For anyone searching “day trips near me in South Carolina” should start with a few trips they may have taken as kids in the state. Some of the best family-friendly day trips in South Carolina involve fields trips you likely took while you were in school! South Carolina is home to many sites featuring the history and culture of the Palmetto State, and some that feature arts from all over the world. Some states aren’t as loaded with field trip material, so let’s consider ourselves lucky. Let’s take a look back at some of those places you may have visited as a kid. And just maybe this will inspire a return trip to a few…

1. Fort Sumter - Charleston, SC
Fort Sumter Ferry Terminal, Charleston, SC 29412, USA
Flickr/M Fletcher
Fort Sumter stands at the entrance to Charleston Harbor. This historic reminder of the War Between the States is open daily for tours, or you can roam about freely on your own. Click here for more information.
2. Zentrum - The BMW Museum - Greer, SC
BMW Zentrum, 1400 SC-101, Greer, SC 29651, USA
Flickr/Patrick Lien
Obviously, some of us didn't go to the museum on school field trips, but it's possible that our kids and grandchildren have gone. By the way, the Zentrum Museum and Gift Shop underwent some major renovations in 2016 which adds to the allure. Click here for more information.
3. Historic Brattonsville - McConnells, SC
Historic Brattonsville, 1444 Brattonsville Rd, McConnells, SC 29726, USA
Flickr/ThatGuyDouG
Thirty historic structures, ranging from the 1760s through the 1800s, are preserved in Historic Brattonsville. Take a trip back in time to see life as it was then for Scot-Irish immigrants, the Brattons, at Historic Brattonsville. Click here for more information.
4. Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum - Mount Pleasant, SC
Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum, 40 Patriots Point Rd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464, USA
Flickr/ATOMIC Hot Links
Walk in the steps of heroes aboard the vessels at Patriots Point. Explore the extensive museum displays that include aircraft, an aircraft carrier, a submarine, a Vietnam Experience display, a Cold War memorial, and the Medal of Honor Museum. Click here for more information.
5. Catawba Cultural Center - Rock Hill, SC
Catawba Cultural Center, 1536 Tom Steven Rd, Rock Hill, SC 29730, USA
Catawba Indian
Experience the rich cultural heritage of the Catawba Indian Nation at the Catawba Cultural Center. Click here for more information.
6. South Carolina State House - Columbia, SC
South Carolina State House, 1100 Gervais St, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
Flickr/Jason AG
Take a trip to the statehouse and while here, you just may run into Governor Nikki Haley, whose office is located here. When the legislature is in session (Jan - May) tours are offered every half-hour. Click here for more information.
7. Riverbanks Zoo and Garden - Columbia, SC
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, Columbia, SC 29210, USA
Facebook/Riverbanks Zoo and Garden
We're willing to bet the Riverbanks Zoo didn't offer a zipline adventure when you were a kid. Well, they do now - along with other great additions over the years. Click here for more information.

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8. Cypress Gardens - Moncks Corner, SC
Cypress Gardens Road, Cypress Gardens Rd, South Carolina 29461, USA
Flickr/Sasha Azevedo
Famous movies like "The Notebook" and "The Patriot" have filmed scenes at the beautiful Cypress Gardens in Moncks Corner. Keep an eye on their website here for current hours of operation.
9. Congaree National Park - Hopkins, SC
Congaree National Park, South Carolina, USA
Flickr/Miguel Vierira
Depending on the era you were in school, you may or may not have taken a trip to this amazing reserve. In the 1970s the Sierra Club worked tirelessly to preserve this area from development. Their efforts were successful and over the years the land has become more and more protected. In 2003, Congress redesignated it as a National Park. Click here for more information.
10. Palace Theatre Myrtle Beach - Myrtle Beach, SC
Palace Theatre, 1420 Celebrity Cir, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577, USA
Facebook/Palace Theatre Myrtle Beach
Wow. You either loved going to performances as a kid, or you didn't. The Palace Theater opened at Broadway at the Beach in 1995 and is the #1 venue for live performances and theater in Myrtle Beach. Click here for more information.
11. Columbia Museum of Art - Columbia, SC
Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St, Columbia, SC 29201, USA
Facebook/Columbia Museum of Art
The Columbia Museum of Art has been going strong since the 1950s. It's an art, natural history, and science museum, including a planetarium. If you didn't get to take a field trip here as a kid, then NOW is the time. Click here for more information.
12. Boone Hall Plantation - Mount Pleasant, SC
Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens, 1235 Long Point Rd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464, USA
Flickr/Andy Beal
Chances are, as a kid you went to Boone Hall Plantation on field trips more than once. You may have participated in the Boone Hall Farms "pick your own" strawberry or pumpkin harvest, and then you may also have visited the plantation for a history field trip. It's time to make another trip to this beautifully preserved working plantation from the past. Click here for more information.
13. South Carolina Aquarium - Charleston, SC
Aquarium Wharf, Charleston, SC, USA
Flickr/David Ellis
The South Carolina Aquarium has been open since May 2000. The aquarium is home to more than just fish, as you can see from this photo. They also have otters and an entire arboretum filled with our feathered friends. Click here for more information.
14. WonderWorks - Myrtle Beach, SC
WonderWorks Myrtle Beach, 1313 Celebrity Cir, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577, USA
Flickr/SachinChitale
Chances are, you didn't get to see this one as a kid. That's because WonderWorks only opened in Myrtle Beach in 2011. But maybe your kids or grandkids have been fortunate enough to visit the 100+ hands-on science exhibits and experiments at this amazing adventure at Broadway at the Beach. Click here for more information.
15. Gibbes Museum of Art - Charleston, SC
Gibbes Museum of Art, 135 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401, USA
Flickr/Kim S.
The Gibbes Museum of Art has been providing access to fine art for more than one hundred years. If you grew up anywhere near the Lowcountry then you likely attended a field trip to this classic museum. here.

With so many potential places to visit on school field trips, we’re sure we’ve only scratched the surface. Did you visit any of these fun attractions in South Carolina? What other memorable and historic places in South Carolina did you visit as a kid in school? We’d love to know, so tell us in the comments section! Also, if you have other fun “day trips near me in South Carolina” that we haven’t covered, make sure to let us know.

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Days Trips Near Me In South Carolina

Marisa Roman | September 04, 2021

What are the best day trips in South Carolina?

Beyond the field trips we mentioned above, which make for some fun attractions in South Carolina, what are a few other day trips that are worth checking out? For anyone looking to fall in love with the state again, we have 15 family-friendly day trips in South Carolina to consider. For anyone who loves the mountains, check out a day trip from Walhalla to Whitewater Falls. Or, spend the whole day in historic Camden, South Carolina. Camden is the state’s oldest inland town founded back in 1732!

What places in South Carolina should I see before I die?

Anyone looking to create the ultimate bucket list of fun attractions in South Carolina and must-visit spots, we have the perfect list to start with. Brimming with historic places in South Carolina, plus hidden gems, check out these 13 attractions in South Carolina you have to see before you die. For instance, have you ever seen the views from Pretty Place Chapel in Cleveland? Or have you toured Victoria Valley Vineyards and tasted their home-grown wines? How about climbing the 167 stairs inside The Hunting Island Lighthouse?

What can I do with kids in South Carolina?

If you’re looking for some family-friendly day trips in South Carolina, we have quite a list to choose from. These 13 kid-friendly South Carolina attractions make for the ultimate afternoon adventure. Check out the Cypress Gardens’ Butterfly House for a glimpse of true natural beauty, or Bee City Honey Bee Farm and Petting Zoo to meet some adorable animals and even give them a head rub!

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