South Carolina Aquarium, Charleston Family Attractions; credit Charleston CVB
Charleston Family Attractions
South Carolina Aquarium
DESCRIPTION: The experience begins the Great Hall that boasts 2-story windows offering the best views of Charleston Harbor and 15,000 gallon Carolina Seas Exhibit allowing guests to see colorful reef fish found off the coast of South Carolina. Mountain Forest is a remarkable walk-through habitat depicting a mountain ravine on ledges 10-to-12 feet above the exhibit floor, tulip poplar, hemlock and maple trees form a canopy to shelter several species of birds, including the cardinal and doves. The glass roof and special design of the exhibit enables these birds to fly freely throughout the trees. Piedmont exhibit explores the varied life supported by the streams, rivers and man-made reservoirs of South Carolina’s Piedmont region from a below-water view of a rushing stream flowing over a rocky outcrop. Coastal Plain exhibit lets you discover the fish, reptiles, amphibians and plants found in South Carolina’s Coastal Plain region — the water is a characteristic mahogany and burnished gold, and the exhibit contains fliers, madtom, shiners, mosquito fish and other swamp dwellers. Salt Marsh Aviary is extraordinary 2,500-square-foot marsh anchors that presents the diversity of this type of ecosystem, including a high salinity marsh, mud flats, maritime shrub and salt shrub thickets, tidal creek, hummock, maritime forest and see fiddler crabs, rattlesnakes and a red-tailed hawk. Coast features a Rice Culture Exhibit that highlights the 20-mile band of freshwater swamps where enslaved Africans introduced many skills and traditions that supported rice cultivation. Ocean Gallery the gallery extends over two levels with a massive, two-story Great Ocean Exhibit which holds over 385,000 gallons of water and contains hundreds of animals visible in major views: Sandy Seafloor, Deep Ocean, and Rocky Reef. Lots of kid fun with interactive programs and Unbelievable Floating Objects – an exhibit featuring exotic creatures from around the world. Includes exhibits on Gullah Fishermen, Rice Trunk dams made by Gullah rice harvesters, and the Gullah art of making sweetgrass baskets.
ADMISSION: see pricing matrix on website
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Sat 9a-5p, Sping Summer hours until 6p
ADDRESS: 100 Aquarium Wharf, Charleston, SC MAP
PARKING: paid at adjacent city parking garage
PHONE: 843-720-1990
WEBSITE: http://www.scaquarium.org
Charleston Waterfront Park
DESCRIPTION: Features an eight-acre linear park and pier along the Charleston Harbor, combined fountains, lawns, intimate garden rooms, a jogging path, picnic tables and swings. Also on the grounds is the City Gallery, a contemporary visual arts center to exhibit the work of local, regional artists with their contemporary national artists.
DAYS & HOURS: Tue–Fri 11p-6p, Sat-Sun 12p-5p
ADDRESS: 34 Prioleau Street, Charleston, SC MAP
PHONE: 843-958-6484
WEBSITE: link
Folly Beach Fishing Pier
DESCRIPTION: 1,045 foot fishing pier on the Atlantic Ocean includes a concession area, a small gift and tackle shop, and a restaurant. Parking is $5 per vehicle which may be applied towards your fishing fee.
DAYS & HOURS: April-Oct 6a-11p; Dec-Feb 8a-5p; March & Nov 7a-7p
ADDRESS: 101 East Arctic Avenue, Folly Beach, SC MAP
PHONE: 843-588-FISH or 843-762-2172
Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum
DESCRIPTION: Home of the WWII aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, other military vessels, and the Medal of Honor Museum, and vintage military aircraft; ships are open for tour.
ADMISSION: see pricing matrix on website
DAYS & HOURS: April 1- Sept 30; 9a-6p; Oct 1-Mar 31 9a-5p
ADDRESS: 40 Patriots Point Road, Mt. Pleasant, SC MAP
PHONE: 843-884-2727
WEBSITE: http://www.patriotspoint.org
