Charleston Family Vacations

Founded in 1670 as Charles Town, after King Charles II, Charleston, S.C. is a southern city steeped in history and good, old-fashioned southern charm. Walking along Meeting, Market and King streets in its historic district, you can just envision the horse-drawn carriages and women in petticoats, shielding their porcelain faces from the sun with frilly umbrellas. You'll also wonder how they donned so many layers of clothes in the heat and humidity of summer, with beautiful palm trees not able to provide much reprieve from the sun.

In the Battery, grand homes in pastel yellows, pinks and blues are lined with multi-level porches overlooking the Charleston Harbor. The city's wealthiest lived in these homes, when not on their cotton and tobacco plantations. South Carolina and Charleston played a major role in the Civil War. The state was the first to secede from the Union, and the war began when Citadel cadets fired upon a Union ship entering the harbor in 1861. Charleston's Fort Sumter received 34 hours of battle before surrendering.

Following the Civil War, Charleston took a financial hit. However, the last few decades saw the rebirth of Charleston, and it has become a city to which vacationers flock. Parents wanting to enjoy the city's southern culture and history have found school-aged children enjoy seeing their history books come to life at the city's forts, plantations and attractions. But families can also visit the city while enjoying a beach getaway on neighboring Kiawah Island and Isle of Palms, where resorts provide all the perfect amenities for families looking to enjoy the subtropical climate, soft sand, and warm blue Atlantic Ocean waters.