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SOUTH CAROLINA IS THE ULTIMATE SUMMER
PLAYGROUND FOR FAMILIES IN 2024
Summer is rapidly approaching, and South Carolina is getting ready for some serious
family fun in the upcoming months. From outdoor adventure to cultural exploration, the
Palmetto State is the ultimate playground for all ages, guaranteeing an unforgettable
escape this year. See below for just a small sampling of family-friendly ideas for
summer 2024.
Catch A Wave
South Carolina might not be the first destination you think of when it comes to surfing,
but it is one of the best places for families to learn this exciting summer pastime.
Sun-kissed Myrtle Beach is well known for its nine miles of spacious beaches, gentle
waves, and welcoming atmosphere. Newbies can get their feet wet via Kokopelli Surf
Camp’s kids' surf camps, adult group and private lessons, surf birthday parties and
more.
● Bonus Tip: Myrtle Beach is also great for paddleboarding. Trailblaze Adventures
guides take nature seekers deep into the Cherry Grove Salt Marsh, home to
amazing creatures such as great egrets, herons and bottlenose dolphins.
Experience Authentic Lowcountry Flavors
South Carolina’s legendary Lowcountry cuisine doesn’t get much better than the Mingo
Point Oyster Roast & Barbecue, held at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort on Memorial Day
Weekend and most Monday evenings in June through August. Employing the
time-honored Lowcountry method, expert cooks steeped in the tradition take
fresh-caught oysters from tide to table in a scenic setting along the Kiawah River.
Between bites, attendees sway to the sound of live music, while a children’s area
provides games, crafts and face-painting.
● Bonus Tip: On Lowcountry Oyster Co.'s farm tours in Charleston, guests will get
to see, smell, touch and taste one of the culinary backbones of the Lowcountry
while learning about the sustainable cage farming techniques LowCo. uses to
raise millions of oyster seeds each year.
Say Hello To Snoopy And The Peanuts Gang
Carowinds, a 400-acre amusement park in York County, is the kind of summer hot spot
that every member of your crew will love. Boasting more than 60 attractions, the fun
includes 14 roller coasters (thrill seekers won’t want to miss the heart-stopping Fury
325, billed as the world’s tallest and fastest giga coaster) and a giant water park. Your
littlest ones will make a beeline to the Peanuts-themed Camp Snoopy, where they can
interact with their favorite characters and enjoy some age-appropriate rides — including
the ever-popular Peanuts Pirates.
● Bonus Tip: If you’re visiting Carowinds on Memorial Day, 4th of July Weekend or
Labor Day, you’ll be treated to some seriously spectacular fireworks displays
after the sun goes down.
Go Kazoo Crazy
If your family vacation this summer calls for something quirky and unforgettable, the
Kazoobie Kazoo Museum in Beaufort can’t be beaten. At one of just two kazoo factories
in the United States, you’ll tour the factory and museum before making your very own
plastic kazoo to take home. Trust us, you won’t look at kazoos the same way ever
again.
● Bonus Tip: If Kazoobie’s museum gets you in the mood for more weird/wacky
museums, try the Myrtle Beach Pinball Museum, home to dozens of vintage
pinball machines.
Float Down A Lazy River
Sometimes, summer is all about slowing down the pace. And that’s exactly what’s
offered on the Edisto River. Edisto River Adventures offers laid-back tubing experience
in the beautiful setting of the ACE Basin, one of the largest natural areas remaining on
the East Coast. Tubing trips run through a two-mile section of the scenic Edisto River,
where you’ll float past a pristine ecosystem, with wetlands, old-growth forests and an
array of wildlife.
● Bonus Tip: For a South Carolina river trip that’s a little more pulse-pounding,
brave the whitewater rapids of the Chattooga River, one of the longest
free-flowing mountain rivers in the Southeast.
Bust Some Ghosts
The family fun doesn’t stop in South Carolina when the sun sets. Bulldog Tours offers a
variety of nighttime experiences — including the Charleston Ghost and Dungeon Tour.
This spooky (but not too spooky) after-hours adventure leads guests through the eeriest
parts of Charleston’s historic district — including the infamous Provost Dungeon, where
prisoners were housed during the Revolutionary War. Do their ghosts still haunt this
place? Only the brave will find out!
● Bonus Tip: For a more laid-back evening, check out the Freshfields Village Music
on the Green on Fridays from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. The free, family-friendly concerts
feature a variety of genres, including Carolina Beach music, Motown, Top 40,
Country and more.
Crafting With Kids
The Florence County Museum, located in downtown Florence, is a fascinating
attraction, filled with artifacts from the Cretaceous Era through the present day. The
museum hosts a free Family Day on the second Saturday of each month, offering
imagination-sparking craft activities that everyone from toddlers to grandparents will
love.
● Bonus Tip: On the last Friday of each month in downtown Florence, enjoy
Florence After Five, a kid-friendly street festival with live music, local food & drink
and much more.
Swing Into Summer
By popular demand, the Greenville Jazz Fest (June 7-8) has been extended to two full
days in 2024. That means more music, more venues, more educational opportunities,
more food & drink — and more fun! Headlined by the legendary Preservation Hall Jazz
Band, the eclectic lineup includes swing, funk, smooth jazz, big band, Latin jazz and
more, all in the heart of downtown Greenville.
● Bonus Tip: During the family-friendly Zoo Fest (June 1) at the Greenville Zoo,
you can explore the exhibits as you listen to live music, performed by Taylor
Corum, Anna Field, Hurt & Skip, and many more.
Get Dramatic
Taking place in historic downtown Greenville at several different venues, the South
Carolina New Play Festival (Aug. 8-11) offers theater lovers four days of musicals,
plays, town halls and an outdoor variety stage. The festival will culminate with a
Broadway Cabaret starring TONY-nominee Phillip Boykin, a native of Greenville, who
will share the story of how he went from Greenville to Broadway, with backstage tales
from the Broadway productions of Hadestown, Porgy and Bess and The Music Man,
and perform a selection of songs from the shows that made him famous.
● Bonus Tip: For a theater experience that’s perfect for younger kids, try A Year
With Frog & Toad (July 20-21, July 27-28) at Charleston’s Historic Dock Theatre.
The whimsical musical brings to life the adventures of the two best friends, Frog
and Toad, based on Arnold Lobel's beloved children's books.
Pet A Unicorn
Did you know that there’s a unicorn farm in Fountain Inn, SC? The fantastical Hidden
Pasture Unicorn Farm is home to over 19 magical equine animals — and they all have
wonderful stories to share with your family. In addition to unicorns and pegasus, Hidden
Pasture also has several unidonks™, a mulicorn™, several nethercorns™, a
dozercorn™ and even a flying nethercorn™. You might not know what any of those
creatures are, but your kids will love them.
● Bonus Tip: For further close encounters with animals, head over to Hickory Hill
Milk in Edgefield, where you can take a behind-the-scenes tour to learn all about
how milk is made — and meet the friendly cows!
Go On An Artsy Road Trip
Pack your snacks, load up your car, and let an art-filled journey unfold. Explore
Richland, Lexington, Newberry and Saluda counties on a colorful driving tour that
showcases an array of amazing murals. Each of these masterpieces were dreamed up
by local artists — and each one provides a perfectly Instagram-worthy backdrop for a
family photo or two.
● Bonus Tip: While you’re in the area, spend an afternoon at EdVenture Children’s
Museum in Columbia, featuring 350 interactive exhibits that provide endless
opportunities for exploration, creativity and good old-fashioned fun.
Make A Splash On The Shores of Asbury
A new campground RV destination in South Carolina’s upstate, the Shores of Asbury in
Anderson is set upon scenic Hartwell Lake. The campground is home to the Aqua Zone,
an inflatable water obstacle course newly opened in May 2024, offering splash-filled fun
for all ages. When it’s time to relax, find a table at El Arriero at The Shores, serving up
fresh caught faves like oysters, shrimp, low country boil, crab legs and much more.
● Bonus Tip: Freshwater anglers take note! Lake Hartwell is renowned for its
catfish, bream, crappie and largemouth, striped and hybrid bass fisheries.
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About the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism
The South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism is a cabinet agency
assigned to operate and manage South Carolina's state parks, market the state as a
preferred vacation destination, and provide assistance to communities to develop
recreation assets. Explore the official tourism site of South Carolina and discover all the
rich history, sandy beaches, and family attractions a South Carolina vacation has to
offer at DiscoverSouthCarolina.com.