Add dates

South Carolina Family-friendly activities

Our most recommended South Carolina Family-friendly activities

Hilton Head Island: Pirate Cruise on the Black Dagger

1. Hilton Head Island: Pirate Cruise on the Black Dagger

Treat your little ones to the adventure of a lifetime aboard an activity-packed pirate cruise on Hilton Head Island. Allow your child to live out their craziest fantasies by turning into a pirate with the help of face paint and temporary tattoos. Help find a sunken treasure and defeat Stinky Pete. Head to the docks to get a new pirate name and learn how to speak like a real pirate. Board the legendary Black Dagger and set sail in search of a treasure. Join in on a race to find Stinky Pete, the island’s smelliest pirate who knows about the treasure map and has stolen the key Locate Stinky Pete before he gets to the treasure first. Watch the crew man the water cannons and blast Stinky Pete until he gives back the key. Enjoy singing and dancing throughout your journey, as you navigate across the ocean before heading back to the starting point.

Folly Beach: Folly River Kayak Tour with Dolphin Watching

2. Folly Beach: Folly River Kayak Tour with Dolphin Watching

Explore the waters of the Folly River by paddle power while learning about the wildlife and history of Folly Beach. Discover birds, dolphins, crabs, and more as you perfect your kayaking skills. Choose between a daytime or sunset tour to see the South Carolina Lowcountry in a different light. Meet your guide near the Folly River Boat Ramp and pick up your kayak, paddle, and life jacket. Get a lesson on the right way to paddle so you can hit the water with confidence. Navigate through the brackish estuary behind Folly Beach, where you will encounter native flora and fauna. Learn fascinating facts about the ecosystem. Keep your eyes peeled as your guide points out dolphins, crabs, pelicans, and various other birds along the way. Listen to stories of pirates who used to roam the waters. If you choose the sunset option, marvel as the sun sets over the beautiful Lowcountry.

Hilton Head Island: Shrimp Trawling Boat Tour

3. Hilton Head Island: Shrimp Trawling Boat Tour

Join the friendly crew aboard the Shrimp Trawler Tammy Jane and see what daily life is like for local shrimpers. Start off with an introduction to the boat and the shrimping gear aboard. Then the boat will make its way to the shrimping waters off the coast of Daufuskie Island. Watch as the nets drag across the seafloor. After this comes the real fun as you help the crew sort through the day's catch on the sorting table. There will be a lot of bi-catch or other fish, sharks, and even stingrays that get caught in the net. The crew will go over what type of by-catch you should look out for, and will safely return these sea creatures to the waters. You get to take the freshest locally caught Carolina shrimp home with you to cook. The amount of shrimp isn't guaranteed as this is fishing, but it will be divided evenly among the parties aboard.

Myrtle Beach: The Simpsons in 4D Entry Ticket

4. Myrtle Beach: The Simpsons in 4D Entry Ticket

Join The Simpsons, America’s Favorite Animated Family, on an exciting 4D motion experience with special effects. Enjoy a thrilling adventure as you visit the Aztex theater and the Kwik-E-Mart. This highly-anticipated attraction features authentic recreations of the show’s famous Kwik-E-Mart and iconic Aztec Theater, bringing a slice of Springfield to Broadway at the Beach. Explore the Kwik-E-Mart next door for a wide variety of unique merchandise and enjoy Squishees, Buzz Cola, and Lard Lad Donuts.

Hilton Head: Child-Friendly Pirate Cruise with Face Painting

5. Hilton Head: Child-Friendly Pirate Cruise with Face Painting

Join a family-friendly pirate cruise in Hilton Head and enjoy a fun activity perfect for children between the ages of 2 and 10. Learn how to walk and talk like a pirate and take on your nemesis, Smelly Sam, to win back the treasure he's stolen. Immerse yourself in this pirate-themed experience from the moment you step aboard the Black Sparrow. Start with face painting and get your very own pirate tattoo along with the appropriate garb before learning how to walk, talk, and act just like a real pirate. As you set out on your cruise, learn that Smelly Sam has stolen the keys to the treasure and answer the call to do battle. Man high-pressure water cannons as you take on your nemesis, defeating him and ultimately winning back the treasure. Your reward: your very own share of the loot to take home.

Hilton Head Island: Dolphin Watching Cruise with Donuts

6. Hilton Head Island: Dolphin Watching Cruise with Donuts

See Hilton Head Island from a different perspective on a fully narrated dolphin boat tour. Enjoy eating donuts as you cruise around and learn about the local ecosystem and the area's history. Hop on your boat and float into the Hilton Head waterways. Experience up-close encounters with the Atlantic Bottlenose dolphin and find out more about their eating patterns and habits. Listen as your guide tells you about the surrounding islands, oysters, spartina grass, and tides. As you explore the island's waterways, have some fresh donuts and bottled water before returning to the meeting point.

Charleston History Walk by Professor Eric Lager, Ph.D.

7. Charleston History Walk by Professor Eric Lager, Ph.D.

My name is Eric and I specialize in South Carolina and Charleston history during the Colonial Era, American Revolution, Antebellum Era, and the Civil War. With nearly twenty years of combined experience teaching at the college level and working in the public history sector, I am dedicated to my craft and love sharing history with others. Experience the charm of Charleston and enrich your historical knowledge of the Holy City with a professionally trained historian who loves meeting new people and has a passion for sharing the past. Unlike many tour companies in town that allow up to 20 people in each group, my Charleston tour is guaranteed to have no more than 10. A small group environment allows you to connect with Charleston's history on a more intimate level by avoiding the distractions associated with large tours, gain a deeper understanding of the city, and ultimately have more fun. Charleston History Walk provides an in-depth look into Charleston’s remarkable history from its founding in 1670 to the present. On my 2 1/2 hour Charleston tour through the historic district, you will be guided to see and understand the modern-day city of Charleston through the lens of its past. History is more than just dates and facts. History is composed of exciting and compelling stories. My mission is to provide you with a high quality Charleston history tour that is both entertaining and educational, but above all, one that is meaningful and memorable!

Hilton Head Island: Virtual Reality Arcade Experience

8. Hilton Head Island: Virtual Reality Arcade Experience

Become fully immersed in a virtual reality video gaming world. Explore the solar system, shoot zombies, or paint and sculpt in a 3D studio. Try your hand at finding hidden clues in escape rooms, defending your castle with a longbow, or fighting in a boxing ring. You can even defend your spaceship in a visually stunning 3D environment, or defend yourself as a teddy bear against evil doll creatures that are attacking you. Whatever adventure you choose, go online and play with others around the world, or take on your own battles. Choose between 20, 40, or 70 minutes of unlimited virtual fun.

Hilton Head Island: Pontoon Boat Rental

9. Hilton Head Island: Pontoon Boat Rental

Explore the waters off the coast of Hilton Head Island with this pontoon boat rental. Have the option of renting the boat for 2 or 4 hours. Get a professional orientation on navigating Hilton Head Island’s waterways and access to life jackets.  Arrive at the rental shop and fill out the necessary rental paperwork. Listen to an engaging introductory briefing on how to make the most of the boat's features. Chart your own course that can take you all the way up to the mouth of the Atlantic Ocean.  Blast through the waters of Broad Creek. Go behind Daufuskie Island through the Cooper River or up the May River to check out the Sand Bar and Palmetto Bluff. Ask for some superb lunch recommendations on the water. Return the boat at the end of the rental period. 

Hilton Head Island: Mermaid Encounter Boat Tour

10. Hilton Head Island: Mermaid Encounter Boat Tour

Pinky Plankton met the Mermaid of Hilton Head, Mermaid Nina, who taught her how to protect the ocean and gave Pinky Plankton the title of Ocean Ambassador. On this 75 minute tour you will learn how to protect the ocean and earn your Ocean Ambassador badge too. On this tour you’ll see the Mermaid of Hilton Head and dolphins! Along the way you will also see birds and other Lowcountry wildlife as we journey to find the Mermaid of Hilton Head. You will also learn the story of how Mermaid Nina became the Mermaid of Hilton Head and how she helps protect her ocean friends as well as why the things she does are important for our ecosystem and what you can do to help. When we find the real mermaid, she knows our boat! She will swim right up to the boat and talk to our passengers about the ocean, Hilton Head wildlife, and of course, answer all of your mermaid questions! You can not get any better kid friendly live entertainment than a real mermaid! You never know what will happen when you are on the tour. Sometimes Mermaid Nina’s arch nemesis, Professor Al G will show up and try to capture her to put her in a mermaid performance tank, but Mermaid Nina loves to be wild and free. She will rely on you and your family to save her from Professor Al G and scare him away! At the end of the tour, you will earn your O’fish’al Ocean Ambassador badge that you can take home with you. This is a must do if you are planning a family vacation full of fun, magic and education. Our tour is based around the book The Mermaid of Hilton Head: The Mermaid’s Friend, this book was written and illustrated by Mermaid Nina herself. The boat is fully covered and sits low to the water for easy viewing of wildlife and Mermaid Nina. The Mermaid Encounter Boat Tour is such a fun, unique experience that the little ones will be talking about for weeks, months, and even years to come. Kids must be accompanied by an adult. Per Coast Guard regulation kids 12 and under must wear a life vest that we will provide.

11 activities found
Sort by:

Frequently asked questions about South Carolina

What top attractions are a must-see in South Carolina?

What are the best deals and discounts on activities and attractions in South Carolina?

Other Sightseeing Options in South Carolina

Want to discover all there is to do in South Carolina? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about South Carolina

Dr. Lager was a wealth of information. My mom in her 70s and my two children aged 8 and 10 years old had a blast. My kids asked 100s of questions, and he patiently answered all of them. He told jokes and made the stories about the people, architecture, government, and culture funny, relatable, and memorable. We came away from this amazing tour really having a deep appreciation for this beautiful city and the people who crafted it. I highly recommend him to anyone interested in getting a realistic and entertaining preview of Charleston. We spent 4 days here and did probably 5-6 different themed tours and hit a lot of museums during our stay, and his history walking tour was the best. It was the highlight by far of our trip!

We had a great time, learned lots, and came home with shrimp. We battered it with Tempura and fried it—wonderful! We did the sunset tour and we’re lucky enough to see a decent sunset. We will do this again the next time we are in Hilton Head.

Eric gives an excellent tour. He knows the history and architecture and makes it all lively. My family and I highly recommend him. Carol

Had a great time! Lauren was very informative and fun. Enjoyed the sunset , while learning about shrimping.

very educational and informative. Crew was very friendly and explained the adventure in detail.