Spring break season is upon us, and that means long escapes built for beach vacations and family gatherings ahead of those crazy summer months. With college break usually rolling around in March and school breaks taking place throughout April, Charleston, SC begins breaking back into the hustle and bustle of the busy season right at the top of spring!
And who can blame the visitors for choosing Charleston as their spring break destination? From the docile weather, bright sunshine, and local activities each month, Charleston is the place to be for friends and families looking for the perfect spring spot. Now all you have to do is begin planning your trip!
Whether you’re looking at a beachfront property on Isle of Palms or a quiet escape on Kiawah Island, a huge part of vacation planning is finding the perfect activities to pair with your trip. And lucky for you, the Lowcountry has got you covered when it comes to family-friendly activities!
Isle of Palms Marina
Activities Near Isle of Palms
IOP Marina and Boat Rentals
Booking your stay on Isle of Palms or within the gates of Wild Dunes? The joy of being located on an island for spring break is the accessibility to local waterways and the beach. The Isle of Palms Marina is a wonderful, family-friendly spot to enjoy local shopping and ice cream at The Outpost, a seafood dinner with water views at Islander 71, and is the headquarters for many boat rental and eco-tour companies.Â
Looking to get out on the water? We highly recommend a boat charter or rental through Quarterdeck. Even better, you can get 10% off your boat rental when mentioning Sweetgrass Properties. Along with that, our friends at Barrier Island Eco-Tours function out of the Marina, and offer tours focused around fishing and dolphin sightings along the Intracoastal Waterway.Â
Scooter, Bike and Moke Rentals
Not too keen to get out on the high seas? Explore the island you’re visiting by renting mopeds (for those with driving experience), pedal bikes, or a Moke through Wild Dunes Resort. Our friends at Chucktown Scooters offer the perfect booking and delivery experience on Isle of Palms. With a brief training session for newbies, helmet rentals, and delivery right to your door, the best way to explore IOP is by moped. Even better, they offer 10% off to all scooter renters booking through Sweetgrass Properties.
Needing to slow it down or keep things more family-friendly for the young ones? Holy City Bikes offers delivery right to your door, as well, with high quality bikes and helmet rentals across Isle of Palms and Wild Dunes. They even offer attachments such as cupholders, baskets, and wagons for the little ones. Holy City also offers 20% off when booking with the Sweetgrass Properties code.Â
And of course, if you’re keen to keep it on four wheels, Moke Rentals through Wild Dunes Resort are always available. These fun little cars are doorless, roofless, and offer the perfect “wind through your hair” way to experience the island!
Chucktown Scooters
Charleston Fun Park in Mount Pleasant
Need to get off the island and want to explore Mount Pleasant? Charleston Fun Park is all about just that – fun! Featuring Go-Karts, 36 Holes of Mini-Golf, Axe Throwing, a VR Rollercoaster, Bumper Cars, a full arcade with prizes and a VR Battle Arena, Charleston Fun Park is the perfect place to bring the kids for a day of activities, both indoor and outdoor. Even better, they provide food, snacks, soft drinks and adult beverages for the parents! The perfect place for a day full of excitement.
Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens
If you’re looking for the perfect outdoor experience that combines Charleston history and Lowcountry nature, look no further than Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens. Boone Hall Farms offers fun experiences throughout the spring and summer, including strawberry-picking starting in April!Â
Boone Hall is home to extensive Southern history. Offering tours through the Boone Hall estate, tractor tours of the plantation, garden walk-throughs throughout the property, and plenty of festivities sprinkled throughout the spring, Boone Hall is a must-see when visiting the area – especially when everything is in bloom
Activities Near Kiawah and Seabrook Island
St Johns Kayaks and Boat Tours
Heading on vacation to Kiawah or Seabrook Island’s? Surrounded on all sides by rivers, marshes and ocean, this area is perfect for water-based adventures. We highly recommend boat tours and kayak rentals through St Johns Kayaks and Boat Tours.Â
Nestled among the oaks just outside of Freshfields Village, this estate and waterfront property offers the perfect docking point for those looking to kayak the Bohicket Creek or go dolphin-spotting on a trek down to Edisto. No matter your activity, the crew at St Johns will make it an adventure – and receive $20 off per reservation when mentioning Sweetgrass.Â
Night Heron Park, Treehouse Activity Center
Night Heron Park
Located behind the gates of Kiawah Island, nestled among the ancient oaks, is Night Heron Park. A family favorite for those staying on the island, this Kiawah Island Resort park is known for its expansive lawns, sport courts and island activities.Â
Night Heron Park has just undergone a massive renovation, and now includes The Treehouse Activity Center – your one stop shop for fun on the island. Featuring a Nature Center with local wildlife and exhibits, The Perch restaurant and pub, golf simulators, bowling alley, art classroom, and an arcade, The Treehouse is a fabulous new addition to the island, perfect for families looking to spend a day enjoying the A/C instead of heading to the beach or biking the island.Â
Outside of the Activity Center and within the park, you’ll find tennis courts, basketball courts, plenty of areas to lay out, and The Nest, another local cafe and gift shop perfect for a quick bite or some shopping to bring gifts home for friends and family!
Bike Rentals for Island Trails
Kiawah Island is known for its bike trails. But did you know that there’s a path between Kiawah Island and Seabrook Island? Nestled perfectly in between both islands is Freshfields Village, a shopping and dining area perfect for those visiting and just a quick bike ride away from your vacation rental. Rent a bike through one of our delivery partners – we recommend Alligator Bikes who offer 10% off for Sweetgrass guests – and start exploring the over 30 miles of bike trails across the islands and beyond!
Seabrook Equestrian Center
While staying on Seabrook Island, there are plenty of activities to partake in when it comes to The Lake House and the Beach Club. One of our personal favorites? The Seabrook Island Equestrian Center.Â
This farm, located right at the entrance of the island, boasts plenty of stunning horses and one of the only beachfront riding experiences on the East Coast. The center features spacious pastures, three miles of trails, and 42 stalls for locals boarding their own horses. From pony rides for the young ones to beach rides and island trails, this activity is a unique experience for families looking to make lifelong memories.
Seabrook Equestrian Center
Activities Near Downtown Charleston
South Carolina Aquarium
When heading Downtown to explore King Street and Rainbow Row, we highly recommend stopping in at the South Carolina Aquarium to get up close and personal with aquatic life both locally and internationally. With stunning views of the Cooper River, the aquarium is tucked in a private part of downtown, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.Â
This stunning space features numerous floor-to-ceiling, two-story tanks featuring ocean life including sea turtles, sharks and fish! The aquarium boasts an American Bald Eagle, along with hundreds of fish, frogs, and other sea creatures. Enjoy kid-friendly activities like The Trading Post and Kids Coast, which feature educational programs daily, guided discovery and collaborative experiences with other kid visitors. This is the perfect place for a family looking to explore and learn, all at once!
Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry
In need of another hands-on experience for kids that need to get their energy out? The Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry is located in the heart of Downtown Charleston. This museum is open from 10am-5pm and offers plenty of programs and experiences for all ages. With exhibits featuring Live 5 News for future journalists to science exhibits playing with electricity and air, there’s a little bit of everything for every type of young explorer. Outside, you’ll find Putt-Putt and a splash pad to enjoy on those hot summer days in the South!
Palmetto Carriageworks
Downtown Tours and Carriage Rides
Get the most out of your trip to Charleston by taking part in a Downtown Walking Tour or Carriage Tour with Bulldog Tours and Palmetto Carriage Works. Learn more about the history of Charleston while exploring by foot! Whether you’re looking for historical walking tours, food tours, or even the acclaimed Charleston Ghost Tours, Bulldog Tours provides the best of the best when it comes to local guides.
Wanting to enjoy the streets of Charleston by carriage? Palmetto Carriage Works is the #1 Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour in Charleston, SC and we understand why! Offering historic carriage tours, nightly ghost tours, and even private experiences, this carriage ride brings you back to the simple days of Downtown – when there were no cars! When you book your stay with Sweetgrass, receive $5 off each ticket purchased when using our discount code.
Waterfront Park
If you’ve ever seen pictures of Charleston, then you’ve seen Waterfront Park. Boasting peninsula views off the tip of Downtown, Waterfront Park offers wide open spaces for playing, stunning views of the water and the world-renowned Pineapple Fountain, perfect for your Lowcountry photo ops. The park also includes plenty of shade with hundreds of oak trees and a splash pad fountain to cool off on those unseasonably warm spring days.Â
Waterfront Park, The Pineapple Fountain
Book Your Spring Break Getaway in Charleston, SC
Spring break is almost here, and you need something to look forward to! Whether you’re enjoying an early March reprieve from school or a long weekend around Easter, Sweetgrass Properties offers an abundance of options for every kind of escape. From cozy waterfront condos with stunning views to modern mansions on Isle of Palms for large families, we’ve got it all!
Check out properties across islands like Kiawah, Seabrook, Isle of Palms, and Wild Dunes for your next vacation and experience the Sweetgrass difference.