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!
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.
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
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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!
