South Carolina Must Dos?

[Disney Princess]

We booked a road trip through South Carolina (and Savannah, GA) for September. We have a couple of days in each place. Please tell us your MUST DOs (attractions, restaurants, etc.) in each place. It is our first time. We will have at time of travel a 6, 4, and 2 yo.

We'll be stopping in Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head Island, and Savannah, GA. As of now, our plan is to fly to Atlanta and rent a car there. The SC airports are cost prohibitive. Anything along the drives would be great too.

Thanks!!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I am a Charleston native...there is a nice aquarium, Ft Sumter, the Yorktown, Waterfront park, rainbow row, The battery, the market, and for beaches I'd go IOP or Sullivans. There is also Charlestowne landing. Keep in mind it will be HOT AND HUMID!
Check out home team bbq too! yum...now my tummy is growling. hahaha

 

[fofinia]

My sister lives outside Charleston. When we go we like to do a few historical sites. My hubs is a big history fan. We liked Charlestowne Landing a lot. We lucked out one time and showed up on a free day which was awesome. We've been to one of the Forts. I don't think it was Sumter. Whichever one you don't need to take a boat to. It was April and there is no shade on the forts. So it was wicked hot! We've done a horse and buggy tour guide through downtown Charleston. So fun! We go to the beach at Isle of Palms. And we drive around the other islands- John's Island, Daniels's Island, Sullivan's and we take the kids to all the different public playgrounds.

It's been 20+ years since I've been to Savannah. But I keep saying when we do go we are going to the Lady and Sons restaurant. Have a Po' boy sandwich and BBQ while you are there. Haven't had anything bad. But I know others will have better recommendations on that for you.

Oh! I've always wanted to go in June and go Strawberry Picking at Boone Hall and Plantation. they have a strawberry festival. Maybe there is some other harvest happening in September?

 

[Simba's Mom]

Well, of course if you're going to Hilton Head Island, you have to make a stop at the Disney resort there, and have a Dole Whip and or a Mickey Bar. And while you're there, if you see Shadow, give her a pet on the head.

 

[kymom99]

The pirate house in Savannah is good. Walk around the square and take a trolley ride around the city.

 

[OhhBother]

I live in Pawleys Island between Charleston and Myrtle Beach. Our little section of the state is called the Hammock Coast -- it's very laidback here. And absolutely beautiful. I'd encourage you to check out Brookgreen Gardens and Huntington Beach State Park as you drive through here on Highway 17. You'll see the stunning natural beauty of this area. Be sure to check out Brookgreen's website in advance.

And when you see all the Tidelands Health signs and billboards, you can think of me. I'm the VP of marketing, and I renamed our health system three years ago.So the brand is my baby.

 

[HeatherC]

Love the Low Country.

Hilton Head is one of our favorite places. Gorgeous beaches. Rent bikes! Miles of paved bike paths under gorgeous tree canopies.

Savannah we loved doing a Segway tour that takes you to many of the beautiful squares.

Beaufort is another nice little town that I would definitely recommend visiting and having lunch or dinner in.

Bluffton is right before Hilton Head and has lots of outlet shopping if you enjoy that.

Have a wonderful time!

 

[kymom99]

Forgot to mention wormsloe plantation and bonaventure cemetery.

 

[dosekies]

If I was traveling in a car with kids that age, I would need a drink! My favorite place for adult drinks in Hilton Head is the Frosty Frog. They have dozens of different frozen daiquiris that are all AMAZING and you can even get them in gallons to go. We had lunch there too and the food was pretty good.

 

[GoofyLovingFamily]

We like to eat at Jestine’s in Charleston. We also like the aquarium and the carriage tour in Charleston.

We like to eat at Dirty Dons in Myrtle Beach. It is a seafood place.

 

[smcabee]

I know its not on your list as a stopping point but Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia and the SC State Museum and Planetarium are some awesome spots to visit.

 

[NinaBella]

I am from Myrtle Beach. Most tourist end up at Broadway at the Beach at some point. There will be fun things for your kids there. I am in the group of locals who believe the beach lost a lot of appeal when they tore down The Pavilion.

I always enjoy visiting Boone Hall Plantation although your kids will be too young to soak in the history.

 

[DisneyHardin]

We go to Hilton Head every summer. There are so many great restaurants. We love The Black Marlin and Fish Camp.

 

[ProudSoccerMom]

I know its not on your list as a stopping point but Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia and the SC State Museum and Planetarium are some awesome spots to visit.

Charleston is one of our favorite places on the planet. We’ve been traveling there yearly for the past 9 years. You’ve gotten some great suggestions. I wanted to add in the Yorktown and Magnolia plantation. Our son loves touring the Yorktown and seeing the planes, etc. Magnolia has beautiful gardens and trails, as well as a swamp boat tour that your kids would like. There also is a small petting zoo there.

Depending on how your kids would do, I’d recommend walking around the historic district. Start at Battery Park. And then go where your heart takes you. There is so much beauty to be seen.

All Charleston beaches are beautiful, but Kiawah Island, which is about 30 minutes outside of the historic district, is our absolute favorite. It’s a private residential island, but there is a pristine and gorgeous county park - Beachwalker - that is open to all. Perfect for families. It is lifeguarded in the summer months. There are changing rooms, restrooms and outdoor showers, along with a small stand that sells sunscreen, toys etc. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to see the dolphins strand feeding at low tide. It’s about a mile walk to the tip of the island. Depending on how your kids would do, it’s definitely worth a try. The dolphins come up on the sand to eat. Amazing thing to see. There’s also the Freshfields market area that is open air with lots of shops and restaurants. They also have movies outside at night on Fridays. Be sure to stop at the Angel Oak on John’s Island on the way to Kiawah. Google it - must be seen to be believed.

With regard to restaurants, 82 Queen, Magnolia and SNOB are wonderful. All have kid’s menus if needed.

I also quoted what someone else said about Columbia. We’ve spent quite a bit of time there, too, and the Riverbanks Zoo, SC State Museum and EdVenture Kid’s Museum are absolute must dos. Columbia is about an hour and a half from Charleston.

Enjoy!

 

[ajwolfe]

In Savannah I would recommend a trolley tour with on and off privileges. Try Lady and Son's for a meal. We loved our ghost tour there, but our kids were a bit older at the time.
Hilton Head we loved One Hot Mama's and SkullCreek Boathouse for meals. The kids just enjoyed beach time for the most part there. Definitely rent some bikes to explore.
One of our favorite trips so far!

 

[HeatherC]

In Savannah I would recommend a trolley tour with on and off privileges. Try Lady and Son's for a meal. We loved our ghost tour there, but our kids were a bit older at the time.
Hilton Head we loved One Hot Mama's and SkullCreek Boathouse for meals. The kids just enjoyed beach time for the most part there. Definitely rent some bikes to explore.
One of our favorite trips so far!

We LOVE Skull Creek too!! Now I want to go back!

 

[crazylady]

In Hilton Head make sure to rent bikes to ride on the beach. And in the evening, Gregg Russell is fun to watch in Harbor Town with the kids. Make sure to get there early to get seats.

 

[Tikitoi]

Are there any boardwalk in SC?

 

[duketennisgal]

Savannah - Definitely do a ghost tour, so much fun! The Pink House for dinner, it's my favorite restaurant in Savannah, so much better than Lady and Sons! If you get a chance go into the basement, super cool. You have to go to Leopold's for ice cream, you may have to wait in line but it's a must do.
Charleston - I love the Battery area, it's absolutely beautiful. There are a ton of great restaurants in the area, my favorite is Basil, but only try that if you like Thai food. There's also a couple of amazing ice cream places on King Street, I wish I could remember the name of the place that I got dark chocolate cayenne ice cream, it was the best ice cream I've ever had (outside of gelato in Europe). Fort Sumter is really cool, I would definitely check that out if you have time.
Hilton Head - like mentioned above, rent bikes and explore the island. We stayed in a cute little house near Harbor Town for 4 days. We rented bikes for the entire time and just explored the island, the only time we used our car was for dinner because we were there in the winter and most everything in the harbor town area was closed. It's a beautiful island though!
Myrtle Beach - nothing really, I live about an hour away from MB and only go there to outlet shop, I'm not a fan of the area...

 

[NinaBella]

Are there any boardwalk in SC?

I am not sure what you define as a boardwalk? I mentioned both of these in my prevoius post.

In Myrtle Beach:

Broadway at the Beach
http://www.broadwayatthebeach.com/

The old Pavilion Boardwalk is along the beach and still has arcades, beach stores, and places to eat. It has the sky wheel now. For this area, you can walk on the street side to the beach stores, ice cream parlors, arcades, etc. Or you can walk on the BACK side where there is still the wooden boardwalk (some replaced by concrete walkways) and see and visit the same shops as the street side but also be walking along the beach at the same time. Gay Dolphin Gift Shop is among of my favorites. But as a kid loved paying a nickel to take the spiral staircase up to the observation deck (above the rooftop) that they now have closed.
http://www.myrtlebeachdowntown.com/

http://www.gaydolphin.com/


Here is one I didn't mention before is Family Kingdom Amusement Park. Home of the Swampfox roller coaster. My mom was one of the first 100 to ride it when it opened (she still has the bumper sticker from that). I hate the Swampfox coaster. It's an old wooden coaster and bounces your head way too much and gives me such a headache from my head hitting side to side. Some love wooden coasters, not me.
https://www.familykingdomfun.com/