While it can be fun to browse the web dreaming of luxury vacations and complicate trip itineraries, the reality is that most of us have to live on a budget and watch our spending when it comes to recreation. Luckily, in South Carolina, you can find plenty of fun without breaking the bank. From museums, to parks, to festivals, there’s always something going on that doesn’t charge an admission fee. It’s true that some of the best things in life are free! Here are a few of our favorite family-friendly and cheap things to do in South Carolina. Add a few to your calendar and get yourself out of the house!

1. Rock Out On The Pier at Garden City Beach
Richard Smith/Flickr
You'll find free concerts all summer long! Bring a chair or blanket and get ready to dance the night away.
2. Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum, Myrtle Beach
Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum/FB
This coastal museum offers 11 different rooms full of visual happiness! There is plenty for kids and adults to see, and this is far from a boring art museum. While admission is free, there are often affordable talks, events and classes that you can enjoy fro a small fee. Read more about this fun spot right here.
3. Greenville County Museum of Art, Greenville
Greenville County Museum of Art/FB
It's notable as one of the premier American art museums of the South, and admission is always free. Read more about it right here.
4. Mice On Main, Greenville
Visit Greenville
This can be a fun activity after you visit the museum to get the rest of the energy out of the children or just to have a bunch of laughs. There are 9 mice sculptures in town, and there are clues for you so that you can play a bit of Hide-N-Seek!
5. The Children's Garden at Linky Stone Park, Greenville
Eric Hyche/Google Local
This place offers many, many hands-on activities. You'll find the Gingerbread House, 3 Little Bears, and a Secret Garden along with so much more. Check it out!
6. White Point Gardens & Battery Park, Charleston
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
Full of history and a great place to bring the children for them to run around while you take a leisurely walk. Be sure to take a long walk around the park and appreciate the scenery. Seriously, the views are so beautiful you won't even realize that you're still in South Carolina. Read more about it here.
7. Botany Bay, Edisto Island
kingary/Flickr
An absolutely gorgeous place to go and unwind for a day. Great for bird watching, looking for seashells, and just breathing in the nice sea air. Be sure to leave no trace of your visit, so that this place may be preserved for generations to come.

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8. Rudolph E. Lee Gallery, Clemson
Rudolph E. Lee Gallery/Facebook
Visit the art gallery in Clemson if you love to learn about art! You'll be amazed at the different and rotating exhibits you'll see here. Learn more about the Lee gallery here.
9. Duke World of Energy, Lyman
Duke World of Energy/Facebook
An enormous nuclear power plant may not be on everyone's list, but if you like science, you'll be fascinated. A hands-on and interactive tour that shows you how energy and electricity is made. Also check out their small aquarium and give enjoy some time spent with these beautiful fish. Read more about it here.
10. Ninety Six National Historic Site, Ninety Six
David Casteel/Flickr
This is a Revolutionary War battle site that commemorates the first battle fought south of New England on November 19-21, 1775. Read more about it right here.
11. Cowpens National Battlefield, Gaffney
Ken Lund/Flickr
This historic site is also to commemorate the battle that was fought here during the Revolutionary War. There's a visitor's center with an interactive exhibit and short film. You can walk the battlefield trail and the auto-loop road, and have a picnic afterwards. Read more about it right here.
12. Kings Mountain National Military Park, Blacksburg
Ken Lund/Flickr
Come step back into time at Kings Mountain. This park commemorates the only battle fought during the Revolutionary War in which Americans fought each other without assistance from other counties. It seems that some of them didn't want to separate from England. It was considered a turning point in the war itself. Visit the visitor's center and watch the film there and follow the historic trails. Learn more about the park right here.
13. South Carolina Botanical Gardens, Clemson
SC Botanical Gardens/FB
SC Botanical Gardens/FB
Enjoy the beauty of nature here with hundreds of species of flora and fauna. There is even a mini waterfall. I heard somewhere that the sound of water can be very relaxing. Use their website, here, to plan your visit.

All of the activities I have suggested to you in this list are free! Be sure to check hours and admission details before hitting the road to get to your destination. You can carry a picnic with you to most of these places, which is always fun and both children and adults seem to enjoy them immensely. Have fun and remember this: Some of the best things in life are free!

For more family-friendly fun in the Palmetto State, read 7 Totally Kid-Friendly Hikes In South Carolina That Are 1 Mile And Under.

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cheap things to do in South Carolina

Kim Magaraci | March 03, 2021

What are the best family-friendly hikes in South Carolina?
Did you know that the hike out and back to Issaqueena Falls in Walhalla's Tunnel Park is less than a mile? It's an easy stroll that really pays off, which makes it perfect for families to enjoy. Another scenic family-friendly hike in SC that's less than a mile all around is the staircase waterfall hike near Cleveland at Wildcat Wayside. We're so lucky to live in such a beautiful state!

What are the best beaches in South Carolina?
While tourists flock to Myrtle Beach, locals know that the best beaches in South Carolina are a little off the beaten path. Folly Field Beach and Burkes Beach, on Hilton Head Island, will keep you safe from the crowds. Station 12 Beach on Sullivan's Island is another local favorite for quiet and relaxing days in the sun.

Are there any animal encounters in South Carolina?
Early in 2020, South Carolina got national attention for being the site of a tiger animal encounter featured on the Netflix documentary "Tiger King". If you're interested in an animal encounter from an AZA-accredited zoo in the Palmetto State, you're probably better off visiting the Riverbanks Zoo and Aquarium in Columbia.

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Featured Addresses
Cowpens, SC 29330, USA
Clemson, SC, USA
Kings Mountain Park Rd, South Carolina 29702, USA
420 College St, Greenville, SC 29601, USA
Garden City, SC, USA
3100 S Ocean Blvd, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577, USA
24 Reedy View Dr, Greenville, SC 29601, USA
Greenville, SC, USA
Botany Bay Island, Edisto Island, SC 29438, USA
Charleston, SC 29401, USA
Ninety Six, SC 29666, USA
7812 Rochester Hwy, Seneca, SC 29672, USA