Charleston, South Carolina is a place known for its “southern charm,” where architecture and historic monuments take precedence. This city is not just a hub for you and your friends; kids can go there too! Gather up the crew and charter a bus with your most fabulous friends and family.

Six Family-Friendly Activities For Group Travel in Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston has something for everyone. The easiest way to get the whole group around is by chartering a bus in South Carolina through Motor Coach East (that’s us!)

Historical Things To Do In Charleston, South Carolina: Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Park

Everyone loves a good fort, I mean, why not?

These landmarks used to be pivotal in protecting their land and even deterring some enemies. The Charleston Harbor has two of them!

As you can imagine, they were fairly protected. A little backstory on just how protected they were: back in 1776, this fort, named Fort Moultrie, won against the Royal Navy.

What makes these forts particularly special is that the opening of Fort Sumter in 1861 started the American Civil War.

Visit a historic part of the United States and set foot on the land of American forefathers.

Must-See Architectural Structure In Charleston, South Carolina: Rainbow Row

Deep inside the foundation of the Charleston Historic District lives a street of 13 houses, all in a colorful pastel hue.

These houses hold a lot of history – the buildings were constructed back in the 1700s and have kept their architectural charm.

When the 1900s came about, these beauties were on a track to be demolished but thankfully a   preservationist Susan Pringle Frost purchased and restored the homes. Susan went on to name the street after its now title “Rainbow Row” in 1931. This row of rainbows was named a historical landmark.

Do a walk-through with the family and snap a photo or two, this spot is sure to put a twinkle in your eye.

See the Archives of Charleston, South Carolina: Charleston Museum

Just like much of Charleston, this museum carries a lot of American history, especially considering it was the first American museum, dating all the way back to 1773.

The museum was created to be similar to The British Museum and it carried mostly ethnological and zoological specimens.

Today, the museum focuses on natural history and historical material with both documentary and photographic resources. Round up your fam on that Charleston charter bus to a place where you go for the education but stay for the artifacts.

Things To Do Outside in Charleston, South Carolina: Johns Island

Not many people would expect island life from South Carolina, but not only does it have an island, it’s home to the fourth largest island on the east coast.

This island has a population of around 17,000 and an area of about 84 square miles.

The islands are named after a place in Barbados, as they were the original settlers.

All of these things are amazing, but what is there to see?

The island is known for its Angel Oak Tree, this ain’t no ordinary tree!

The Angel Oak Tree is big, it’s beautiful, and it’s climbable!  What’s more and possibly the most interesting part of this tree is it’s somewhere between 400 and 1500 years old!

Go ahead and spend the day living the island life in a southern way.

See How the Other Half Lives In Charleston, South Carolina: Heyward-Washington House

Circling back to the history of America, how would you like to visit the house of someone who signed the Declaration of Independence? Exciting, right?!

This house belonged to Thomas Heyward Jr. back in 1772, and yes, he was one of the people that signed the Declaration of Independence.

Unfortunately, Thomas’s stay in this home wasn’t long.

In 1780, the British took over Charleston and he was captured; thankfully he was only exiled to St Augustine, Florida. We can’t think of a better punishment.

Thomas was not the only man of political significance who slept there; George Washington had stayed there himself when it was rented to him for a week in 1791.

Coming in at yet another revolutionary war member who lived in the house was John F. Grimke, who purchased the house in 1794.

Eventually, the house became a museum in 1929 and then a national historic landmark in 1978.

The house is a perfect display of what the 1700s architecture, furniture, and even appliances were like.

Spend a day playing president with the fam and explore the inside of one of the United States’ most historical houses.

Planes, Trains, and Old Bridges in Charleston, South Carolina: Pitt Street Bridge

Most people might not find the significance of a bridge, especially one that wasn’t very tall or long.

This bridge, however, is special.

Originally, this was a Cove Inlet bridge; it was built in 1778. What was the original purpose of this bridge? To hold soldiers and cannons.

After the war in the 1800s, only remnants of the bridge were left.

A second bridge was created during the Civil War and became another casualty of war in 1866.

For a while thereafter, the bridge was rebuilt and used for trolleys. Eventually in 1923, the bridge was widened to accommodate cars, this is when the bridge was given the name Pitt Street Bridge.

With the new popularity and abundance of cars, a new bridge with two-way lanes was created in 1945, called the Ben Sawyer Bridge.

This was the end of the Pitt Street Bridge as a bridge at least.

Today, it’s an amazing spot to go fishing or sightsee along the coastline. Gather up those fishing rods and the family, and walk on water, on a bridge that now serves humans instead of vehicles.

Each of these sights brings a unique part of the city of Charleston. And with distance, comes a need for transportation. Don’t spend half of your trip worrying about how to get from A to B, charter a bus with Motor Coast East instead! You can request a quote here.

South Carolina brings warmth, hospitality, and plenty to see. Get out there and as the South Carolinians say, “be happier than a pig in mud.”