mace brown museum of natural history
Here is a fun day trip idea… Mace Brown Museum of Natural History! It’s located on the campus of College of Charleston and is 100% free and open on the weekends (only closed on Wednesdays and certain holidays). It’s small but it’s a quick indoor activity and nearby some other iconic Charleston spots.
ADDRESS: 202 Calhoun Street, Charleston; School of Science & Math Building, 2nd Floor
ADMISSION: Free!
HOURS: 11a–4p daily (except Wednesdays) and does include weekends!
NOTES: Street parking but usually not an issue. The museum is pretty small but has tons of interesting fossil and artifacts, most of which are local to the low country. You may be surprised at what has been found nearby!
OTHER: Stroller-friendly, small digging station, bathrooms nearby.
info & tips
Thanks to CHSwithKids (a Charleston mom who details her family’s activities) this place has been on my radar for months. It is small and quick to get through but for a kid who loves dinosaurs, it will delight them! It’s super fascinating that so many of these incredible artifacts were found nearby!
PARKING | There is street parking available nearby. We didn’t have issues and Lexi of CHSwithKids often reports that it is easy to find and they go fairly often.
NEARBY | Here are a few things nearby that you can enjoy:
Marion Square is within walking distance. It’s a big green space but if you go on a Saturday then they have a farmer’s market setup from 8a–2p (no markets in Jan and Feb).
Joe Riley Waterfront Park & The Pineapple Fountain are super close but you will need to drive. You can wade in the pineapple fountain and the other large fountain is perfect for kids to splash around in also. Be sure to plan for this with extra clothes and a suit!
Hazel Parker Playground is just a little farther down and also had a nearby historical area to explore (70 East Bay St).
some other spots: lunch & trader joe's
We are thrilled that an old favorite is in Mt Pleasant! White Duck Taco is kid-friendly, affordable, delicious and on the way back to the Grand Strand! We also really like Five Loaves Cafe and Square Onion (note there is no indoor seating but there is a shaded courtyard).
We always have to stop at Trader Joe’s on the way back up! It’s in Mt Pleasant so be sure to hit it as you return to Myrtle!
other charleston ideas!
