we are heading to charleston and savannah - 4 nights each - at the end of the month
our group is two adults, an au pair, and a toddler. what should we see, do, any particularly child friendly activities or restaurants folks recommend? thank you in advance! |
Forsyth Park has a great playground for toddlers in Savannah. Also check out the children’s museum and train museum there.
In Charleston we loved running around on the beaches with our toddler - Sullivan’s island was a favorite. There’s also a pizza spot, I want to say it’s called Crust, that is all outdoors with a red truck converted into a large slide for kids that was a huge hit with our toddler. |
Pizza place was called coastal crust, located in mount pleasant |
I was in Savannah about 5 years ago when my younger daughter was a toddler. She liked riding the paddle boat and then going to the candy store / taffy factory down by the water. |
In CHS, get an outside table at a restaurant along Shem Creek so your toddler can enjoy watching the boats, paddle boaters, pelicans and often, dolphins. Another option downtown would be Fleet Landing, again an outside table looking out for dolphins. CHS has kid friendly attractions including the Charleston Museum and the Lowcountry Children’s Museum. Check out the historic Magnolia Plantation which offers both a toddler friendly tram and wildlife boat tour, beautiful gardens, and there is also a small wildlife center where your toddler can see an alligator, bobcat and various Lowcountry reptiles. Head to Patriots Point to explore the USS Yorktown. Depending on your schedule you might be able to catch a beach party concert at happy hour at Party on the Point. Romp around Fort Moultrie, take a boat to Sumter. Explore the waters with Coastal Excursions (boat, kayak). |
Charleston has a great aquarium. |
Op here. Thank you all for the suggestions so far - these are great! So looking forward to the trip. |
Charleston’s aquarium is awesome for toddlers. Completely manageable size. Additionally, Edmunds Oast brewery has a nice area for kids to run around. If you’re anywhere near Kiawah, Night Heron Park is an amazing playground. |
https://ccprc.com/69/Palmetto-Islands-County-Park
They have a large playground and plenty of walking trails, bike path and paddle boat rentals. There’s an observation tower as well. My kids always enjoyed going there. |
The fun thing about the playground in Forsyth Park in Savannah is that it’s right next to a Collins’s Quarter- and they have a little coffee window facing that playground to order from.
Also visit Henny Penny- small coffee shop with art activities for children. Children’s museum is nice, and also the children's Art Museum. Check out the Marriott waterfront, they have a fun gem exhibit in the lobby. Short beach trip to Tybee Island All this is for Savannah |
I would do a day or two in Charleston. Spend the rest of the time on Hilton Head and do a day or couple half day trip to Savannah from HHI.
Savannah is great with toddlers. Large promenades for them to run around. Great outdoor children's museum and train museum. Plus adults can grab and adult beverage and walk around the historic district with drink in hand. Also Oat Island Wildlife refuge is fun for kids. Basically a zoo "set in nature". |
The Telfair has a children's art museum that can be fun for an hour or so. If your toddler is on the older side and likes planes, the might 8th museum might be fun for them. I would not want my kid running through the squares, too many homeless now. I agree with PP about HHI. |
My kids enjoyed a Sea Dogs game in Charleston. |
Also... great for the toddler, but maybe not the adults is the Fire Museum in North Charleston (right by the airport). Full of fire trucks and a fire pole, etc. Our 2 year old grandson LOVED it.
Do a dolphin boat through the marsh. I like this company: https://www.charlestonoutdooradventures.com Page's Okra Grill (right by Shem Creek) is toddler friendly, but still good food. Also John Lewis Barbecue. |
OP here. Thank you for the fire museum recommendations - our toddler LOVES fire trucks. Also appreciate all the other recommendations - this is going to be so fun. I wasn't sure what we got ourselves into, and traveling with a toddler has been an adjustment - really appreciate the board for this information. |