My Top Ten Kid-Friendly Activities in Beaufort, SC
Are you raising kids in the Lowcountry or planning a visit to Beaufort? Our coastal town is a great place to spend quality time with your family. Kids of all ages can enjoy our gorgeous beaches, parks, and other attractions. Read on for my top ten kid friendly activities in Beaufort to start living your best Lowcountry family life!
Big Kid Fun
This is a great family day trip! Enjoy a visit to the only drive-in movie theater in the low country! Hwy 21 has 3 screens open year round, and always shows a good variety of kid and family-friendly movies. They are currently open Thursday-Sunday. Hwy 21 is also the new home for the Lowcountry Flea Market, which opened in July. The flea market is open from 9am to 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays all year long.
Families that love spending time on the water fishing will appreciate Cast Away Charters, voted the Beaufort Lowcountry and Sea Islands Premier Fishing Charter Company, since 2004. They offer private trips for beginners to experts that include licenses, equipment, bait/tackle, and coolers for beverages and snacks. They are great at customizing their trips for family groups. Novices to seasoned anglers can reel in impressive trophy fish! Your sea island adventure awaits.
Older kids and teens will enjoy learning a new skill with you! Lands End Paddling gives both kayak and SUP instruction while making sure your experience is safe and fun! Whether you're a beginning paddler or someone with experience, it's their goal to help you create memories.
Great for Infants and Toddlers
This is such a fun experience for toddlers and younger kids. At Kazoobie Kazoo the educational guides will take you on a complete tour of the factory so that you can see how kazoos are made from start to finish. You'll even get to make your own kazoo.
Beaufort County Library Storytime
A fun and free classic kid activity is a trip to the library! If you are local to the area, I highly recommend getting yourself a library card so you can enjoy all the Beaufort County Library System has to offer. The Beaufort Branch (BEA) is nestled in the heart of historic, downtown Beaufort. In addition to weekly storytime geared towards younger children, each branch of the library system offers activities and events throughout the year. You can check out the calendar here: Event Calendar
Sweet Treats
The Chocolate Tree is Beaufort's one-stop-shop for fine chocolates and other treats! You can even watch their master candy-makers in action! All of their sweets have been freshly made onsite since 1980.
Another sweet favorite located downtown, The Beaufort Candy Shoppe, offers over 700 varieties of your old time favorites and popular new candies. They are well known for their selection of over 40 Salt Water Taffy flavors, 80+ different bulk candy selections, 78 Jelly Belly Flavors and over 20 M&M colors and flavors. The Beaufort Candy Shoppe also has toys, stuffed animals, Gourmet Popcorn from Popcornopolis and a large selection of the local favorite, Palmetto Pops.
Whole Family Fun
Port Royal Sound Maritime Center
Another great educational and free activity is a visit to The Port Royal Sound Maritime Center. The family-oriented center features exhibits, live animals, as well as indoor and outdoor hands-on educational opportunities where visitors of all ages can learn about the Port Royal Sound. There truly is something for everyone!
They also host a wide array of kid-friendly programs their Annual Recycled Art Contest, and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) Festival. To learn more about their programs, click here.
Sit back and enjoy a tour of historic downtown Beaufort on a pleasant carriage ride with your family. Locals and visitors alike have a great time taking it easy and learning all about Beaufort from the comfort of a horse drawn carriage.
Bonus! The owners of Sea Island Carriage Company just opened an appointment-only petting zoo to visit the horses and other adorable farm animals.
If you’re looking to step up your family beach trips, Take a drive to Hunting Island State Park, where you will find the opportunity to do so much more than sit on the beach—though the beaches there are absolutely stunning!
Visit the Hunting Island state park website to learn more about:
-Taking a tour to St. Phillips Island or book at Dolphin Watching Cruise
-Hiking trails
-Becoming a Habitat Hero
-Penny Treasure Map activity for kids
Hunting Island State Park also offers 100 onsite campsites with water and electrical hookups, shower and restroom facilities, beach walkways and a playground.
Henry C Chambers Park
This stunning waterfront park in the heart of historic Beaufort is perfect for family picnics, strolling, playing, sunset watching! Grab yourself a coffee at Lowcountry Cider company and some ice cream for the kids at ____ and then head over to the new playground. It’s recently renovated with a fun climbing hill and castle, and all parents will know that the best part is that it’s fenced in with close access to public restrooms!
Do you have a favorite family activity in Beaufort? I’d love to hear about it! Let me know in the comments below.