4 Water-Based Adventures to Enjoy When Visiting South Carolina 

South Carolina has hot, humid summers. It’s the perfect place for water adventures! Not only do they help you cool off in the heat, but they’re great for the whole family to spend some time together.

There’s a variety of watery activities to enjoy in the area. Whether your family prefers the beaches or the water parks, there’s something for you. Beat the heat together and have some fun doing it with these ideas.

Here are 4 budget-friendly water adventures to enjoy with your family when in South Carolina!

1. Get Wild at Wild Water & Wheels

There’s adventure around every corner for each family member at Wild Water & Wheels, an action-packed water park! Take the young kids to Wally’s Lagoon, where they can explore the cave, play in the water spouts, slide down the water slides or splash in one of the swimming pools.

For those looking for a little more excitement, try the Turbo Twisters, one of the 100-foot-tall speed slides, or the free-fall cliff dive slide. You may want to try one of the more popular rides, the Dark Hole, where you’ll twist and turn in complete darkness until you reach the warm waters at the bottom.

Take a gentle ride around the entire water park on the lazy river. Challenge your family members to a round of mini-golf or a race to the finish on the go-kart track.

When you need a break from activities, you can put your feet up in one of the poolside cabanas.

Contact: Wild Water & Wheels, Surfside Beach, SC

2. Tour the South Carolina Aquarium

You may not be in the water, but this adventure will allow the family to learn about some of the fascinating creatures that live in the waters around the Charleston harbor.

There’s so much to see at the South Carolina Aquarium, including the two-story Great Ocean Tank. This tank is home to more than seven hundred different species and holds 385,0000 gallons of water, which makes it the deepest tank in North America.

For a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, head to the Blackwater Swamp exhibit where you’ll get to see the rare albino American alligator. You can also check out the Madagascar Journey exhibit, where you can see a large Nile crocodile, lemurs, and find out how tomato frogs got their name.

Stop by the Zucker Family Sea Turtle Recovery, where you can see how sea turtles are rehabilitated. Find out each turtle patient’s unique story of how they came to be at the Aquarium.

Contact: South Carolina Aquarium, Charleston, SC

3. Kayak Down the Saluda River

Escape the city and take the family down to the Saluda River, where you can enjoy nature from a kayak.

There are three sections of the river that you could kayak on, but the best way to experience the river is to take a guided tour. If you’ve never been kayaking before, then your tour guide will take you to sections where the whole family can flatwater paddle and navigate class and 2 rapids.

If you and your family are lucky, you may even get to tube down the Lower Green of the Saluda River, where you can reach some quiet pools and maybe spot a beaver!

4. Visit Santee State Park

Santee State Park has everything that the outdoor family needs for an outdoor adventure. The whole family will be able to hike one of the six available trails. Along these trails, you’ll be able to see the big sinkhole and the cypress wetland. Or, if all of you are feeling adventurous, you can hike the 7.5-mile loop through the upland wetlands and oak forests.

Challenge your family members and see who can catch the biggest fish of the day! Lake Marion is home to some big fish, like the largemouth bass and catfish. Anglers will love fishing on the Lakes, as there have been several state-record fish caught in these waters.

Make sure you have all your fishing gear with you, as you and your family can try your hand at night fishing! Nighttime is the best time to see a large catfish on the end of your line. You can also try fishing from a kayak if you want a new challenge.

Contact: Santee State Park, Santee, SC

South Carolina Has It All

South Carolina is full of exciting adventures for the whole family! Not only is there an abundance of fun water activities and tours to help you cool off in the summer, but many of them have an element of education as well.

Teach your kids about the great outdoors, the ocean wildlife, or simply how to have fun and stay safe in the water.

If your family loves water adventures, South Carolina is the place to be! Plan a day trip or stay for the weekend. Either way, it’s a worthwhile trip.

Author Bio

Kenneth Reaves is a professional angler and travels the country for great outdoor and fishing experiences. He shares all his tips and advice on his personal website Perfect Captain.

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