Family Guides for South Carolina: Kids, Rain, Parks

Things to Do › Family Guides

Family guides for South Carolina: 65 picks where the operator's own page says something about kids, 60 indoor rainy-day options, and the 52 state parks that publish a children's rate. Prices and hours are as published, never rounded.

Kid Notes65stated by the operator
Rainy Day60indoors
State Parks52with a child rate
Beaches19parking and dog rules

Picks With Kid Notes From The Operator

Only places whose own page says something about children are listed here. No note means we did not find one, not that kids are unwelcome.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans Stadium (TicketReturn.com Field)
The city lists the ballpark with a playground. Visit Myrtle Beach says fireworks follow select home games. source In Myrtle Beach.
Kids
Playground listed
Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach
Indoors
An aquarium; visitors walk through tunnels under sharks and see sawfish, reef fish and rays (per the attraction's page). source In Myrtle Beach.
Hours
9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on the day read (other days not shown)
Cost
Prices not on the page read; ticket link ripleys.com/tickets/myrtle-beach
Kids
Page mentions hands-on exhibits for kids and a play area
The Market Common
A town-center district with shops, dining, GTC Cinema (14 screens), 810 Billiards & Bowling, Escape Vault, EdVenture Children's Museum, fountains and a playground. source In Myrtle Beach.
Hours
Store hours not on the page; free luggage storage Monday-Friday 8am-5pm at the Management Office with valid ID
Kids
Playground and EdVenture Children's Museum listed
Alligator Adventure
A wildlife park the operator calls one of the largest facilities for reptile life in the world; also capybaras, llamas, flamingos, lemurs, mountain lions and live animal shows. source In North Myrtle Beach.
Hours
Not on the page read
Cost
Not on the page read
Kids
Page mentions live shows where visitors can interact with animals
Barefoot Landing
A waterfront shopping and dining center on the Intracoastal Waterway with Alabama Theatre, House of Blues, a carousel, kiddie rides, a playground and seasonal events (BooFest!, SummerFest!). source In North Myrtle Beach.
Hours
Not on the page read
Cost
No admission cost stated
Kids
Carousel, Barefoot Amusements kiddie rides and playground listed
Dogs
Each restaurant and shop has its own pet policy (destination dog guide)
North Myrtle Beach Area Historical Museum
FreeIndoors
Exhibits on local history, local wildlife with a sea turtle life cycle exhibit, a shag dance exhibit with a jukebox, a seashell display with a scavenger hunt, and Vanna White memorabilia. source In North Myrtle Beach.
Hours
Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost
Free; donations appreciated
Kids
Seashell scavenger hunt and interactive activities listed
North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex Dog Park
A city dog park with separate fenced areas for dogs under 25 pounds and for large dogs. source In North Myrtle Beach.
Hours
Dog Park Hours: 6:30 am to 8 pm
Cost
No fees listed
Kids
Children under 16 must be supervised by an adult at all times
Dogs
Proof of current rabies vaccination required; sick, aggressive and in-heat dogs not allowed
All Children's Park
An inclusive playground for children of all abilities on 10th Avenue North. source In Surfside Beach.
Kids
Inclusive playground
Surfside Beach Fishing Pier
An 814-foot, 25-foot-tall concrete pier owned by the town; walking on the pier is free; fishing needs a pass bought at Perry's Bait & Tackle; the pier has an elevator, the Whistling Duck and Surf Diner, and Drippy's Homemade Ice Cream. source In Surfside Beach.
Hours
6:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. April 1-October 31; 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. November 1-March 31. Perry's Bait & Tackle 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Cost
Pier admission free. Standard fishing pass $14.00 daily, $55.00 weekly, $200.00 annual; King pass $16.00 daily, $75.00 weekly, $300.00 annual; children under 12 $2.00 service fee; rod rental $25.00 per day. State fishing license not required. Parking $4.00 per hour 8 AM-6 PM.
Kids
The page calls it the Family Pier; children under 12 pay a $2.00 service fee
Dogs
Pets (other than service animals) are prohibited on the pier
Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park
City park on the Beaufort River, partly built on pylons as a pier, with an amphitheater, playground, picnic tables and benches; site where the Combahee River Raid led by Harriet Tubman began and ended June 1-2, 1863. source In Beaufort.
Kids
Playground listed
Hunting Island Lighthouse Climb
Climb 167 steps to the top of the lighthouse, moved 1.3 miles inland in 1889 because of beach erosion. source In Beaufort.
Hours
First climb 9:30 a.m., last climb 4:30 p.m., first-come first-served; may stop for unsafe weather
Cost
$5 per person, paid at the oil house; does not include park admission
Kids
Children 13 and younger need an adult 18+; climbers must be at least 44 inches tall and under 260 pounds
Dogs
Pets not allowed inside the lighthouse
Boone Hall Plantation
Plantation with general-admission tickets that include all tours presented that day. source In Charleston.
Hours
Monday-Saturday 9 AM-5 PM; Sunday 12 PM-5 PM
Cost
Regular adult $30; seniors, military and AAA $27; children (ages 6-12) $12; children 5 and under free with an adult
Kids
Under 5 free with an adult
South Carolina Aquarium
Indoors
Aquarium with thousands of animals and a sea turtle rehabilitation center on the harbor. source In Charleston.
Hours
Daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., last entry 3:30 p.m.; closed Thanksgiving Day and Dec 25; Dec 24 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; closed Tuesday Oct 27, 2026 for exhibit installation
Cost
Prices not on the page read; tickets and hours are on scaquarium.org/tickets
Kids
Page lists kids programs such as Halloween at the A-Scary-um (Oct 31, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.) and Music School for ages two to five (Nov 17, 8:30-9 a.m.)
Chaplin Community Park Dog Park
Fully fenced, double-gated dog park; dogs may be off-leash if not aggressive toward people or other dogs. The park also has tennis and basketball courts, fields, trails and a playground. source In Hilton Head Island.
Kids
Playground listed
Dogs
Island's only dog park per visitor site
Driessen Beach Park
Town beach park with beach access, beach wheelchair, picnic pavilion, playground and seasonal beach rentals. source In Hilton Head Island.
Hours
6 am to 10 pm daily
Cost
Parking $3/hr weekdays, $5/hr weekends in peak season
Kids
Playground listed
Dogs
Town beach dog rules apply
Greens Shell Park
Neighborhood park with a historic shell ring, observation deck, playground and picnic pavilion. source In Hilton Head Island.
Kids
Playground listed
Harbour Town Marina and Shops
Marina area with more than 20 locally owned boutiques, galleries and gift shops, a covered pier, year-round cruises, boat tours and fishing charters, the Liberty Oak and the Gregg Russell Harbour Town Playground. source In Hilton Head Island.
Kids
Gregg Russell Harbour Town Playground listed
Islanders Beach Park
Town beach park with beach access, pavilion, picnic pavilion, playground and seasonal beach rentals. source In Hilton Head Island.
Hours
6 am to 10 pm daily
Cost
Parking $3/hr weekdays, $5/hr weekends in peak season
Kids
Playground listed
Dogs
Town beach dog rules apply
Jarvis Creek Park
Community park with a fishing dock, fitness trail, open fields, picnic shelters, playground and nature trails. source In Hilton Head Island.
Kids
Playground listed
Lowcountry Celebration Park
Adventure playground, fitness stations, walking trails, open pavilion and lawn and a wading pool. source In Hilton Head Island.
Kids
Adventure playground and wading pool listed
Shelter Cove Community Park
Playground, performance pavilion, picnic spots, public art, walking paths and a boardwalk with Broad Creek views. source In Hilton Head Island.
Kids
Playground listed
J. Marshall Stith Park
Town park with a toy park, toddler park, first-come covered picnic area, 2 tennis courts, soccer field, basketball court and gazebo. source In Sullivan's Island.
Hours
Not listed
Cost
omit
Kids
Has a big toy park and toddler park
Poe Avenue Park
Park with 2 tennis courts, a bottle filling station and a play set. source In Sullivan's Island.
Hours
Not listed
Cost
omit
Kids
Has a play set
Aiken Training Track
Privately owned Thoroughbred training track with a 1-mile main track and 5/8-mile training track; training hours 7 am to 11 am; a Clockers' Stand lets visitors watch morning workouts; the historic Track Kitchen serves breakfast through the winter season. source In Aiken.
Hours
Training Hours 7 am-11 am; Track Kitchen 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. through the winter season; office 9am-12pm Mon-Fri
Cost
Aiken Trials 2026: General Admission $25 (children 10 and under free); parking $25
Kids
Aiken Trials 2026: children age 10 and under enter free

Seasonal Family Guides

FAQ

What is good for kids in South Carolina?

State parks with playgrounds and junior ranger-style programs, aquariums and museums, and beaches with lifeguards. Start with the lists above.

Do children get a discount?

At most state parks yes. See the state parks for kids page for each park’s published child rate.

Sources

Read on October 26, 2026. Each pick links its own source above. How we check: editorial standards; spot a mistake? Tell us.

Cite this page: It's South Carolina, “Family Guides for South Carolina”, itssouthcarolina.com/things-to-do/family-guides/ (updated 2026-10-26). By the It's South Carolina editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.