Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest
Charleston, South Carolina is sometimes viewed as one of the romantic cities of the South but it also provides a surprising abundance of unusual activities for travelers with children.
The South Carolina Aquarium, located on the edge of Charlestons historic district, features a 335,000 gallon Ocean Tank with over 300 different animals. In the Discovery Lab, visitors can touch a variety of marine animals. The other exhibits include Secrets of the Amazon, the Mountain Forest, the Piedmont, the Coastal Plain and the Coast.
Watch a tall ship being built right in downtown Charleston! The tall ship Spirit of South Carolina is being constructed in Ansonborough Field which allows visitors to watch the daily construction. There is a spectator area, woodworking tent, mini-museum and gift shop; tours are given of the shipyard. The ship is being built as an educational tool for the children of South Carolina and could take several years to be built.
There are many different charter boat options available in Charleston, but there are two that stand out as being kid-friendly. The Charleston Explorer is a non-profit marine education company offering boat tours and history programs for all ages and groups of all sizes. They offer a fun Pirate Treasure Hunt (encouraging the kids to wear their best pirate costume), an educational and interactive oceanography program, and barrier island explorations. Because they are a non-profit group and certain boats or tours require a certain number of passengers it would be wise to call ahead to see what is available for your size group.
The Absolute Reel Screamer Charters is a 2-hour tour offering shelling, dolphin watching and history from a private boat. Experience the Morris Island Lighthouse up close, hunt for unique shells on a barrier island and watch dolphins swim and feed near the boat. Tours leave from Folly Beach, approximately 15 minutes from downtown Charleston.
Waterfront parks are a big attraction in Charleston, and for good reason. Besides sun and sand, they offer a wide variety of recreational activities including crabbing, fishing, swimming, and rentals of pedal-boats and bicycles. Grills and tables are available for picnics. Some of the parks offer playgrounds, walking trails and piers. Water parks also in the area are opened seasonally.
If you love baseball, but hate the high prices of the big league games, Charleston has the solution. They are home to the Charleston Riverdogs, a Class A Minor League baseball team affiliated with the New York Yankees. Games are played from April to August, with ticket prices only $4-$8 per ticket. For the older kids, an exciting end to a day may be a ghost tour. There are a variety of options available from different tour companies. Walk through old cemeteries, jailhouses, dark alleyways and even the haunted historic district.
Charleston is not only a city filled with activities; it is also a great city to explore on foot. The shops and restaurants all located in close proximity make it a true walking city.
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