bus to the McLeod Plantation Historical Site. You can reach the Charleston Museum in about forty minutes by car. A Charleston Tea Plantation tour pass includes admission to all four plantations, including the McLeod Tea Plantation.

You can take a free trolley tour of the plantation. The tours last 30 to forty minutes. If you take Uber, make sure to arrange a ride back to your vehicle before visiting. Charleston Plantation is closed on major holidays. To avoid disappointment, you can also book ahead of time by checking its website. If you have an Uber, you should book it well in advance.

Coastal Expeditions offers family activities in Charleston

Coastal Expeditions offers kayak rentals, guided tours, and other fun activities for families in Charleston. With four waterfront locations, families can spend the day exploring the area’s beautiful coastline and historic sites. Coastal Expeditions also hosts charter expeditions to unspoiled estuaries and islands. Guests can choose from tours departing from the Isle of Palms Marina or Shem Creek Maritime Center. Families can also take a guided kayak tour and paddleboard tour through the water.

Another family-friendly activity is a fossil tour. While exploring the river’s estuary, participants will search for bottlenose dolphins and other native birds of prey. They are likely to find shark teeth, Megalodon teeth, fossilized vertebrae, and ray plates. Afterward, kids can sort and make fossil jewelry. A fun activity for all ages, this tour is educational and fun.

Old Exchange Building Tour: For a history lesson, families can tour the old Exchange Building and Provost Dungeon. The guided tour lasts about thirty minutes and includes a period-style guide. Ghost stories are fun for older children, too, and Ghosts of Charleston Tours are offered at night and include ghoulish sound effects. Coastal Expeditions offers family activities in Charleston that are great for all ages.

Kayak Tours: If you’re interested in kayak tours in Charleston, Coastal Expeditions South offers three boats. These trips can be tailored to your family’s preferences, such as dolphins, local history, or a sunset cruise. Coastal Expeditions crews are trained naturalists and gifted storytellers who have extensive experience in the water. The entire experience is sure to leave your family smiling.

Sullivan’s Island is home to the birthplace of sweet tea

If you are looking for the perfect way to spend a day on the beach, a trip to Sullivan’s Island is the right choice for you. This quaint, historic town sits at the mouth of Charleston Harbor, and was an active military site during the American Revolution. Today, a portion of this historic site is open to the public, including the location of the historic Fort Moultrie. Sullivan’s Island real estate is marked by larger homes on beachfront properties. There is plenty of sweet tea on the island, and you can vote for your favorite flavor to be named the Tea of the Year.

Sullivan’s Island is home to the world’s oldest tea-growing plant, the Mason, which has been featured on Main Street. The town has been a tea-growing destination for generations, and a Sweet Tea Trail, with historical and cultural points of interest, has been established. The town even has its own Sweet Tea Trolley, and an annual festival celebrates the drink.

The Isle of Palms, just north of Sullivan’s Island, is home to the birthplace of sweet tea. It is home to the first commercial tea farm in the United States, which produced 10,000 pounds of tea annually. This local tea won first prize in several exhibitions, including the 1904 Saint Louis World’s Fair. The iced tea was reborn after a vendor at the Saint Louis World’s Fair added sugar and ice cubes to make it cold and sweet.