by Trent Lorcher

Created on: August 10, 2008   Last Updated: August 13, 2009

Looking for a one-day get away to Charleston, South Carolina? There's plenty of things to do for the entire family.

South Carolina Aquarium

A panoramic view of Charleston Harbor, exhibits detailing South Carolina's major regions, a variety of birds, reptiles, and fish, an interactive display of horseshoe crabs and starfish that still make my daughter afraid to swim in the ocean, a two story shark tank that makes me afraid to swim anywhere, and a visit from Nickelodeon's Patrick the Starfish, make the South Carolina Aquarium a great family stop.

Fort Sumter National Monument Sullivan's Island

Trick your kids into learning history. Tell them you're going waterskiing and hop on the ferry to Sullivan's Island to visit the place where the Civil War began. If they complain, leave and reenact the battle of Fort Sumter by launching lead-filled balloons at them from a t-shirt cannon. The ferry is accessible from Liberty Square in downtown Charleston.

Old South Carriage Co

Trick your kids again. Tell them you're going to rob a stagecoach, hop on a horse and carriage, and tour Charleston. The tour covers more than 2.5 miles and 30 blocks of historic Charleston. A tour guide in Confederate uniform will entertain you with historical facts, lore, humor, and an incredible rationalization on how wearing a Confederate uniform is appropriate and patriotic.

Middleton Place

Trick your kids yet again. Tell them you're going to an 18th century plantation, and one of the country's oldest formal gardens. Since they no longer trust you, they'll be completely surprised when they see an 18th century plantation with one of the country's oldest formal gardens. Make sure they don't wear their "I Love General Sherman" t-shirts. His army destroyed most of the original structures during the Civil War.

Magnolia Plantation

Now that you've regained your kids' trust, you can trick them again. Tell them you're going snipe hunting just down the road from Middleton Place, go to Magnolia Plantation, and enjoy one of the nation's largest collections of azaleas and camellias. If they get angry with you, threaten to toss them in the Swamp Garden or make up stories about killer snakes living in the Cypress Trees.

HL Hunley Submarine 1250 Supply Street, Warren Lasch Conservation Center www.hunley.org

In February 1864, a manually powered Confederate submarine sank a Union ship. As it returned to Charleston Harbor, it too sank, for unknown reasons, and remained at the bottom of the ocean until August of 2000. Your kids will not believe any of it after having been tricked numerous times already. Make it up to them and buy them an expensive souvenir from the gift shop.

Rainbow Row

With expensive souvenir in hand, bring your family down to Rainbow Row, the most famous street in Charleston. Painted in every color of the rainbow, this stretch of private homes makes it a must see attraction. For fun, trick a family member into thinking the homes are open to the public and watch them get arrested for trespassing.

Isle of Palms County Park

Tell your kids Isle of Palms County Park features over 600 feet of ocean beaches with lifeguards, dressing areas, restrooms, picnic areas, sand volleyball courts, outdoor showers, boardwalks, and a children's play area. Since they no longer believe anything you tell them, they'll ditch you and opt for a movie instead. Now that your plan has succeeded, go rent a boogy board, a couple of beach chairs, an umbrella, and spend some time alone with your spouse on the beach.

Learn more about this author, Trent Lorcher.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.