# Things to do with toddlers and little kids in Charleston: the parent guide > Charleston is lovely with little kids: a hands-on children’s museum downtown, big county parks, beaches nearby and free storytimes across the county. - Last checked: 2026-10-18 - 15 places for ages 0–6, with admission and menu prices from each place’s own site - Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/charleston-sc/guide/ - This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/charleston-sc/index.md - Visiting guide (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/charleston-sc/visiting/index.md - City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/charleston-sc/llms.txt ## Kid-friendly restaurants ### Edmund’s Oast (Upper King Street, 1505 King St.) - A brewery restaurant on upper King Street, open for lunch every day. - Price level: $$ - Hours: Sun–Thu 11am–9pm; Fri–Sat 11am–10pm - Good for: A sit-down lunch with room for a stroller. - Skip if: you need it quiet; it fills up at dinner. - Website: https://www.edmundsoast.com/ ### Page’s Okra Grill (Mount Pleasant, 302 Coleman Blvd.) - A Mount Pleasant family restaurant serving Southern breakfast, lunch and supper, with weekend brunch. - Price level: $$ - Hours: Mon–Thu 7am–9pm; Fri 7am–10pm; Sat 8am–10pm (brunch until about 3); Sun 8am–9pm (brunch until about 3) - Good for: An early Southern breakfast before the beach or the aquarium. - Skip if: you want a quick in-and-out on a weekend morning; brunch gets busy. - Website: https://www.pagesokragrill.com/ ## Indoor play and rainy days ### Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry (Downtown) - Hands-on play downtown, with sensory kits to borrow and free SuperStars Sundays for kids with special needs. - Price level: $$ - Tickets: kids $13 advance; $15 at the door; adults $13 advance; $15 at the door; Under 1 free. Museums for All: $3 per person · SuperStars Sundays: free for families with children with special needs, 2nd and 4th Sundays 10am–noon - Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–5pm; Sun noon–5pm - Good for: A rainy morning downtown. - Skip if: you hit the busiest weekend hours; book advance tickets. - Price source: https://explorecml.org/visit/ (checked 2026-10-18) - Website: https://explorecml.org/ ### Charleston County Main Library at Morrison (1142 Morrison Dr.) - The main library’s current home, with baby and family storytimes. - Price level: Free - Good for: Free storytimes most weekdays. - Skip if: you need a weekend storytime; most run on weekdays. - Website: https://www.ccpl.org/ ### Mt. Pleasant Library (Mount Pleasant, 1133 Mathis Ferry Rd.) - A busy branch with baby, toddler and preschool storytimes and holiday parties. - Price level: Free - Good for: Free storytimes east of the Cooper. - Skip if: you need a weekend storytime. - Website: https://www.ccpl.org/branches ### OutSlide In (West Ashley, Citadel Mall) - A giant indoor playground with slides and a toddler area, plus a Wi-Fi lounge with coffee for grown-ups. - Price level: $ - Tickets: kids $14.95 all day; Toddler Tuesdays: $10 for ages 0–3 - Hours: Mon–Thu 10am–6pm; Fri–Sat 10am–7pm; Sun 1–6pm - Good for: A rainy afternoon; Toddler Tuesdays are $10 for ages 0–3. - Skip if: you only brought grip socks; they ask for regular socks. - Price source: https://outslidein.com/ (checked 2026-10-18) - Website: https://outslidein.com/ ## Parks and outdoor play ### James Island County Park (James Island) - A big county park, home to the Holiday Festival of Lights each winter. - Price level: $ - Good for: Room to run and a holiday tradition. - Skip if: it’s a hot summer afternoon. - Website: https://www.ccprc.com/ ### Waterfront Park (Downtown, 1 Vendue Range) - The city’s eight-acre park along the harbor, with fountains, garden rooms, lawns, a walking path and a long pier with picnic tables and wooden swings. - Price level: Free - Tickets: Free - Good for: A free stroll, a swing on the pier and a fountain stop downtown. - Skip if: you need indoor shelter; it’s an open waterfront park. - Price source: https://www.charleston-sc.gov/266/Park-Directory (checked 2026-10-18) - Website: https://www.charleston-sc.gov/266/Park-Directory ### Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site (Charleston) - See otters, bears, bison and more in the Animal Forest, the only zoo in the Charleston area, and step aboard the Adventure, a 17th-century replica sailing ship. The puma habitat is closed for improvements. - Price level: $ - Tickets: kids 6–15 $7; adults $12; 5 and under free - Hours: Grounds daily 9am–5pm; Animal Forest daily 10am–4pm - Good for: Animals and a ship in one easy morning. - Skip if: it’s Tuesday and you want the ship; the Adventure is closed Tuesdays. - Price source: https://southcarolinaparks.com/charles-towne-landing (checked 2026-10-18) - Website: https://southcarolinaparks.com/charles-towne-landing ### Palmetto Islands County Park (Mount Pleasant, 444 Needlerush Pkwy.) - 943 acres of meadow, maritime forest and marsh with paved trails and boardwalks, the Big Toy playground, a 50-foot observation tower and bike rentals. The 5–12 playground structure closes for resurfacing Oct. 26–30; the rest of the playground stays open. - Price level: $ - Tickets: kids $2; adults $2; 2 and under free - Hours: Daily 8am to sunset this time of year - Good for: A playground-and-boardwalk morning for $2 a person. - Skip if: you’re counting on Splash Island; it’s seasonal. - Price source: https://www.ccprc.com/listing/palmetto-islands-county-park/24/ (checked 2026-10-18) - Website: https://www.ccprc.com/listing/palmetto-islands-county-park/24/ ### Wannamaker County Park (North Charleston, 8888 University Blvd.) - More than 1,015 acres of woods and wetlands with two playgrounds, a big play hill and a seasonal splash pad called The Sprinkler. - Price level: $ - Tickets: kids $2; adults $2; 2 and under free - Hours: Daily 8am to sunset this time of year - Good for: Two playgrounds and the play hill on a mild day. - Skip if: you’re counting on The Sprinkler or the waterpark; both are seasonal. - Price source: https://www.ccprc.com/listing/wannamaker-county-park/49/ (checked 2026-10-18) - Website: https://www.ccprc.com/listing/wannamaker-county-park/49/ ### Mount Pleasant Pier (Mount Pleasant, 71 Harry Hallman Jr. Blvd.) - A 1,250-foot pier into Charleston Harbor beneath the Ravenel Bridge, with rocking chairs and swings, a covered pavilion and the RiverWatch Cafe & Gift Shop. - Price level: Free - Hours: Daily 7am–10pm this time of year - Good for: A sunset stroll with the stroller and a swing break. - Skip if: you need a fenced play area; it’s an open pier. - Website: https://www.ccprc.com/listing/mount-pleasant-pier/21/ ## Museums, zoos and big outings ### South Carolina Aquarium (Downtown waterfront) - Rivers, swamps and the big Great Ocean Tank, plus a sea turtle care center, right on Charleston Harbor. - Price level: $$$ - Tickets: Prices change by date on the aquarium’s ticket calendar. - Hours: Daily 9am–5pm; last entry 3:30pm (closed Thanksgiving and Dec 25; Dec 24 until 1pm) - Good for: A rainy-day morning of fish and turtles. - Skip if: you can’t arrive before 3:30; that’s last entry. - Price source: https://scaquarium.org/faqs (checked 2026-10-18) - Website: https://scaquarium.org/tickets/ ### The Charleston Museum (360 Meeting St.) - Home to Kidstory, a hands-on exhibit where the history of Charleston and the Lowcountry comes alive for children. - Price level: $ - Tickets: kids 3–12 $6; adults $15; 2 and under free - Hours: Mon–Sat 9am–5pm; Sun noon–5pm - Good for: A rainy morning in Kidstory. - Skip if: you want the historic houses too; each site needs its own child ticket. - Price source: https://www.charlestonmuseum.org/visit/buy-tickets/ (checked 2026-10-18) - Website: https://www.charlestonmuseum.org/visit/museum-information/ ### Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum (Mount Pleasant, 40 Patriots Point Rd.) - Climb aboard the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown and see historic aircraft and the Medal of Honor Museum. The USS Laffey is closed for maintenance right now. - Price level: $$$ - Tickets: kids 6–12 $23 online ($25 onsite); adults $28 online ($30 onsite); Under 6 free; parking not included - Hours: Daily 10am–5pm (ticket office closes at 4pm) - Good for: A plane-and-ship morning with kids 6 and up (under 6 free). - Skip if: you’re bringing a stroller on a guided tour; strollers aren’t allowed on the ladders. - Price source: https://www.patriotspoint.org/tickets (checked 2026-10-18) - Website: https://www.patriotspoint.org/visit/hours-operation ## Free things to do - Charleston County Main Library at Morrison - Mt. Pleasant Library - Waterfront Park - Mount Pleasant Pier ## Best for under 3s - **Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry**: Under 1 free. - **Charleston County Main Library at Morrison**: Baby storytimes. - **Mt. Pleasant Library**: Baby and toddler times. ## With a baby or a 1-year-old ### Baby and lap-sit storytimes - **Baby Storytime at Bees Ferry West Ashley** (Charleston County Public Library): Wednesdays at 10am and 10:30am · Bees Ferry West Ashley branch. Birth to 24 months. Sing songs and enjoy rhymes, movement activities, and stories. https://ccplsc.libcal.com/calendar - **Baby Storytime** (Charleston County Public Library): Thursdays at 10:30am · Hurd/St. Andrews branch. Birth to 24 months. Enjoy songs, movement and a story followed by baby playtime. https://ccplsc.libcal.com/calendar - **Baby Storytime at Dart Library (ages 0-24 months)** (Charleston County Public Library): Tuesdays at 10am · John L. Dart branch. Birth to 24 months. Just for babies and their caregivers! https://ccplsc.libcal.com/calendar - **Baby Storytime at John's Island Library** (Charleston County Public Library): Mondays at 10am · John's Island branch. https://ccplsc.libcal.com/calendar ### Babies get in free - **Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry**: Under 1 free. https://explorecml.org/visit/ - **Palmetto Islands County Park**: 2 and under free. https://www.ccprc.com/listing/palmetto-islands-county-park/24/ - **Wannamaker County Park**: 2 and under free. https://www.ccprc.com/listing/wannamaker-county-park/49/ - **The Charleston Museum**: 2 and under free. https://www.charlestonmuseum.org/visit/buy-tickets/ ### Stroller notes - **South Carolina Aquarium**: Strollers, diaper bags and backpacks are allowed; smaller strollers work best and there are no rentals. ## Library storytimes - **Charleston County Public Library**: Weekday mornings at most branches. Free baby, toddler, preschool and family storytimes at 16-plus branches, from Mount Pleasant to Johns Island. https://www.ccpl.org/ - **Berkeley County Library System**: Weekly at 3 locations; Wednesdays and Thursdays, mostly mornings. Free baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. This fall's regular sessions include Story Time! (Wednesdays 10:30am, Cane Bay) and Storytime (Wednesdays 10:30am, St. Stephen), with more at Moncks Corner. https://berkeleylibrarysc.libcal.com/calendar ## Happening this week - **Disney On Ice: Magic of Family** (Sat 10:30am, 2:30pm & 6:30pm; Sun 1pm & 5pm) at North Charleston Coliseum. Tickets vary by seat; parking $10. https://littlesweekly.com/charleston-sc/#e-disney_on_ice_magic_of_family - **Jim Henson’s Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock LIVE** (Fri 6:30pm) at Charleston Gaillard Center. From $33.93; everyone needs a ticket regardless of age. https://littlesweekly.com/charleston-sc/#e-fraggle_rock_live_gaillard - **Nighttime at the Museum: Halloween Edition** (Fri 5:30–7pm) at The Charleston Museum. $10 nonmember child, $15 nonmember adult; members $5 child, adults free. https://littlesweekly.com/charleston-sc/#e-nighttime_at_the_museum_halloween_charleston_museum - **4th Annual Trunk-or-Treat (Dorchester Road)** (Wed 3–4:30pm) at Dorchester Road Library. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/charleston-sc/#e-trunk_or_treat_dorchester_road_library - **Hibben UMC Pumpkin Patch** (10am–7pm (Sun noon–7pm)) at Hibben United Methodist Church. Free to visit; pumpkins for sale. https://littlesweekly.com/charleston-sc/#e-hibben_umc_pumpkin_patch Full list with every outing: https://littlesweekly.com/charleston-sc/index.md ## Holiday pages - [Santa in Charleston: breakfast with Santa, photos and Santa trains (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/charleston-sc/santa/index.md) - [Christmas lights in Charleston for little kids (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/charleston-sc/christmas-lights/index.md) ## About this list - Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city. - How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com). - Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list. - How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote. ## FAQ ### Is the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry good for babies? Yes. Under 1 is free, and it lends sensory kits with headphones and fidget toys. ### Are there free things to do with little kids in Charleston? Yes. Charleston County Main Library at Morrison, Mt. Pleasant Library, Waterfront Park and Mount Pleasant Pier are free or have a free entry. See [the free list](https://littlesweekly.com/charleston-sc/guide/#free). ### What can we do in Charleston on a rainy or cold day with a toddler? Go indoors: Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry, Charleston County Main Library at Morrison, Mt. Pleasant Library and OutSlide In. They’re all under one roof, and most work for a short visit around nap time. ### Where are the free storytimes in Charleston? Charleston County Public Library: Weekday mornings at most branches. Berkeley County Library System: Weekly at 3 locations; Wednesdays and Thursdays, mostly mornings. Library storytimes don’t need a ticket, but times change by branch, so check the calendar first. See [library storytimes](https://littlesweekly.com/charleston-sc/guide/#storytimes), and this week’s dated sessions are on the [Charleston weekly list](https://littlesweekly.com/charleston-sc/). ### How do you choose the places in the Charleston guide? Every one of the 15 places is somewhere we’d take a baby, toddler or preschooler, with a note on who it suits and when to skip it. Prices, hours and menus come from each place’s own site, and 9 of them have checked admission or menu prices. The guide was last checked Oct 18, 2026. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/). ### How much is Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry for a toddler, and who gets in free? Under 1 free; kids: $13 advance; $15 at the door; adults: $13 advance; $15 at the door. Free entry: SuperStars Sundays: free for families with children with special needs, 2nd and 4th Sundays 10am–noon. Deals: Museums for All: $3 per person. We checked this on [its official site](https://explorecml.org/visit/) on Oct 18, 2026. Prices change, so confirm before you go.